Notice: This is the official website of the All Empires History Community (Reg. 10 Feb 2002)

  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Register Register  Login Login

Famous Battles! -> Post Your Favourite

 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <12345 12>
Author
Ikki View Drop Down
Chieftain
Chieftain
Avatar
Guanarteme

Joined: 31-Dec-2004
Location: Spain
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1378
  Quote Ikki Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Famous Battles! -> Post Your Favourite
    Posted: 27-Jan-2007 at 13:24
Originally posted by rider

Okay it is.

BTW, do you all agree to the fact that all stories uploaded here would be uploaded on the Main Site and one each month published in the Magazine?


No, all not, if somebody write a good quality article and people like you rider with "contacts" Wink see it, or the fellows propose any article because is good, i think that is a good idea that the editorial staff look the article (and decide), but automatically, no.
Back to Top
rider View Drop Down
Tsar
Tsar

Suspended

Joined: 09-Aug-2004
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4664
  Quote rider Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27-Jan-2007 at 16:42
I am The Contact in reality...

But I suspect that the writings here will be automatically of good quality.
Back to Top
alexandruu View Drop Down
Knight
Knight
Avatar

Joined: 25-Nov-2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 60
  Quote alexandruu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28-Jan-2007 at 09:40
I also think that the chosen battles will be of very good quality; their posting onto the Magazine will be a prize for the writers.
 
Score until now:
 
Arausio - 2 votes
Kulikovo - 1 vote
Varna - 1 vote
 
Vote your favourite battle !
Back to Top
Batu View Drop Down
Baron
Baron
Avatar

Joined: 31-Aug-2006
Location: Barad-dur
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 405
  Quote Batu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28-Jan-2007 at 14:55
i vote for Varna
A wizard is never late,nor he is early he arrives exactly when he means to :) ( Gandalf the White in the Third Age of History Empire Of Istari )
Back to Top
Liudovik_Nemski View Drop Down
Earl
Earl
Avatar

Joined: 23-Oct-2006
Location: Bulgaria
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 262
  Quote Liudovik_Nemski Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29-Jan-2007 at 10:58
Battle of Adrianople on April 14,1205 A.D.

Several thousand soldiers dead along with 300 slaughtered european knights by the bulgars of Tzar Kaloyan.Plus-the latin emperor was captured and jailed in Turnovo.I've entered in his tower 2 times-it stil standsSmile.

Battle of Anchiallus August 20,917 A.D.

110 000 byzantines agains 70 000 bulgars.Casualties:70 000 byzantines,20 000 bulgars.It's called the battle of the century-The Byzantine historian Paulus Deacon says that 75 years after this military catastrophe the field at Anchialus was still covered with tens of thousands of Roman skeletons.

Edited by Liudovik_Nemski - 29-Jan-2007 at 11:05
Back to Top
Knights View Drop Down
Caliph
Caliph
Avatar
suspended

Joined: 23-Oct-2006
Location: AUSTRALIA
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3224
  Quote Knights Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29-Jan-2007 at 14:08
I'm all for Kulikovo at the momentWink
Back to Top
rider View Drop Down
Tsar
Tsar

Suspended

Joined: 09-Aug-2004
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4664
  Quote rider Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29-Jan-2007 at 14:10
Then Kulikovo, Varna and Arausio have two votes...
Back to Top
alexandruu View Drop Down
Knight
Knight
Avatar

Joined: 25-Nov-2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 60
  Quote alexandruu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29-Jan-2007 at 14:28
Originally posted by rider

Then Kulikovo, Varna and Arausio have two votes...
Than. we'll be waiting for one final, decisive vote, until tommorow.
Back to Top
Ikki View Drop Down
Chieftain
Chieftain
Avatar
Guanarteme

Joined: 31-Dec-2004
Location: Spain
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1378
  Quote Ikki Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29-Jan-2007 at 14:47
My vote for Varna, we have a strong legion of the polish-hungarian alliance in this forum, about this event only can be done a great article Thumbs%20Up



Edited by Ikki - 29-Jan-2007 at 14:48
Back to Top
rider View Drop Down
Tsar
Tsar

Suspended

Joined: 09-Aug-2004
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4664
  Quote rider Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29-Jan-2007 at 15:19
Then it is Varna if no one decides to even the balance with either Kulikovo or Arausio. 
Back to Top
pekau View Drop Down
Caliph
Caliph
Avatar
Atlantean Prophet

Joined: 08-Oct-2006
Location: Korea, South
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3335
  Quote pekau Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29-Jan-2007 at 16:02

One of the most awkard, bloody, confusing, and (leader-general conflict) of all time: Stalingrad.

