Early Modern | War History

Napoleon Bonaparte, a Great Commander and a Charismatic General who was Ultimately Defeated

Napoleon Bonaparte was one of the greatest commanders in military history. Under his command, French forces crossed the length of Europe, leveling empires and bringing…

The Napoleonic Wars – An Age Of Mighty Ships Of War

Navies were crucial to the Napoleonic Wars. In the days before rail, ocean transport was vital to the trading economies of the European powers. Naval…

General Burnside – The Swashbuckling Union General Who Pioneered Sideburns

What do a rifle, various railroads, the American Civil War, the Franco-Prussian War, the National Rifle Association, and sideburns have in common? Here is the…

One Of The Main Reasons For Napoleon Bonaparte’s Downfall – He Could Not Conquer at Sea

One of the main reasons for Napoleon’s downfall was the inability of his fleets to defeat the British Navy. Here are ten reasons why the…

The Long, Hard Fight – It Took Seven Coalitions to Defeat Napoleon

Napoleon Bonaparte was one of the most successful generals in history. Despite most of Europe opposing him, he expanded the French empire from the Atlantic…

A Game-Changing Medieval Siege

Civil wars and revolts were common in medieval England. Without elections to decide between opposing leaders and policies, violence became the answer. As in modern…

The Knights Templar – Spectacular Rise And Fall Of A Legendary Order

The Knights Templar were the first and the most famous European warrior Order founded during the Crusades. From their bases in Europe and the Holy…

How Success and the Failures of Others Ruined General George McClellan

George McClellan’s reputation is not a good one. As commander of the Union armies early in the American Civil War, he is often credited as…

How the Confederacy Almost Won the American Civil War

Early in the American Civil War, the Confederacy almost won. It was not the complete victory the Union eventually achieved. Rather than conquering their opponents,…

Napoleon’s Armies in the Iberian Peninsula

The Peninsula War was the most drawn-out campaign of the Napoleonic wars. French troops entered the Iberian Peninsula in 1807  and along with Spanish forces…

When Napoleon Invaded, These Men And Women Became Heroes of The Spanish Resistance

In 1807, the forces of Napoleonic France entered Spain on their way to invade Portugal. The following year, they took control of Spain itself. For…

General Ulysses S. Grant In The American Civil War

Ulysses S. Grant was one of the greatest generals in American history. Under his leadership, the Union armies marched to victory through the bloody quagmire…