How Charlemagne 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 –…
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…
8 Brutal Conflicts Between Franks and Vikings
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…
Four Men and One Woman – Five Mighty Leaders Whose Wars United Medieval England
In the late ninth century, England was not a united country. Viking raiders from Denmark controlled the north and east. Norwegian and Irish raids left…
“The Great Army” – The Vikings at Their Peak
The most powerful and devastating series of Vikings raids to hit Western Europe came between 865 and 896 AD. During these decades, a massive combined…
The Great Stand on the Ugra River – Ending Tatar Dominion Over Moscow
During Medival times, Russia had suffered under the Tatar domination. The leader of the Great Horde, Tsar Akhmat, became very displeased by the disobedience of…
5 Legendary Military Units
From the beginning of the 13th till the end of the 18th centuries, we can safely pick these five legendary units. These warrior units participated…
Hastings and Beyond: The Norman Conquest of England
The Norman conquest of England was more than just the Battle of Hastings. To secure his new country, William the Conqueror had to gain control…
Chesma,1770 – The Humiliating Defeat of the Ottomans by the Russians
In the Summer of 1770, the Mediterranean sea would be the scene of an epic battle. It was 5th of July, and the Russian fleet…
The Albigensian Crusades: Christians vs Christians
Some crusades were fought against fellow Christians. The Cathars, one of the inspirations behind Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code, were the targets of one…
Raiders and Traders: The Vikings Conquer England
The end of the first millennium AD saw a turning point for England. After decades of security, the independent kingdom once again came under attack…
Krak des Chevaliers – The Impenetrable Castle, Captured With A Single Sheet of Paper
A hulking edifice of sun-bleached stone, Krak des Chevaliers loomed against a clear blue sky. How many men had died to hold those walls, and…