Historian Rates 10 Massive Battles in Movies & TV | How Real Is It?
Historian Dr. Roel Konijnendijk reviews historical battles. Go to https://ground.news/invicta to understand how conflict influences …
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February 2, 2026
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Wouldn’t they have thought the wedgeform in the ‘60 movie about the 300 Spartans was what we call ‘oblique order of batlle’ or in Dutch ‘schuine slagorde’? Maybe they didn’t understand the assymetrical lines and mistaken them for a wedge?
19:32 what score now…
…and yet the battle in Alexander bores the hell out of me.
Dirt, dust, and confusion, and maybe that was the reality back then.
Roels got 99 problems and a ditch is all of them
Every man in this world knows the Dutch are good in building dam, but this guy works the way around, he builds ditches
The whole video is ruined because you forgot to sync the sound.
An expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less.
It’s kind of a bummer how the battle accuracy in the very beginning of HBO Rome was really decent with the scene of Pullo in Gaul and the centurion using a whistle to rotate out the frontline units to a big ass wild brawl later in the series.
There's other conquerers, but I'm not sure any have the allure of Alexander
Ofc the biggest ditch guy in history is dutch
The extras poking each other with the bottom of their shields and using swords as if they've held them before is frigging hilarious in Rome, to be honest. Nobody looks like they know what they're doing. I just hear the guys going "nyeh! Nyeh!" as they ineffectively poke at one another with swords.
The Battle of Philippi was known to devolve into an undisciplined mess. I’m pretty sure that’s why it was shown this way.
About the Rome series, it hurts even worse because in the first episode we have a FLAWLESS portrail of how a roman unit fought. Tight formation, first line fighting, the centurion comanding with a whistle when the ranks should swap and just slowly grinding down the enemy force.
11:42 ape together strong
should have picked the opening of hbo rome ep1
troy is just stupid. charging a walled city ???????
His intro needs to be "What up, my ditches!"
Hollywood, the wrecker of historical movies..AND non historical aswell
May God's face and favor be upon you all. Jesus Loves you all very much!! God Bless everyone!! Jesus IS God!!!!
I'm always a huge critic of movie battles and fights. Don't disappoint me with this video now.
Strange assessment to movies – to one of closest to history, to Rome series – 4 of 10, to fictional Hercules – 6 of 10 😂😂😂
32:43 of all the many times I've watched this battle scene, I know now what the pikemen are chanting, "Enyalios"
I am more and more convinced that these movies should just hire college marching bands to depict Roman combat. We would nail formation fighting.
As the ancients already said a real man during his life should build a house, plant a tree and have at least one child, of course, now we have to add, and digging at least three ditches, better even more!
"ditch man" omg its ditch guy wtf
8:47 We see Roman legions fight more orderly in the show, particularly in the opening, where they are in good order, maintaining their lines, etc. I think this is supposed to contrast with those earlier scenes for symbolic purposes
@11:32 I give it a 2
I love that he can separate historical accuracy from enjoyment of the film.. he might not think it's accurate but he likes the movie still. Some of these guys don't do that.
I never understood why an army that is already within city walls, comes out to engage the army that is trying to get in? Why leave the safety of the walls and lose men when you can repel them from a height advantage with missiles?
Full disclosure: I LOVE Dr. Konijnendijk. Any video featuring him leads to an insta-click from me. However, I struggle to remember his name and I shamefully label him as "the ditch guy" even when recommending him to other history buffs. The brand has definitely overshadowed the real person in his case.
Son of a ditch!
Not sure, who is who. They would have used colours! Same as Russia and Ukraine to this day.
I hate it when ‘experts’ just make up basic BS!
Look at modern riot training / events. There are lights, colours that define one side vs the rabble that comes at them.
Lame take! Totally lame take!
If you don’t know, just say you don’t know!
I know it's late, but curious what he'd say about the battles in Red Cliff (2 part version since they play the battles out more)
DITCH GUY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I now instinctively dig a ditch in front of my TV before starting to watch any video with Dr. Konijnendijk narrating
If you’ve ever seen riot police against rioters, that is how a trained army fought barbarians and rabble. (Minus the water cannons and tear gas, plus arrows and javelins)
Born under a blood moon, torn, crying from his mother's arms by the cruel masters who enslaved him, one babe looked at the ground before him and realised immediately what was needed to free his people.
Ditches.
Yes. He would dig ditches.
this comment section needs a ditch
Massive Battle=Waterloo
I would do just about anything to witness a drones eye view of a massive ancient battle. The notion of a hundred thousand men engaged in combat is really hard to imagine and I'd wager it was much different than Hollywood portrayals.
I wonder if surviving was even a concept an ancient warrior cared about. Perhaps on a basic primal level but they must have been trained to see death as a type of glory. Also, death and dying young was so much more part of people’s lives in ancient times.
Honest im with the Dr on this even the Muslims used ditches.
Since you're concerned with historical accuracy, you may want to reconsider your pollice verso. Thumbs up means kill, thumbs down means spare.