Category Archives: warfare

Hawkwood the Soldier of Fortune

Posted on February 23, 2012 by

This man, painted on the wall of an Italian cathedral way back in 1436,  is an Englishman. The great fresco painting of Giovanni Acuto by Paolo Uccello (1436) (publlic domain photo) What were the Italians doing painting an Englishman in … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art, history, Italy, Renaissance, warfare | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Hannibal’s Ingenious Trick

Posted on March 9, 2011 by

Everyone knows that Hannibal led an army with elephants over the Alps to attack Rome. That was one of the boldest and most colorful deeds in military (or any other) history. Hannibal’s Famous Crossing of the Alps (public domain photo) … Continue reading →

Posted in Hannibal, history, Romans, Spain, warfare | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

They Called Sertorius the Roman Hannibal

Posted on January 11, 2011 by

Julius Caesar was ambitious, says Plutarch, and he paid for it.   Tusculum portrait of Caesar (public domain photo by Tataryn77) The proud Romans could see, or thought they could see, that he would stop at nothing less than becoming … Continue reading →

Posted in books, history, Romans, Spain, warfare | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

What Rome Learned from Hispania

Posted on October 15, 2010 by

Rome picked up all kinds of tricks and useful knowledge from the peoples it conquered. While fighting the native Spaniards, for instance, the Roman officers saw the virtues of the short sword they carried. Both its edges were sharp and … Continue reading →

Posted in 1, archaeology, Numancia, Romans, Spain, sword, warfare | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Caesar’s Army: Basic Facts

Posted on September 19, 2010 by

Organization A LEGION comprised 6000 soldiers. It was made up of 10 COHORTS, each containing 600 soldiers. The cohort was composed of 3  MANIPLES (200 soldiers each). A maniple contained  2 CENTURIES (one hundred men = a century) and their … Continue reading →

Posted in 1, Caesar, history, Romans, sword, war, warfare | Tagged , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Roman Funerals Were Like Plays

Posted on May 23, 2010 by

In old Republican Rome you didn’t want to miss the funeral of a great man. It was a real show. His body was carried in a procession to the Forum, the main square of the city, and laid on the … Continue reading →

Posted in books, history, literature, Romans, warfare | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Hannibal’s Famous Vow

Posted on September 4, 2009 by

Hamilcar Barca, Hannibal’s father, went to check in with the priests at the temple just before setting out for Spain. His army was waiting for him in their ships at the port of Carthage. Ruins of the Ancient port of … Continue reading →

Posted in Hannibal, history, Romans, Spain, warfare | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments