At the Battle of Nájera in 1367, French noble Bertrand du Guesclin tried to warn the Castilians not to attack English longbowmen with light cavalry.

When they didn't listen to him, he replied,

"So be it then. But these are the best soldiers and fiercest warriors in this world." As a result the Castilian light cavalry suffered heavy losses from English arrows, and the Castilian army was eventually outflanked by elite Gascon mercenaries.

Du Guesclin was well aware of the dangers of longbowmen as he faced them before in battles such as Auray in 1364.

The island of Rügen in the Baltic Sea changed hands many times in history.

Today it is a popular tourist destination, but the history of this island is full of brutal wars and invasions!

This was a very violent part of Europe!

Let's take a look at what was going on. 🧵



It is not known when the island of Rügen was first settled but they speculate it was inhabited since the Stone Age.

By 1st century it was populated by the East Germanic tribe of Rugii.

In the 7th century the island was invaded and conquered by the West Slavic Rani.

It's incredible how many inns and hotels in Austria and Germany still bear names such as Zur Post.

This is a remnant of the Imperial postal service created in 16th century by the Taxis family!

The Taxis established a network of inns which provided fresh horses for couriers! 🧵


The growing Habsburg Empire was in need of a better communication system in 16th century.

They commissioned the Taxis family which had historically provided couriers for the Duchy of Milan in Italy to establish a postal service in the Empire and beyond!

The brutal massacre of the Waldensians by the Savoyard ducal troops in 1655 shocked contemporary Protestant Europe.

But this was only the beginning of the long Savoyard-Waldensian Wars which would last until 1690.

A brave warrior emerged who became known as the Lion of Rora!🧵





The idyllic Cottian Alps on the border between France and Italy are now a tourist attraction and a place of peace and tranquility.

But historically, these lands witnessed a lot of unimaginable violence and brutality.

This cannonball in Nice was fired by the Ottomans during their siege of this city in 1543!

This siege was a result of French-Ottoman alliance and one of many joint operations they conducted against Habsburgs and their allies in the Mediterranean. 🧵 The Franco-Ottoman alliance was a result of the growing power of the Habsburgs which had encircled France due to their dynastic possessions in both Spain and Holy Roman Empire.

The alliance was proposed by King Francis I following the disastrous French defeat at Pavia in 1525.

16-17th centuries were more "medieval" than the actual Middle Ages, in terms of negative associations people have with the term medieval.

Constant wars, witch hunts, plagues, inquisition, religious violence...

All of these more common in 16-17th centuries than Middle Ages. 🧵





The 16-17th centuries were a specific time in European history when society was slowly transitioning from a medieval decentralized one to modern states.

This was an important step towards modernity, but one that brought with it a lot of problems and unprecedented violence.

One of the underrated aspects of European history is how the industrial revolution made wars much less brutal.

Early modern wars basically revolved around unleashing thousands of starving violent mercenaries on civilian population, bringing with them hunger and diseases.

https://twitter.com/LandsknechtPike/status/1771106449709498845

The most devastating example of this is of course the Thirty Years' War where many parts of Germany lost more than 66% of population.

But there were many other less talked about wars that brought a lot of devastation as well.

https://twitter.com/LandsknechtPike/status/1707450548276879695

The culture of Marsh Arabs is very interesting. These are people of mysterious origin who inhabit the marshes in southern Iraq and live in traditional reed houses.

There used to be much more of them.





I recently found a depiction of the Marsh Arabs made by the Portuguese around 1540 where it is said "These people are called jizares, inhabit some islands that are in the strait of Basra, are very valiant people and great marksmen."

This caught my interest and I researched more.

What are some of the popular phrases and sayings that originate from pike and shot era wars?

"Hoist with one's own petard" is one of the most known ones, but there are others. 🧵

A petard was an explosive device invented in 1579.

It was used during sieges to blow up gates or sections of walls. The petards often blew too fast and could hurt the petardiers (men who carried the petard and lit the fuse), hence the phrase "hoist with his own petard".

Very interesting depiction of a Portuguese household on Hormuz Island in the Persian Gulf from around 1540.

The inscription says "Portuguese folk of Hormuz that are eating in water for the land is very warm."

Apparently they purposely flooded their homes due to hot climate! Hormuz was one of the important strongholds of the Portuguese Empire in the 16th century after they conquered it twice in 1507 and 1515.

The port city of Hormuz was very wealthy and prosperous as seagoing trade between India and the Middle-East passed through there.

The fortified churches in Transylvania remind us of the troubled violent past of this borderland region.

Many churches had to be heavily fortified in 15th and 16th centuries due to the Ottoman danger.