     
   
Join us.
Back to Top
Raider View Drop Down
General
General
Avatar

Joined: 06-Jun-2005
Location: Hungary
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 804
  Quote Raider Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30-Jan-2007 at 03:32
Originally posted by rider

Then it is Varna if no one decides to even the balance with either Kulikovo or Arausio. 
Well, Varna is also the next battle in the "Hungarian battles topic". I am planing to post this week.
Back to Top
Knights View Drop Down
Caliph
Caliph
Avatar
suspended

Joined: 23-Oct-2006
Location: AUSTRALIA
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3224
  Quote Knights Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30-Jan-2007 at 03:35
Varna it is then. We look forward to reading a wonderful description of the battle within, should we say the next week? No rush though. 
Back to Top
alexandruu View Drop Down
Knight
Knight
Avatar

Joined: 25-Nov-2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 60
  Quote alexandruu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30-Jan-2007 at 08:00
Thank you all very much. I'm going to post the story of Varna early next week.
Back to Top
rider View Drop Down
Tsar
Tsar

Suspended

Joined: 09-Aug-2004
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4664
  Quote rider Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01-Feb-2007 at 10:57
Looking forward to it... Wait, this week or next week?

Perhaps we could start another round while you are writing?
Back to Top
alexandruu View Drop Down
Knight
Knight
Avatar

Joined: 25-Nov-2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 60
  Quote alexandruu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01-Feb-2007 at 13:31
The idea was to keep everybody focused on a single moment in time, so I think that starting a new contest before this one's over would dilute the attention given to the story.
Back to Top
rider View Drop Down
Tsar
Tsar

Suspended

Joined: 09-Aug-2004
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4664
  Quote rider Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01-Feb-2007 at 14:57
Okay...

[the real idea for my post, was to bump the topic :d]
Back to Top
alexandruu View Drop Down
Knight
Knight
Avatar

Joined: 25-Nov-2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 60
  Quote alexandruu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04-Feb-2007 at 05:48
 
The Battle of Varna - November 10th 1444
 
--------------
 
The story I'm about to tell is seldom given attention compared to other epic-battles of the High Middle Ages (Kosovopolje, Nicopolis, or Mohacs), but, as we are about to see, this event was a turning point, that sent shockwaves in time, shockwaves that were felt at the Second Battle of Kosovo in 1448, Constantinople in 1453, Vaslui in 1475, and even at Mohacs and Vienna in the early 16th century.  

The time was November 1444, and the gods demanded for blood. The ideal place to satisfy their bloodlust would have seemed to be the Balkans - the battleground of the ancient Greeks, Macedonians, Thracians, Sarmatians, Romans, and Bulgars, that was still a chessboard for famous battles. Any chessboard needs 2 high-kings, and this time the gods picked the Polish Vladislaw IIIrd and the Ottoman Murad IInd, 2 great men that lead huge kingdoms, and kept them by force. Given the importance of their showdown, we should take a closer look at their moral portraits and achievements. The Polish king was a very ambitious, powerfull character, that managed to maintain under his iron fist 2 great kingdoms - Poland and Hungary, thanks to his ancestry. He came to power when he was only 10, but the rigorous training and his overly-competitive edge made him a formidable opponent at only 21 years of age. The Turk was also a very capable leader, and, similar to his rival, came to power at a very early age. Murad IInd extended the borders of the Ottoman Empire, by annexing Anatolia and Serbia, and was determined to put Venice, Hungary, the Romanian Voievodates and even Poland under Muslim control. Inspiring power and resilience, this strong character will prove to be a rock to hard to brake by Wladislaw's courage.

Driven by his need for power, Wladislaw rallied an army to help him destroy the Ottoman threat in the Balkans. This army was a coalition of Poles, Hungarians, Rutens, Bulgarians, Walachians, Papal Knights, and others, suming up to 25.000 men. The Turkish response was to summon a very large army, of almost 100.000 warriors, to behead the Polish Dragon. The 2 massive forces moved slowly, like two giant land-beasts across the continent, until they finaly came face to face near the fortress of Varna (present-day Bulgaria), where they made the final battle preparations.

Before the battle, the king examined the enemy positions, and realised in horror that the Turks had at least 4 times more soldiers. That's why he called a meeting, in order to make the best decision regarding the battle. In the war room stood John Hunyady, the Cardinal Cesarini, Michael Szilagyi and the Polish King. While the Cardinal asked for a very defensive formation, Hunyady (who was by far the most experienced warrior in the room) replied that "To escape is impossible, to surrender is unthinkable. Let us fight with bravery and honor our arms".

