Adrian Carton de Wiart earned the moniker “the unkillable soldier”. And, given his record, it’s easy to see why. Carton de Wiart survived shots to the face, head, stomach, ankle, leg, hip and ear. Not to mention, a couple of plane crashes, a harrowing escape from a POW camp and a self-inflicted amputation (sans anesthesia). And that’s just the short version.
Cross breed Game of Thrones with Cinderella, and you'll get Elizabeth Woodville's life story. Despite her lowborn roots, she used her beauty to catch the eye of King Edward IV and become the first common-born Queen of England. Once she had her crown, she'd do anything—and I mean anything—to keep it. Get to know Elizabeth Woodville, England's infamous "White Queen."
King Henry IV of France was called “Henry the Great”, but this monarch certainly wasn’t good. This bloodthirsty, grade-A hedonist had the messiest personal life Europe had ever seen—the infamous Tudors included. Believe me: King Henry IV has secrets, and I’m here to expose them.
Possibly the most famous Old West outlaw was the notorious Jesse James, whose story has persisted over the decades through novels, movies, and TV series. Even during his time, his name became known throughout America as that of a hero bandit who stole from those in power and gave to those without. However, nothing could be further from the truth.
A huge inheritance, fashionable BFFs, a proposal from a gay guy, and even a boyfriend in prison. This may sound like the life of a Kardashian, but this is 17th-century France we're talking about. Anne Marie Louise d’Orleans had it all—well, at least in the bank she did. All the girl wanted was to find a guy she could hang on to, but at the end of her days—single and alone—she said she’d only had three happy days in her life. Let’s scour these facts and see if we can find a few more days of happiness for poor Anne Marie d’Orleans.
Despite tearing apart their wealth and social standing nearly a century ago, the name Astor is still familiar in Western culture. The Astors marked not just New York, but maps across the globe with their legacy. However, this family holds a dark and twisted past, full of feuds, secrets, and scandals. Let’s find out how The Astors became one of America’s richest families—and how they threw it all away.
Eleanor of Castile was a spunky 13th century Queen of England who was as hated as she was headstrong. Known contemporarily to some as the Shadow Queen, her life was a dramatic one—full of war and conflict—but also of wealth and true love.
Millions fought in WWII, but there was only one Jack Churchill. What did he do? What didn’t he do?
Belisarius proved himself a genius of leadership and strategy, reconquering vast tracts of territory for a power-hungry emperor. But his exploits on the field of combat couldn’t possibly have prepared him to navigate the treacherous world of politics.
“Off with her head” may seem funny coming out of the mouth of Alice in Wonderland’s Queen of Hearts. But Margaret Pole—residing in the rather large shadow of King Henry VIII—lived in fear of hearing these very words. Pole spent a lifetime avoiding the executionary habits of a King gone mad. When it was finally her turn to meet the axe, it was a scene more gruesome than any modern-day horror film.
Known to the world as “Lawrence of Arabia”, TE Lawrence remains one of the most legendary figures in history—perhaps that’s there’s still so many questions about the man himself. To some, he was a daring archaeologist who proved to be a great friend to the Arab people during a time of political turmoil and war. But to others, Lawrence would go on to become an agent of the British Empire after betraying a cause he once would have done anything to defend.
Nell Gwyn was a bad girl Cinderella story. Born in abject poverty, she became a professional actress, the beloved mistress of King Charles II, and died as an icon of the Restoration. However, all Nell's legendary insults and remarkable beauty couldn't save her from drama, scandal, and sorrow.
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