Early Modern | War History

Napoleon In The War For The Spanish Peninsula: A Massive Operation

The war for the Spanish Peninsula in 1807-14, was as draining to Napoleon’s military efforts as Russia was disastrous. It featured many different styles of…

8 Brutal Eurpoean Conflicts Between The Vikings and The Franks

Andrew Knighton

Two great military forces dominated Europe in the 9th century. On the mainland was the Frankish Empire, a kingdom covering modern France and much of…

5 Similarities Between Two of History’s Greatest Generals

The Duke of Wellington and Ulysses S. Grant were two of the greatest generals of the 19th century; arguably in the whole of history. Their…

What the Film Glory Got Right About the American Civil War and What It Did Not

Edward Zwick’s film Glory is one of the best-known screen depictions of the American Civil War. It is the story of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment,…

Heroes of America: The Red String Band who rebelled against the Confederacy in the Southern States

It is easy to think of wars from earlier centuries in rather simplistic terms, especially as they fade further into the past. The American Civil…

Wellington: The Great Military Leader Who Led His Armies To Victory Against Napoleon

The armies that fought against Napoleon are some of the most celebrated in British history. Under the leadership of the Duke of Wellington, they drove…

The War of The Emperor Go-Daigo

Andrew Knighton

In the early 14th century, the Japanese Emperor Go-Daigo raised an army. He sought to do what his predecessors had failed to – take control…

The Birth of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment in the American Civil War

The recruitment of African-American soldiers was one of the most important moments in the American Civil War. In practical terms, it provided soldiers for the…

As Spring Takes Hold, Volunteers Come Out In Force To Prepare Antietam Battlefield For The Tourist Season

Preparing Antietam National Battlefield and the Antietam National Cemetery for spring and the tourist season, a few dozen volunteers came out on a cold, windy…

8 Ways Medieval Crusaders Might Have Thought And Felt About Their Wars

Andrew Knighton

A knight stands on the walls of Jerusalem, staring out at the parched land beyond the city. He is weary from weeks of travel and…

Nine Things the Movie ‘Braveheart’ Got Wrong… And One Thing It Got Right

Andrew Knighton

Mel Gibson’s film Braveheart is both one of the most celebrated and one of the most reviled pieces of historical filmmaking ever. A heart-stirring and…

The Longbow: Its Rise and Dominance

Andrew Knighton

The growing effectiveness of metal armor created a challenge for medieval soldiers. While the elite of knights and men-at-arms were now well protected, the majority…