In this thread I will post some of the most fascinating examples. 🧵





The fortified churches in Transylvania were mostly built by Transylvanian Saxons.

These were people from Holy Roman Empire who came to settle this dangerous borderland region of the Kingdom of Hungary in 12th and 13th century.

Around 1620 baroque artist Jacques Callot posted a series of prints depicting nobility in his native region of Lorraine.

I will post his prints in this thread, for I really like this depictions of nobles. Just look how elegant they were!

(1/12) 🧵 (2/12)

One of the most amazing feats of military engineering in the Middle Ages was the galeas per montes (galleys across mountains)!

In 1438-39, the Republic of Venice transported a large number of ships from the Adriatic Sea to Lake Garda.

This included a difficult land journey. 🧵




This happened in the context of Wars in Lombardy, a series of conflicts between large coalitions of Italian cities led by the Duchy of Milan and Republic of Venice, as these two rival powers clashed in northern Italy.

The war lasted 1423 to 1454.

I just learned about an interesting Mamluk tradition of mahmal!

Mahmal was a ceremonial litter carried on a camel on the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.

The tradition started in 13th century by Sultan Baibars and lasted until mid-20th century. 🧵



I recently heard about mahmal when I was reading this 15th century Mamluk account following the battle of Varna in 1444, when the Ottoman Sultan sent Hungarian captives to Cairo.

"Their arrival occasioned a greater tumult than on the day of the mahmil."

https://twitter.com/LandsknechtPike/status/1723114457621045536

How did galley warfare look like in the Mediterranean in 16th century?

Despite the emergence of sailing ships, galleys still ruled Mediterranean waters deep into Early Modern era.

I will explain why this was so and in what manner naval warfare was fought at the time. 🧵



16th century Mediterranean witnessed a lot of violence.

Terrible wars erupted as powerful empires such as Spain, Venice and the Ottoman Empire bitterly contested these waters!

The most famous clash involving these superpowers was the Battle of Lepanto in 1571.

Another interesting figure from the Middle Ages was Eleanor of Arborea.

She was the powerful Judgess of Arborea and ruled much of the island of Sardinia from 1383 to 1404.

She also enacted the Carta de Logu, a legal code which continued to be used in Sardinia until 1827! 🧵

But first I would like to give a brief overview of medieval history Sardinia so you can see the context in which Eleanor of Arborea gained her power.

I will focus on how this curious entity of Judicate of Arborea emerged, and in what manner the Judges came to rule Sardinia.

The Borovnica viaduct was another amazing achievement of engineering!

It was built in 1856 in the Habsburg Empire as part of the Vienna-Trieste railway, crossing the difficult marshy ground of the Ljubljana Marsh.

But it no longer exists. It was destroyed during WWII. A photo of this incredible viaduct.

At the time when it was built it was the largest stone bridge in Europe!

It was 561 meters (1,841 ft) long and 38 meters (125 ft) high.

Due to the loamy marshy ground, this large two-story structure had to be placed on 4,000 wooden piles!

The Pozzo di San Patrizio (St. Patrick's Well) in Orvieto is a marvel of architecture!

Built between 1527 and 1537, it also reminds us of the devastating Italian Wars as it was built due to fears that the city's water supply would be insufficient in the event of a siege. 🧵



Renaissance Italy is remembered as a place where art and science flourished.

But it was also a time of violence and destruction. Terrible wars erupted!

Between 1494 and 1559 Italy witnessed a series of wars known as the Italian Wars.

Not even the Pope was safe!

On this day 2 September 1666 the Great Fire of London broke out.

A ballad called The LONDONERS Lamentation was written in the aftermath, describing this great tragedy.

Here is the full text of this ballad:

The LONDONERS Lamentation.

Wherein is contained a sorrowfull Description of the dreadful Fire which happened in Pud∣ding-Lane, next, beyond Fish-street-hill on the second of Septemb. 1666. betwixt twelve and one of the clock in the morning, being Sunday, and continued untill the Thursday night following: VVith an account of the King and the Duke of York's indeavours with several Peers of the Land, for the quenching of the same; Also the manner of doing it, and the name of every particular place where the fire did stop.

Tune is, VVhen Troy town, &c.

LEt water flow from every eye,
Of all good Subjects in the Land,
Mountains of fire were raised high,
Which Londons City did command;
Waste lye those buildings were so good,
And Ashes lye where London stood.

Old London that a thousand years,
the téeth of time could never waste,
Now to our misery appears,
in five daies space tis burnt at last;
Waste lye those Fabricks were so good,
And Cinders lye where London stood.

