Most Decisive Battle of the Middle Ages 500-1500

Most Decisive Battle of the Middle Ages

  • Didgori

    Votes: 1 7.7%
  • Pelekanon

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Hastings

    Votes: 4 30.8%
  • Yarmouk

    Votes: 6 46.2%
  • Manzikert

    Votes: 2 15.4%
  • Constantinople

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Ain Jalut

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Talas

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Tours

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Qadisiyah

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Other

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    13
  • Poll closed .
Which is fine and I'm not challenging your statements on Islamic jurisprudence - all I'm saying is that it's not relevant to the situation at the time of Ain Jalut, forty years previously. At the time of Ain Jalut, Berke was angry with Hulagu because of his treatment of Baghdad and the Caliph and was aiding the Marmeluks indirectly against Hulagu forces. Later Berke fought a war against Hulagu where religion was one of the factors.

If the Marmaluks had been eliminated (as they were later eliminated by the Ottomans) then the likelihood is that the Levant would have been devastated much as Baghdad was. Without the distraction of the Marmeluk front Hulagu and his sons may be much more successful against Berke which may butterfly the need for the Ilkhanate ever to formally adopt Islam (with or without the fatwa). You may have a situation with a residual Crusader presence in the Levant and a much stronger Christian presence (and corresponding weaker Muslim presence).

Of course. Now let us get back on topic haha.
 
Does "most" apply to the outcome of the battle, or the magnitude of the resulting strategic effect?

I was thinking more on the strategic side but it could be argued either way. For most decisive outcome on a single battlefield I would go with Battle of Ager Sanguinis (Battle of the Field of Blood)

Wiki definition:
The term decisive victory refers to a military victory in battle that definitively resolves the objective being fought over, ending one stage of the conflict and beginning another stage. Until a decisive victory is achieved, conflict over the competing objectives will continue. Like all concepts of warfare, a decisive battle can take place from the tactical or unit level (Pavlov's House during the Battle of Stalingrad or the Chew House at the Battle of Germantown), the operational level (the Battle of Cowpens or the Battle of Cannae), all the way up to the strategic level (the Battle of Saratoga) or battles that bring an end to hostilities, such as the Battle of Hastings, the Battle of Aljubarrota or the Battle of Waterloo.
 
What's so amazing about Bouvines? The French king of England was beaten by the French king of France, whoop whoop! Agincourt saw the reverse outcome and didn't change much either.

Had the other side won, a different part of France would have fallen to John, but the net result would likely be much the same. Still an awesome victory for the Capets, to be sure.

Bouvines had a larger effect on the balance of power in the Holy Roman Empire, the House of Welf never really recovered.
 
I think a notable mention would be the Battle of Tong Pass in 756.Because of this major defeat,An Lushan's army was able to capture Chang'an and the Tang Dynasty never recovered from this blow due to the devastation and the loss of prestige that allowed warlords to take over the country.
 
What's so amazing about Bouvines? The French king of England was beaten by the French king of France, whoop whoop! Agincourt saw the reverse outcome and didn't change much either.

Had the other side won, a different part of France would have fallen to John, but the net result would likely be much the same. Still an awesome victory for the Capets, to be sure.
It is generally credited with being the start of the French national feeling and nationalism, with large consequences later on.
 
It is generally credited with being the start of the French national feeling and nationalism, with large consequences later on.
Sure, it's a big battle in a long trend eventually culminating in French nationalism, but for the most important battle of a period it seems quite small compared to battles shaping which civilization (not which king) ruled a piece of land.
 
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