The fatal flaw in the Confederates’ New Mexico campaign plan was logistics. The strategic conception was compelling; supported by a sympathetic population, hoover up the isolated Union forts, then seize the gold and silver of Colorado, Nevada, California. The final prize was the long unblockaded Pacific seaboard for backdoor supply... More
After the English explorer Henry Hudson discovered the river that bears his name in 1609, the Dutch followed up on his favourable reports with surveying expeditions of the adjacent coastline. The colony of New Netherland’s primary economic purpose was fur-trading, and its first permanent establishment, Fort Nassau, was well upriver... More
The ‘Anaconda Plan’ for the economic suffocation of the South had two components. First, a naval blockade of the Confederate Atlantic and Gulf coast: by late 1861, this was largely achieved. The next priority was control of the Mississippi River, completing encirclement of the South. Blocking this was New Orleans,... More
In 1967, the Six-Day War saw Israel capture the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Golan Heights and the Sinai Peninsula up to the Suez Canal. Settlements were created throughout the occupied territories on land, it was claimed, which had been given to the Jewish people by God. The West Bank became... More
New Spain was the first viceroyalty established in the Americas by the Spanish Crown. Formed in 1535, it comprised Florida, much of the North American southwest and northern Central America. Beneath the Viceroy, administration and jurisdiction was implemented by two ‘Royal Courts’ based in Mexico City and Guadalajara. Much of... More
Little is recorded of the early life of Jesus. The New Testament tells the following narrative. Raised in Nazareth, he worked as a carpenter before his baptism, and recognition as the Son of God, at Aenon on the Jordan. His early ministry was at Capernaum beside the Sea of Galilee:... More
A key element in Roman pacification of Gaul was largesse. Colonia Nemausus (Nȋmes) the ex-capital of the Celtic Volcae that was occupied by the Romans c. 42 BCE, is a prime example. Under Emperor Augustus, it was endowed with city walls punctuated by 14 watchtowers, an amphitheatre, temple and grand... More
On 11 September 2011, four passenger US airliners, all heading for California, were hijacked by 19 al-Qaeda terrorists. After leaving Boston, Flight AA11 crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York at 8:46 am. Flight UA175, also from Boston, crashed into the south tower at... More
The Normans arrived in southern Italy around the millennium, and plunged into the political turmoil existing there. The Byzantines were the colonial power, pitted against various princedoms and city-states. The Normans began as mercenaries, often fighting on both sides in battles, but soon started to accumulate fiefdoms as reward for... More
Preoccupied with a series of rebellions, William the Conqueror largely ignored Scotland and Wales. His son, Robert Curthose, built the castle at Newcastle (1080), and the Earl of Northumbria, Robert de Mowbray, defeated the Scots at Alnwick (1093) The invasion of the Scots king, Malcolm, was probably provoked by Norman... More
The Norman settlement of northern France began in an era of extensive raids by various Norse tribes along the coast and rivers which were easily accessible by ship. The first recorded Norse raid along the Seine was in 820, after which small settlements were established in the area. Norman territory... More
Securing the northern end of the Cotentin Peninsula was a key strategic victory for the Allies, permitting the Americans to turn south and engage the Germans on a single front. All along the German front line it was becoming clear that they were overstretched and worn down after the continuous... More