Trebuchets

Many of the most fascinating stories in history are the lesser told tales. The problem is how to get people interested to watch something that they perhaps haven't heard of?Social media is a curious thing 🙂 I posted on Monday about my latest film for History Hit, a film that I think is especially interesting. However as you can see below it got very few likes compared to the number my posts usually receive. That is a puzzle. I'm passionate about this story and I want people to learn about it. Why hasn't it grabbed people's attention I wonder?Now - the post was made on July 4th, when a great many of this page's followers would have been busy celebrating in the USA. That is when History Hit chose to release the film. So, hopeful that that was the reason, I'm giving it another push today. Do take a look on History Hit - there is a FREE TRIAL period available. Why not give it a go. If you'd like to support me in getting more history projects off the ground, then do please leave a positive comment in the comments section of the film. In this film I take a look at one of the most impressive and successful creations of the Napoleonic Wars: The Lines of Torres Vedras.I explore the spectacular lines of forts that ran from coast to coast across the neck of the Lisbon Peninsular, defending the Portuguese capital from a land attack by the French. They were constructed under the orders of Sir Arthur Wellesley, Viscount (later Duke of) Wellington, in anticipation of a third invasion of Portugal by Napoleon's forces. The British army under Wellington was there to stand with its old ally. Working with historians and Portuguese re-enactors, I discover some interesting details about how the Lines were designed and built - and also the ingenious signals system that was set up to communicate along the Lines. In a vast enterprise involving thousands of Portuguese civilians, 126 forts were built between October 1809 and October 1810. They made use of the natural landscape, fortifying the summits of two chains of hills. From these strongholds they could defend the roads that ran through the passes with artillery.I also learned how defeating the French entailed great suffering by the Portuguese people - Wellington ordered a scorched earth policy north of the Lines and the forced evacuation of the entire civilian population. The aim was to make it impossible for a French army to live off the land and to starve them out of Portugal.When a large French army, under the command of Marshal Massena, arrived at the Lines in October 1810, Wellington's plan was put to the test... ... See MoreSee Less

I'm happy to announce that History Hit has now launched the second in the series of Peninsular War films that I recently made for them. This one - about The Lines of Torres Vedras - is in my opinion especially interesting. It was fascinating to research and make.History Hit an online History channel with a ton of content - are offering a FREE TRIAL period. If you are interested in history, it is an excellent channel. Why not give it a try and do please start by watching this film! Also don't forget to leave positive comments - go on, break the rule of the internet and be nice :). Seriously if you'd like to see more content like this, then we need your support - tell us if you are interested. ... See MoreSee Less

Trebuchets

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