10th century castle, on its mound, with a wooden palisade enclosure
A Bishop
A domed church
A juggler, after a miniature
According to Viollet-le-Duc
An 11th century knight, after the Bayeux tapestry
An attempt to restore the Krak, according to M. Rey
Anglo-Norman knight, after a tomb from 1277
Arbalestina
The narrow cruciform loophole, called by architects ' Arbalestina,' which is usually to be seen in the masonry of a mediaeval fortress, was designed for the special use of crossbowmen in repelling an assault. To enable the crossbow, or longbow, to be aimed to the right or left through a loophole, the aperture was greatly widened out on the inside face of the perforated wall.
Byzantine enamels from the Limburg reliquary
Crown of Charlemagne, kept in the imperial treasury of Vienna
Emperor Anastasius in consular costume
Emperor Justinian and his court - Mosaic of San Vitale, in Ravenna
Emperor Lothaire
Emperor Otton III, after a miniature from the Evangelist of Bamberg
Empress Theodora
Enamelled copper stock. The Annunciation. Limoges, 13th century
Enamelled copper vase by G. Alpaïs de Limoges
Flight of Princess Ermengarde
Carriage used about 1300-1350 in Flanders. Carriages were in use on the continent long before they were employed in England. In 1294, Philip the Fair of France issued an edict whose aim was the suppression of luxury; under this ordinance the wives of citizens were forbidden to use carriages, and the prohibition appears to have been rigorously enforced. They were used in Flanders during the first half of the fourteenth century; an ancient Flemish chronicle in the British Museum (Royal MSS. 16,[9] F. III.) contains a picture of the flight of Ermengarde, wife of Salvard, Lord of Rouissillon.
Former Constantinian Basilica of Saint Peter. Restitution
Frederick at the watch-fire before the battle of Liegnitz
To the astonishment of all, Daun decided upon a battle, hoping thus to ensure the destruction of the Prussian army. The decisive blow was to be struck August 15, and to make it all the more decisive he arranged for an attack at daybreak and a repetition of the slaughter at Hochkirch. This time, however, Frederick was fortunate enough to hear of the plan and he made a counterplan at once. The Prussian army left its camp in absolute silence during the night and occupied the neighboring heights; and to make the Austrians believe it was resting quietly in its old position, peasants were employed to keep the campfires burning brightly. Noiselessly Frederick arranged his army in fighting order. Silently the regiments stood in `rank` and listened for the signal to attack. There was something weird in the spectacle. The infantry stood with weapons ready for attack, and bright sabres flashed in the stout fists of the troopers ready at any instant to strike. Far down in the east day was dawning, and the silent host in the gray dusk looked like a troop of spectres. To enjoy a moment’s rest, Generals Seydlitz and Zieten threw themselves down by a campfire and slept; but Frederick, sitting upon a drumhead, considered the plans of the coming battle. At last he too was overcome by fatigue, and lying by the side of his generals was soon asleep. Suddenly a major rushed up and loudly asked, “Where is the King?” The latter, somewhat startled, arose at once and answered, “What is the matter?” “The enemy is not four hundred yards away,” was his reply. Frederick at the watch-fire before the battle of Liegnitz Officers and men were at once on the alert. Two minutes sufficed to form the regiments in order. Words of command were heard on all sides. The cavalry made ready for the onset. The thunder of artillery resounded over hill and valley, and in less than ten minutes the battle was raging. Frederick’s invincible spirit worked wonders. General Laudon had not expected such a reception and was utterly astonished to find a powerful force confronting him when he expected to surprise the Prussians in their camp. But in this emergency everything depended upon energy and courage. He made a brave assault, but the Prussians made a braver resistance. They fought like lions, and if it had been lighter the enemy would have been mercilessly slaughtered. When the sun rose it illuminated the field covered with bodies and broken weapons. The four hours’ sanguinary conflict was decided. The Prussians won a complete victory, and the Austrians lost ten thousand men, beside twenty-three standards and eighty-two cannon. Thus ended the battle of Liegnitz, August 15, 1760.
Frederick stood on the bloody field like one dazed
Frederick stood on the bloody field like one dazed, and it was only by chance he was saved from capture by some Russians and Austrians who approached the spot where he was standing. Captain Prittiwitz, his fortunate star, happened to be passing near by, with forty hussars. Lieutenant Belten suddenly exclaimed: “Captain Prittiwitz, yonder stands the King.” 86 The captain immediately turned his horse and rode forward with his men to the King, who was standing with folded arms upon a sandy hillock and alone, save for a single attendant who held his horse. His sword was sticking in the sand in front of him. The captain had considerable trouble in persuading the King to mount his horse, for at that instant Frederick was on the very verge of despair. To the appeal of the captain, he replied: “Leave me, Prittiwitz; I am lost.” “Not yet, Your Majesty,” answered Prittiwitz; “you are still King of Prussia and commander of an army of brave soldiers.” “Well, if you think so, forward.”
Gautier Bardins, bailiff and adviser to the king in the 13th century, according to his tombstone
Geoffroy Plantagenet
Germanic costume (5th-8th century)
Good evening, gentlemen, evidently you were not expecting me
The King, remarked with the utmost composure: “Gentlemen, follow me. I am no stranger here.” Thereupon he rode to the left over the drawbridge leading to the castle, followed by a few of his officers. He had hardly arrived at the castle entrance when several Austrian officers and attendants, with lanterns in their hands, ran down the steps and made an effort to get to their horses in the castle yard and escape under cover of the darkness. The King, dismounting, quietly confronted them and said: “Good-evening, gentlemen. Evidently you were not expecting me. Is there no room left for me?” It would have been easy for them to have overpowered Frederick if they had had the courage, but the suddenness of his appearance and the confident tone of his voice so completely dazed them that they took the lanterns from the hands of their attendants, lit the King up the stairs, and escorted him to one of the finest of the rooms. The most distinguished of the Austrian officers introduced his comrades to the King, by name and `rank`, and all joined in agreeable conversation. During this time more Prussian officers arrived at the castle, fearing the King might be in danger; but they found him enjoying himself mightily. He finally took leave of the Austrian officers, however, and they sought quarters in other rooms of the spacious castle.
Interior facade of the old St. Peter's Church in the Vatican
Knight of around 1220, from the Villard de Honnecour album
La Ziza, palace of the Norman and Swabian kings of Sicily, near Palermo
Ornate page from the Evangéliaire de Saint-Vaast
Philippe de Valois, after his seal
Philippe le Bold, son of Saint Louis, after his tombstone
Qala'at El-Hosn
Qala'at El-Hosn
Rome dominating the world.
Ruins of Gaillard castle
Saint Louis transporting the relics of the Passion to the Sainte-Chapelle
Saint Louis, after a wooden statuette from the Cluny museum
San Bartolommeo in Isola, in Rome
Seal of Celestin III, like the apostles
Seal of Henri Plantagenet
Seal of Henry I
Seal of the municipality of Fismes
Street and apse of Saints John and Paul, in Rome
Suger, after a stained glass window from Saint-Denis
The Krak Castle. Current state
The Lord of Joinville, dressed in his coat of arms, from a 14th century manuscript
The Saint-Martin church, in Canterbury, founded by Saint Augustin
The Source of Life