Translate this Page
Anniversaries for today :
Welcome to Clash of Steel!
Featured battle : Predil Blockhouse
Part of The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars
Date : 15 May 1809 - 18 May 1809
The Austrians held the fortified position with 250 men and 8 guns. They put up a spirited defence against overwhelming odds for four days. All the Austrians were killed, a truly heroic defence to the last man.
Featured image :
Cliffords Tower, York
A intersting example of a motte and bailey castle, the mound being the remains of a wooden castle built by William I around 1068 with the four-lobed stone keep replacing the wooden structure in the 13th Century. It has a commanding view of the Vale of York and guarded the approaches to the city from the River Ouse - a major artery in medieval times. It was also the site, on 16th March 1190 of a massacre of the Jewish comunity in York at that time. The antisemitism stirred up by the crusades caused the Jewish people of York to take refuge in the castle in March which was then besieged by a mob led by the Sherrif Richard Malebys (or Malebisse), who was in debt to the Jewish money lenders. When supplies ran short they Jews decided that to surrender meant death so chose to take their own lives and those who did not die, were killed by the mob when it stormed the burning ramparts. A plaque at the foot of the present steps commemorates 150 men and women who died that night.
Gallery updated : 2022-04-04 08:33:43
Featured review :
Salamanca 1812. Wellington's Year of Victories.
Peter Edwards
A high level of research is presented in a most readable way. The book has a pervading quality in its insights which can only come from an experienced 'military mind'. Throughout the author uses appropriate and varied selection of original text providing both colour and veracity. The maps are few and lacking in detail, in Further Reading the author recommends Ian Robertson's Atlas of the Peninsular War which I would have found most useful in this case. That said however this book is difficult to put down once started and thoroughly recommended.
The Praetorian Press, Pen & Sword Books Ltd., 2013
Reviewed : 2013-05-30 08:26:31
