The sophisticated command structure of the Byzantine Military The Varangian Guard, as the elite of the Byzantine military, had a complex and specialized rank structure. Let’s examine the Varangians’ chain of command, starting with its commander.
How Geography Has Shaped Levantine Politics On a scorching July day in Palestine Ludolf of Tournai clambered over the battlements and scattered his Fatimid foes. Ludolf fought wildly, desperately, he had endured years of suffering on behalf of his God to reach the Holy City. He had survived the arrows of Turkish horsemen as he thirsted on the Anatolian Plateau. He had braved the treacherous footp…
The Battle of Didgori and the Rise of Georgia Under the white-capped peaks of the Greater Caucasus live the Kartvelians. Jason’s Argonauts found them on the balmy shores and hills, retreating from the Black Sea as an already ancient people. Modern scholars estimate their occupation dating well into the Neolithic when the Kartvelians first made wine in
How Viking Trade Revitalized Europe In 655 AD the first Muslim fleet met the Byzantine navy off the coast of Anatolia. The rough seas forced both sides to lash their ships to one another and the two great rafts collided in a fierce battle. Soldiers and sailors jumped from ship to ship in ruthless melee combat. As the day wore on the Muslim fleet gained the upper hand. When enemies closed …
How Anglo-Saxon migration transformed Byzantium & created the first English colony 956 years ago, William of Normandy defeated Harold Godwinson’s army at Hastings and became the King of England. William’s regime was slow to eliminate Anglo-Saxon influence in England, but Anglo-Saxon uprisings in the north of the country drew his wrath. Over the winter of 1069-1070, William prosecuted the “Harrying of the North,” killing his way throug…
How African Slaves Helped Break the Caliphate In the sweltering August heat of Southern Iraq, an army of slaves and Bedouins laid siege to the wealthy city of Basra. Over a month the besiegers tightened the noose around the city, burning outlying villages, and ambushing reinforcements and supply trains bound for the city. By September 7th, 871 AD the rebel army had gained a foothold in the city and…
You asked.... Thanks to everyone who posted questions for this month’s Q&A! Remember, if you want to post for next month’s (when the time comes), you can subscribe here:
We've teamed up for an exclusive, subscriber-only deep dive into the world of Henry V One of the (many) reasons I love Substack is that it’s a great place for history fans to find new subjects, great stories and connect with one other.
An exclusive conversation for History, Etc subscribers Exactly a quarter of a century ago, in October 1999, I was an 18-year old undergraduate, newly arrived at Cambridge, having more-or-less accidentally decided that I wanted to study medieval history.
Ask me anything and I'll post a video with the answers After many weeks on the road on book tour, I’m back at my desk.
You asked, I answered Recorded this month’s Q&A video at the very delightful Silverton Park Stables, which I borrowed from the Landmark Trust for the weekend.
Closing the loop Plenty more dog content, too.
