The Battle of Shrewsbury (1403)
King Henry IV would face a major threat from within England, led by Henry “Harry Hotspur” Percy. Percy’s rebellion would culminate at the Battle of Shrewsbury, fought on 21 July 1403. How did this battle unfold, and how did Prince Hal survive an arrow to the face?
Q&A #2: What was the size of medieval armies?
The second Q&A episode of Bow and Blade. Michael and Kelly answer your questions, including how did medieval armies communicate, how much of the medieval past survives, what did medieval field medicine look like, how did they mine under a castle, and some thoughts on the St. Brice’s Day massacre.
Attila and the Battle of the Catalaunian Fields (451)
The Huns became a powerful force in Europe in the fifth century AD. In this episode of Bow and Blade, Kelly and Michael examine the story of Attila, the reliability of historical sources, and just how important the Battle of the Catalaunian Fields was.
The Battle of Nicopolis (1396)
In 1396, a Crusader army coming from France, Germany, England, Hungary, the Teutonic State and other parts of Europe would march into southeastern Europe, determined to attack the Turks. At Nicopolis they would find the Ottoman forces led by Bayezid I, and fight in one of the most important battles of the Middle Ages.
The Battle of Crécy (1346) – Part 2
Michael and Kelly continue their discussion of the Battle of Crécy, one of the major battles of the Hundred Years’ War. In this episode, they challenge the traditional accounts of the battle and where it took place.
The Battle of Crécy (1346)
On 26 August 1346 the armies of England and France would meet at Crécy, It would be the first major battle of the Hundred Years’ War, and an important English victory. This episode of Bow and Blade features the first part of Michael and Kelly’s discussion about the battle, focusing on the sources we have about the battle and their re-examination of where the fighting actually took place.
Q&A #1: How was the knightly cavalry charge used in battle?
The first Q&A episode of Bow and Blade. Michael and Kelly answer your questions, including what were overlooked events in medieval warfare, how did a cavalry charge actually work, and which medieval rulers would you most (and least) like to live under?
The Siege of Rhodes (1480)
In the year 1480, the Ottoman Empire massed its armies to conquer the small island of Rhodes. Defending the island were a group of medieval monastic warriors – the Hospitallers. In this episode of Bow and Blade, Michael and Kelly discuss the Siege of Rhodes in 1480.
Joan of Arc and the Siege of Orléans
In the year 1428, the English besieged Orléans, hoping to capture the strategic and symbolic city. A victory here could have led to the conquest of France. However, a teenage girl named Joan of Arc would also come to Orléans, and the entire course of the Hundred Years’ War would be changed. In this episode of Bow and Blade, Kelly and Michael talk about one of the most dramatic stories of medieval military history.
The Battle of Brunanburh
In the year 937, Æthelstan, King of England, found himself under attack from a coalition of his enemies. In this episode of Bow and Blade, Michael and Kelly tell us about the Battle of Brunanburh, including where it was fought and the amazing poem about the battle preserved in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle.