Author Archives: Nicolas Agrait

French Chronicle of London: Naval Battle of Sluys (1340), Siege of Tournai (1341)

The French Chronicle of London, detailing events from 1259 to 1343, provides one of the best accounts of the naval battle of Sluys, and the siege of Tournai by Edward III in 1340. 12 Edward III. [A.D. 1337, 8]. Henry … Continue reading

Posted in Primary Sources | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on French Chronicle of London: Naval Battle of Sluys (1340), Siege of Tournai (1341)

Payments made to the men sent by the City to aid the King in his war with France (1338)

Paid to 40 men-at-arms for their arms and wages, 60 pounds.  Paid to the 60 archers, for their wages, bows and arrows, and other necessaries, 30 pounds.  Paid to the men-at-arms and archers aforesaid, as a courtesy, by order of … Continue reading

Posted in Primary Sources | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Payments made to the men sent by the City to aid the King in his war with France (1338)

Alessandro Beneditti, The Battle of Fornovo (1495)

Charles VIII, attempting to seize control of southern Italy for use as a platform for war against the Ottoman Turks, lead the most powerful army in Europe at that time down through Italy, defeating one Italian province after another. Continue reading

Posted in Primary Sources | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Alessandro Beneditti, The Battle of Fornovo (1495)

Annals of Fulda: Battle of Fontenay (841)

The Annals of Fulda are the principal narrative source written from a perspective east of the Rhine for the period in which the Carolingian Empire gave way to a number of successor kingdoms.  The text covers the period from the last … Continue reading

Posted in Primary Sources | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Annals of Fulda: Battle of Fontenay (841)

The First Crusade (1095-99), A short narrative from contemporary sources.

If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me… Continue reading

Posted in Primary Sources | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The First Crusade (1095-99), A short narrative from contemporary sources.

Letter from the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, with news of the defeat of the Scots at the Battle of Falkirk (July 22, 1298)

On Saturday the Feast of St. Peter’s Chains (August 1st), there came a messenger from Sir Walter de Langestone, Bishop of Coventre and Lychfeld, and Treasurer to our Lord the King of England, bringing a letter from the said Bishop … Continue reading

Posted in Primary Sources | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Letter from the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, with news of the defeat of the Scots at the Battle of Falkirk (July 22, 1298)

Matthew of Edessa, Chronicle, Warfare in the Crusader States (1104-1127)

The Chronicle of Matthew of Edessa is considered by scholars to be a primary source of major importance for the history of the Near East during the period of the early Crusades.  This work relates events that occurred between the … Continue reading

Posted in Primary Sources | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Matthew of Edessa, Chronicle, Warfare in the Crusader States (1104-1127)

Jan Duglosz, The Battle of Tannenberg or Grunwald (1410)

On July 15, 1410, one of the most important battles took in the later middle ages.   Fought between Tannenberg and the nearby village of Grünwald, Polish and Lithuanian forces under Ladislaus II (Wladyslaw Jagiello) halted the eastward expansion of the … Continue reading

Posted in Primary Sources | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Jan Duglosz, The Battle of Tannenberg or Grunwald (1410)

Conquest of Cyprus by Richard I (1191)–Two Accounts

The following are two accounts of the invasion of Cyprus by Richard I in 1191.  The Seljuk Turk under Saladin had recaptured Jerusalem in 1187 and Cyprus’ geographical position placed her on the route of the Crusaders from Western Europe … Continue reading

Posted in Primary Sources | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Conquest of Cyprus by Richard I (1191)–Two Accounts

Walter of Exeter, Siege of Carlaverock

This poem, written in French, is thought to be authored by Walter of Exeter, a Franciscan friar.  The story details the siege of the Scottish castle of Carlaverock in July 1300 by Edward I.  The first portion of the poem … Continue reading

Posted in Primary Sources | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Walter of Exeter, Siege of Carlaverock

Christofordo da Soldo, Battle of Caravaggio (1448)

The following is an account of the battle of Caravaggio, fought on September 15,1448, in which the Milanese army led by Francesco Sforza defeated the Venetians under Michele Attendolo.  The text is from the Chronicle of Cristoforo da Soldo. Alli … Continue reading

Posted in Primary Sources | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Christofordo da Soldo, Battle of Caravaggio (1448)

John Cantacuzenus, “History”, The War of Galata (1348)

One of the most important figures in the history of fourteenth century Byzantium was John Cantacuzenus, a military commander under Andronicus III, who then rebelled against the regency government of Anna of Savoy, and himself emperor from 1347 to 1354.  … Continue reading

Posted in Primary Sources | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on John Cantacuzenus, “History”, The War of Galata (1348)

Dino Compagni, Battle of Campaldino (1289)

Dino Compagni was a prominent silk merchant and an active member of the Florentine government until 1301.  His chronicle, which deals mostly with the internal turmoil of Florence, contains an account of a battle between Arezzo and Florence in 1289. … Continue reading

Posted in Primary Sources | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Dino Compagni, Battle of Campaldino (1289)

Chronicle of James the Conqueror, Siege of Burriana (1233)

James I, King of Aragon (1208-76), king of Aragón and count of Barcelona (1213-76), was nicknamed the Conquerer because of his many wars and conquests, which included the capture of the Balearic Islands (1229-35) and Valencia (1238) form the Moors, … Continue reading

Posted in Primary Sources | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Chronicle of James the Conqueror, Siege of Burriana (1233)