Kars Fortress Stands As a Monument to a Turbulent Past
For centuries Armenian residents of the Transcaucasian stronghold of Kars watched invaders come and go—until its final betrayal
This Mobile Fortress Was Almost Unbeatable
Each war wagon used by Hussite forces was essentially a mobile fortress, manned by crews armed with field guns, hand cannons, crossbows and polearms
Dún Nechtain: The Celtic Victory that Shaped Scotland
In 685, the Picts clashed with Angles in a fight that some historians believe forged the roots of present-day Scotland
‘The Black Prince and King Jean II of France’ Book Review
Peter Hoskins' latest history of the Hundred Years’ War examines the lives of rival generals Black Prince Edward and Jean II
See Weapons of War Designed by Leonardo Da Vinci
History’s ultimate polymath Leonardo da Vinci created both high art and fantastic weaponry
Gunpowder Weapons in Medieval Europe
The advent of gunpowder weapons in 14th-century Europe prompted medieval commanders to develop new tactics and adjust existing ones
‘The Brothers York’ Book Review
Thomas Penn relates the Wars of the Roses following the 1461 Battle of Towton, when York turned against York
How the Longbow Won the Battle of Crug Mawr
In 1136 a Welsh army defeated a fierce Norman force with a unique weapon that changed the course of military history - the longbow
Lessons Learned from the Battle of Hattin, 118
King Guy of Jerusalem ignored his not only Crusader history, but also his own, leading to a catastrophic defeat
Under the Hammer: Charles Martel
Surging across the Pyrenees in the 7th century, Muslims faced an immovable Frankish foe in Charles Martel
Book Review: Crusaders
Dan Jones relates the 11th- through 13th-century wars between Christian and Muslim armies for control of the Holy Land
Women of War
From Cleopatra to Elizabeth and Njinga to Meir, strong women have proved every bit as resolute as their male counterparts
This Week in History – March 1–7 – Gutenberg Launches the Renaissance, 1455
In March 1455, the information age of medieval Europe began with Johannes Gutenberg's invention of the printing press.
The Crucible of Antioch: The Pivotal Clash of the First Crusade
Fortunes turned for the opposing Christian and Muslim armies in this pivotal clash of the 1095–99 First Crusade
Book Review: The Viking Wars
Max Adams relates the history of the Norse invasion of the British Isles and their eventual assimilation
Three Dead Kings: War in Morocco
In 1578 English adventurer Thomas Stukeley found himself embroiled in a Moroccan military intrigue with royal overtones and lethal results
