Early Modern | War History

Russian Hussars Live Fast And Finish Young

Historically there are very few military forces that can feasibly live up to the standards set by the cliche of ‘live fast, die young and…

2 Bonapartes and a Wellington: Two Forces Converge at the Battle of Salamanca

The Battle of Salamanca happened on July 22nd, 1812.  Having achieved decisive victories at Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajoz and henceforth breaking through Portugal, he thrust…

Hunley Crew was No Suicide Mission – Civil War Submarine Reveals Its Secrets

During the Civil War, the Confederacy had a submarine called the H.L Hunley.  It was 40-feet long (or twelve meters), bulletproof and built in Mobile,…

When History Closes: Civil War Veterans School Shuttered

The Civil War is, without doubt, one of the defining moments in American political history. In the years 1861–1865, it set family members against one another…

Outsmarted and Outflanked – Washington’s Defeat at Long Island

The Battle of Long Island took place in Kings County, New York on August 27, 1776 as part of the New York and New Jersey…

For Serious Gamers – Hnefatafl: The Viking Board Game that Was More than Just a Game

In 13th Century Iceland, the saga of Hervőr and Heidrek abounded with tales of dwarves, magical curses, swords, and a contest consisting of riddles.  Fans…

Legendary Viking Battle – Svolda and King Olaf

Fought in the summer of 1000 on the western Baltic Sea, the battle of Svolda is without doubt among the major historical battles that shaped…

Baltic Crusaders – Pagans Defeat Christian Knights at the Battle of Saule

By 1200 Christianity was the dominant religious force throughout almost all of Europe; however, one group of pagans, in the last stronghold of their beliefs,…

“Flying Artillery” – New Tactics at Palo-Alto in the Mexican-American War

In 1846, The United States of America went to war with Mexico, eager to annex Texas and California to expand the Union from sea to…

War in California – The Battle of San Pasqual

In the days of the Mexican-American war, U.S. forces marched 2000 miles, from New Mexico to California—the longest march in the history of the U.S.…

Sohei: The Warrior Monks of Medieval Japan

The modern view of Buddhism is one of a peaceful, highly spiritual faith, where the devotee sets out upon the path to enlightenment through meditation…

Birth of the Black Plague: The Mongol Siege on Caffa

In 1345, the city of Caffa was razed by a vicious pandemic, in what would, centuries later, be recognized as the first use of biological…