On the 5th November 1854 a smaller British and (yes) French army beat off an assault by the Russians at Inkerman in the Crimea. It was known as “The Soldier’s Battle” as men fought small engagements due to poor visibility in dense fog.
The Russians had massed 32000 men on the Allied flank and headed for the 2700 man 2nd Division, commanded today by the aggressive Pennefather. Instead of falling back in the face of superior numbers, he advanced. The British had their rifles to thank this day as they took a terrible toll on the musket armed Russian Infantry, who were hemmed in by the valley’s bottle neck shape. The British 2nd Division pushed the Russians back onto their reinforcements and should have been routed by the Russians’ numbers, but the fog and the British Light Division saved them. Three successive Russian commanders were killed in this engagement.
The Russians other 15000 men approached and assailed the Sandbag Battery, but they were routed by 300 British defenders vaulting the wall, blunting the lead Battalions, who were then attacked in the flank. More Russian attacks ensured the Battery exchanged hands several times.
The British 4th Division was not as lucky. Arriving on the field, its flanking move was itself flanked and its commander, Cathcart, killed. This enabled the Russians to advance, but not for long. They were soon driven off by French units arriving from their camps and made no more headway.
The battle was lost and they had to withdraw.
This was the last time the Russians tried to defeat the Allied troops in the field. Despite this reverse, however, the Russian attack had seriously stalled the Allies from capturing Sevastopol. They had to instead, spend one harsh winter on the heights overlooking the city, before it fell in September of 1855.
The British suffered 2573 casualties, the French 1800 and the Russians 11959.
Today in 180: Commodus returns to Rome as Emperor.
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After 83 years of 5 good emperors who brought growth and riches, Commodus arrived in Rome as Emperor today. He would rule 12 years and take Rome back to the dark times not seen since Nero. He had been with his father, Marcus Aurelius when he died of plague at Vindobona ( modern day Vienna). Many should have seen the signs: he was born on the 31st August, like Caligula, another despot of an emperor. Within 5 years he was leading a life of depravity, having orgy after orgy, with his harem of 300 boys and 300 girls. When he ran out of money, he would execute a senator and take his. He was so obsessed with his own importance he changed all the names of the months to his own.
He started fighting animals in public, fancying himself the world’s greatest gladiator, paying himself 1000000 sesterces a year. The Roman people and senate were appalled. Soon a plot was hatched to assassinate him. The poison failed and a professional wrestler was called upon to strangle him in his bath. He was 31.
After his death, all mention of him was removed by the Senate.
His death was followed by the year(193) of the 5 Emperors. -
What a legend LOL…. epic.
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Hi Garg. Must say as I wrote the word “orgy”, twice, I thought of you.
I wonder if Commodus was partial to gorillas!
Or if he was happier throwing javelins at them.
Nutcase that he obviously was. -
By the standards of Wittmann’s brief biographical sketch, Christopher Plummer’s interpretation of Commodus in “The Fall of the Roman Empire” is quite restrained. He barely attains the level of ruthless villany you might find in an average Fortune 500 CEO nowadays.
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What’s so “insane” about wanting it your own way, and embracing the freedoms you have whilst you have them?
Immoral - Certainly, Â Insanse? Â Not at all… Â :evil:
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You are right Marc. He certainly was a “baddy”, but not as vile a portrayal as could have been(was the 60s though). Joaquin definitely did him more justice.
I must say, I first watched that because Sofia Loren was in it.