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Alfonso I of Aragon (reigned 1104-1134 AD) granted extensive estates, essentially the majority of his kingdom due to the absence of an heir, to the Knights Hospitaller and Knights Templar. These military orders, comprising professional warrior-monks, played a crucial role in the defense of the Crusader States in the Middle East. Though the initial attraction faced some reduction from Spanish nobility, it eventually proved successful, leading both orders to contribute knights to the Reconquista—the Templars in 1143 AD and the Hospitallers in 1148 AD. Furthermore, the Iberian peninsula witnessed the establishment of its own indigenous military orders. The Order of Calatrava, founded in 1158 AD, became renowned for its knights clad in distinctive black armor. The 1170s AD marked a notable period for the creation of additional military orders. The Order of Santiago was formed in 1170 AD, followed by Montjoy in Aragon in 1173 AD, Alcantara in 1176 AD, and in Portugal, the Order of Evora around 1178 AD. Notably, these local orders held a significant advantage in that they were not obligated to allocate a third of their revenue to a headquarters in the Middle East, unlike the Templars and Hospitallers. The surge in professional adventurers from various parts of Europe, particularly northern France, and Norman Sicily, was another noteworthy development. The allure of riches in southern Spain drew these warriors to join forces with Christian Spanish rulers, augmenting the military strength aligned against the Muslim forces in the region. Which military order do you find most fascinating in the context of the Reconquista—Knights Templar, Knights Hospitaller, or one of the local orders like the Order of Calatrava? #mylineage #armour #ancienthistory #militaryhistory #medievalist #medievalhistory #medievaltimes #medieval #heraldry #middleages #armor #medievalworld #warriorhistory #medievalknight #medievalarmor #knighthood #templarios #knightstemplar #templar #europeanhistory #reconquistahistory #iberiancrusades #medievalspain #historicalbattles #middleageswarfare #elcid #catolicos #cruzadas #crusades #deus https://lnkd.in/grvBKAZe

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📅 May 28 📖 On this day in #history : 585 BC – A solar eclipse occurs, as predicted by the Greek philosopher and scientist Thales, while Alyattes is battling Cyaxares in the Battle of the Eclipse, leading to a truce. This is one of the cardinal dates from which other dates can be calculated. It is also the earliest event of which the precise date is known. 621 – Battle of Hulao: Li Shimin, the son of the Chinese emperor Gaozu, defeats the numerically superior forces of Dou Jiande near the Hulao Pass (Henan). This victory decides the outcome of the civil war that followed the Sui dynasty's collapse in favour of the Tang dynasty. 1588 – The Spanish Armada, with 130 ships and 30,000 men, sets sail from Lisbon, Portugal, heading for the English Channel. (It will take until May 30 for all ships to leave port.) 1934 – Near Callander, Ontario, Canada, the Dionne quintuplets are born to Oliva and Elzire Dionne; they will be the first quintuplets to survive infancy. 1940 – World War II: Norwegian, French, Polish and British forces recapture Narvik in Norway. This is the first Allied infantry victory of the War. *Events selected are not necessarily positive/happy/to-be-celebrated, but items I thought were historically interesting and/or significant to their time and I'm trying to select items from a broad range of history and not clumped too close together.

Post III of III for today...how appropriate that this last post was the longest of all requiring three posts! The most important message that we at Alesia Architecture take from Caesar’s success at Alesia is not the one of self-propaganda that he wanted all of Rome to hear at his triumph. Rather, we celebrate the fact that, for all of Caesar’s leadership qualities, all the dedication of his men and the prowess of his cavalry, Alesia was won by architecture. Without it, Caesar would never have been able to reach the highest levels of his society. Likewise, America’s military endeavors need to stand on solid foundations— we at Alesia, like the legionaries of old, work to build those foundations. Trust us; we are taking our cue from some pretty ancient, tried-and-true wisdom. Photo Credit: The Triumphs of Caesar IX: Julius Caesar by Andrea Mantegna

