The Battle of Blanchetaque
Posted by MRL on Dec 31st 2006
Battle of Blanchetaque 1346 - 100 Years WarA Feat of Arms
A very notable feat of arms took place on the morning of August 24th, 1346, in the marshy estuary of the River Somme. The small and starving English army of Edward III was in desperate need to cross to the north side of the river as staying where they were on the south side kept them bottled up between the sea and the river. But that wasn't the worst of it, for there was also an enorm...
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Democratic Society
Posted by MRL on Dec 31st 2006
Sparta had two kings that would rule in tangent and a council, offering a sort of checks and balance in their version of a democratic society. For continuity one king could then stay home to continue to rule while the other was leading the Spartans in battle....
The Viking Order
Posted by MRL on Dec 31st 2006
The Vikings were extremely fierce in battle and considered by those they attacked as blood thirsty barbarians. Some of this reputation came from the Viking code of ethics that allowed for blood feuds to be common place. And in fulfilling this code nothing was deemed out of bounds. There's even evidence of battles involving multiple men against another man. Maybe not fair by todays standards, but back then justice could be enforced by anyone wrong...
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