A History of Europe Key Battles

Edward the Black Prince, son of King Edward III of England, wins the Battle of Poitiers 1356. The French King, John II, is captured and ransomed, while civil war erupts in his kingdom Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Battle of Crecy was the first major land battle of the Hundred Years War - an important victory for the English and a landmark moment in European military history Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the greatest naval battles of the European Middle Ages, the English victory at The Battle of Sluys, fought at the coast of Flanders, was crucial to starting The Hundred Years Warwww.historyeurope.net Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

King Edward III of England declares war on France to begin The Hundred Years War www.historyeurope.net Picture: King Edward III of England Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Background to The Hundred Years War (1337-1453). Thirteenth century France thrives; King Philip IV the Fair of France; Avignon Papacy begins www.historyeurope.net Picture: Philip IV of France Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Battle of Rio Salado 1340 and the subsequent Siege of Algeciras were the key moments in the struggle for the Straits of Gibraltar between Christian Spain, Muslim North Africa and the Sultanate of Granada, the last remaining Muslim state in Iberia www.historyeurope.net Picture: Battle of Rio Salado Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Gibraltar Crusades is the name given to the struggle for control of the Straits between Spain and Morocco in the 13th and 14th centuries. Castile and the Marinid dynasty of Morocco fought each other and Granada, the last Muslim state in Iberia. www.historyeurope.net Picture: Remnants of the city of al-Mansoura, constructed by the Marinids during their siege of Tlemcen Hosted on Acast. See...

After the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa 1212 the Christians of Iberia, especially the Castillians, are able to conquer much territory from the Muslims. Plus an overview of thirteenth century Spain www.historyeurope.net Picture: Fernando III of Castille Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The princes of Kievan Rus gather an army to confront a Mongol force which has invaded the Pontic Steppe. The two sides meet at the Battle of The Kalka River 1223 www.historyeurope.net Picture: Mongol cavalrymen Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After conquering northern China the Mongols of Genghis Khan launch a campaign westwards through Persia and the Caucasus Mountains and into Europe www.histyoryeurope.net Picture: Genghis Khan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For two centuries after Vladimir the Great's conversion to Christianity Kievan Rus enjoyed a golden age. A common culture and sense of identity formed in the lands of the Rus' despite political turmoil. The three main centres of power, each different in character, were Vladimir Suzdal, Novgorod and Volynia-Galicia www.historyeurope.net Picture: St Olga by Nesterov Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pr...

Vladimir the Great is credited with transforming Kievan Rus into a true medieval state with Christianity at the heart of its sense of identity. The story is linked to the siege of the Crimean city of Cherson in 988 and the Byzantine Emperor Basil II The Bulgar Slayer www.historyeurope.net Picture: Baptism of Saint Prince Vladimir in Kherson (Viktor Vasnetsov) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...

The dynasty of Rurik builds the foundations of a new power in eastern Europe - Kievan Rus. Princess Olga takes vengeance on a rebel town by burning it down, but after converting to Christianity was later sainted. Her son, Syvatoslav defeats the Khazars and then tries to resettle his people in Bulgaria before his early death. www.historyeurope.net Picture: Rurik on the Monument 'Millennium of Russi...

The origins of the Slavs are shrouded in uncertainty. We rely on scraps of contemporary writings and later writings such as The Primary Chronicle of Kievan Rus. They tell us of the unification by Vikings of scattered tribes in the region of the Baltic - Black Sea waterways www.historyeurope.net Picture: The Invitation of the Varangians: Rurik and his brothers arrive in Staraya Ladoga (Viktor Vasne...

Brief history of Crimea and North Black Sea region 500BC-800 AD, during which time many different peoples having left their mark, including Greeks, Scythians, Romans, Goths, Byzantines, Bulgarians and Khazars www.historyeurope.net Picture: Crimea Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Intro is the Russian Presidential Address of 2014. Then an outline of different perspectives on Ukrainian and Russian History, and next a description of the geography and early history of the Black Sea region from the time of the Ancient Greeks www.historyeurope.net Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Simon de Montfort probably hoped to quickly finish off the last pockets of resistance after the Battle of Muret. Instead conflict continued for another one and a half decades. What would happen to Simon, to Count Raymond and the people of Languedoc at this critical period for the region? www.historyeurope.net Picture: Fortress of Montsegur Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informatio...

In September 1213 in southwestern France two Christian armies faced each other off. One was led by King Peter II of Aragon, who after his glorious victory against a Muslim army at the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa the previous year, was not only one of the most respected monarchs of Christendom but a favoured son of the Church. The other army was composed of crusaders, mainly from northern France,...

Simon de Montfort becomes leader of the Albigensian Crusade against the Cathars of Languedoc. He meets resistance from Count Raymond VI of Toulouse and the general population of the region. www.historyeurope.net Picture: Carcassonne Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Background to the Cathars and the Albigensian Crusade in Languedoc, southern France www.historyeurope.net Picture: The Albigensian massacre, chronicle of Saint-Denis, 14th century, London, British Library Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A powerful league unites against Philip II Augustus of France, including King John of England, Emperor Otto IV, and numerous counts of France. Historians are pretty unanimous, that this was a decisive battle which helped shape western Europe. www.historyeurope.net Picture: A detail of one of the stained-glass windows installed in the parish church of Bouvines in 1914 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com...

King John prepares to invade France and recover his lost territories. In the meantime King Philip Augustus of France consolidates his gains on the continent, provoking resistance among local rulers, especially in Flanders. www.historyeurope.net Picture: King John's tomb Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the year 1204, Philip Augustus of France wrested control of the duchy of Normandy from King John of England. The long Capetian-Plantagenet struggle for power, however, was not yet over and would reach another decisive point a decade later at the Battle of Bouvines, 1214. This time the leaders of the other main power of the western Europe, Germany, would be brought into the conflict, and so also...

Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa. Caliph al-Nasir, also known as Miramamolin invades Spain with a huge Muslim army which is met in the Sierra Nevada mountains by a Christian army, including King Alfonso VIII of Castile, Pedro/Peter II of Aragon and Sancho VII of Navarre www.historyeurope.net Portrayal of the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa by Francisco de Paula Van Halen (1864) Hosted on Acast. See aca...

The Almohads invade Spain from North Africa while the Christian kings bicker among themselves. Alfonso VIII suffers a heavy defeat at the Battle of Alarcos in 1195 www.historyeurope.net Picture: Hassan Tower in Rabat (Morocco) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.