The Battle of Ipsus, 310 B.C. The End of Alexander's Empire, Rome's Gateway to Ascendance
Ipsus marked the zenith of the titanic struggle between Alexander the Great’s successors, each vying to forge a vast Hellenistic empire that could unite the known world. At the center of this ambition stood Antigonus, whose towering dreams of empire crumbled in the dust of that battlefield, leaving him the last to fall short of creating the enduring, international dominion he so fiercely sought. Ipsus. 310 B.C. Antigonus' Forces: 70,000 Infantry, 10,000 Heavy Cavalry, 75 War Elephants. Combi...
19 Sep 202422min
The Invasion of Poland, 1939, Nazi Blitzkrieg Tactics Introduced, Air Support and Armor Maneuver Warfare Doctrines Entrenched
The Nazi onslaught against Poland ignited the flames of World War II, unleashing the terrifying force of blitzkrieg and shattering the entrenched defensive tactics of World War I. This world war marked the dawn of a brutal, fast-paced era in which speed and shock would reign supreme on the battlefield, leaving the trench warfare of the past in the dust. Poland. 1st September - 5th October, 1939. Nazi Forces: 1,250,000 Soldiers. Polish Forces: 800,000 Soldiers. Additional Reading and Researc...
18 Sep 202419min
The Battle of Atlanta, 1864, and March to the Sea - 'Total War' Tactics Used Against Their Own
The fall of Atlanta to Union forces sealed Abraham Lincoln’s fate as victor in the 1864 election, crushing any hope for George McClellan and his peace platform. With the South in retreat, the North rallied around its war president, determined to see the conflict through to its conclusion. Sherman’s subsequent March to the Sea introduced an ancient breed of warfare that the modern world was unaccustomed to. It was no longer just armies that fell under the hammer of war, but entire societies—ci...
17 Sep 202421min
The Battle of Quebec, 1759. France Loses Nearly Everything in the Western Hemisphere, Seeds of American Revolution are Sewn
The British victory not only shattered France’s grip on Canada, solidifying Britain’s unchallenged supremacy in North America, but in its wake, it sowed additional seeds for a rebellion in its infancy. The very triumph that crowned Britain’s empire set ablaze the rising pride that led to a hunger for freedom in the American colonies, fueling a fire that would soon roar into a revolution, turning former allies into enemies. Quebec. 13th September, 1759. British Forces: 4,441 Soldiers. French ...
16 Sep 202427min
The Battle of Alesia, 52 B.C., Besieged While Besieging, Rome Takes Gaul
Caesar’s crushing defeat of the united Gallic tribes cemented Roman dominance over Gaul for the next five centuries, transforming the region into a cornerstone of the Empire’s might. Yet, this triumph carried a darker legacy. The immense glory and power Caesar amassed from his conquests ignited a fierce rivalry with the Roman Senate, setting him on a collision course with the Republic itself. His next great campaign would not be against foreign foes, but against Rome—his own motherland. Ales...
15 Sep 202425min
The Battle of Gaugamela, 331 BC, Alexander's Decimation of the Persian Empire, The Advent of Greek Culture and Values in to East
With his decisive victory, Alexander shattered the Persian Empire, bringing to its knees an ancient dynasty that had once ruled from the Mediterranean to Central Asia. In its place, he flung open the gates of the East, laying bare the vast territories stretching to India, ripe for the unstoppable Macedonian war machine to sweep across in conquest. What had once been the heartland of the Persian kings now became the hunting ground of Alexander, as he carved a path deeper into the unknown, leav...
14 Sep 202422min
The Battle of Naseby, 1645, England's Civil War, The End of Absolute Monarchs
The long-standing rivalry between the authority of the king and the rising power of Parliament reached a provisional conclusion, with Parliament emerging victorious. This victory established the foundation of parliamentary democracy in England, a seismic shift that reverberated across the Atlantic, deeply influencing the governance of English colonies, particularly in America. Naseby. 14 June, 1645. Monarchic Forces: 4,000 Cavalry, 3,500 Infantry. Parliamentary Forces: 6,500 Cavalry, 7000 In...
13 Sep 202425min
The Battle of Okinawa, 1945, The Staggering Butcher's Bill that Justified Atomic Warfare
This invasion stood as the last great offensive of World War II, its staggering cost of blood and sacrifice weighing heavily on the scales, tipping the balance toward the use of atomic weapons to bring the conflict to an end. Okinawa. 1 April - 22 June, 1945. US Forces: 180,000 Men. Japanese Forces: ~ 117,000 to ~130,000 Men. Additional Reading and Research: Leckie, Robert. The Last Battle of World War II.Sledge, E.B. With the Old Breed at Peleliu and Okinawa.Feifer, George. Tennozan: The B...
12 Sep 202426min
