Emerging from the chaotic battlefield's of the 15th century, a special weapon of choice emerged.
A sword wielded by men so powerful that it was said to break the unbreakable.
What if the truth about its use in battle is far more surprising than we ever imagined?
For centuries, the mist-shrouded island in the northern seas deemed unconquerable.
It’s tribes were too wild, its coastline too rugged, its location too distant.
When Emperor Claudius decided to launch a daring invasion, the tides of history would forever be shifted.
...🧵
After 3 legions were obliterated in the depths of Teutoburg Forest, Rome sent their best commander on a punitive expedition.
Would the cursed forests swallow his fate or would he restore Rome's honor?
This is the tale of Germanicus and the hunt for the lost eagle standards.🧵
The Romans used War Dogs to wreak havoc among enemy combatants.
A thread 🧵on their devastating use in battle and the men that handled them.
"Cry 'Havoc!' and let slip the dogs of war”
When three legions entered the Teutoburg Forest they were wiped off the face of the earth.
The Varian Disaster was one of the biggest humiliations for the Roman Empire.
A thread🧵on the world’s most notorious ambush.
“Varus! Bring me back my legions!”
Great empires deserve great rivals.
The Eternal City stood unconquerable for 800 years, until Alaric I, King of the Visigoths, showed up.
This is the story of the man who would bring Rome to its knees by sacking it.
A violent tale of betrayal, revenge and the quest for
While searching for the legendary lost city of Vilcabamba, Yale University Professor Hiram Bingham stumbled upon the overgrown ruins of Machu Picchu.
As he explored the site, he encountered a mystery that remains unsolved to this day.
A🧵on the unexplained.
Flamma was arguably the most successful fighter to ever grace the arena.
With a legendary track record of 34 fights, he was granted his liberty four times.
This is the tale of the gladiator who earned his freedom, but choose to live and die by the sword.
🧵...
The Landsknechte were an elite group of mercenaries formed under Emperor Maximilian.
Clad in their flamboyant, brightly colored garments, they evolved into some of the most iconic warriors the world had ever seen.
A 🧵on their remarkable attire & devastating combat techniques.
This is the story of the Barbarian King who ended the Western Roman Empire.
The Germanic Chieftain Odoacer’s removal of the child emperor concluded Imperial Rule in the west.
I realize it does sound like the beginning of a fantasy novel, luckily it gets even stranger🧵
This is the tale of a soldier who became an Emperor.
It's the twilight of the 3rd century, the Empire teetered on the brink of collapse, fractured by internal strife & besieged by external foes.
One man rose from the ranks to navigate Rome through its darkest hours.🧵
Imagine this is the leader of your nation.
A man committed to the welfare of his people.
A man who commanded armies on the field.
A man who's reign introduced generational peace & prosperity.
Augustus, the first emperor of Rome.
Here is why you deserve someone like him🧵
When a Bedouin shepherd strolled into an unassuming cave he stumbled upon an ancient artefact that would forever alter our understanding of history.
The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls sent shockwaves throughout he world.
A 🧵 on the man who wrote the bible.
British 🇬🇧 explorer Percival Fawcett vanished without a trace whilst searching for a lost civilization in the jungles of South America.
Fawcett's belief, once dismissed as mere fantasy, is now being reconsidered in light of new archaeological findings
A 🧵on his heroic journey.
This is the tale of the woman who defied the Roman Empire.
When her land was seized, her daughters violated, & her own body scarred by Roman cruelty, she swore to take vengeance.
The following is an account of her quest for justice & the rampage that was unleashed in Britannia:
Today I cover one of humanity's darkest pages.
Lebensborn (Spring of Life) was a program aimed at promoting the growth of the "Aryan race" and the propagation of "pure blood".
This is the story of a the Nazi human selective breeding and child abduction program. 🧵
Riding the Orient Express remains a dream adventure for me.
It was known for its lavish accommodations & impeccable service, catering to aristocrats, diplomats, & wealthy travelers.
Wandered what it was like? Want to find out the prices?
Join me on this journey. All aboard! 🧵
From the frozen tundras of Finland to the urban battlegrounds of Stalingrad, expert marksmen have single-handedly shifted the tides of entire battles.
A countdown 🧵 on the world’s most lethal snipers
For centuries, the Eternal City stood unchallenged.
Its walls were unbreachable, its guardians invincible, its defenses impregnable.
When the barbarian horde arrived at the gates they unleashed a fury that would forever alter the course of history.
A 🧵on Rome's darkest hour.
The Romans were as formidable on the battlefield as they were on the construction site.
The elegance and durability of their architectural works is breathtaking.
