Powerful Orders Of Medieval Knights And What Made Each One Distinct
Combining knightly warfare and a monastic lifestyle, the knightly crusading orders were one of the strongest institutions of medieval Europe. Through them, men sought a…
The Battle Of Marignano: The Reason For (Almost) 500 Years Of Swiss Neutrality
In November of 2016, Switzerland will have had a strict policy of neutrality for five centuries. Even during the World Wars, Switzerland was able to…
The Awesome Power of Charlemagne, Who Built His Empire and Conquered Half of Europe
How many kings can say that their name was emblazoned across the map? The most successful ruler ever seen in Dark Age Europe, Charlemagne –…
The Longbow: Its Rise and Dominance
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…
7 Types of Medieval Armor – From Quilted Cloth to Full Steel Plate
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…
Must-See 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…
Saved From Death By A French Surgeon – The Russian General Who Defeated Napoleon in 1812
At a time when soldiers were dying because of minor infections on the battlefields, a Russian general survived two shots to the head and went…
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…
An Age Of Brutal Conflicts – The Vikings and The Franks
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…
Civil War Spies: The Secret, Underground Peace Societies Of The American Civil War
Though we may think of the South as a unified place in which the Confederacy was born and fought for, it was a place divided…
Five Women Who Played Vital Roles in the American Civil War
While in most modern cultures women have only been permitted to officially participate in warfare for a few decades at most, that has never prevented…
The Life of Harriet Tubman – Civil War Nurse, Spy, Soldier and Activist
Harriet Tubman was born Araminta Ross in Dorchester County, Maryland. She was also known by the nickname “Moses” due to her success in leading slaves…