Fire In Warfare: Seven Devastating Incendiary Weapons From Military History
Fire has played a devastating part in the history of war. Even when not weaponized, it could be unleashed during pillaging of towns, leading to…
The 1st Duke of Marlborough: Maybe The Biggest Ego In Military History
The Duke of Marlborough has a reputation as one of the greatest commanders in British and even world history. A son of minor gentry he…
Nine Things the Movie ‘Braveheart’ Got Wrong… And One Thing It Got Right
Mel Gibson’s film Braveheart is both one of the most celebrated and one of the most reviled pieces of historical filmmaking ever. A heart-stirring and…
The Kingmaker – Seven Family Members Napoleon Used to Assert His Power
Like many rulers throughout history, Napoleon made use of his family. He discussed issues with them, and they were supporters and strategic assets in his political…
Exaggeration And Angels – The Battle of Mons, 1914
At the start of the First World War, the commanders of both sides expected fast-moving action. They believed devastating modern weapons would open gaps in…
Discipline, Tactics, Personal Skill – Military Might Of Ancient Sparta
Two-and-a-half millennia after they were at the height of their power, the Spartans remain famous as some of the finest warriors in European history. The…
Disaster In The Desert: Napoleon’s Egyptian Campaign
Napoleon’s invasion of Egypt was one of the strangest failures in military history. A young general and statesman at the height of his abilities he…
Rommel Attacks El Agheila Fort – The Desert Fox In North Africa
Erwin Rommel’s attack on El Agheila Fort on March 24, 1941, did not lead to fearsome fighting. It was not one of the great battles…
The Italian Campaigns – Where Napoleon Built The Foundation For His Legend
Napoleon’s 1796 invasion of Italy was one of the most significant campaigns of his career. It was the offensive that turned him from a rising…
The First Battle of Ypres, 1914 – A Harbinger Of Things To Come
The battles for Ypres were among the defining engagements of the Western Front during the First World War. Ypres became a harbinger of much that…
Bellum Gallicum – Rome’s Greatest Conqueror In His Greatest War – Caesar’s Gaulish Campaign
The Roman invasion of Gaul was one of the most significant wars in the ancient world. It saw Rome’s empire vastly expand, propelled Julius Caesar…
Learning Lessons The Hard Way – The Battle Of Neuve Chapelle, 1915
To the casual observer, it seems that no-one learned anything during the First World War. The same disastrous tactics were repeated over and over again…