Middle Age Battles
What makes a battle great? First and foremost it has to be huge, meaning between two superpowers with both sides having a substantial amount of troops. But, it also has to be for a glorious cause or must be led by a great general; and it must be a battle that changes the course of history. With all this in mind, the battles of antiquity were truly the greatest battles. But because there were so many, I have only enough space to describe the three greatest land battles between 1000AD and 1500 AD; The Battle of Hastings, The First Crusade and The Reconquest of Granada.
The Battle of Hastings, 1066 The battle of Hastings was one of the most culturally significant battles in the history of England, Europe and the World. From 1042 until his …show more content…
However, with the onset of the Islam during the 7th century and its 'spread by the sword' apostolate, Medieval Europe had its fair share of problems. All of their problems, more or less, accumulated during the period surrounding the First Crusade. With the Muslim armies closing in upon the seat of the Byzantine Empire, Constantinople, the kingdoms in the west had to act fast since the Byzantine city was the gateway from the Middle East to the Western World. Blessed Pope Urban II, in a desperate call for help, gave his famous speech at Clermont in 1095 calling all Christian men to, "Guard on all sides the flock committed to you," against the Muslim invaders. His call was heeded and in 1096 an immense army of 30,000-40,000 men, some accompanied by their wives, was formed and the First Crusade was underway. Once in Constantinople, the crusaders marched on Nicea, only to be betrayed by the Byzantine Emperor, hence breaking the pact with the Byzantines. After Nicea, the crusaders marched on the valley of Doryleaum and then on Armenia and Antioch, all of which were originally Christian regions, but were overthrown by the Muslims. In 1099, the crusaders finally made it to Jerusalem. After a few attacks, the crusaders finally besieged the city and on Friday, July 15, 1099, conquered
The Battle of Hastings, 1066 The battle of Hastings was one of the most culturally significant battles in the history of England, Europe and the World. From 1042 until his …show more content…
However, with the onset of the Islam during the 7th century and its 'spread by the sword' apostolate, Medieval Europe had its fair share of problems. All of their problems, more or less, accumulated during the period surrounding the First Crusade. With the Muslim armies closing in upon the seat of the Byzantine Empire, Constantinople, the kingdoms in the west had to act fast since the Byzantine city was the gateway from the Middle East to the Western World. Blessed Pope Urban II, in a desperate call for help, gave his famous speech at Clermont in 1095 calling all Christian men to, "Guard on all sides the flock committed to you," against the Muslim invaders. His call was heeded and in 1096 an immense army of 30,000-40,000 men, some accompanied by their wives, was formed and the First Crusade was underway. Once in Constantinople, the crusaders marched on Nicea, only to be betrayed by the Byzantine Emperor, hence breaking the pact with the Byzantines. After Nicea, the crusaders marched on the valley of Doryleaum and then on Armenia and Antioch, all of which were originally Christian regions, but were overthrown by the Muslims. In 1099, the crusaders finally made it to Jerusalem. After a few attacks, the crusaders finally besieged the city and on Friday, July 15, 1099, conquered