A countdown thread on the 10 wonders from the Roman world.🧵
Curious to know which one is your favorite!
As the arch nemesis of the Crusader Kings, Saladin clashed with some of Christianity's greatest heroes.
This is the tale of the man who annihilated the Crusader army and paved the way for the recapture of Jerusalem.
🧵...
Few warrior units are as iconic as the English 🏴longbowmen.
Their volleys of arrows rained death from above, causing widespread culling of enemy combatants. (read: the French 🇫🇷)
A thread on this game changing weapon and how it altered the course of history.
The Roman Empire collection can’t be complete without the philosopher king himself.
Marcus Aurelius, best known for his embodiment of the Stoic philosophy, left us a treasure of knowledge via his private journal "Meditations”.
Here are 20 absolute gems you want to bookmark:
🧵
As two mighty armies prepared to collide, a divine sign appeared in the heavens above.
Constantine's vision of a cross in the sky before the battle was accompanied by the words:
"In this sign, you will conquer.”
A 🧵on one of the most influential battles of all time.
Drake’s name evokes images of daring sea battles, epic voyages, and the relentless pursuit of glory.
Beyond the legends and accolades lies a complex figure whose story is as turbulent as the seas he sailed.
A deep dive into the life of the best pirate the world has ever seen.
If only someone had warned us about this…
Oh wait
@DouglasKMurray
”s excellent book “the strange death of Europe” comes to mind.
It’s 7 years old but man did it age well.
Highly recommend you get yourself a copy.
🇬🇧SHIRAH LAW TAKING OVER THE WEST?
British Scholar Anjem Chaudary:
“Democracy will most likely be replaced by Islamic Sharia law in the UK, Belgium, and France within 15-20 years.”
@Culture_Crit
Great read, thanks for this!
It makes you realize how tiny we humans are in the cosmic perspective and the sheer force of nature.
I can recommend that book "The End is Always Near" by
@HardcoreHistory
It is a phenomenal read and will shift your focus of life to the present.
Millenia of conflicts made the art of war evolve.
What hasn’t changed are its core principles; army composition is everything.
The Romans understood this vital fact and realized the necessity of embedding cavalry into their legions
A 🧵on their use and evolution.
The horde seemingly appeared out of nowhere.
Like a swarm of locusts, they descended upon the Roman Empire.
Attila, one of the most notorious leaders in history, would rightfully obtain the title “The Scourge of God”.
His invasion would alter the destiny of millions.
Alright, I need an answer!
These iconic warrior originate from different centuries and regions, separated by both space and time.
Imagine a battle where 100 warriors from each unit face off.
Who do you think would emerge victorious, and why?
The Roman Empire was forged out of marble and blood.
Here is a list of the most important battles fought during its dominion.
Help me choose which one to make into the next Card.
🧵
Over the course of millennia, his life has influenced millions, it certainly impacted mine.
I offer you 20 practical insights which have profoundly reshaped my own life.
Seneca advised several prominent figures in ancient Rome. Fortunately, now he can advise you.
...🧵
This story starts a century earlier, when Julius Caesar in 54 BC launched a reconnaissance mission and landed with two legions on the coast of Kent.
While successful in battle and the subsequent collecting of tributes, no territory was conquered before leaving back to Gaul.
In the decades that followed, numerous campaigns faced formidable opposition from various tribes, who fiercely resisted Roman advances.
This fantastic map shows the movements of the legions under various emperors.
@Culture_Crit
Same with the Mont Saint Michel, a strong desire to create concentrated beauty just for the sake of it.
It was fully understand that these structures were inter generational.
Built to last.
“Tough times make tough people.”
The Norse climate was very tough, subsequently it produced a group of people the world hadn’t seen before.
When "Vikings" started to showing up with a vengeance on the shores of Europe the continent would never be the same.
Let's dive in:
One of Christianity's greatest heroes, the First Holy Roman Emperor, King of the Franks, and owner of a legendary sword called 'Joyeuse'.
A megathread on the man who would become 'the Father of Europe’.
Requested by none other than the
@HREAssociation
.
You want to bookmark
In 60 AD the Romans ran into Boudica.
As a queen of the Iceni she united various tribes and went on an absolute rampage burning down various Roman settlements.
I've covered her story more extensively in a previous post, but "spoiler alert", in the end Rome might prevailed.
The invasion army was truly massive.
An estimated total of 4 Roman legions comprising of 20.000 heavy infantry legionaries plus an additional 20.000 auxiliary troops.
This operation required a fleet of around 800-1000 war and transport ships.
The Romans never fully subjugated the northern territories of modern-day Scotland, which were inhabited by tribes such as the Caledonians and Picts.
