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Famous People

In this section, we shed light on some of the most famous and infamous people known throughout history, from powerful pharaohs, to emperors and empresses, acclaimed military leaders, or just regular civilians who’ve been thrown into the spotlight for great crimes or for heroic actions, leaving an indelible mark on the world.

Ivar the Boneless
24 March, 2019 - 11:28 Riley Winters

Ivar the Boneless: Viking Warrior, Ruler and Raider

One would expect "boneless" to describe a man without a lick of bravery. Or perhaps a man without a shred of compassion in a heart of ice. Yet in the case of the infamous Ivar the Boneless, son of...
Left - Alfred the Great, painting in the Bodleian Gallery. Right - Alfred the Great at the Battle of Ashdown.
23 March, 2019 - 23:57 dhwty

Why was Alfred the Great One of Only Two Kings Named ‘Great’ in English History?

Alfred the Great was the first king of the Anglo-Saxons and one of only two English rulers to have been given the epithet ‘the Great’. He may have earned this title in part by defending his kingdom...
Sayyida al-Hurra, Sovereign Lady who turned pirate.
21 March, 2019 - 17:57 dhwty

Sayyida al-Hurra: Noble ‘Sovereign Lady’ Who Terrorized the Mediterranean As A Pirate

Sayyida al-Hurra was a notorious female pirate who lived between the 15 th and 16 th centuries. She was active in the western part of Mediterranean , and frequently targeted the ships of Portuguese...
The Tremulous Hand of Worcester was a medieval scribe in the 13th Century.
20 March, 2019 - 13:01 Sarah P Young

The Tremulous Hand of Worcester: Unfurling the Medical Mystery of a Medieval Scribe

Handwriting is one of those things most people don’t really give a second thought to today – we live in a world where we are surrounded by text and the vast majority of the time it is printed rather...
African queen
17 March, 2019 - 17:54 dhwty

Dido of Carthage, Mediterranean Princess Turned African Queen

Dido, known also as Elissa in some sources, is a legendary queen who is credited with the founding of Carthage. The legend of Queen Dido is found in Greek and Roman sources, the best-known of which...
Representative image of a cloaked druid in a forest.
16 March, 2019 - 17:41 Jack Wilkin

Stories of the Druids Abound, But What is the Hard Archaeological Evidence?

Druid comes from the Old Irish word druí meaning sorcerer. And that is how most people today think of the druids, as mysterious wizards enveloped in the world of magic and ritual. But there is much...
Queen Scotia was the daughter of an Egyptian Pharaoh and died in the battle of Sliabh Mish between the Celtic Milesians and the Tuatha Dé Danann.
15 March, 2019 - 12:53 Sarah P Young

Quest for the Grave of Scotia, the Pharaoh’s Daughter Who Founded Scotland and Ireland

A short distance from the bustling Irish town of Tralee in County Kerry there is an otherworldly looking glen which is known as Scotia’s Grave. According to Irish folklore, the glen was the location...
Ur-Shulgi. King Shulgi is credited with the completion of the Great ziggurat of Ur.
11 March, 2019 - 14:00 Carly Silver

The Mighty Deeds of King Shulgi of Ur, Master of Mesopotamian Monarchs

In the early second millennium BC, the city-states of Mesopotamia thrived in the so-called “Ur III period.” Assuming political frameworks previously abandoned in times of chaos, the rulers of the...
Tsali, Cherokee folk hero
10 March, 2019 - 14:11 dhwty

The Sacrifice of Tsali, The Cherokee Folk Hero Who Gave His Life For His People

Tsali was a Cherokee folk hero who sacrificed his life for his people. They were in hiding from the US government who had ordered the removal of the Cherokee from their native lands. Tsali, known...
Portrait of Adolf Frederick of Sweden
9 March, 2019 - 14:01 dhwty

Adolf Frederick: The Swedish King Who Ate Himself to Death

Adolf Frederick was a Swedish king who lived during the 18 th century. Although Adolf Frederick ruled Sweden for almost 20 years, it was unremarkable and nothing of great note took place during his...
Sarah Churchill by Charles Jervas
8 March, 2019 - 13:59 ancient-origins

Powerful Female Figures of Britain: The Real Life Women of ‘The Favourite’

Amy Froide / The Conversation One of the challengers at this year’s Oscars was “ The Favourite ,” a film set in the early 18th-century court of British monarch Queen Anne . Focusing on the political...
The Celts had many female warriors
5 March, 2019 - 23:05 Sarah P Young

