The Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World; from Marathon to WaterlooRichard Bentley, 1851 |
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Alexander Alexander's allies ancient Arbela Arminius arms Arrian Asiatic assailed Athenian Athens attack Attila battle battle of Marathon battle of Tours brother Cæsar camp campaigns Carthage Carthaginian cavalry centre centuries Charles Martel Chersonese civilization coast command conquered conqueror conquest consul Darius Datis death defeated dominion Egypt emperor enemy Eretria Europe expedition favour fight flank fleet force formed fought galleys Gaul genius German Greece Greek ground Gylippus Hannibal Hasdrubal Herodotus Hippias honour horse host Hunnish Huns infantry invaders Italy king Livius Macedonian Marathon Medes military Miltiades modern Moslems nations Nero Nero's Persian phalanx Phoenicians plain Platæans probably provinces Punic race ranks revolt Rhine right wing river Roman army Roman Empire Roman legions Rome Saracen Scipio sent Sicily soldiers Spain Sparta spirit sword Syracusans Syracuse territory thousand tion tribes troops valour Varus veterans victory warriors δὲ καὶ
Popular passages
Page 223 - The sweet, sweet love of daughter, of sister, and of wife, The gentle speech, the balm for all that his vexed soul endures, The kiss, in which he half forgets even such a yoke as yours. Still let the maiden's beauty swell the father's breast with pride ; Still let the bridegroom's arms infold an unpolluted bride.
Page 222 - Heap heavier still the fetters; bar closer still the grate; Patient as sheep we yield us up unto your cruel hate. But, by the Shades beneath us, and by the Gods above, Add not unto your cruel hate your yet more cruel love!
Page 46 - The flying Mede, his shaftless broken bow ; The fiery Greek, his red pursuing spear ; Mountains above, Earth's, Ocean's plain below ; Death in the front, Destruction in the rear ! Such was the scene...
Page v - The victory of Charles Martel has immortalized his name, and may justly be reckoned among those few battles of which a contrary event would have essentially varied the drama of the world in all its subsequent scenes ; with Marathon, Arbela, the Metaurus, Chalons, and Leipsic.
Page 202 - ... Hannibal had last gazed on those features. The sons of Hamilcar had then planned their system of warfare against Rome, which they had so nearly brought to successful accomplishment. Year after year had Hannibal been struggling in Italy, in the hope of one day hailing the arrival of him whom he had left in Spain ; and of seeing his brother's eye flash with affection and pride at the junction of their irresistible hosts. He now saw that eye glazed in death, and in the agony of his heart the great...
Page 303 - Moslem horsemen rode off to protect their tents. But it seemed as if they fled ; and all the host was troubled. And while Abderrahman strove to check their tumult, and to lead them back to battle, the warriors of the Franks came around him, and he was pierced through with many spears, so that he died. Then all the host fled before the enemy, and many died in the flight. This deadly defeat of the Moslems, and the loss of the great leader and good cavalier Abderrahman, took place in the hundred and...
Page 41 - Instead of an uniform reduction of its strength, he determined on detaching principally from his centre, which, from the nature of the ground, would have the best opportunities for rallying, if broken; and on strengthening his wings so as to insure advantage at those points ; and he trusted to his own skill, and to his soldiers...
Page 145 - Persian right wing, while the tidings of their comrades' success must have proportionally encouraged the Macedonian forces under Parmenio. His Thessalian cavalry particularly distinguished themselves by their gallantry and persevering good conduct ; and by the time that Alexander had ridden up to Parmenio, the whole Persian army was in full flight from the field. It was of the deepest importance to Alexander to secure the person of Darius, and he now urged on the pursuit. The River Lycus was between...
Page 96 - An easily-repelled attack was first made on the outwork in the day-time, probably more with the view of blinding the besieged to the nature of the main operations than with any expectation of succeeding in an open assault, with every disadvantage of the ground to contend against. But, when the darkness had set in, Demosthenes formed his men in columns, each soldier taking with him five days...
Page 41 - ... discipline for the improvement of that advantage into decisive victory. In this order, and availing himself probably of the inequalities of the ground, so as to conceal his preparations from the enemy till the last possible moment, Miltiades drew up the eleven thousand infantry whose spears were to decide this crisis in the struggle between the European and the Asiatic worlds. The sacrifices by which the favor of heaven was sought, and its will consulted, were announced to show propitious omens.