Hadrian's wall build in 112 AD marked the northern frontier and to defend from incursions by these tribes.
In 83 AD, the battle of Mons Graupius was fought between the Roman governor Agricola and the Caledonian tribes of modern-day Scotland. It was one of the final engagements in Agricola's campaigns to conquer Britain.
Tacitus immortalized the words of the Chieftain Calgacus:
The period that followed was marked by internal struggles that were the result of the assassination of Julius Caesar during the Ides of March in 44 BC.
Rome clearly had other things on its mind than expanding its territories or stirring other hornets nests.
During this campaign, Germanicus's forces managed to recover two of the three lost eagle standards (aquilae).
The recovery of these standards was a significant morale booster for the Roman soldiers and an important symbolic victory for Rome.
Following the landing, the Roman forces, under Aulus Plautius, clashed with the Britons in the Battle of the Medway, led by Caratacus and Togodumnus.
This battle marked the beginning of Roman expansion in Britain.
And so our hero lies slain, his ambitions cut short, his rising star dimmed.
The whispers of betrayal echo through the corridors of power, leaving a legacy of questions unanswered.
However, Germanicus will forever be know as the commander who brought the eagles back to Rome.
This is the tale of a nobleman who defied an Empire
Willem of Orange was the hero of the "Eighty Years War", leader of the Dutch revolt against Spanish Imperial might and Father of the Dutch Republic.
Let's dive in and find out why he earned the illusive nickname "The Silent".
Germanicus legacy begins when a fellow commander called Publius Quinctilius Varus and his legions were wiped of the face of the earth after being ambused in Teutoberg Forest.
During this campaign, Germanicus's forces recovered the third and final eagle standard lost in the Varian Disaster.
The recovery of all three standards was a crucial symbol of Roman resilience and determination.
Has there ever been a more phenomenal fighting force?
Renowned for their discipline, equipment, professionalism, and tactics, the Roman Legionary has been the sword with which Rome conquered the world
Here is the story and evolution of the world’s most formidable military.
With the Punic Wars behind them, and the ashes of Carthage still smoldering, the Romans realized a vital truth:
Great Empires Need Great Navies
If Rome was to conquer the known world, it would need to expand its fleet and absolutely dominate the seas.
🧵...
A full century later Emperor Claudius sought to strengthen his position as emperor by securing military victories and expanding the boundaries of the Roman Empire.
In 44 AD preparations for an invasion would begin.
His forces discovered the remains of the Roman soldiers who had fallen six years earlier, and they conducted a ceremony to bury the bones of their fallen comrades with proper rites.
Germanicus was called back and in 17 AD, he was awarded a triumph, one of the highest honors for a Roman general.
The triumph was a grand procession through the streets of Rome, showcasing the spoils of war, captives, and the recovered standards.
Between 15.000 to 20.000 legionaries were slain, their bodies left to rot on the forest floor and their scared eagle standard were missing.
This debacle would forever be know as the Varian Disaster.
The crime could no go unpunished.
The overall impact of the Romans on Britain proved monumental.
They built extensive infrastructure, fostered the growth of new urban centers, introduced novel forms of governance, facilitated the expansion trade networks, and influenced shifts in culture and religion.
Today, we delve into the remarkable tale of Operation Gunnerside, an historical event that reads like a plot straight from a James Bond movie.
A daring sabotage mission that contains espionage, Nazi scientists, commandos, explosions, and an audacious escape. Let's dive in:
I.
While in the eastern provinces, Germanicus fell ill and died under mysterious circumstances in Antioch in 19 AD.
He was 33 years old at the time of his death.
The Romans began to withdraw military presence from Britain in the early 5th century AD, around 410 AD.
This period marked the gradual decline of Roman authority in Britain, as the empire faced challenges from external invasions, internal strife, and economic pressures
Germanicus gathered intelligence on the Germanic tribes, particularly focusing on the Cherusci, led by Arminius (the man responsible for the ambush), and their allies.
His strategy involved a series of coordinated attacks designed to surprise and overwhelm the Germanic forces.
During his second campaign, a year later, Germanicus continued his efforts, advancing deeper into Germanic territory.
During this campaign, Germanicus visited the site of the Battle of Teutoburg Forest.
Today I want to thank everyone who has accompanied me on this journey. Surpassing the milestone of 10,000 individuals holds profound significance for me.
I want to give a special shout-out to the group of creators I've encountered along the way, great men worth following:
The Romans knew they were the new kids on the block.
Egypt, its ancient neighbor, with its millennia-old civilization, had long preceded the Roman Empire.
How, then, did a pyramid come to stand in the heart of Rome?
