It's quite possible that Constantine's vision at Milvian Bridge and subsequent religious convictions prompted his stand...who's to say for sure (I have refought that battle numerous times in strategy and tactics war games).
Richard III definitely got a bum rap while Henry V is idolized. Civil wars tend to get written into history in a subjective manner. It's quite possible the two nephews lived out their lives in exile in France (Bosworth Field is a battle than can easily go either way when simulated).
The Poles have a long and bloody history that seldom gets much room in history books and their greatest exploits seem to have always come while fighting as expatriates (not difficult to understand given their position between the Russian and Prussian Empires).
Sweden's fortunes rose and fell with that of their navy, which IMO is never given enough credit for their early successes. That and of course the fact that it's kind of dumb to attack Russia in the winter...at a time when that empire would only grow stronger and stronger.
Suffice to say that both the Battle of Stamford Bridge and Hastings defined the modern world we all know. Vikings, Anglo-Saxons and the Normans...it doesn't get much better than that from the perspective of military history.
Great stuff poster...
= new reply since forum marked as read