As the third century BC unfolded, the Roman Republic had already established itself as a formidable land power. However, its naval capabilities were still evolving. Rome's relationship with Carthage, the dominant maritime power of the time, was fraught with tension. Their rivalry came to a head when Rome entered into an alliance with the city-state of Massilia (modern-day Marseille), a key thorn in Carthage's side. This alliance set the stage for the Battle of Cape Hermaeum, as Carthage sought to crush the growing influence of Rome. The Carthaginians were under the command of an experienced admiral named Hannibal Gisco. On the other side, the Roman fleet was commanded by Lucius Caecilius Metellus. While Rome had fewer ships and less naval experience than Carthage, Metellus was a brilliant strategist and a charismatic leader. The Battle of Cape Hermaeum was fought off the southern coast of Sardinia, a strategically important location for both Rome and Carthage. Metellus' tactical genius shone through as he devised a brilliant plan. Knowing that the Carthaginians were overconfident, he led his fleet in a daring maneuver, using the natural geography of the cape to his advantage. By positioning his ships in a crescent formation, Metellus maximized his firepower, allowing his smaller fleet to punch above its weight. As the Carthaginian fleet approached, they were caught off guard by the Roman formation and the challenging sea conditions. A fierce battle ensued, and the Romans skillfully exploited the wind patterns, using fire ships to disrupt the Carthaginian line and employing a well-coordinated assault. The result was a resounding victory for the Romans. Carthage was gradually losing its grip on the western Mediterranean. #mylineage #ancient #armor #battle #brasidas #europeanhistory #greece #greek #greekwarfare #helmet #historia #historical #history #hoplite #platea #leonidas #lysander #mediterranean #hephaestion #military #militaryhistory #shield #sparta #spartan #alexanderthegreat #alexander #warhistorical #warhistory #warrior #warriorhistory https://lnkd.in/gACNvigY

HMS “The prefix placed before the name of a Royal Navy warship to indicate that she is Her (His) Majesty's ship. The abbreviation came into use from about 1790, the custom before this date being to indicate a ship of the Royal Navy in the form ‘His Ma ties Ship’. The earliest example of the use of HMS as an abbreviation is a reference to HMS Phoenix in 1789.” https://lnkd.in/eeeU_-Yq “In the early 18th century, naval ships were named in one of two ways: either after royalty, or after an English locality. Of the ships built in the 1700s, the largest were named after monarchs, their relatives or their palaces: Royal Sovereign, Royal Anne, Royal George, Prince George, Royal Oak, Royal William, Elizabeth, Restoration, Mary, Royal Katherine, and Hampton Court. The remaining ships were almost always named after English towns, counties or rivers: London, Northumberland, Nottingham, York, Devonshire, Chichester, Cornwall, Kent, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridge, Oxford, Shrewsbury, and the Humber.” “As the Navy grew in size across the 18th century, there was marked transformation in how ships were named. Many of the larger naval ships continued to be named after royalty, notably Royal Sovereign (1786), Prince of Wales (1794) and Queen Charlotte (1810). Increasingly common though were ships named after creatures, gods and protagonists from classical antiquity. At the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 the British fleet included Neptune, Agamemnon, Ajax, Orion, Minotaur, Spartiate, Mars, Bellerophon, Colossus, Achille, Polyphemus, Euryalus, Naiad and Sirius. How much this was a deliberate policy is unclear, but it offers a fascinating window into the reading habits of the period’s naval administrators.” “The second development was the emergence of a more patriotic naming policy. After the Act of Union in 1707, the Admiralty quickly renamed two ships Edinburgh and Glasgow to help incorporate the Scottish into the British Navy.” https://lnkd.in/ewUr2MVu “The Royal Navy has always gloried in its traditions, none more so than the tradition of naming ships. A ship’s name, motto and badge serve as a great source of pride for its crew and a historic pride in the tradition of ships’ forebears.” “Another tradition is to consider ships as female, referring to them as ‘she’. Although it may sound strange referring to an inanimate object as ‘she’, this tradition relates to the idea of a female figure such as a mother or goddess guiding and protecting a ship and crew. Another idea is that in many languages, objects are referred to using feminine or masculine nouns. This is less common in English which tends to use gender-neutral nouns, however referring to ships as ‘she’ may refer to far more ancient traditions.” https://lnkd.in/ec7N89VG

Is re-enacting history more than just playing war?   In a world where (digital) media and museums nowadays seem to be the primary sources of historical knowledge, the work of Lise Zurné offers a fresh perspective on how we can experience and understand history. For a report with Trouw, Zurné visited the 277th Volks-Grenadier Division, a re-enactment group that recreates German anti-aircraft units from World War II. She discusses how "playing war" can provide an immersive historical experience and offer a broader perspective on history. Read more about the article on our website. https://lnkd.in/eDVgB6YZ

