Southern-Style
A Downhome Perspective on All Things Southern

In light of current history, our country frequently involves our military throughout the world.  Perhaps these questions should be asked by all of us. 

St. Thomas Aquinas wrote:  

"In order for a war to be just, three things are necessary. First, the authority of the sovereign. Secondly, a just cause. Thirdly, a rightful intention."

1.  The War Colleges use these battles for instruction in techniques and strategy.  In addition to enlightening us as to the strategy that can be applied later to other situations, explain whether you think the war in which these battles were fought were just according to St. Thomas Aquinas' definition of a just war.  Give a personal account of the leaders of those battles and their character.  What motivated these men?  What motivated others to follow them?  Read the quotations on the quotations page and use some of those quotations in your writing.  Cite sources.  Your opinion does not count unless it is an educated opinion supported by facts and others more knowledgeable than you.

2.  Louis XIV of France wanted to have engraved upon his cannons “Last argument of kings.” (“Ultima ratio regum.”) Looking back over the list of great military leaders, which leaders used war for just causes and which leaders used war because it was the "last argument of kings."  Explain.  How did they convince the populace that theirs was a "just war"?   Consider the Crusades.  Choose 10 leaders. Boadicea, of course, had no cannons.  Include her as one of the 10 leaders, even though she has not been chosen by military colleges as one of the leading warriors of the world.  What motivated Boadicea and why did men follow her?  Cite sources.  Your opinion does not count unless it is an educated opinion supported by facts and others more knowledgeable than you.

Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World, from Marathon to Waterloo , first published in 1851 (with later editions), by Edward Shepherd Creasy (1812-1878) http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/awc-thry.htm#machiavelli