The Romans, known for adopting and improving upon military techniques from other cultures (the original cultural appropriation), likely began using war dogs early in their history.
For his third campaign Germanicus assembled a formidable army, including eight legions, auxiliary cohorts, and cavalry units.
This multi-faceted force was designed to maximize Roman military capabilities in the challenging terrain of Germania.
He launched his first campaign in 14 AD and led his legions against the Chatti and Marsi, commanding 12,000 legionnaires, 26 cohorts of auxiliaries, and eight cavalry squadrons.
After the death of Emperor Augustus in 14 AD, Tiberius became the new Roman emperor.
Germanicus's appointment was part of Tiberius's broader strategy to stabilize the Roman Empire and address the lingering threat posed by the Germanic tribes.
@culturaltutor
The best concrete came from the region from Vesuvius.
Researchers discovered that the Romans created concrete by combining lime with volcanic rock to make mortar.
When seawater came into contact with the mixture, it initiated a chemical reaction. This reaction caused water
@archi_tradition
Has to be Cologne.
I can’t get over the sheer size of their cathedral.
A stunning 600(!) year process of a community dedicating themselves to God.
It was here where Germanicus's forces clashed with the Germanic tribes led by Arminius.
The Romans deployed superior tactics and discipline to secure a significant victory, inflicting heavy losses on the Germanic forces.
Everyone interested in military history should know this name:
Michiel de Ruyter, a hero of the Dutch Golden Age and one of the best admirals the world has ever seen.
The arch-nemesis of the British, the true Master & Commander of the Northern Seas.
A 🧵
One of the central engagements of this campaign was a major battle near the Weser River, often referred to as the Battle of the Weser River or the Battle of Idistaviso.
One of the most famous breeds used by the Romans was the (now extinct) Molossian dog, originating from the region of Epirus (in present-day Greece and Albania).
These dogs were known for their formidable size and strength, making them ideal for combat and guard roles.
Germanicus had already demonstrated his capabilities in earlier campaigns, making him a natural choice to lead such a critical mission.
Furthermore, as a member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, he carried significant political and symbolic weight.
After his triumph, Germanicus was assigned to oversee the eastern provinces of the Roman Empire.
This was a prestigious and strategically important position, as the East was crucial for its wealth and political significance.
Emperor Tiberius, wary of overextending Roman resources (and perhaps the growing popularity of the hero in our story) decided to halt further incursions and consolidate the Rhine frontier.
If you found this thread interesting and would like to explore more Cards of History, you can support this mission by sharing the first entry linked below and consider following
@godplayscards
.
For centuries, the mist-shrouded island in the northern seas deemed unconquerable.
It’s tribes were too wild, its coastline too rugged, its location too distant.
When Emperor Claudius decided to launch a daring invasion, the tides of history would forever be shifted.
...🧵
@Culture_Crit
For me it is the Notre-Dame.
So many significant events happened there as well.
A couple come to mind:
Crowning of Henry VI of England (1431): Henry VI of England was crowned King of France in Notre-Dame Cathedral, a significant event during the Hundred Years' War.
Joan of
The deep-rooted connection between the Romans and dogs, of course, traces back to their wolf ancestors.
The renowned legend tells the tale of the city's mythical founders Romus and Remulus being raised by a canine.
Furthermore, they are aligned in unconventional shapes that makes them fit together like a jigsaw puzzle which is a fantastic invention in an earthquake rich regions.
A beacon of hope in the darkness, it's spires lit by the morning sky.
Is there anything more beautiful than a place of worship at dawn?
It took over 600 years of intergenerational sacrifice but few structures inspire as much awe as the Cologne Cathedral.
A 🧵on its history:
His death was widely suspected to be the result of poisoning. Many believed that Cherusci, the governor of Syria, was involved.
Piso had clashed with Germanicus over administrative matters and was thought to have acted with or without the knowledge of Emperor Tiberius.
@archi_tradition
Sienna's Piazza del Campo is stunning.
Few squares have better proportions.
The figure / ground plan speaks volumes.
I had to study it in detail back in architecture school.
The year is 9 AD. Augustus was the first Emperor, and the Romans were expanding their empire (as Romans do).
Rome had established control over various Germanic tribes and aimed to integrate additional territories into its domain.
@gunsnrosesgirl3
I often think that people were able to really disengage.
The art of relaxation was a skill that our current society has lost.
We are always looking over our shoulder and try to find happiness in around the corner.
We can actually succeed our whole life in failing to be
Over the course of several days, the Germanic tribes launched a series of well-coordinated ambushes.
The attacks were sudden and fierce, utilizing the terrain to their advantage.