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When is a Trojan Horse not a horse? When it's a wine seller, Scottish mercenaries, or a Persian general. Ben Macintyre continues his series on ruse and bluff in battle (3 of 5)

You probably know the original apocryphal story; after 10 years laying siege to Troy, the Greeks pretend to sail away, leaving behind a giant wooden horse. When night falls, a small Greek force creeps from the horse and opens the city's gates to the invaders. But there have been 'Trojan Horse'-style plots throughout history, from an extremely committed Persian general who cut off his own ears and nose to take Babylon, to Agincourt-era Scots masquerading as English troops in Northern France. In episode 3 of his focus on ruse and bluff in battle, historian Ben Macintyre also looks at more modern examples of sneaking behind enemy lines.

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14 minutes

Last on

Wed 31 Mar 2021 13:45

Broadcasts

  • Wed 28 Oct 2015 13:45
  • Wed 31 Mar 2021 13:45