How Rome’s Last Hope Became Its Downfall
The Roman Empire’s increasing reliance on foederati, or barbarian mercenaries, for defense towards the end…
How A King with Tens of Thousands of Soldiers Only Had 60 for the Decisive Battle
The Battle of Alnwick in 1174 marked a significant turning point in the relationship between…
The Game of Kings: How Chess Became the Ultimate Symbol of Power
The history of chess spans nearly 1,500 years, with its origins tracing back to ancient…
Scholasticism: Bringing Reason to Religion
Scholasticism, a philosophical and theological movement that flourished in medieval Europe, reached its zenith with…
Pope vs. Antipope: the Violent Papal Schism of 1130-1138
The papal schism between Antipope Anacletus II and Pope Innocent II, lasting from 1130 to…
The Battle of Dun Nechtain: The Start of the England-Scotland Rivalry
In the seventh century CE the Picts living in what is now Northern Scotland faced…
King Louis VI: The Fat Warrior King
King Louis VI of France was indeed very fat, but his obesity did not stop…
The Crusade That Cost a King His Freedom: Louis IX’s Desperate Gamble
The Seventh Crusade, led by King Louis IX of France, was a significant military expedition…
The General Who Outsmarted the Crusaders: Saladin’s Epic Story!
Salah ad-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub, commonly known as Saladin, was a towering figure in medieval…
The Mongol Invasion of Russia: The Beginning of Europe’s Nightmare
In the winter of 1237, a storm of unparalleled ferocity descended upon the fragmented principalities…
The Fifth Crusade: A Tale of Ambition and Missed Opportunity
The Fifth Crusade, which took place from 1217 to 1221 CE, stands as a pivotal…
The Man who Defeated the Vikings and Saved Brittany
Alan I, known as “the Great,” was a remarkable figure in Breton history who ruled…
The Fourth Crusade: An Unholy and Brutal Detour
The Fourth Crusade, which took place from 1202 to 1204 CE, stands as one of…
A Battle So Brutal A French Army Was Destroyed In Hours
The dawn of July 4, 1187, broke over the parched hills of Galilee, casting long…
From Glory to Grief: The Rise and Fall of Frederick Barbarossa in the Third Crusade
Frederick I Barbarossa, the Holy Roman Emperor, took the cross on March 27, 1188, finally…
