Ancient History | War History

Ancient Roman Swords Unearthed In the Cotswolds – ‘A Remarkable Archaeological Find’

Paul Hodgkinson and Emma Stuart standing with two ancient Roman swords

The central-southwest region of England is known for its rural landscape and quaint towns, but what many might not be aware of is that it…

‘It’s a Dream!’ – Discovery of Roman-Era Swords In Judean Desert Surprises Researchers

Archaeologist holding a Roman-era sword found in a cave

A team of researchers and archaeologists are celebrating the discovery of four “excellently preserved” Roman-era swords and a shafted weapon within a cave in the…

Archaeologists Uncover Hoard of Coins Belonging to Fearsome Ancient Roman Legion

Roman legionnaires standing together

A team of Polish and Georgian archaeologists have unearthed a trove of ancient Roman coins in what was once the ancient city of Colchis, now…

Zheng of Qin: The Chinese Emperor Who Escaped Assassination By Running Around a Pillar

Zheng of Qin peeking out from behind a pillar

Zheng of Qin, who reigned as the first emperor of China’s Qin Dynasty from 221-210 BC, survived several assassination attempts, including some that occurred while…

Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat: Does Fortune Actually Favor the Bold?

Fortune cookie cracked open with a slip of paper reading "fortune favors the bold"

The Latin phrase fortis Fortuna adiuvat – which translates to “fortune favors the bold” or “fortune favors the brave” – has a long and storied…

From the Scythians to Russia: The Use of Scorched Earth Tactics in War

US Air Force helicopter spraying Agent Orange over the jungle

Scorched earth tactics have been used nearly as long as armies have conducted military campaigns. While the practice is less common in modern times, it…

Legendary Battles That Would Make Outstanding Films

Artist's depiction of the Battle of Belleau Wood + Swedish machine gunner aiming a machine gun in the snow

War movies have been popular for as long as films have existed. As a result, some of the more popular subjects have been completely exhausted.…

Lethal Weapons: 5 of the Most Effective Man-Killing Tools in History

Crusades

Weapons are simply an extension of the capabilities of the human body. In practice, though, they have been extremely expensive and complex, with quite literally…

These 4 Weapons Created For Combat Were Cheap But Ingenious Game Changers

Sometimes, no matter how tactically adept a military force may be, if an opponent suddenly shows up with a particularly advanced or capable weapon, it…

The Ancient Greek Army of Same-Sex Lovers who helped defeat the Spartans

Sacred Band Of Thebes

The ancient Greek city of Thebes was surprisingly relaxed about gay relationships, even catching the attention of famous Greek philosopher Plato, who noted that opinions…

Berserkers: Soldiers who fought in a trance and gave us the modern-day word for “Berserk”

Berserker

Old Norse literature details stories of wild soldiers who fought battles in a trancelike state, feeling neither pain nor fear and not stopping until, they,…

16th Century Rocket Cats: Brilliant Warfare Tactic Or Terrible Idea?

The Medieval era is known for its unique takes on just about everything. From strange hygiene habits to medical practices, it was certainly a different…