History Here and Now Thomas M Richardson

No battle arguably had more consequences in the Middle East than a confrontation between the Crusader states and Saladin in 1187 at the Horns of Hattin. United in their hatred for Muslims, characters like Reynald de Chatillon antagonized trade caravans and Muslim holy sites. Their actions mobilized the Sultan of Egypt and Syria, Saladin, who baited the large Crusader army into battle where the desert heat inflicted a harsh toll on their enemies. Saladin used the political infighting between the Crusaders to his advantage and ultimately crushed the Crusaders and leaving the lands undefended. Within four months of their victory, Saladin recaptured almost every Crusader stronghold, including Jerusalem and fought off the Third Crusade. 

In the snowy mountains of the Hindu Kush, over 16,000 British troops and camp followers were at the mercy of the elements and guerrilla attacks from the rugged terrain. After ten days of struggling to reach their destination, the remnants of the 44th Regiment and their followers were outright massacred in the foothills outside Gandamak, Afghanistan. This is the story of the Massacre of Elphinstone's Army and the conditions that lead to this disastrous British defeat; one episode in the broader Great Game between Great Britain and Russia. 

Today's episode is a brief biography of one of the most notable Romantic era poets, Robert Burns. Born in 1759 to a poor Scottish farming family, Burns' life experiences and gift for prose made him a talented poet whose works covered a variety of themes. He wrote about nature, religion, and his liberal views made him a symbol for the struggles faced by the common man. His egalitarian style and message for political liberty and equality made him both loved and loathed by his contemporaries. Today, his poetic legacy lives on in Scottish descendants around the world honoring him with Burns Dinners and preserving his poetry. If you've ever sung Auld Lang Syne on New Year's Eve, you're carrying on the legacy of Robert Burns.

During the Second War of Italian Independence, 200,000 French, Italian, and Austrian troops brawled in a bare-knuckled, tight-quarters battle. Tactical blunders aside, poor organizational planning and preparation left many soldiers ill-equipped and without enough supplies. One observer, Henry Durant, recorded the carnage and vowed to change the way wars were fought. His advocacy for improving medical care for wounded soldiers and the humane treatment of prisoners paved the way for the establishment of the Geneva Convention and the International Red Cross. 

Battles aren't always great; sometimes they're downright awful. In this podcast miniseries, we'll look at some of the worst battles in history. Worst is a loose term, but in these cases we'll look at them in terms of lives lost, strategic blunders, costly victories, and horrible environmental conditions. 

The original Pyrrhic victory was the Battle of Asculum in 279 BCE. Fought between King Pyrrhus of Epirus and the Roman Republic, this was the first battle involving elephants against Roman legions. Pyrrhus drove the Romans from the battlefield back to their camp, but he suffered enormous casualties that he couldn't afford to replace. Eventually he was forced to retreat to Greece which allowed the Romans to secure all of southern Italy. The term 'Pyrrhic victory' - a victory so costly it ultimately proves disastrous in the end - stems from this one battle. 

In the vast horizon that is U.S. military history, there's scant discussion on the history and process of awarding military medals and decorations. What may seem like a tedious subject is actually rich with historical information. Additionally, veterans can request replacements of their awards and that's when the National Archives steps in and helps. This episode will give a brief overview of how veterans can request their awards, the different channels, and give a basic overview of how the U.S. Armed Forces military honors systems functions.