The Viking Mercenaries of the Byzantine Empire – The Varangian Guard
The Byzantines Hired Viking Mercenaries as Guards The relationship between the Byzantine Emperors and their Varangian Guard was a complex affair. The Byzantines were first…
The Battle of Tinchebray and the Conquest of Normandy (1106)
The future of Normandy and England lies in the hands of the three sons of William the Conqueror. The Normand Dynasty of William the Conqueror…
The Real Assassins – Legends – History and Myths
Who were the Order of the Assassins? The year is 1090. A secret order later referred to as the Order of the Assassins begins it’s…
The 100 Days – Napoleon Returns From Exile, Rallying an Army With His Words Alone
The ranks opened suddenly, and a figure stepped into view. He was taller than many of his enemies described him. Taller and leaner, the angles of…
5 Battles Where Fighting Spirit Overcame the Odds
Battles can be lost for a hundred different reasons. Poor numbers, unwise strategy, inferior weapons, the list goes on. But just occasionally, a fighting force…
The Knights Templar – The Rise and Fall of the Greatest Crusader Order
A crimson cross emblazoned on a white background; a simple design, perhaps, but behind it lies one of the most remarkable stories in the history…
The Battle of Morgarten – against all the Odds, One Small Army Changes the Course of Military History
The supremacy of heavy cavalry and mounted knights on the battlefield came to an end one cold November morning in 1315, and it began with…
The Battle of Arsuf – To Win the Day, One Man Must Defy His Own King
Beneath the relentless beating of the midday sun, under a seemingly endless rain of arrows, The Grand Master’s patience had all but run out. Garnier…
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…
10 Surprising Facts About the American Civil War
The American Civil War was fought from April 12th, 1861 to May 9th, 1865 between the Confederate States and the Union. Most believe it was…
Single Combat At The Siege of Bayonne, 1131AD
Pedro de Lara was bored. His had lived a full life, a life of personal pride and skill at arms, of politics, wine and of…
A Bloody New Year – Battle of Stones River In The American Civil War
It was cold at the turning of the year in Murfreesboro, right in the middle of the state of Tennessee. The little town nestled under…