On the 27th October 312 AD the battle of Milvian Bridge was fought near Rome. The two men contending for control of Rome and the Empire were Constantine, who controlled Gaul, England and parts of Germany and Maxentius, who controlled Italy, Spain and Africa.
It happens the two were brothers in law.
The day before the monumental and pivotal battle, Constantine saw a flaming cross in the sky, taking I as an omen, he had his men put a cross on their shields and banners.
Full of strength at what their commander had seen, Constantine’s men won the battle. Maxentius drowned crossing a bridge over the Tiber.
Rome would soon be unified under one ruler (only Licentius remained in Constantine’s way.)
Constantine would spend the ret of his reign Christianising his subjects.
He converted on his deathbed, becoming the first Christian Emperor, in 337 AD.
Borodino fought today, the 7th September, in 1812.
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Napoleon won the battle of Borodino today in 1812.
It was to prove an empty victory. He had entered Russia in June with an army of half a million, 1000 guns, 30000 supply wagons and 28 million bottles of wine. Today he fought Kutuzov with 130000 men, losing 30000. Despite losing more men, 45000, the Russian commander, retreating and abandoning his Capital to Napoleon was to end up the victor.
Russia was Napoleon’s graveyard and he was only able to cross the Polish border with 10000 men after the ravages of Winter and Cossack and Guerilla attacks.
His Russian campaign cost him his Empire. -
One bloody battle, I believe it was the bloodiest battle of the century.
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Morning Worsham.
I was unaware of the casualties until last night. You are right to say it was the bloodiest one day battle.
Only Leipzig was bloodier, but that was a 3 day battle.
Thank you for the reminder. -
Thanks Witt! Always a pleasure to read your factoids on ‘Today’s date’!
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56 bottles of wine a man, wow!
He planned for a long partynight of victory the little one, huh?!? -
Maybe if the french had some cheese with their whine, they wouldn’t have come home in caskets.
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The snow destroyed Le Grande Armee, not fighting Russians.
However, Kutuzov did somewhat lure Napoleon into Russia knowing about the reality of Russian winters.
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