Let us now dig deeper into the past, to find out what was the historical context of the battle. In the middle of the 15th century, the Ottoman empire was still at his dawn, and Europe was sank in intrigue and war, as usual. Poland was a very powerfull state, that greatly extended its influence after the victory of Grunewald, and, boosted by the new alliance with Hungary, was claiming the title as "the most powerfull state in Eastern Europe". The Turkish threat had been recognized earlier, after the defeat of the last crusade at the battle of Nicopolis. That is why the Pope Eugene IVth demanded new actions against "the infidels", and even financed attacks against the Ottoman-held fortresses and settlements in the South of the Danube river. The voice of the Pope commanded that the 10 years peace treaty signed between Hungary and the Turks in 1444 to only last for 5 months, and that the tides of war to ravage again the Balkans. The European plan was excellent - the Polish-led alliance would sweep the enemy of Bulgaria, Albania and Greece, while the Venetian fleet would deny the crossing of enemy reinforcements across the Bosphorus. Unfortunately, the plan failed miserably, and the Italian fleet (Genovese in fact) not only "missed" its goal, but also helped the Sultan's army to cross the strait. That's why, even before the battle started, dark clouds were gathered above Wladislaw's forces.

On the morning of November 10th 1444, the 2 armies lined up in front of the fortress of Varna, determined to obliterate the enemy. The mixed European forces were a very imbalanced mix of cavalry and infantry, the mounted troops making over 60% of the total force. On the right wing, the Christians placed the papal knights, Croatian soldiers, and German mercenaries, led by Cesarini and Jan Dominek of Varadin, while the left wing - consisted of Hungarian and German mercenaries, along with Romanians from Transylvania. The center was being held  by the King and Hunyady, with their knights.

The Turks had the fanatical janissary corps in the center (some 40.000 men), while azeps, akincis beslis and Spahs held the left wing. The right wing was comprised of kapikulu warriors and Spahis of Rumelia.  

The dark clouds that metaphoricaly gathered above Wladislaw's army became very real just before the battle started - in a dark irony, nature smashed against each other huge cloud formations, setting an apocalyptic scenery to a hellish battle.

Lightings pierced the skies, and thunders defeaned the soldiers, while heavy rain started whiping both Poles and Turks. While the storm was getting stronger, the Ottoman forces started advancing - it was the point of no return.

 The Chrsitians watched in terror as the firs tidal wave of akingis was larger than their entire army. The soldiers packed together, and awaited in fear the first charge. The Turks quickly passed over the muddy terrain, and engaged the left wing of the Polish army. Still, even if they had a huge number advantage (4:1 on that side), they were lacking in both offensive and defensive equipment. That's why, when the Chrstian cannons and handguns started firing, the achingii lost heart. The German mercenaries rained death upon them until they broke, and, as the wave started to dissipate, the victorious knights charged against the routing enemies. Fueled by and honor, the Germans and Italians slashed and guned down many of the Turkish attackers. But, the tides of war are almost never mono-valent. The Ottoman commander Kardza Bey charged the European forces from the flank, leading the light Arab cavalry and the Spahs detachment. The Turkish strike was like a hammer blow to the papal knights, who were swamped and slaughtered by the colossal numbers of enemies (over 10.000). Seeing that his chance hang by a thread, Wladislaw ordered the Walachian cavalry to engage the enemy. Immediately, the fast, powerfull horses from the Romanian stables, made their entry on the battlefield, and, just as the Turks surprised and routed the European mercenaries, they broke the back of the Anatolain Spakhs, and pursued the survivors into the Ottoman camp; they pillaged it, and than left the battle scene.
 
While the Romanian cavalry was engaging its Arab counterpart, the Christian right wing was under attack by both Turkish infantry and cavalry, that slowly bu surely consumed the Polish forces. That's why the king sent forward the knights of Joan Hunyady, while himself preparing for one final, desparate charge. Hunyady's men, clad in shining armour, with fire in their eyes and molten led in their veins, started an avalanche-like charge, that cut thrugh the enemy lines like a hot knife through butter. The heavily-armoured knights slashed their way through the Turkish flags, routing them almost instantly. The akincis, spakshs and beslii were running in terror as the Hungarian forces hunted them down mercilessly.
 
There was no escape. The horrified worshipers of Allah were destined to die that day. That's what Hunyady thought. That's what set the European soldier's hearts alight, that's what the Ottoman soldiers were afraid of, and, surely, that's what the King thought when he ordered the decisive charge of his own bodyguards against the enemy center. Clad in iron, riding on the best horses of Poland, descendants of the legendary Sarmatian knights, the King's guard was a view to remeber.
 
