The little tour which gave birth to the following remarks, was takenimmediately after the exchange of the ratifications of a peace,necessary, but not inglorious to my country, after a contestunexampled in its cause, calamity, extension, vicissitudes and glory;amidst a people who, under the influence of a political change,hitherto unparallelled, were to be approached as an order of beings,exhibiting a moral and political form before but little known...

A biography of the Viking king who sought to Christianize Norway in the Middle Ages—"A seminal and scholarly study that reads with all the inherent narrative storytelling flair of an historical novel" ( Midwest Book Review ).The Vikings and sainthood are not concepts normally found side by side. But Norway's King Olaf II Haraldsson (c. 995-1030) embodied both to an extraordinary degree. As a battle-eager teenager he almost...

The history of the Byzantine Empire's last great epoch, and the family that ruled it before the conquest of Constantinople.The 128-year dynasty of the Komneni, from 1057 to 1185, was the last great epoch of Byzantium, when the empire had to fend off Turkish and Norman foes simultaneously. Starting with the extremely able Alexios I, and unable now to count on help from the West, the Komneni played their strategic cards very well. Though the dynasty ended in cruelty a...

This lively history chronicles every Byzantine Emperor who personally fought in battle, from Constantine the Great to Constantine XI.The Eastern Roman or 'Byzantine' Empire had to fight for survival throughout its eleven centuries of history. Military ability was therefore a prime requisite for a successful Emperor. In Fighting Emperors of Byzantium, historian John Carr explores the personal and military histories of the fighters who occupied the imperial ...

A military history of the medieval Catholic order that arose during the Crusades in the Holy Land.The Knights of St John evolved during the Crusades from a monastic order providing hostels for Christian pilgrims visiting the Holy Land. The need to provide armed escorts to the pilgrims began their transformation into a Military Order. Their fervor and discipline made them an elite component of most Crusader armies and Hospitaller Knights (as they were also known) too...

This WWII history chronicles the courageous but ill-prepared Greek air force from the Battle of Greece to the Battle of El Alamein and beyond.On October 28th, 1940, when Greece was invaded by Mussolini's Italy, the Royal Hellenic Air Force was severely outgunned. Without warning, the RHAF's paltry fleet was pitted against the much larger and more advanced Regia Aeronautica, whose pilots had recently honed their skills in the Spanish Civil War. Though the British Roy...

This military history of the WWII Battle of Greece presents a vivid and detailed account with special focus on the Greek forces defending their homeland.On October 28th, 1940, the Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas refused to accept an ultimatum from Italy's Fascist leader Benito Mussolini. Immediately upon his refusal, Italian forces began the invasion of Greece via Albania. This aggression was prompted by Mussolini's desire for a quick victory to rival Hitler's ...

"An excellent book" that takes a new look at the historic clash between the ancient Greeks and Persians ( Army Rumour Service).The Battle of Marathon in 490 BC, in which an Athenian-led Greek force defeated a Persian invasion, is one of the most decisive battles in antiquity, studied for centuries. It is famed as a triumph of the Greek hoplite heavy infantry phalanx against massively superior Persian numbers. But this exciting reassessment of the evidence, ...

"The Stranger in France" by Sir John Carr is a captivating travel narrative that offers readers a glimpse into the author's experiences and observations during his time in France. Carr, a Scottish traveler and writer, provides a detailed account of the social customs, landscapes, and cultural nuances he encountered. His keen eye for detail and engaging prose bring to life the vibrant atmosphere of France, making it an intriguing read for those interested in travel literature and the histor...

The public shall be my confessor.—In the summer of last year, whilst the larger portion of the civilized world was anxiously awaiting the result of our sincere negotiations for a peace, which, alas! the crafty ministers of Napoleon, never intended should be other than mere “romans politiques,” the desire of contemplating a country, and a race of people to me entirely new, induced me to trespass upon their shore. I resolved upon visiting Holland, although in a state of reluctant war with my...

The Vikings and sainthood are not concepts normally found side by side. But Norway’s King Olaf II Haraldsson (c. 995-1030) embodied both to an extraordinary degree. As a battle-eager teenager he almost single-handedly pulled down London Bridge (as in the nursery rhyme) and took part in many other Viking raids . Olaf lacked none of the traditional Viking qualities of toughness and audacity, yet his routine baptism grew into a burning missionary faith that was all the more remarkable for bei...

This WWII history examines the most consequential and hard-fought battle between Greek and Italian forces in Albania.On March 9th, 1941, the Italians launched their Spring Offensive, designed to stem four months of humiliating reverses. Watched by Mussolini himself, the operation's objective was a pair of parallel valleys dominated by the Greek-held Hill 731. The Italian Eighth Corps, part of Geloso's 11th Army, had the task of seizing the heights, spearheaded by 38...