Jean du Plessis
@jean-du-plessis
Jean holds a PhD in History alongside a Master’s in Ancient Cultures. His areas of interest centre on Classical and Medieval Warfare with a specialisation in experimental archaeology. He has authored two books on ancient warfare, The Seleucid Army of Antiochus the Great: Arms, Armour & Tactics and Light Troops of the Greek and Roman World (forth coming late 2024). Of late he has developed a passion for 10th-13th century Byzantine warfare. In his free time, Jean is an avid War Bow archer and Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) practitioner.
Hannibal’s Master Class in Ambush Tactics at the Battle of Trasimene
On June 21, 217 BCE near lake Trasimene, an entire Roman army marched into an ambush set by the Carthaginian general Hannibal Barca.
Battle of Andrassos: Byzantine Empire vs. Sayf al-Dawla’s Jihad
In 960, Sayf al-Dawla led a large army home through the Taurus mountains after a raid in Byzantine lands. Very few made it home alive.
How the Byzantines Retook Crete From the Arabs in the Siege of Chandax
In 960 CE, the Byzantine general Nikephoros Phokas launched an immense expedition and massive armada to retake the island of Crete from the Arabs.
Disaster for Sparta! The Battle of Sphacteria (425 BCE)
In 425 BCE, a battle on the small island of Sphacteria tarnished Sparta’s military reputation and forever changed Greek warfare.
Hannibal’s First Great Victory Over Rome at the Battle of Trebbia (218 BCE)
In December of 217 BCE, a Roman Republican army suffered a devastating defeat at the hands of the Carthaginian general Hannibal Barca in the Second Punic War.
The Battle of Raban, 958: The Byzantine Empire Breaks the Hamdanids
In 958, the Byzantine Empire crushed the Hamdanid forces at Raban, ending Sayf al-Dawla’s reign and his long-standing threat.
Battle of Raphia: How Did It Reshape Ancient Syria?
In 217 BCE, two titans of the Hellenistic world clashed in one of the ancient world’s largest battles to decide the fate of Coele-Syria.
Fall of Constantinople (1453): The Siege That Changed the World
In 1453, Sultan Mehmed II's formidable army and groundbreaking artillery ended over a thousand years of Byzantine history with the fall of Constantinople.