The Sumerians of Mesopotamia were among the first to use war chariots and the ‘phalanx’ formation, as shown in contemporary sources such as the Standard of Ur and the Stele of Vultures. This picture depicts a typical Sumerian four-wheeled war chariot. Heavy in construction and pulled by four wild donkeys, it was intended to crashContinue reading “Sumerian chariot, circa 2500 BC”
Tag Archives: drawing art
‘The Night of Sorrow’, 1st July 1520
Yesterday was the anniversary of La Noche Triste (The Night of Sorrow) – the attempt by Conquistadors and Tlaxcala allies under Hernan Cortes to escape Tenochtitlan, capital of the Mexica (Aztec) Empire. At midnight, Cortes and his troops evacuated the city via the westerly causeway to Tacuba along Lake Texcoco. The route was deemed suitableContinue reading “‘The Night of Sorrow’, 1st July 1520”
Plassey, 23rd June 1757
On this day in history – 23rd June 1757 – the Battle of Plassey (Palashi) was fought between British East India Company troops under Robert Clive and the French-supported Nawab of Bengal, Siraj-ud-Daula. This decisive engagement would have significant consequences for the future of Company involvement in the Indian subcontinent, and the fate of itsContinue reading “Plassey, 23rd June 1757”
Armour for horse and rider, early 16th century
This composite armour is made up of parts made in South Germany between c.1510-20, and reflected the status of its wearer as part of a military elite. By the 16th century the improved craftsmanship of western European plate armour had made shields unnecessary on the battlefield. It consists of an armet (closed helmet), a collar, aContinue reading “Armour for horse and rider, early 16th century”
Mughal weighing ceremony
This scene from Mughal India in the early 17th century depicts Emperor Jahangir weighing his son Prince Khurram against valuable goods, including gold and silver, as part of his 15th birthday celebration. Based on a contemporary painting, Jahangir stands in the centre with the prince, who is seated on a large golden scale; both areContinue reading “Mughal weighing ceremony”
Assault on Fort Eben-Emael, 10th May 1940
On this day in history – 10th May 1940 – German paratroopers launched a glider-borne assault on the fort of Eben-Emael in Belgium, paving the way for the invasion of France and the Low Countries. Ten gliders, carrying less than 80 men, would take the fort by surprise, while another group would capture the nearbyContinue reading “Assault on Fort Eben-Emael, 10th May 1940”
Allied ski troops, Norway, 1940
Following on from my previous post, this picture (partly based on a black-and-white photograph) depicts a group of French and Norwegian troops preparing to march with their skis during the German invasion of Norway (Operation Weserübung). French chasseur alpins (mountain infantry) were among the thousands of French, British and Polish troops that landed in mid-AprilContinue reading “Allied ski troops, Norway, 1940”
Nimbus motorcycle troops, 9th April 1940
On this day in history – 9th April 1940 – German forces launch Operation Weserübung, the simultaneous invasions of Denmark and Norway, in order to secure access to iron ore supplies as well as the Baltic Sea and Northern Atlantic. The above picture depicts a detachment of Danish troops operating Nimbus MC motorcycles with sidecar-mountedContinue reading “Nimbus motorcycle troops, 9th April 1940”
Sipahi, mid-17th century
This Ottoman heavy cavalryman wears armour of typical mail-and-plate construction. His decorated cicak helmet features a sliding nasal bar and a mail aventail to protect the throat and neck. The zirh mail shirt is supplemented by a korazin cuirass of torso and shoulder plates, as well as kolluk vambraces and dizcek armour protecting the kneeContinue reading “Sipahi, mid-17th century”
Janissary musketeer, late 16th century
Continuing the Ottoman theme, here is a figure study of a Janissary armed with a matchlock musket. These elite infantrymen were distinguished by a long fabric headdress with brass band and tube-shaped plume-holder. Firearms had seen extensive use in Ottoman campaigns by the late 16th century; typical musketry equipment would include a pouch containing musket-balls,Continue reading “Janissary musketeer, late 16th century”
Empire of History 