Vietnam Ambushes Its Way to Independence from China
Introduction: A River Runs Through History In the year 938, the calm waters of the…
How Baldwin I Kidnapped a Princess and Founded a Dynasty
Baldwin I of Flanders, better known to legend as Baldwin Iron Arm, stands at the…
Who was the First King of England?
England’s “first king” depends on what you mean by “England” – a patchwork of bickering…
The Swedish King Who Led the War Against Thor and Odin
Anund Jacob, known as Anund Jakob or James, reigned as King of Sweden from around…
The Ruthless Journey of Japan’s First Shōgun
Minamoto no Yoritomo’s declaration as the first shōgun in 1192 marked one of the most…
From Pagan Warlord to Christian King: Guthrum the Dane
Guthrum, the Danish Viking leader, stands as one of the most formidable and consequential figures…
How Constantinople’s Walls Saved Christian Europe
The Siege of Constantinople in 717-718 stands as one of history’s most dramatic battles for…
The Rise and Sudden Fall of the Last Norman Ruler of Sicily
Empress Constance of Sicily’s rise and mysterious death form one of early medieval Europe’s most…
Odo of Bayeux: The Ambitious Warrior Bishop
Odo of Bayeux, born around 1035, was a unique and larger-than-life character of the 11th…
From Longships to Law Codes: The Viking Impact on Britain’s Destiny
The Vikings left an indelible mark on Britain, transforming its lands, peoples, and institutions in…
Secrets of the Harem: The Poisoned Brides
The world of Abbasid princesses and marriage politics was a dizzying maze of intrigue, ambition,…
Sweyn II Estridsson: The Warrior King who Fathered 5 Kings
The medieval history of Denmark is marked by a series of formidable monarchs. Among these,…
An Admiral’s Betrayal and the Loss of Sicily
The history of the Mediterranean is a history of waves – of people, empires, and…
Three Brothers, One Crown: A Royal Spanish Bloodbath
Alfonso VI of León and Castile (1040–1109) is remembered as one of medieval Spain’s most…
From Tribes to Kingdom: The Dramatic Founding of Serbia
The emergence of Serbia as a defined political and cultural entity in the early medieval…