The second of September, at
the dismal hours 'twixt twelve and one;
At mid-night, up the fire gat,
in Pudding-Lane and brightly shone;
Our Engines all could do no good,
Till Ashes lay where London stood.

It over-flow;d New Fish-street-hill,
and then gave fire to Canon-street,
Then through the Lanes, about did whéel,
until it with the Thames did méet,
As if it would have dry'd the Flood,
And left dust where the River stood.

A Strong assisting Eastern-winde,
with liberal Lungs did fan the Flame,
The Fire so in the water shin'd,
you would have thought 'thad been the same,
The Flames which swallow all they meet,
Makes nothing to destroy a Street.

Great Congregations made of sparks,
fill all the Churches in the Town,
That fly up like a Flock of Larks,
the Bells and Leads are melted down;
'Cause we from sin will not return,
Pulpits themselves in Ashes mourn.

Pitch, Tar, Oyle, Flax and ancient Wood
did make the raging Fire so rant,
It would not quench, unlesse we cou'd
at once have thrown the Thames upon't;
The fire had burnt up without fear,
Had Humber, Trent, and Tweed been there.

The Citizens can nothing do,
but lug their treasure out of town,
Thirty pound Carts are hired now,
each private man looks to his own
But every passenger they greet,
With Sugar and Wine in every street.

Vp to the old Exchange the fire,
with bold ambitious wings did fly,
And to the top on't did aspire,
until it all did levil lye;
But Gresham (he that built it) stands,
In spight of Vulcan's hot commands.

The lofty front of pearless Powls,
is now besieged with the Flame,
In which his wooden intrails rowls,
but bravely doth with-stand the same,
And massy stones like shot lets fly,
Out of its own Artillery.

Women lying in, and Cripples crawl
out of their beds, into the Field,
Least fire should consume them all,
'gainst which they had no other shield;
In every place the fields were strew'd
Which like to a great Leaguer shew'd.

Our gracious King, the Duke of York,
the Life-guards and their noble Lords,
Both day and night, did watch and work,
to pull down houses, walls, and boards
That fire might no further go,
And so consume the Suburbs too.

God gave a blessing to their hands,
for by this means the flames grew lower,
It did at once obey Commands,
both at the Temple, and the Tower,
At Pie-corner, and Aldersgate,
The fire lost his Flaming state.

At Holborn-bridge and Cripple-gate,
and in the midst of Coleman-street,
And Basing-hall it was laid flat,
it did such opposition méet,
Bishops-gate-street and Leaden-hall,
To Cornhil-Standard are saved all.

Iust at Fan-Church in Fan-Church-street,
Cloath-workers hall in Mincing-Lane,
The fire could no further get,
and in Mark-Lane was quench'd again;
And now with heavy losses, we
Are rid of this hot misery.

Of French and Dutch many were took
(upon suspition of a Plot,
That they this ruine should provoke
with fire-works) which will all be brought
Unto their tryal, but I fear,
Our sinful hearts more guilty are.

Three of Gods sharpest Arrows are
and have béen at us lately shot,
Civil War, Pestilence and Fire,
for Pride and Gain, there lies the Plot,
Beware the fourth, for if it fall,
Grim Famine will confound us all.

I know each Citizen hath drank
a scalding draught of this hot Cup,
But let him not (to mend his bank)
use gréedy Gains to get it up,
Let them consider what they do,
Their Customers are Sufferers too.

Then let us with hearts undefil'd,
thank God his Mercies are so great,
As that the Fire hath not spoyl'd
the Suburbs and the Royal Seat:
If we still hate each other thus,
God never will be friends with us.




The Great Fire of London raged for almost 5 days and was the worst fire in London's history.

It devastated this large city which still had a lot of wooden buildings with thatch roofs, even though those had been prohibited.

Today is the anniversary of the destruction of the ancient city of Castro by Papal troops on 2 September 1649, concluding the Wars of Castro.

The city was never rebuilt.

Today only ruins and a column reading "Qui fu Castro" ("Here stood Castro") remain of this once great city!



The Wars of Castro were fought between the popes and the dukes of Parma from the Farnese family.

The city of Castro was the capital of the Duchy of Castro which stood on the border between Tuscany and Lazio and was ruled by the powerful Farnese family.

On the left you can see a depiction of the large hall of the Binche Palace from 1549. Queen Mary of Hungary receives her brother Emperor Charles V.

And on the right you can see what is left of this palace today.

It was destroyed in 1554 by soldiers of King of France Henry II.



Queen Mary of Hungary, who had become the governor of the Habsburg Netherlands in 1531 at the request of her brother Emperor Charles V, decided to built a magnificent palace in Binche where she stayed often, as it was her favorite place in the country she governed.