Early Modern | War History

When Malaria Sided With Napoleon: The Doomed British Walcheren Expedition That Cost 4,000 Lives

The British expedition sent to Walcheren in the Netherlands in 1809 was one of the boldest moves of the Napoleonic wars. Unfortunately for the soldiers…

Japan’s Onin War – A Vital Moment In The History Of Japan

Andrew Knighton

The Onin War was a vital moment in the history of Japan. It saw the collapse of central authority and the descent of the nation…

10 Facts: The Duke of Wellington, Napoleon’s Arch-Enemy

Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington, was Napoleon’s most famous opponent. In 1808 he led the British, Spanish, and Portuguese forces that defeated the French…

How the American Civil War Became a “Total War”

The Civil War mobilized American resources on a scale only matched in WWII. It brought unparalleled destruction to many people. How did an initially restrained…

Nine Reasons Why the South Lost the American Civil War

An extensive amount of effort has gone into studying the American Civil War. The reasons for the war and its outcome remain hotly debated. The…

From the Vikings to Vietnam – Five Wars in Which Drugs Fuelled the Fighting

Drugs have a long history as part of war. These days, their main role is a medicinal one, but down the centuries they have often…

Top American Civil War Sites To Visit Today

The American Civil War was one of the bloodiest wars fought on American soil. Many of the war sites found throughout the eastern half of…

Seven Types of Medieval Armor – From Quilted Cloth to Full Steel Plate

Andrew Knighton

More than any other artifact of war, armor dominates visual images of medieval Europe. From the chainmail carefully stitched onto each warrior in the Bayeux…

The Equipment of the Samurai – Fearsome Warriors Armed to the Teeth

Samurai were the elite warriors of feudal Japan; as dominant as knights were in Europe. Their equipment was as much a display of their status…

The Mongol Invasions of Japan and the Origin of the Word “Kamikaze”

In the 1270s and 1280s, the menacing forces of the Mongols attacked Japan. Through courage, determination, and good luck, the Japanese drove them off. It…

“Hell Roaring Mike”: A Highly Respected American Commander At Sea

Michael Augustine Healy was the first African-American man to command a US ship. He was well known and well respected for his actions off the…

Mary Edwards Walker: The Only Woman Ever to Be Awarded the Medal of Honor

Mary Edwards Walker lived a life full of excitement and courage, forging paths during a time when feminism was largely unheard of, and the country…