Napoleon’s 1812 invasion of Russia was a disastrous saga of brutal battles, blistering heat, and bitter cold that ultimately shattered his empire. From reports of cannibalism to walls built out of corpses, this was Napoleon’s nightmare.
Well, his nickname says it all: He was Edward the Black Prince, not Edward the Black King. But despite that spoiler, Edward endures as one of the most (in)famous royal commanders in European history, gaining a record of violent conquests and romantic scandals without ever actually sitting on the throne.
John Henry “Doc” Holliday was the dentist-turned-outlaw who gambled and gunned his way across the Wild West. But there was one enemy he couldn’t outrun.
The real historical Louis XV makes most mad kings seem downright saintlike in comparison. This deranged monarch has become infamous for his scandalous affairs and for driving France to the brink of ruin. In 1757, a mentally deranged man tried to assassinate him, but was unsuccessful. The bloody punishment returned to the assassin was so severe and disturbing that many historians to this day agree it was overkill.
Bobby Allison was a famous car racer from the early 60s through the late 80s—until a series of accidents brought a career wrought with controversy to an end. After his passing in November 2024, we figure it’s a good time to take a retrospective look at the not-so-mundane life of this NASCAR legend.
Lots of historical figures are complicated, but they don’t get much more complicated than Franz Joseph I of Austria. A staunch monarch in an era when kings were going out of style, Franz Joseph made himself many enemies. As if that wasn’t already a ton to handle, his family life was complex, and marred by tragedy. Brilliant, stubborn, and kind in equal measure, it’s hard to say whether Franz Joseph was a good guy. Judge for yourself.
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Discover the incredible life of Clayton Moore, the original Lone Ranger. From his iconic TV role to real-life heroics, legal battles, and the dramatic moments that made him a true American legend.
When Mumtaz Mahal, the “Jewel of the Palace,” tragically died in childbirth, her husband built the Taj Mahal in her honor.
Margaret of Austria was one of the most inspiring women in history—but a simple shard of glass sparked the beginning of the end.
Queen Ranavalona is now called a bloodthirsty tyrant. But for modern historians, her bad reputation is only half of the story.
After a terrifying overdose that left him with permanent nerve damage, Eddie Money revealed the crucial moment that forced him to get sober.
The princess who outwitted kings, rejected Henry VIII with a legendary insult, and became a symbol of defiance in European history.
Hollywood has given us all kinds of glamorous stories—but the darkest tales come from the real history of the town itself.
In 2018, scientists made a discovery of stone tools at Ain Boucherit, Algeria, dated to approximately 2.4 million years ago. The find challenges our previously held notions about the development of early humans.
Archaeologists in the Kingdom of Tonga have uncovered the remnants of an ancient city on the island of Tongatapu. The incredible discovery, announced in 2024, overturns the chronology of early Pacific Island civilization.
High on the cliffs above the Cuanza River in Angola, the fortress of Cambambe stands as a stark monument of Portuguese colonial ambitions in Africa.
After fighting off invaders for nearly 1,000 years, Constantinople finally fell because someone accidentally left a gate open.
In 897 AD, the Catholic Church exhumed the late Pope Formosus and put his dead body on trial.
In 2018 a tree fell in a forest near Wawa, Ontario, revealing a slab of stone etched with Norse runes. Researchers have ony recently put together the story of the stone’s origin.
Probably the most iconic patheon of all the ancient mythologies, the lives of the Greek Gods were filled with more scandal than any modern tabloid.
The Burning Man festival is known for its total debauchery, freedom, and bizarre antics, but it actually forbids the use of substances.
After he became the outright owner of McDonald’s, Ray Kroc rewrote the company’s history and began preaching that he was its founder.
In one scene of The Walking Dead, Merle rips Daryl Dixon’s shirt off his back to reveal the scars their father left behind.
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