Covering the transformative period between medieval and industrial warfare, this category explores the emergence of gunpowder weapons, disciplined infantry, and organised logistics. Battles from the Italian Wars to the Napoleonic era are examined through primary sources, period maps, and modern terrain analysis—shedding light on the evolving doctrine of pike, shot, and artillery.
Next stop in our battlefield explorations was the incredible 16th-Century bastion fortress of Rocroi. Here, in May 1643, two of the superpowers of the 17th century – Spain and France – clashed in the plain south of the fortress. The battle marked the end of the dominance of the Spanish ‘Tercio’ tactics that had dominated European warfare for the previous 100 years.
The Battle of Carlisle Bay, on 29 April 1665, was a clash between a Dutch naval fleet led by Michiel de Ruyter and the British coastal defenses around Bridgetown Barbados. The battle was one of the opening clashes of the Second Anglo-Dutch War, as these two powerful maritime states sought to dominate trade routes. Although De Ruyter destroyed an English convoy at Carlisle Bay his fleet was severely damaged and unable to lodge ground forces on Barbados of the island.
The Battle of Sacsayhuamán was a significant milestone in the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire. While the Inca warriors demonstrated bravery and tenacity, they were unable to overcome the superior weaponry and tactics of the Spanish conquistadors. The Spanish victory at Sacsayhuamán ended the Inca attempt to reclaim Cusco.
La Cabaña: Spain’s Response to the Capture of Havana! Built after the British capture of Havana in 1762, the Fortress of San Carlos de la Cabaña (1763–1774) was Spain’s answer to securing the Caribbean. The massive Vauban-style bastion complex dominated Havana harbour, served as a prison and execution ground in later centuries, and today remains… Read More »⚔️ Fortress of San Carlos,
Havana, Cuba,
1763-1774
The Battle of Flodden Field, fought on 9 September 1513, was a major engagement between the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland, and one of the bloodiest battles in British history. The engagement was part of the larger War of the League of Cambrai, which involved several European powers, including France, England, and Scotland.