Viking
The Most Famous Last Stand of All
“They attacked harder than every, thrusting at Gisli with their spears until guts spilled out. Gisli gathered the guts up together in his shirt, and bound them with a cord.” […]
Battle
Greek and Roman
Romans on the Rhine
“Our troops attacked with such vigour when the signal was given, and the enemy also dashed forward so suddenly and swiftly, that there was no time to throw spears at them. So the men dropped their spears and fought hand to hand with their swords.” […]
Greek and Roman
An Emperor and Gladiator
“For such things as these, to be sure, he was strong enough, but otherwise he was weak and feeble, even having something wrong with him in the groin, which stuck out so much that the Roman people could detect the swelling through his silk clothing. Many verses were written on this subject. ” […]
History
Honor Before Loyalty, Victory, and Good Sense
“May God so will that you and I, duke Ferdulf, may not depart from this life until others know which of us is the greater coward.” […]
Greek and Roman
A Retreat Becomes a Rout
“Thus our troops were able, without any risk, to kill as many of them as there was time to kill.” […]
Britons and Celts
Single Combat with Honor
“Their shields were split and broken, their coats of chainmail torn and damaged. They turned their horses around and rushed at each other again.” […]
Viking
Pirate v. Pirate in the Far North
“Here Sigmundur showed his skill; he tossed his sword with a flourish aloft and he caught it with his left hand, holding his shield in his right. He slashed at Randver with his sword and cut his right leg clear off below the knee. Randver pitched over, and Sigmundur gave him a blow to the neck which severed off his head.” […]
Viking
Farmers vs. Vikings
“Sigmundur cut his way forward easily, fighting with a two-handed sword. When he came upon Bjorn’s standard-bearer, he dispatched the man with a lethal blow. He called to his men to break their shield formation when he saw Bjorn himself directly ahead.” […]
Greek and Roman
Bevis Rules the Day
“Bevis and his contingent killed sixty-thousand that day; they had all come from Damascus, but they never returned home.” […]
Viking
Bonds Forged Through Battle
“The next day, Haraldur called over to Sigmundur’s ship to ask if they wanted to fight again. Sigmundur answered that he had no reason to consider anything else.” […]