Medieval Warfare Vol. 2 - Duel of Two Kings

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Medieval Warfare Vol. VI.2 - Duel of Two Kings

The War of the Sicilian Vespers

Subject: Jona Lendering, Causes of the War of the Sicilian Vespers - 6 Medieval War VI-2 Pope vs. King

The immediate cause of the Sicilian Vespers War was a relatively innocent incident: a Frenchman harassing a
Palermo woman. The most real cause, however, was the growth of Hohenstaufen power and the fear it provoked in the papacy.


Source: Marc G. Desantis, Ships of the 13th Century Angevin Navy - Oars and Men

The fighting that followed the Sicilian Vespers included several major naval battles. Sicily, France,
And Aragon/Catalonia launched fleets to sea, as did the Angevins of Naples and Provence, who had spent much of the 1270s
And in 1280 they built a large number of war galleys for their fleet before the outbreak of war.

Subject: Arnold Blumberg, an unjust and unnecessary undertaking - the crusade against Aragon

As an episode in military history, the crusade against Aragon in 1285 is hardly worth mentioning. It did not produce any major battles,
No innovation in strategy or tactics, and no significant alteration of borders. The entire campaign can be summarized as
A modified version of the old nursery rhyme: The King of France, with eight thousand men, marched into Spain and then
He went out again. It was the latest episode in an old custom: the crusade as a tool to impose papal power.

Subject: Robert Holmes, Italian and Sicilian Armies, ca. 1282–1302 - Men of the Setting Sun

The Sicilian Vespers War began as a local revolt against foreign occupiers. As the conflict spread, most of the war
It was fought at sea between rival foreign powers. The local Italian and Sicilian armies played only a minor role in the conflict.
When viewed in the context of the overall military decline of the region, the reasons for this dependence on naval power and
Foreign armies become clear.

Subject: William E. Welsh, Charles of Anjou - Papal Strongman

Count Charles of Anjou invaded the Kingdom of Sicily at the head of a Franco-Italian army in 1266 to aid the Papacy in
To expel the Hohenstaufen dynasty from the Italian peninsula. After achieving this goal, Charles initially ruled
His new kingdom with benevolence. but his darker side emerged when a Hohenstaufen prince challenged him in 1268, and his
The Sicilian subjects took up arms against him. Charles subsequently ruled with an iron fist, imposing high taxes on his subjects.
Because of this, it was only a matter of time before rebellion once again shook the kingdom.

Subject: Daniel Mersey, Dueling Knights, circa 1282 - Plaster Pomp

Although some areas of this fresco are no longer present, we are fortunate that most of the knights' bodies - and
That's why their armor is preserved, assuming the artist chose to represent the two combatants reasonably.
Specifically, what does this work of art contribute to or confirm about our understanding of battle in recent times?
13th century?

Topic: Alberto Raúl Esteban Ribas, Pedro de Aragón versus Charles of Anjou - The Challenge of Bordeaux

Sometimes history reveals epic moments in which the bravery of arms is demonstrated through courage and
Honor of soldiers and knights who fight for their faith, their king, or their country. However, at other times cunning or
Betrayal nullifies courage. In 1283, an incident known as the Challenge of Bordeaux may have been an opportunity for
The glory of chivalry shines brightly, but unfortunately, this event would have anything but a glorious ending.

Special: richard kroes, a battle revisited - karbala

In 680 AD, near Karbala in present-day Iraq, a skirmish took place between two Arab armies. Although it resulted in the
Death of only 72 warriors on the losing side, one of them was the grandson of the prophet, Hussain, who does this
A relatively small battle that is still relevant to the Islamic world today: it marks the beginning of the split between Sunni and
Shiites. Unfortunately, only a few facts can be established with certainty. To establish those facts and understand
Why Hussain's death had such an impact, we must first understand the events that led to this skirmish.

Special: David Balfour, a queen and an empress at odds - The War of the Two Matildas

The medieval period offers numerous examples of women who led important military operations. It is worth highlighting the
Situation in 1141, when Empress Matilda and Matilda of Boulogne faced each other in a desperate and high-stakes clash known as
The 'war of the two Matildas'.

The Castle: Jonathan Sneddon, The Siege of Caerlaverock Castle - The Gateway to England

The castles of Caerlaverock, Lochmaben, and Threave were the main defenses along the border between Scotland and England.
It bordered northern England across the Solway Firth, about nine miles south of the town of Dumfries. Caerlaverock which
Considered impregnable. Author, participant, and Franciscan monk Walter of Exeter wrote: Caerlaverock was a
A castle that feared no victory before the king arrived. King Edward I defeated and took the castle in two days!


The Battle: Mike Ingram, The Battle of Shrewsbury - A Brave Challenge

Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, had supported King Henry IV when he usurped the throne from Richard II in 1399.
With his son Henry, better known as 'Hotspur' and his brother Thomas, Earl of Worcester, he had supported Owain's rebellion.
Glyndwr and the Border War with the Scots. In return for his support, the king promised land, money, and royal favor.
However, it soon became clear that the king was on the verge of bankruptcy and he began to expect his nobles to finance the campaigns against
The Scots and Welsh themselves.

Knights of the Movies: Murray Dahm, Medieval Warfare in Film - King Arthur

Ask someone to think of medieval warfare in film and, after naming examples like Kingdom of Heaven (2005),
Braveheart (1995), or perhaps Henry V (1944 and 1989), the films about King Arthur will not be far behind.
We're in the midst of a boom period for depictions of medieval warfare, from new films and TV series like
The Last Kingdom or Vikings to fantasy worlds based on a medieval reality like Lord of the Rings,
The Hobbit and Game of Thrones franchises. The problem, however, is that there are different ways to create a medieval city.
A film with varying results. The King Arthur films are a great source for explaining this topic.

Special: Sidney E. Dean, William Wallace, and Robert the Bruce - Scottish Leadership Profiles

The most famous leaders of the First Scottish War of Independence against England (1296-1328) were William Wallace.
(i.e., 'braveheart') and robert the bruce. the two men came from different backgrounds, had different personalities and
Agendas. Sometimes they were allies and sometimes enemies. Both adopted a similar strategy, based on insurgency, against the
English Army. But the men themselves are a study in contrasts.
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