The Battle of Stiklestad: The Death of a Saint and the Birth of a Legend
In the annals of Scandinavian history, few figures stand as tall or as enduring as…
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 Viking Who Died Founding a Dynasty: Rurik’s Exit and the Rise of Igor, 879
In the dying years of the 9th century, amid the mist-laden forests and riverways of…
The Irish King Who Fought 100 Battles
Conn of the Hundred Battles strides through early Irish tradition as both a warlord and…
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…
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…
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,…
The Pope Who Sparked Europe’s Scientific Revolution
Pope Sylvester II, born Gerbert of Aurillac, stands out as a figure whose scientific curiosity…
The Rise of the Mahdi
In 1121 CE, far to the western edge of the Islamic world, a new flame…
The Tsar Who Made Byzantium Tremble
Tsar Simeon the Great, ruler of Bulgaria from 893 to 927, was a figure of…
The Pope Attacked in Rome
The closing years of the eighth century were a time of turbulence, transformation, and realignment…
