Here are some of my favorite paintings of battles our ancestors fought in the Crusades and during Spain’s Reconquista of its own territory from the Muslims.
Painting of the Great Siege of Malta; details unknown. The Christian victory in this battle ended the myth of Ottoman invincibility. It made such an impression on Europe that Voltaire once said, “Nothing is better known than the siege of Malta.”
Painting of the Great Siege of Malta; details unknown
The Crusaders Conquering the City of Zara in 1202 by Andrea Vicentino
“Bohemond Leading The Crusaders At Dorylæum,” from The Story of the Greatest Nations: From the Dawn of History to the Twentieth Century by Edward Ellis and Charles Horne
Crusader Battle by Theodoor Schaepkens
The Mighty King of Chivalry Richard the Lionheart by Fortunino Matania
Battle of Arsuf, Richard I of England by Eloi Firmin Feron. The Crusaders won this battle despite being outnumbered by more than two to one.
The Spanish Reconquista by Andrey Serebryakov
The Battle of Zama by Cornelis Cort. This battle ended the Second Punic War between Rome and the Carthaginians.
The Battle between Christians and Moors at El Sotillo by Francisco de Zurbarán. Legend has is that in 1370, Spanish troops discovered Moors preparing to ambush them thanks to a divine light.