THE BYZANTINE NAVY

Welcome

Patton was a ruthless battlefield commander and expert

CONTRIBUTORS

MICHAEL HASKEW For this issue’s cover feature, starting

WAR IN FOCUS

© Getty PHANTOMS IN THE AIR 1965 Three

TIMELINE OF THE... BYZANTINE EMPIRE

The Eastern Empire stood as the last remnant of mighty Rome but succumbed after centuries of gradual decline

DYRRHACHIUM NORMANS VS BYZANTINES

When Emperor Alexius Comnenus marched to confront the Norman warlord Robert Guiscard, his formidable Varangians learned the hard way that too much aggression could be a major weakness in battle

RECONQUERING THE EMPIRE

The last truly Latin emperor of the eastern Romans, Justinian I, managed to take back Italy and North Africa, but at great expense to the Byzantine Empire

FALL OF THE EMPIRE

In 1453 the total collapse and destruction of the Byzantine Empire seemed unimaginable. In truth, that fall had been long overdue

PATTON

“OLD BLOOD & GUTS”

ZAMA

Led by a fearless and ambitious young commander, Rome’s bloody victory over the Carthaginians finally put an end to the Second Punic War

AT THE GATES OF MOSCOW

In 1941 the Nazi war machine faced two deadly foes: the Red Army and the winter

THE CONQUEST OF NORTHERN HONSHU

Northern Honshu was not always part of Japan; its colonisation and conquest, and the dynamic response by the Emishi even after their defeat, had a far-reaching influence on Japanese political and military history

NORTHERN HONSHU AFTER THE EMISHI

The remote region continued to play an influential role in Japan's power struggles, arts and religion for many years

NIEUPORT 17

This French biplane dominated the skies over the Western Front in 1916

IAN McKAY

With his comrades shielding against a hail of machine-gun fire, this courageous young platoon sergeant made the ultimate sacrifice to secure a vital objective in the war to retake the Falklands

MUNICH: THE EDGE OF WAR

INTERVIEW WITH ROBERT HARRIS & CHRISTIAN SCHWOCHOW

MUSEUMS & EVENTS

Learn about Edith Cavell’s story in a new archive, the Halifax Explosion commemorations in Canada and a touring Battle of Britain exhibition in Wales

Canada’s 104th Halifax Explosion Anniversary

The Canadian city of Halifax has paid tribute to the 2,000 lives lost in a tragic accident that occurred over a century ago

Wales and the Battle of Britain

Touring across Wales, this exhibition highlights the nation’s role in the Battle of Britain

JANUARY 1942

To commemorate 80 years since the Second World War, History of War will be taking a look at some of the key events taking place during each month of the conflict

REVIEWS

Our pick of the latest military history books

PATTON

The story of America’s legendary general has been retold by many historians, and even by the man himself

AMERICA’S “FEW”

Two years after the Battle of Britain, American airmen faced their own against-the-odds struggle. Here, author and historian Bill Yenne discusses how a handful of US Marine Corps pilot ‘aces’ achieved a monumental victory over the Japanese in the South Pacific

HITLER'S 'TIGER ACE'

HOW MICHAEL WITTMANN BECAME ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL NAZI PANZER COMMANDERS AND HOW THE ALLIES FINALLY DEFEATED HIM

TUDOR CHAMPION ARMOUR

This ornate suit of armour was once owned by Elizabeth I’s jousting champion