History
This is unfortunately only a placeholder for my history research projects that are in need of updating.
Early Renaissance Warfare 1400-1515
The Renaissance is my favorite period. As far as military history is concerned, my focus is on the non-gunpowder military revolution, basically from the Hussite war wagons to the Swiss pikes. A special focus of mine is Swiss military history, the Old Swiss Confederacy being at that time, and only at that time, a dwarfish world power.
Prince Eugene of Savoy 1663-1736
I love the history of the little prince who achieved so much. In 1712, he wasn't so lucky though. His defeat at the battle of Denain marked the beginning of the end of the War of the Spanish Succession. For the 300th anniversary, I'd like to explore the victor of that battle's stay in Vienna, where he served as French ambassador for two years: Villars in Vienna and the Battle of Denain 1712.
His city residence in Himmelpfortgasse, the Winter Palace, has been renovated and is now open to the public. Noteworthy is the hall of battle paintings about Zenta, Casano, Turin, Oudenaarde, Malplaquet and Blenheim/Hoechstedt by the French painter Ignace-Jacques Parrocel (1667-1722). Pride of place is given to the battle of Turin 1706 (including the cyclist added by a naughty conservator called Victor Jasper at the start of the 20th century).
His Summer Palace consists of the two parts of the Lower and Upper Belvedere. The prince's books are to be admired in the Prunksaal of the Austrian National Library. His cuirass is in the Austrian Museum of Military History, his grave in St. Stephen's Cathedral. A bit outside of Vienna, right next to the Slovak border, is the beautifully restored Schloss Hof.
American Civil War 1861-1865
For the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War (1861-1865), I'd love to publish some of my research about the Logistics of George B. McClellan's 1862 Peninsula campaign. More than 100.000 soldiers were transported from Baltimore and Alexandria to Fort Monroe, VA. A giant undertaking that relied on civilian ships rented for that purpose. The faulty strategic thinking of the Peninsula campaign remains one of my pet peeves. The "Little Napoleon" apparently didn't understand his idol.
Contents
- Too many dukes - the French commanders at Agincourt
My article about the French commanders in the fateful Agincourt campaign of 1415 was published in the magazine Medieval Warfare Agincourt Special. It includes a selection of the coat of arms of the most important French commanders.
- A reign at an end - Charlemagne vs. the Avars
My article about the Avar campaigns of Charlemagne and his son Pippin was published in the magazine Medieval Warfare (volume 5, issue 2, pp. 27-33). It features a centerfold illustration by Mike Perry about a small episode from that war. The death of Count Cadaloc who is buried in Traismauer, Austria.
- Je lay emprins - Burgundian Wars
My introduction to the Burgundian Wars was published in the magazine Medieval Warfare (volume 4, issue 4, pp. 6-10) as well as a map showing the local origins of the Bernese contingents at Morat 1476 and a short presentation of the gun on the title which is on exhibit at the Musée d'art et d'histoire de La Neuville in Switzerland.
- Margaret, Countess of Tyrol - one woman between two husbands
My article about Margaret, Countess of Tyrol was published in the magazine Medieval Warfare (volume 4, issue 2, pp. 39-43). Visit her Tirol castle near Meran in South Tirol, and the Minoritenkirche in Vienna where she was buried.
- Andreas Baumkircher - An Austrian Giant
My article about the Styrian condottiere and rebel Andreas Baumkircher - An Austrian Giant was published in the magazine Medieval Warfare (volume 3, issue 6, pp. 39-42). Visit Wiener Neustadt's city museum, his statue in the Austrian Museum of Military History or Schlaining Castle to discover more about him. Don't miss this short Andreas Baumkircher in Graz YouTube video made for the 2012-2013 exhibition in Schlaining Castle.
- The halberd - the Swiss weapon of choice
My article about The halberd - the Swiss weapon of choice was published in the Medieval Warfare magazine (volume 3, issue 5, pp. 38-41).
- A Special kind of warrior - Huldrych Zwingli (1484-1531)
My article A Special kind of warrior - Huldrych Zwingli (1484-1531) was published in the magazine Medieval Warfare (volume 3, issue 2, pp. 20-24). Read about the making-of of the article illustration, a short article about Zwingli on leadership and the translation of Conrad Ferdinand Meyer's ballad "Der Rappe des Komturs" into English: The Commander's Black Steed.
- Julius II’s 1512 presentation banners - The Pope’s gift to the Swiss
My article Julius II’s 1512 presentation banners - The Pope’s gift to the Swiss was published in the magazine Medieval Warfare (volume 2, issue 5, pp. 22-24).
- The infantry’s tactical revolution of the fourteenth and fifteenth century
My article The infantry’s tactical revolution of the fourteenth and fifteenth century serves as the historical introduction to the theme of the magazine Medieval Warfare (volume 2, issue 3).
My article Charles the Bold’s English Archers at the battle of Murten, 1476 was published in the magazine Medieval Warfare (volume 1, issue 4, pp. 43-48). The English at the battle were not commanded by the Duke of Somerset, whose posthumous involvement is narrated in my short article The Mystery of the dead duke's charge.
