The Men Who Made The Mightiest Military Ever – A Day in the Life of a Roman Legionary
Roman legionaries were among the most ruthlessly efficient soldiers in the ancient world. But even for these highly disciplined and well-equipped men, the armies that…
The Spartans Had Never Surrendered Until The Brutal Battle Which Changed The Course Of The War
It is often said that the Spartan warriors never retreated and never surrendered. They would fight to the death no matter the odds, and were…
Sparta’s Hoplite Warriors: The Most Influential Ancient Military Force
Today, many individuals connect Sparta with a few movies and then dismiss the influential historical city as something of little importance. However, Sparta’s strict military…
When Pirates Kidnapped Julius Caesar He Laughed at Their Ransom Demands and Told Them To Ask for More
Long ago a 25-year-old Roman author, poet, priest, and aristocrat was kidnapped by pirates. Rather than plead for his release, however, he ordered them to…
Legion Vs Phalanx: Two Powerhouse Formations of Ancient Warfare
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 First Recorded Battle 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…
Forged In The Fires Of Battle And Myth: The Mighty Roman Army
1. Mythical Origins Legends tell that the Roman army began with Romulus, the mythical founder of Rome, and his bodyguard of 300 warriors called the…
Siege of Sparta: When The Spartan Women Pitched in to Defend Their City
Most historians should know the term “Pyrrhic Victory,” right? Pyrrhus of Epirus (located in the modern day region of western Greece and Albania) won victories…
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…
When Gods Collide – Hannibal and Scipio – Titanic Military Rivalries From The Ancient World
Many years after their last battles had been fought, Hannibal Barca and Publius Cornelius Scipio came face to face in the neutral city of Ephesus,…
Great Sieges: The Roman Siege of Jerusalem – 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…
Legendary Combat Units Of Medieval Warfare
These five legendary medieval units were supreme for their timeline. Their significance and special position in history built that title around their names. All five…