500 tons of steel and flesh roled, lances extended, against the frightened janissary corps. To better understand the effect of such a charge, we must bear in mind that the horses used were very heavy, their speed was high, and all that energy was concentrated in the knights spears. That's why when the Turkish soldiers felt the ground shaking under the King's charge, they must have seen him as a lightning bolt, cast among them. But, unlike normal lightning bolts, that only last a second, this one became more powerfull and deadlier by the minute. The knights, driven by a berskerker rage, cut large paths through the janissary lines, the king leading the way towards the Sultan's tent. Like tigers amongst wolves, the Poles caused rampage in their haste, disgorging the pride of the Turkish forces.
 
Wladislaw was at the peak of his power - the Romanian cavalry took the enemy camp, the Ottoman left wing was melting under Hunyady's hammer-blow charge, and the Janissaries started to route beneath his own devastating attack. it was as though the Archangel Michael had descended from Heaven, and stroke terror into the hearts of the infidels. The proud son of Wladislaw IInd and Sofia of Halshany appeared to be destined to rule an even larger empire, and to ascend to higher levels of glory. It looked like the Christian cross had beaten the Muslim Crescent Moon.
 
But the ways of the gods are not to be judged by the mortals. As in many events in history, this one took a completely different turn because of one single decision - that of the King to separate from his men, and to carve his path towards the Sultan. Wladislaw, already battered by spears and swords, was in a personal killing spree. He drove his horse faster than the other knights, and quickly got himself surrounded by the janissaries. Still griping his sword, the king hacked from right to left everything in his path, obsessed to find his eternal glory by spilling the blood of the Muslim leader. That's when the eyes of Kodza Hazar - one of the Turkish janissaries- crossed with those of the king. The Ottoman soldier pierced Wladislaw's horse with his spear, and, because of the sudden fall, the King felt helplessly to the ground. Hazar's eyes glowed as he stroke the fallen king with his sword, beheading him instantly. The death of the king sent ripples through his knights spines, and gave breath to the shattered Ottoman army. The Christians started to run in terror, and not even Hunyady couldn't re-organize the European forces.  In full dissaray, horrified by what would happen to them if the would be caught, they all fled the field.
 
The Christian Archangel gave way to his Islamic counterpart - the war-Angel Azrael, that  bloodlusted the spakhs and fanatized the janissaries to run all over the field, through mud, blood and water, to capture as many Christians as they could. And, indeed, over 3000 men were captured...

The storm ended as the last Christian knight was fleeing, and as the first tortures were being applied to the prisoners. The cruelty of the battle didn't compare to the sadism exhibited after it. Some knights were impaled, others were roasted or boiled alive. For 3 days, the prisoners suffered the worst tortures the Turks could conceive, rising the death toll of the Polish Alliance to over 13000 men.

Of course, the Turks had also suffered great loses, over 20.000 spaksh, achingii and beslii being killed. But that matters less. What matters the most is that the Ottoman army proved once again that it could stand against the best European forces, and that it is ready to assault the heart of Eastern Europe. The crushing victory of the Ottomans also symbolicaly proved that Islam had once again triumphed against Christianity.  

And so ends a story forged from ambition, fought with courage, and ended in hate and bloodlust. 

-------------------------
 
This is it. I should have given more details, but I lacked the time...
 


Edited by alexandruu - 04-Feb-2007 at 05:56
Back to Top
Knights View Drop Down
Caliph
Caliph
Avatar
suspended

Joined: 23-Oct-2006
Location: AUSTRALIA
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3224
  Quote Knights Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04-Feb-2007 at 06:04
Originally posted by alexandruu

...Battle of Varna...
 
This is it. I should have given more details, but I lacked the time...
 

Don't worry, yet another exceptional description nevertheless. Well Done Alexandruu.

As for my battle this time, I am going to go with the Battle of Agincourt, 1415. Fought between the French force under Charles D'Ablret and the outnumbered and dysentery-ravaged English Army of Henry V. May I alarm you though, if mine is selected for the detailed response in the end, I will need at least a week to complete the overview. Thanks.

- Knights -
Back to Top
rider View Drop Down
Tsar
Tsar

Suspended

Joined: 09-Aug-2004
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4664
  Quote rider Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04-Feb-2007 at 14:41
I would suggest the choice of Kulikovo for the second time.

Good review, Alexandruu.

And Alex (K.), you might write it immediately, then you don't have to wait with it. If it isn't selected... I get it (Mag).
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <12345 12>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Bulletin Board Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 9.56a [Free Express Edition]
Copyright ©2001-2009 Web Wiz

This page was generated in 0.113 seconds.