12 Caesars or De Vita Caesarum as imagined by Abraham de Bruyn

 Salvete Omnes,

 

have you ever read the De Vita Caesarum or the Twelve Caesars by  Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, Roman writer & historian?
Well, nowadays  you can easily do it - via Archive - eg this volume contains two translations of the famous work, and can be read via your computer or tablet, or phone. While this version is an audiobook - can be listened directly from Archive, or downloaded and listened on any of your electronic device. 

famous Abraham de Bruyn created this set of prints showing 12 Caesars of Svetonius - all mounted, their spirited steeds of the XVI century in full display of horsemanship and fine breeding of war steeds.

enjoy

Salvete

Entry of the Polish Embassy into Paris, September 25, 1645 - della Bella

 Salvete Omnes,

 

In 2018 I posted, in Polish, about the entry of our king Wladyslaw IV Waza(Vasa) ambassadors to the French court in Paris - September 1645.
British Museum collection contains numerous art created by Stefano della Bella, including his drawings showing the entry of the Polish Commonwealth embassy into Paris.

 

enjoy these beauties

all rights - Trusties of British Museum

Valete

ps

amazing judgement by the International Court of Justice - the state of Israel and the plausibility of genocide committed, in violation of Genocide Convention,  in Gaza, Palestine.

Massacre on the Marias

Salvete Omnes,

Almost 8 years ago, in 2016AD, some of the most heinous Islamic terror massacres on American soil  occurred  in Orlando, Florida (US).
Media outlets were quick to brand it the largest mass killing[sic!] in the American history[sic!]

Certainly it was the largest and bloodiest terrorist attack on the US soil since the most tragic 911. 

But was this the largest 'mass killing' in the American history?

Certainly not - and you do not have to look far as the American (USA territories)  Indian history would  provide countless examples of atrocities committed upon the native population, be it by the European colonists, American settlers, armies and/ or other native groups. 

 

Very often the difference between a terrorist act and a state act is mostly based on legality of actors' actions, not whether a massacre  is no a moral heinous act if perpetrated by the state actor. We have had the Nuremberg trials and doctrine, and various UN acts against genocide and crimes against humanity, and the law keeps developing into the right, moral direction. But for the power and prestige enjoyed by a state, their acts are as heinous and inhumane as the most perfidious murderous terrorist ones.
ad rem, 

Eugene Mortimer Baker and other US Army officers at Fort Ellis

Let me bring to light some info about another  heinous and barbarously bloody attack  perpetrated by a state actor, i.e., US Army elements during the winter of AD1870 - the so called Massacre on the Marias River in Montana - that took place near the Big Bend of the Marias River on  January 23, 1870. The object of attack was the Piegan camp in Montana Territory - note that the Blacfeet Confederacy were under the Lame Bull Treaty of 1855 and its amendments. 
Sources come form the Montana Official State website.
Witnesses to the Carnage - website with testimonies. 

The Piikuni and the Army's Piegan expedition.

Fort Ellis, Montana

John C. Ewers wrote - The Blackfeet, Raiders on the Northwstern Plains (1958, University of Oklahoma Press) - there is a chapter in that book devoted to the story of the Marias River tragedy. The book can be borrowed from Archive World Library.

Mountain Chief

General Sheridan, acting on the reporting of general Philip de Trobirand, commanding at Fort Shaw, ordered Baker to lead the Army expedition from Fort Ellis. The order was conveyed by means of the telegraph wire:
'If the lives and property of the citizens of Montana can best be protected by striking Mountain Chief's band, I want them struck. 

Tell Baker to strike them hard.'
The Army expedition - four cavalry companies,55 mounted infantry and a company of Us infantry  - guided by a whiskey trader and Army scout Joe Kipp moved northward of Fort Shaw, and  proceeded to attack  the wrong band instead of Mountain Chief's band, for the attacked the Heavy Runner's Piegan band.  . Joe Kipp actually recognized the chief  and tried to stopp the developing attack but Baker had him detained and put under guard.  Army scout Joe Cobell shot and killed chief Heavy Runner, when he was presenting his safe-conduct papers issued by general Sully. The rest was mayhem and killing without discrimination to age and sex, in accordance of general Sheridan's tough policies of conducting was against the Plains Indians. The details you can read in the links provided.

I hope AD 2024 will end up more peaceful that our late 2023AD.
Enjoy

Napoleon during 1812 Russia campaign in Albrecht Adam's brushes

 Salvete Omnes,

taking of Smolensk 1812

we, the Napoleonic Age aficionados,  are still reeling from the 'fracaso' or failure of the latest Hollywood take on the great European aka Napoleon by a British director R. Scott.

So today some images of mounted Napoleon by maestro Albrecht Adam, who himself, when very young, was 'an honorable visual corespondent' during the epic 1812 campaign in Russia.  

detail from a larger painting

burning Moscow in 1812

detail from the Berezyna/Berezina crossing

nota bene gorgeously painted horse 

Valete

Stefano della Bella & horses in etchings

 Salvete Omnes,

a little entry - a small gallery of Stefano Della Bella horses in his etchings - 

..

Valete

Broa Bridle - Viking Era bridle

 Salvete Omnes,

Broa bridle (800-1100AD) - from Swedish History Museum - description from the museum's site  -

Named after Broa, Gotland where the burial containing this bridle was was found, this magnificently decorated horse bridle, was made of 21 differently shaped, gilded and richly ornamented bronze plates mounted on a leather straps and with an iron snaffle bit. From the gilded plates-fittings especially five  stand out.  They are embossed in a raptor style(animal style) - named Broa Style. Three out of 5 are rectangular with animal heads in in the upper edges, the remaining 2 have profiled dragon heads. 

Valete