William of Malmesbury recounts the battle: The courageous leaders mutually prepared for battle, each according to his national custom. The English, as we have heard, passed the night without sleep, in drinking and singing, and in the morning proceeded without delay against the enemy. All on foot, armed with battle-axes, and… Read More »Today in Medieval History: The Battle of Hastings
In the summer of 1047, Duke William II (“The Conqueror”) was still in the youth of his reign as lord over Normandy. He had succeeded to the position of duke in 1035 after the death of his father, Duke Robert I. This period in Normandy’s history was an unstable time,… Read More »The Battle of Val-ès-Dunes
After securing his hold over majority of England, William the Conqueror invaded Scotland in 1072. According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle: This year King William led a naval force and a land force to Scotland, and beset that land on the sea-side with ships, whilst he led his land-force in at… Read More »William the Conqueror vs. King Malcolm III Canmore of Scotland
On this day, July 27, in medieval history: 1214 – Battle of Bouvines: King Philip II of France defeated the forces of Otto IV (Holy Roman Emperor), the count of Flanders, and King John of England, in effect establishing a stronger position for the French monarchy Read contemporary accounts of… Read More »Timeline: Today in Middle Ages History
The Battle of Barnet, one of the critical battles in the Wars of the Roses, involved the forces of Edward IV and Richard Neville, the Earl of Warwick. At one time, Edward and Richard had been allies, both of them overthrowing Henry VI (of Lancaster) and putting Edward on the… Read More »Battles in Medieval History: The Battle of Barnet, 1471
Fought between the armies of Henry II and rebellious factions in Normandy, Brittany and England, the Anglo-Norman rebellion takes only a brief page in the volumes of middle ages history. Lasting approximately two years, Henry II battled against his own sons to maintain control of his kingdom. His eldest three… Read More »The Anglo-Norman Rebellion
On May 14, 1264, Earl Simon de Montfort the Younger and the baronial party marched on Lewes in Sussex, England, defeating King Henry III and taking him prisoner. This battle was part of the Second Baron’s War, which lasted for approximately three years (1263/4 – 1266/7). Edward I, Henry’s son,… Read More »Timeline: Today in Medieval History – The Battle of Lewes
The Battle of Courtrai, also known as the Battle of the Golden Spurs, took place in 1302 when King Philip IV (“The Fair”) sent his army of French knights, supported by crossbowmen and light infantry, to put down an uprising of urban Flemish militias from Bruges and Ghent (now in modern day… Read More »Famous Battles in Medieval History: The Battle of Courtrai
Also known as the Battle of Legnica Armies involved: The Mongols vs. the armies of Poland and the Teutonic Knights In late March of 1241, the Mongol army, under the commands of Hordu (eldest grandson of Chinggis Khan) and Peta, swept down through southern Poland and ambushed a division of… Read More »Famous Battles in Medieval History: The Battle of Liegnitz