War, Kingship, and the End of Welsh Independence When Edward I ascended the English throne in 1272, Wales was not a unified kingdom but a patchwork of native principalities and Anglo-Norman marcher lordships. At their head stood Llywelyn ap Gruffudd , the most powerful Welsh ruler of the age and the last man to hold the native title Prince of Wales . Edward’s eventual conquest of Wales between 1277 and 1283 was not an inevitable act of aggression, but the result of mounting p

When Rome set its sights on Anglesey, they weren’t just crossing the Menai Strait to seize more land—they were going after the spiritual and cultural nerve center of the native Britons. Anglesey (Ynys Môn) was the beating heart of Druidic power: a place of ritual, sanctuary, and political influence. For the Roman Empire, that made it a threat.

Summary: After the end of Norman rule in 1194, Sicily entered a prolonged period of political transformation that reshaped its role in the medieval Mediterranean. Under the Hohenstaufen emperors, particularly Frederick II, Sicily became a centralized and highly organized kingdom governed through professional bureaucracy and codified law. Frederick’s Liber Augustalis formalized royal authority, limited feudal power, and built upon Norman administrative foundations, while grad

Flavius Belisarius was one of the Byzantine Empire’s greatest generals – a man who reconquered lost Roman lands and fought across three continents for Emperor Justinian. Yet by the end of his life, this brilliant commander had little to show for his victories. In legend he is remembered as a blind beggar, abandoned by an ungrateful emperor. While the blinding-and-begging story is apocryphal, its poignancy reflects a deeper truth. Belisarius gave everything to resurrect a dyin

By Steven Le Noir –   As a historian and travel guide having lived in Palermo with my young family, I’ve spent years uncovering Sicily’s medieval heart. This 14-day Norman history itinerary is a personal journey through time – from colossal castles and golden cathedrals to the quiet alleys of villages untouched by centuries. Follow in the footsteps of knights and kings, feel the fusion of cultures in every mosaic and marketplace, and experience the joy of discovery that await

Few battles in medieval Europe captured the imagination quite like Agincourt , fought on 25 October 1415  during the Hundred Years’ War. Against all expectations, a sick, exhausted English army —outnumbered at least 3 to 1—broke the military might of France in a narrow, muddy field near the village of Agincourt. It is remembered not just as a stunning upset but as a moment when technology, discipline, and terrain  combined to overturn the traditional logic of medieval warfare

Wellington’s Riflemen in Spain: A 2-Minute Summary During the Peninsular War (1808–1814), Wellington’s riflemen—most famously the 95th Rifles  and elements of the 60th Royal Americans —became one of the most effective combat units on the battlefield. Armed with the Baker rifle , they offered accuracy and range unmatched by the standard musket. This allowed them to hit French officers, NCOs, artillery crews, and skirmishers from 200–300 yards , often before French forces could