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British Military History

Encyclopedia : B : BR : BRI : British Military History

History of Britain

By chronology By nation By topic

British military history is a long and varied topic, extending from the prehistoric and ancient historic period, through the Roman invasions of Julius Cæsar and Claudius and subsequent Roman occupation; warfare in the Mediaeval period, including the invasions of the Saxons and the Vikings in the Early Middle Ages, the Norman Conquest, and wars against France; through the Early Modern period, wars against Spain and France, and the English Civil War, and the beginnings of the colonial British Empire in India, the USA and Canada; and into the Modern period with the wars of Marlborough and against Napoleon, the Crimean War and into the 20th century with the Boer War, World War I and World War II, the Cold War the Korean War; and, most recently, Northern Ireland, the Falklands War and military operations in the Balkans and the Middle East.

Contents

List of British military encounters

Prehistoric and ancient period

Mediæval period

Early Colonial period

Colonial Period

Modern Period

21st century

List of fortifications in Britain

Roman & ancient

Mediæval

1600s

Georgian & Victorian

World War II Stop Lines

List of British military institutions

See main article: British Armed Forces

List of British military alliances

Scottish military alliances

(1165-1560)
The Auld Alliance was a military alliance between the countries of France, Norway, and Scotland. Though Norway never invoked the treaty, the Scots and the French did. The treaty stated that if any of the three nations was to be attacked by a third party, that the other two nations that belonged to the treaty would invade the aggressor. The effects of this military alliance happened many times in history. In 1336, at the beginning of the Hundred Years' War, the French king Philip VI provided military support for David II, who fled to France after being deposed by Edward III of England. The Auld Alliance can also be said to have inflamed the English invasion of Scotland, starting the First War of Scottish Independence. In 1346, under the terms of the Auld Alliance, Scotland invaded England in the interests of France. In 1421, at the Battle of Baugé, French and Scots forces dealt a crushing defeat to the English, for which the Scots were richly rewarded. In addition, in 1429 Scots came to the aid of Joan of Arc in her famous relief of Orléans; many went on to form the Garde Écossaise, the fiercely-loyal bodyguard of the French monarchy. Many Scottish mercenaries chose to settle in France, although they continued to consider themselves "Scots". However, when Scotland considered itself Protestant by the Treaty of Edinburgh, the treaty was considered void, since France was still Roman Catholic.

English military alliances

The Anglo-Portuguese, signed in 1373, Alliance between England (succeeded by the United Kingdom) and Portugal is the oldest alliance in the world which is still in force. Many times in history, this alliance has served England (and later Britain) because it was the stronger country, but also Portugal whenever it was the stronger country. This treaty largely influenced the British Iberia Peninsular War. The last time that this treaty effected British history was during the 1982 Falklands War the facilities of the Azores were again offered to the British Royal Navy.

The War of the League of Cambrai (1508–16), sometimes known as the War of the Holy League and by several other names, was a major conflict in the Italian Wars. The Kingdom of England participated in the alliance of the Holy League against France (1511–13). The Kingdom Scotland was part of the Franco-Venetian alliance (1513–16), while the Kingdom of England was against it.

The Triple Alliance of 1668 consisted of England, Sweden, and the Republic of the United Provinces (the Netherlands). It was formed to halt the expansion of Louis XIV's France in the War of Devolution.

The Grand Alliance (known, prior to 1689, as the League of Augsburg) was a European coalition, consisting (at various times) of Austria, Bavaria, Brandenburg, England, the Holy Roman Empire, the Republic of the United Provinces (the Netherlands), the Palatinate of the Rhine, Portugal, Saxony, Spain and Sweden. The league was named the 'Grand Alliance' after England had joined it. The primary reason for the League's creation was to defend the Palatinate from France. This organization fought the War of the Grand Alliance against France from 1688 to 1697.

British military alliances

The Anglo-Portuguese, signed in 1373, Alliance between England (succeeded by the United Kingdom) and Portugal is the oldest alliance in the world which is still in force. Many times in history, this alliance has served England (and later Britain) because it was the stronger country, but also Portugal whenever it was the stronger country. This treaty largely influenced the British Iberia Peninsular War. The last time that this treaty effected British history was during the 1982 Falklands War the facilities of the Azores were again offered to the British Royal Navy. The Triple Alliance was an agreement between United Kingdom, France and the Republic of the United Provinces (the Netherlands), against Spain, to prevent Spain from becoming a superpower in Europe. The Triple Alliance of 1788 was an alliance between Great Britain, Prussia and the Republic of the United Provinces (the Netherlands) against France. The alliance was formed to keep France from becoming a superpower in Europe by taking over the Dutch colonies. The Anglo-Japanese Alliance was signed in London on January 30, 1902 by Lord Lansdowne (British foreign secretary) and Hayashi Tadasu (Japanese minister in London). The alliance was renewed and extended twice, in 1905 and 1911 before its demise in 1921. It officially terminated on August 17, 1923. This alliance helped the British contain Russia and helped Britain's navy by providing coaling stations and repair facilities. The Entente Cordiale (French for "friendly understanding") is a series of agreements signed on April 8, 1904, between the United Kingdom and France. It resolved differences concerning influence and control in various countries including Egypt, Morocco, Madagascar, Newfoundland, Siam (Thailand), West and Central Africa. The agreement also acknowledged the right of free passage through the Suez Canal. The year after its signing, Britain's sympathetic attitude toward France's position in Morocco helped to ward off a challenge from Germany to the status quo in the North African kingdom (the Tangier Crisis). The agreement also paved the way for the diplomatic and military cooperation that preceded World War I. The Triple Entente was the alliance formed in 1907 between the United Kingdom, France and Russia after the signing of the Anglo-Russian Entente. France and Britain had already signed the Entente Cordiale in 1904, and France had signed the Franco-Russian Alliance in 1894. This alliance brought Britain into World War I.

See also

References

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