by F.H. Wellington

The invasion of Baekje in 660 AD was the result of the growing rivalry among the Three Kingdoms of Korea (Silla, Baekje, and Goguryeo). Silla had increasingly found itself threatened by the alliance between Baekje and Goguryeo, particularly after years of conflict along its western frontier. Seeking to eliminate Baekje and weaken its larger ally Goguryeo, Silla's King Muyeol forged an alliance with the powerful Tang dynasty of China in 648. China ultimately agreed to invade Baekje alongside Silla, with the two armies approaching from different directions: a Tang expeditionary force advanced by sea and up the Geum River, while Silla sent troops westward under Kim Yu-sin.

Silla's General Kim Yu-sin advanced with roughly 50,000 troops (according to traditional historical accounts anyways), while Baekje could muster only about 5,000 soldiers under the renowned General Gyebaek. Realizing that his army was vastly outnumbered, Gyebaek reportedly rallied his men with a speech invoking the ancient Chinese king Goujian, preparing them to fight to the death.

Despite the enormous numerical disadvantage, Gyebaek's army initially performed remarkably well, repulsing Silla attacks five times and causing Silla's morale to deteriorate. In response, the Silla commander Kim Pumil sent his young son and Hwarang warrior Gwanchang into battle. Gwanchang was captured twice by the Baekje forces; after his second capture, Gyebaek ordered his execution but reportedly respected the young warrior's courage. Gwanchang's death became a rallying point for the Silla army, which launched another major assault and eventually overwhelmed the exhausted Baekje defenders. Gyebaek was killed along with most of his army.

The defeat at Hwangsanbeol left Sabi exposed, and the Silla-Tang armies captured the capital within days. King Uija surrendered in July 660 AD, bringing the Baekje kingdom to an apparent end after roughly 700 years of existence. The Tang dynasty established military administrations to govern the conquered territory, while King Uija, his crown prince, and numerous Baekje officials were taken to China. However, the conquest did not immediately end Baekje resistance. Former Baekje elites and soldiers launched a determined restoration movement, eventually placing Prince Buyeo Pung on the throne and receiving military assistance from Japan. The resistance continued for about three years until the Silla-Tang alliance defeated the Baekje restoration forces in 663 AD, particularly at the Battle of Baekgang and the fall of their remaining strongholds. The destruction of Baekje dramatically altered the balance of power in Korea and allowed Silla and Tang to turn their attention toward Goguryeo, which fell in 668.

Artist of the painting is Oh Seung-woo

by H. Charles McBarron Jr. Depicting Lieutenant John H. Parker’s Gatling gun detachment during the charge up San Juan Hill on July 1, 1898.

Painted by Major Charles F. Comfort

This battle was part of the long struggle for control of Italy between France and the Habsburgs. Francis I had already fought the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V over Milan and other territories in northern Italy. In 1524, Francis invaded Italy again and captured Milan, but instead of withdrawing, he decided to besiege the Imperial garrison at Pavia, a heavily fortified city south of Milan. Charles V's commanders, including Fernando d'Avalos, Marquis of Pescara, and Charles de Lannoy, assembled an army to relieve the garrison inside.

The siege dragged on for months. By February 1525, the Imperial army was increasingly desperate, but the French position was not as secure as it appeared. The French army was divided between the troops surrounding Pavia and a separate force guarding against the approaching Imperial relief army. Meanwhile, the Imperial commanders devised a plan to attack the French camp during the night.
On the night of February 23-24th, Imperial troops secretly moved through the Mirabello Park, a large hunting park north of Pavia. They broke through a section of the park's walls and began infiltrating the French position. The attack caught portions of the French army by surprise and fighting quickly spread through the park, with French and Imperial troops becoming entangled in confused close combat.

Francis I personally entered the battle. This was not unusual for a Renaissance monarch but it was extraordinarily dangerous. Francis was an experienced warrior and reportedly fought aggressively alongside his knights. His initial response to the Imperial attack was successful in some areas, and the French heavy cavalry managed to inflict serious losses on the Imperial troops.
The battle, however, gradually turned against the French. The Imperial commanders had brought together a remarkably diverse force, including Spanish arquebusiers, German Landsknechts, Italian troops, and cavalry. Their firearms proved particularly important. French cavalry, despite its traditional prestige and battlefield effectiveness, found itself vulnerable to concentrated arquebus fire.

The decisive moment came when the French army became increasingly fragmented. Francis's forces were attacked from several directions, and the king's immediate escort was gradually reduced. French commanders struggled to understand what was happening elsewhere on the battlefield. According to contemporary accounts, Francis was eventually surrounded by Imperial cavalry. His horse was killed or incapacitated, leaving the king fighting on foot amid the chaos. Several French nobles around him were killed, while others attempted to protect him. At this point, Spanish soldiers recognized that the heavily armed knight they were fighting was the French king himself.

Francis was eventually seized by Imperial troops. The precise details of who physically captured him became the subject of competing claims, with several soldiers and nobles later asserting credit. What mattered was that the king had fallen into the hands of Charles V's army. Francis had entered the battle as the ruler of one of Europe's most powerful kingdoms; he left it as a prisoner.

The French army subsequently collapsed. Thousands of French soldiers were killed or captured, while the survivors abandoned the siege of Pavia. The battle was an overwhelming Imperial victory. More importantly, however, the capture of Francis transformed what had been a military defeat into a major political crisis for France.

Francis was initially taken to Pizzighettone and subsequently transferred to Spain, where Charles V intended to use his prisoner as leverage. Charles demanded substantial concessions from Francis, including French renunciation of claims in Italy and territorial concessions elsewhere. Francis initially resisted, but imprisonment placed enormous pressure on him. Eventually, in 1526, he agreed to the Treaty of Madrid, promising major territorial concessions and agreeing to return to captivity if the terms were not fulfilled. Francis was released after his two sons were given as hostages. Once back in France, however, he repudiated much of the agreement, arguing that a treaty signed under coercion could not legitimately bind him. The result was another phase of the Italian Wars, as France and several other European powers attempted to contain Habsburg power.

Artist: Graham Turner

Painted by William H. Overend

In October 2014 personnel of 22 Field Hospital were deployed to Sierra Leone to help care for healthcare workers at risk of infection from the Ebola virus and patients of this West African country.

The painting above, commissioned by the QARANC Association, is What Matters Most by war artist Stuart Brown. It depicts the difficult working conditions experienced by the army medics and nurses of OP Gritrock wearing their personal protective equipment. Prints are available from skipperpress.com

These Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps and Royal Army Medical Corps nurses, healthcare assistants, doctors and combat medical technicians of Operation Gritrock were supported by the RFA Argus and a large team of logistical personnel such as chefs and drivers.

A ninety-two bed facility was established at Kerry Town, on the Freetown Peninsula, with twelve beds for the care of healthcare staff.

The facility was handed over to Save The Children in 2015.

The Colonel in Chief of the QARANC, Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex, unveiled the painting, What Matters Most on Friday 18 November 2016 during the Chief Nursing Officer's Study Day.

The North Devons came to Spain with just under a thousand officers and men. After the Battle of Salamanca there were 16 officers and 160 men left standing