The First World War, also known as the Great War, was a global conflict that took place between 1914 and 1918, involving the main world powers of the time. It was a period of great turbulence and change, marked by unprecedented brutality and lasting effects that shaped the course of 20th century history. The trigger for the war was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, in Sarajevo, on June 28, 1914. The event triggered a series of alliances and declarations of war, leading to the formation of two main blocs: the Triple Entente, made up of France, the United Kingdom and Russia, and the Triple Alliance, made up of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy. Edição feita por mim

The Battle of Trafalgar, fought on 21st October 1805, stands as one of the most significant naval engagements in history, chiefly remembered for the British Royal Navy's resounding victory under Vice-Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson. This battle was a pivotal moment during the Napoleonic Wars, which saw a coalition of European powers, including Britain, opposing the French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. Historical Context: In the early 19th century, Napoleon Bonaparte had emerged as a formidable force in Europe, having risen to power in the aftermath of the French Revolution. By 1805, he had crowned himself Emperor and was exerting control over much of continental Europe. His ambitions threatened not only the balance of power in Europe but also the long-standing maritime supremacy of the British. The Threat from Napoleon: Napoleon's grand strategy at this time involved invading Britain, a plan which necessitated naval supremacy in the English Channel. The French and Spanish fleets, under French command, were crucial to this plan. The Royal Navy's control of the seas, however, was a significant obstacle to Napoleon's ambitions. The Battle of Trafalgar: The battle took place near Cape Trafalgar, off the southwest coast of Spain. The British fleet, commanded by Nelson, consisted of 27 ships of the line, while the Franco-Spanish fleet, under French Admiral Pierre-Charles Villeneuve, comprised 33 ships of the line. Nelson employed innovative tactics, notably his famous perpendicular approach, breaking the traditional line of battle to engage the enemy more directly and disrupt their formation. This maneuver was risky but brilliantly executed, leading to a decisive British victory. Lord Nelson's Role and Legacy: Admiral Nelson was renowned for his inspirational leadership and tactical genius. At Trafalgar, he led from the front aboard his flagship, HMS Victory. Tragically, he was mortally wounded during the battle, becoming a national hero in Britain. His death is often seen as a poignant symbol of self-sacrifice for one's country. Consequences of the Battle: Maritime Supremacy: The battle confirmed British naval dominance, ensuring the Royal Navy's control of the seas for the remainder of the Napoleonic Wars. Prevention of Invasion: Trafalgar effectively ended Napoleon's plans to invade Britain, as the loss of naval power made such an endeavor impractical. Impact on the Napoleonic Wars: While the battle did not directly lead to Napoleon's downfall, it was a crucial factor in undermining his wider military ambitions. Legacy for England and the Western World: The victory at Trafalgar had profound and lasting implications. It secured Britain's position as a dominant naval power, shaped the future of European politics, and had a lasting impact on the global balance of power. The battle is commemorated in Britain through various memorials, most notably Trafalgar Square in London, and remains a symbol of national pride and military excellence.

The First Punic War, which raged from 264 BC to 241 BC, came to a dramatic conclusion, fundamentally reshaping the Mediterranean world. This conflict was primarily a struggle between the Roman Republic and the Carthaginian Empire for control over Sicily and supremacy in the region. The war was marked by a series of naval and land battles, including the famous Battle of the Aegates Islands in 241 BC. It was in this pivotal naval engagement that Rome emerged victorious, effectively ending the First Punic War. The Romans, under the command of Gaius Lutatius Catulus, decisively defeated the Carthaginian fleet, which was under the leadership of Hanno the Great. The Roman victory was largely attributed to the development of the corvus, a boarding device that allowed Roman soldiers to secure Carthaginian ships, turning naval battles into something akin to land combat. With their fleet in ruins, the Carthaginians had no choice but to seek peace. In 241 BC, the two powers negotiated the terms of the peace treaty, which is known as the "Treaty of Lutatius." Under this treaty, Carthage agreed to evacuate Sicily, pay a substantial indemnity to Rome, and release Roman prisoners of war. This marked the end of the First Punic War, with Rome emerging as the victor. The consequences of this war were profound. Carthage, though weakened, would recover and engage Rome in further conflicts, leading to the later Punic Wars. The acquisition of Sicily marked Rome's expansion as a dominant Mediterranean power, setting the stage for its future imperial ambitions. #mylineage #ancient #armor #battle #brasidas #europeanhistory #greece #greek #greekwarfare #helmet #historia #historical #history #hoplite #platea #leonidas #lysander #mediterranean #hephaestion #military #militaryhistory #shield #sparta #spartan #alexanderthegreat #alexander #warhistorical #warhistory #warrior #warriorhistory https://lnkd.in/gFH2Cb-7