The inaugural conflict for Scottish freedom, known as the First War of Scottish Independence, is a defining segment in Scotland's storied past. Within this turbulent era, spanning from the onset of English incursions in 1296 until the affirmation o
Edward of Woodstock, more commonly referred to as the Black Prince, was a legendary figure during one of the most significant periods of European history--the Hundred Years' War. As the eldest son and heir apparent of King Edward III of England, Ed
The Hundred Years' War (1337-1453) was one of the most significant conflicts in the Middle Ages, spanning over 116 years and involving five generations of kings from two rival dynasties. This war was fought between the Kingdom of France and the Kin
The Crusades were a series of religiously motivated military expeditions that took place between 1095 and 1291. The primary goal of the Crusaders was to reclaim the Holy Land from the Muslim infidels who had taken control of Jerusalem. These expedi
Right: Book cover of The Landmark Thucydides: A Comprehensive Guide to the Peloponnesian War by by Thucydides (Author), Robert B. Strassler (Editor), Richarb B. Crawley (Translator), Victor Davis Hanson (Introduction). Thucydides' historical accoun
Above: Copy after lost original, Leonardo da Vinci's Battaglia di Anghiari, by Rubens (c. 1603). Original fresco in the Palazzo della Signoria in Florence, executed in 1504-1505 and destroyed around 1560. Source: Public Domain.
The Battle of Thermopylae, which took place in 480 BCE during the second Persian invasion of Greece, is one of the most famous battles in ancient history. While the precise dates are uncertain, sources suggest that the three-day battle took place e
Above: Battle of the Catalaunian plains, between Attila, Aetius, Meroveus and Theodoric I; from Jacob van Maerlant's Spieghel Historiael (KB KA 20, fol. 146v). Date of its creation is noted as between circa 1325 and circa 1335. Source: Public Domain
Most will immediately recognize the name William Wallace and associate the Scottish icon with the movie "Braveheart," starring Mel Gibson. Much of the film is historically inaccurate, including relationships, titles, dress, and the implied death of
