The Battle of Valmy, 1792. Levee en Masse. Nationalism Takes Root. Goethe Comments.
The Prussian retreat at Valmy marked more than just a military withdrawal—it was the salvation of France itself. Brunswick’s decision to pull back shattered the illusion of an unstoppable invasion, leaving the gates of Paris firmly shut to foreign boots. This retreat solidified the strength of the French revolutionary government, whose grip on power tightened with each passing day. It was a turning point, the first great triumph of levée en masse, the revolutionary call to arms that swept com...
12 Okt 202426min
The Battle of Yorktown, 1781. The United States Secedes from the Crown. French Aid Pivotal.
The resounding American victory shattered British morale, forcing the English public to demand a change in leadership. The new government, facing the undeniable reality of defeat, initiated peace talks that ultimately secured independence for the United States. Yorktown. September - October 17, 1781. Franco-American Forces: 8,800 American Soldiers and 7,000 French Soldiers. British Forces: 6,000 Soldiers, mixed between British and German (Hessian) Mercenaries. Additional Reading and Resear...
11 Okt 202421min
The Battle of Waterloo, 1815. Napoleonic Europe Destroyed. France's Political/Military Supremacy Never Returns
Napoleon’s crushing defeat brought the curtain down on one of history’s most astonishing careers. As the once-mighty emperor was cast into exile, Europe, exhausted by years of war, finally exhaled. The flames of conflict were doused, and a four decade long era of peace stretched across the continent. Waterloo. June 18, 1815. Allied Forces: Anglo-Dutch - 50,000 Infantry, 12,500 Cavalry, 156 Cannon. Prussian - 61,000 Infantry. Napoleon's French Forces: 49,000 Infantry, 15,570 Cavalry, 246 Can...
10 Okt 202421min
The Battle of Antietam, 1862. The Emancipation Proclamation. McLellan's Disasters.
The Confederate army’s failure to secure a decisive triumph on Northern soil shattered their hopes of winning foreign aid—assistance that was crucial to sustaining their war effort. This Union strategic success handed President Lincoln the perfect moment to unleash the Emancipation Proclamation, forever altering the course of the conflict. Antietam. September 17, 1862. Confederate Forces: 45,000 Soldiers. Union Forces: 75,000 Soldiers. Additional Reading and Research: Luuvas, Jay. The U.S. ...
9 Okt 202422min
The Battle of Leipzig, 1813. "The Battle of the Nations" Napoleon Loses France's Empire, France Invaded
Leipzig was more than just a battlefield victory; it was a turning point in history. It showed the world that even Napoleon, the man who had once seemed invincible, could be defeated. And it proved something else—that Europe’s nations, fractured by war for so long, could unite, and in doing so, reshape the future of the continent. Leipzig. 16th - 18th October, 1813. Allied Forces: 57,000 Prussians, 160,000 Austrians and Russians, 65,000 Swedes and Russians. France's Forces: 160,000 Soldiers....
3 Okt 202426min
The Battle of Dunkirk, 1940. The "Miracle," "But If Not..." 338k Troops Rescued
The momentary hesitation of the German high command became a turning point in the war, granting the British forces a narrow window to escape from France. This delay preserved the core of Britain’s army, ensuring they could stand as the island's shield in its darkest hour and fight another day on the battlefields of Europe. Dunkirk. 24th May - 4th June, 1940. Allied Forces: Nine British and Five French Divisions totalling roughly 400,000 Soldiers. German Forces: Nine Divisions totalling rough...
2 Okt 202427min
The Battle of Syracuse, 413 B.C. Athens Declines Into Subservience, Paving the Way for Alexander the Great
The crushing defeat of Athens shattered its naval supremacy in the eastern Mediterranean, precipitating its fall as the foremost Greek polis. This disaster not only stripped Athens of its dominance but also extinguished its ambitions of establishing control across the entire Mediterranean, thwarting what might have been an empire stretching to Carthage and Rome. Syracuse. 415 - 413 B.C. Athenian Forces: ~ 200 Galleys and 45,000 to 50,000 Soldiers. Syracusan Forces: ~ 45,000 Soldiers with 4,4...
1 Okt 202424min
The Battle of Tricameron, 533 A.D. Belisarius Unites East and West under Roman Rule for Justinian
The triumph in North Africa restored Byzantine dominance over the region, bringing it back into the fold of the Eastern Roman Empire. From this strategic foothold, the Byzantines launched their bold invasion of Italy, momentarily reuniting the sundered Eastern and Western Roman Empires under a single imperial banner—if only for a fleeting chapter in history. Tricameron. December, 533 A.D. Byzantine Forces: 10,000 Infantry, 5,000 Cavalry. Vandal Forces: 50,000 Soldiers, mostly Cavalry. Addit...
30 Sep 202429min
