A gentleman to some and a menace to others, John Dillinger put America in a frenzy with a spree that led to the formation of the FBI itself—until his luck ran out.
Imagine a world where burly Norse warriors discover a new continent—and then just... walk away. Wild, right? Get ready for a story into why the Vikings pulled the ultimate “not interested” move on North America. But first, an introduction.
Field Marshal Bernard Law “Monty” Montgomery was instrumental in defeating the Axis forces during WWII. His strategic brilliance, however, was second only to his massive ego and total lack of tact. More people need to know about Bernard “Monty” Montgomery, the man who Winston Churchill himself described as, “In defeat, unbeatable; in victory, unbearable”.
If there was ever a man whose actions forever outweighed everything else about him, it was Benedict Arnold. During the American Revolution, he quickly became indispensable and had everything he could possibly need. However, he couldn’t stop hustling and eventually threw it all away. Many historians have deliberated over what complex motives were at the root of his betrayal—but the truth may be a lot simpler.
As Catherine of Aragon’s body was prepared for burial, it was noted that her corpse appeared to be healthy, save for her heart, which had turned completely black.
Joseph Merrick kept his hideous face hidden behind a burlap sack. Another thing that’s hidden is his actual real life story. Don’t trust the movie—the truth is even more astonishing.
Henry VIII’s son Edward VI was notorious for his tragic, short-lived reign, but England’s doomed boy king has nothing on his close contemporary, King Francis II of France. From his father’s brutal demise to his mother’s cruel machinations, Francis’s life was no gilded existence—and then there was his own horrific end.
Of all the power-hungry men in Queen Elizabeth I’s court, Robert Dudley knew how to play the game of thrones best. This “Master Courtier” rose from utter ruin to the foot of the throne—and then into the queen’s bedchamber. But what happened behind those royal doors? Read on and find out.
As the eldest daughter of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, Marie Thérèse was never supposed to become Queen of France. But, after the Reign of Terror claimed every member of her family, Marie Thérèse became the Bourbons’ last hope—even if only for 20 minutes. Her resilience in the face of tragedy was as inspiring as it was heartbreaking.
Alexander Hamilton was a genius by most accounts, with historians like Paul Johnson stating he was “the only one of the Founding Fathers fully entitled to that accolade”. However, Hamilton’s thinking didn’t jive with everyone, so much so that some people devoted their whole lives to eliminating his legacy. For years, his story sat in obscurity, but he has now become one of the most recognizable names in history—with the help of some modern publicity.
The House of Tudor had more than its fair share of scandalous figures, from Henry VIII’s many marriages to the intrigue and plots of the court of Elizabeth I. But few remember the twisted tale of Mary Tudor—the English princess who briefly became Queen of France. From her secret marriage to her bitter rivalry with Anne Boleyn, Mary packed a lot into her short life.
In 5th-century Europe, nearly everyone in power knew of Attila, and those who were wise hoped to never come face to face with him. With his legions of Huns, Attila became a terror, taking what he wanted and overcoming all who tried to stop him. Despite his legacy of conquest, he was far from the uncivilized barbarian that the Europeans painted him as—but he still capitalized on their fear.
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