All History Articles
The End of an Era: The Death of Queen Elizabeth I
In the early hours of 24 March 1603 Queen Elizabeth I died quietly in her palace at Richmond. But for those living through those hours of her final decline, it was a time of fear as well as of hope: change was not always to be welcomed and, in not naming an heir, the queen had protected her own position at the expense of a potential future civil war.
Fiasco: The Mad Tale of the Fourth Crusade
For better or worse, the Crusades were among the more spectacular, far-reaching and important endeavours of the first two millennia of the Common Era. Typically they are seen as huge battles between the Christian West and the Muslim East, but as the Fourth Crusade shows, that wasn't always the case.
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by Steven Port
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Sir Walter Ralegh’s Weird and Wonderful ‘Discovery of Guiana'
When Sir Walter Ralegh visited South America in 1595, he fell in love with it – or at least in love with the idea of what it could do for him.
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Forged in Ice and Fire: The Tale of the Polish II Corps
It has taken a long time for the endeavours of forces like the Polish II Corps to make their way back into the global consciousness. There is still a long way to go until both the heroism and betrayal are fully appreciated.
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by Steven Port
Monarchs Behaving Badly: James I and the Visit of Christian IV of Denmark
James I of England (and VI of Scotland) has not always had a good reputation. Known as ‘the wisest fool in Christendome’, he was considered slovenly, his tongue was reportedly too big for his mouth, making him both a messy eater and occasionally difficult to understand, and he took too personal an interest in people’s private affairs.
Jane Tar: Women and the Royal Navy in the Age of Sail
There can be few historical milieus as thrilling and iconic as the lives of men at sea in the glorious Age of Sail. Yet there is always something in these images that is notable for its absence – the presence of women.
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by Steven Port
Ten Facts You Might Not Know about Mary Shelley
Mary Shelley is famous as the wife of the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, and as the author of the classic novel Frankenstein. But these two facts, interesting as they are, belie the depth of character and experience of this clever, unconventional, and remarkable woman.
The Black Death: A Brief Introduction
The Black Death looms large in the modern imagination, as it did in the minds of late medieval people. It is a spectre, or shadow, reminding everyone of their mortality, and the briefness of life. The reactions it provoked showed the best, and worst, of the human condition, and its long-term effects contributed to sweeping changes in society.
Ten Facts You Might Not Know about John Dee
John Dee is famous as a sorcerer and alchemistSomeone who practices alchemy (the attempt to turn base metals into gold and to gain spiritual awareness and immortality).
Charts and Minds: Maps - Beyond Geography
Maps are usually looked at as functional works that have the narrow aim of describing geographical spaces. This idea is just as narrow. They are not just a description of geography and topography, but a great source of historical information and tell us much about social, political and artistic culture.
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by Steven Port
