Did you know?
It all begins with an idea.
It is a little known fact that the Hundred Years War actually lasted 116 years and constituted a series of engagements between France and England during the 14th century. It seems that England held certain provinces in France , that they had obtained through royal marriages. When the French King Charles IV died, he did not have a legitimate successor and this led to a claim by the English King Edward the III. Naturally the French did not want an English King of the throne of France. This led to France declaring that not only will there be no English King on the French throne, but that they wanted the English provinces back under French control. Naturally this led to a war between France and England with the end result after 116 years was a unified France. Some of the most important and well known events of the Hundred Years War are the Battle of Cercy, the Battle of Poitiers, the Battle of Agincourt, and the introduction of Joan of Arc.
If you found this interesting you might want to look at
The Art of War in the Middle Ages
By Charles Oman
or
Medieval Warfare
By Maurice Keen
Did you know?
It all begins with an idea.
It is a little known fact that the Crimean War (1853-1856) should be considered the first modern war. The main participants were Russia on one side and a coalition of France, Britain and the Ottoman Empire on the other. The reason it should be considered the first modern war was that it was the first war to be photographed and the first to have war correspondents. It was also the first war to extensively use railroads, the electric telegraph and battlefield hospitals. The Crimean War ushered in the first appearance of Florence Nightingale. She improved the horrendous conditions at military hospitals. She also initiated an extensive training program for nurses, thereby saving thousands of lives. The Crimean War also the introduced the knitted woolen cap that pulled down to cover the ears and neck, while leaving the face free. This cap was knit by the British public for the use of the troops, and it was deemed to be a patriotic gesture. This cap became known as the balaclava, after the area in the Crimea. An interesting side note is that after Russia lost the war, the Czarist government was in dire need of funds. In order to raise funds they decided to sell a piece of Russian territory to the United States for 7.2 million dollars. That would be about $140 million in today’s market. That territory was Alaska. Quite a bargain I’d say.
If you find this interesting, you might want to take a look at
The Crimean War: A Reappraisal
by Phillip Warner
Phillip Warner quotes extensively from contemporary and previously unpublished Allied and Russian sources to provide a haunting glimpse into the reality of warfare. His expert knowledge of fortifications and siege warfare further depict conditions of nineteenth century armies . His knowledge has made this book a valuable work of scholarship and yet makes it an enjoyable, readable account of the battles and the war.
Did you know?
It all begins with an idea.
It is a little known fact that during WW2 a B-25 bomber slammed into the Empire State building during a dense fog. A USAAF B-25 bomber was on a training mission from Bedfford Army Airfield to Newark Airport. The pilots had limited visability and crashed into the building at 9:30 am. Firefighters were able to put out the fire in about 30 minutes. The accident caused the death of three crewmen and eleven people working in the building, but the building was open for business in 48 hours. The Empire State Building sustained no significent stuctural damage and was repaired.
If you find this interesting, you might want to take a look at
The Empire State Building, The Making of a Landmark
by John Tauranac
"A masterpiece of architectural and city history. Like a great novel, The Empire State Building, The Making of a Landmark is a complex and facinating tale of men inspired by titanic visions of planning, financing, designing, and erecting this icon of New York."
- The New York Chronicle