Eight Surprising Things You Should Know About the Celts

The Celts were a distinct ethnic group made up of tribes spread across Europe. They shared similar languages, traditions, religions , and cultural practices and were known for their fierceness in...
Juana Ines de la Cruz Painting by Mauricio García Vega.
4 March, 2019 - 01:46 dhwty

Juana Ines de la Cruz – 17th Century Philosopher, Composer, and Poet Who Spoke For Women’s Rights

Juana Ines de la Cruz was a 17 th century nun from colonial Mexico . She was regarded during her lifetime as a prodigy, and was a renowned scholar, poet , and playwright . Juana Ines’ works brought...
Pocahontas
2 March, 2019 - 23:36 mrreese

The True Story of Pocahontas as NOT told by Disney

Pocahontas is remembered as the Native American Powhatan princess who saved the life of Englishman John Smith, married John Rolfe and fostered peace between English settlers and Native Americans. In...
Modern representation of Sargon of Akkad.
2 March, 2019 - 01:46 dhwty

Sargon of Akkad: Familiar and Legendary Tales of a Famous Mesopotamian King

In 2334 BC, King Sargon of Akkad founded one of the world’s greatest empires. From humble roots, he created a Golden Age in Mesopotamia. Heroic epics tell tales of a strong leader. Sargon the Great...
Hypatia
1 March, 2019 - 01:59 Riley Winters

Living in a Man's World: The Untimely & Brutal Death of Hypatia

Hypatia was a philosopher, mathematician, and astronomer who lived in a man’s world in 4th century Alexandria. Times were turbulent and the brutal and sudden end to Hypatia’s life shows just how...
A Medieval knight holding a glass of wine (diter / Adobe Stock)
28 February, 2019 - 14:01 dhwty

Strange Deaths in History: The Duke who Died in a Barrel of Wine

George Plantagenet, 1 st Duke of Clarence, was a 15 th century English nobleman who was executed by allegedly being drowned in a vat of Malmsey wine. He was a member of the House of York and played...
Sophie Blanchard’s unfortunate accident and death.
27 February, 2019 - 02:01 dhwty

The Tragic and Spectacular Death of Sophie Blanchard – The First Woman Pilot Balloonist

Sophie Blanchard was the world’s first female aeronaut . She is not only remembered for her incredible achievements and bravery in early ballooning, but for her dramatic and tragic death. Sophie...
Simon Bolivar, The Liberator and Revolutionary Hero Who Freed South America
25 February, 2019 - 23:01 dhwty

Simon Bolivar, The Liberator and Revolutionary Hero Who Freed South America

Simon Bolivar was a Venezuelan military and political leader who is remembered primarily for leading revolutions in Latin America against the Spanish Empire . Bolivar’s efforts led to the creation of...
Crucifixion
23 February, 2019 - 18:55 dhwty

The Bizarre Crucifixion of Margaretta Peter: The Short Life of a Prodigy and Devoted Christian

Margaretta Peter was a Swiss woman who lived during the 19 th century. As a child, Margaretta was considered to have been a prodigy and was particularly noted for her religious zeal. As she grew up,...
Many Darkhads rely on herding for a living.
22 February, 2019 - 23:00 dhwty

The Darkhad: Guardians of The Soul of Genghis Khan

The Darkhad are a Mongol tribe who live in northern Mongolia. In particular, this tribe is found in the Ulaan-Uul, Renchinlkhumbe, Tsagaannuur, and Bayanzurkh sums (the equivalent of a district) of...
Muhammad and Abu Bakr flee Mecca, as depicted in ‘The Outline of History’
20 February, 2019 - 14:00 dhwty

The Life of the Prophet Muhammad: Spreading Islam from Mecca to Medina

The Prophet Muhammad is often called the founder of Islam, but he is also something of a mystery because there is little concrete biographical information about his life in the Qu’ran. To learn more...
Representation of Sarah Wilson
17 February, 2019 - 22:39 dhwty

Sarah Wilson: The Trickster Who Rose from Convict to Princess

Sarah Wilson was an Englishwoman who made a name for herself during the 18 th century. The gist of her colorful story is that she was convicted of theft in England, sent to America as a prisoner,...
Illuminati Triangle and All Seeing Eye on an ancient temple.
13 February, 2019 - 22:59 dhwty

The Man Who Started The Illuminati and His Thwarted Promotion of The Enlightenment

The Illuminati was a secret society that was established in Germany during the 18 th century. The Illuminati has a notorious reputation in popular culture, being associated with numerous conspiracy...

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