Medieval

John sealing the Magna Carta by Frank Wood, 1925

Magna Carta (meaning 'Great Charter') has gone into myth as the foundation of modern human and civil rights, and of our current systems of government and law. Many look to its legend to give themselves authority legally or politically, and…

High and Late Medieval

The Battle of Hastings

The Battle of Hastings is considered to be one of the most important battles of England's history. Often taken as the definitive point when England stopped being Anglo-Saxon and instead became Norman - with all the associated changes in…

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Fact of the Day

In France around the year 1000, a pale complexion, squeamishness and vegetarianism were all signs of heresy.

Quote of the Day

"He who is the author of a war lets loose the whole contagion of hell and opens a vein that bleeds a nation to death. "

~ Thomas Paine

On This Day

1868 William Gladstone became prime minister for the first time

1926 Novelist Agatha Christie mysteriously disappeared. She was found 11 days later using a pseudonym at a Harrogate hotel.

1944 The Greek government, backed by the British, fired on a left-wing rally, killing 28. The ensuing battle lasted 33 days.

1973 US probe Pioneer 10 sent back the first close-up images of Jupiter.

1976 Reggae superstar Bob Marley was shot twice during an assassination attempt at his home.

1984 More than 3,800 people were killed after a cloud of poisonous gas escaped from a pesticide plant in Bhopal, India.

1992 Two IRA bombs exploded in Manchester. No-one was killed but much of the city centre had to be rebuilt.