Ancient History | War History

Enemies Within And Without – Caligula, Arminius and Vercingetorix – Most Hated Men Of Ancient Rome

Rome hated a lot of people over the thousands of years it held power, so this list is far from comprehensive, feel free to add…

Sparta: Growth Of An Empire – It Is Widely Known That The Spartans Produced Some Of The Most Brutally Efficient Warriors Of All Time

It is widely known that the Spartans produced some of the most brutally efficient warriors of all time, but how did they gain that reputation?…

Great Sieges: Jerusalem (70 CE) – One Million Lives Lost In 8 Months Of Combat

The Romans generally tolerated other religions, allowing and even welcoming Egyptian gods into their pantheon. Though they viewed the monotheistic Jews as being odd, they…

Thousands of Romans killed in the dense German woodland: What if the Teutoburg Disaster Didn’t Happen

“What if” history questions can be a divisive. Some view them as an exercise in futility, a place where no serious historians should go. Others…

Legion Vs Phalanx: Two Powerhouse Formations of the Ancient World

The organization from Homeric style hero warfare to tightly packed hoplite warfare was world changing. This powerful Hellenic formation allowed the ancient Greeks to hold…

The Battle of Megiddo: The Beginning of Military History

The first battle for which we have a clear historical record took place in the Levant in the 15th century BC. Though we know that…

Caesar and Pompey – When Ancient Gods Collide

The rivalry between Marius and Sulla was doomed to repeat itself within a generation when Julius Caesar emulated Sulla’s action and crossed the Rubicon to…

Elite Island Skirmishers of the Mediterranean – Cretan Archers, Balearic and Rhodian Slingers

Heavy infantry is often the driving and decisive arm in ancient battles along with heavy cavalry charges to drive home the victory, but those who…

Why Was Alexander the Great’s Army So Formidable

War History online presents this Guest Piece from Turin Bridge Alexander the Great is one of the most legendary kings of all time: in a…

The Battle of Telamon: A Gaulish Army Trapped Between Three Roman Armies

The Romans and the Gauls had a bitter rivalry that lasted as long as any other in the world. One of the most humiliating events…

The Pros and Cons of Ancient War Elephants

Elephants are generally peaceful and majestic creatures but throughout history, their size and power were used with devastating results on the battlefield. With the adoption…

Commanding Thousands – Approaches to Generalship on Ancient Battlefields

Modern generals are granted access to a multitude of communication and information gathering technologies from satellite imaging to UAVs and infantry equipped with cameras. Ancient…