Napoleon’s 1812 invasion of Russia was a disastrous saga of brutal battles, blistering heat, and bitter cold that ultimately shattered his empire. From reports of cannibalism to walls built out of corpses, this was Napoleon’s nightmare.
Well, his nickname says it all: He was Edward the Black Prince, not Edward the Black King. But despite that spoiler, Edward endures as one of the most (in)famous royal commanders in European history, gaining a record of violent conquests and romantic scandals without ever actually sitting on the throne.
John Henry “Doc” Holliday was the dentist-turned-outlaw who gambled and gunned his way across the Wild West. But there was one enemy he couldn’t outrun.
The real historical Louis XV makes most mad kings seem downright saintlike in comparison. This deranged monarch has become infamous for his scandalous affairs and for driving France to the brink of ruin. In 1757, a mentally deranged man tried to assassinate him, but was unsuccessful. The bloody punishment returned to the assassin was so severe and disturbing that many historians to this day agree it was overkill.
Erik the Red spent most of his life getting into trouble. It wasn’t always intentional, but he wasn’t very good at conflict resolution—he often took things a little too far. After eventually becoming banished from his home, Erik set sail for the open ocean with no particular route planned, and stumbled upon something that would change his future forever.
Bobby Allison was a famous car racer from the early 60s through the late 80s—until a series of accidents brought a career wrought with controversy to an end. After his passing in November 2024, we figure it’s a good time to take a retrospective look at the not-so-mundane life of this NASCAR legend.
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Born Christa Päffgen, Nico was a model, actress, and singer known for her striking presence and distinctive voice. She worked in fashion and film before joining The Velvet Underground, where her music took on a haunting, unforgettable tone.
Bruce Lee was just 32 years old when he met a shocking end. In the wake of his tragic demise, several conspiracy theories took on a life of their own.
Lorenzo de’ Medici surrendered himself to his enemies in a genius power move that no one saw coming.
Carmen Miranda was scorned by fans in her home country, Brazil. But after her tragic death, more than 500,000 people lined the streets of Rio to pay their respects.
Recent DNA analysis from excavations in China, Central Asia, and Hungary has uncovered the origins of the marauding Huns who swept across Eurasian steppes into Europe in the days of the Roman Empire.
Discover the incredible life of Clayton Moore, the original Lone Ranger. From his iconic TV role to real-life heroics, legal battles, and the dramatic moments that made him a true American legend.
Hollywood has given us all kinds of glamorous stories—but the darkest tales come from the real history of the town itself.
In 2018, scientists made a discovery of stone tools at Ain Boucherit, Algeria, dated to approximately 2.4 million years ago. The find challenges our previously held notions about the development of early humans.
Archaeologists in the Kingdom of Tonga have uncovered the remnants of an ancient city on the island of Tongatapu. The incredible discovery, announced in 2024, overturns the chronology of early Pacific Island civilization.
High on the cliffs above the Cuanza River in Angola, the fortress of Cambambe stands as a stark monument of Portuguese colonial ambitions in Africa.
After fighting off invaders for nearly 1,000 years, Constantinople finally fell because someone accidentally left a gate open.
In 897 AD, the Catholic Church exhumed the late Pope Formosus and put his dead body on trial.
In 2018 a tree fell in a forest near Wawa, Ontario, revealing a slab of stone etched with Norse runes. Researchers have ony recently put together the story of the stone’s origin.
Probably the most iconic patheon of all the ancient mythologies, the lives of the Greek Gods were filled with more scandal than any modern tabloid.
The Burning Man festival is known for its total debauchery, freedom, and bizarre antics, but it actually forbids the use of substances.
After he became the outright owner of McDonald’s, Ray Kroc rewrote the company’s history and began preaching that he was its founder.
In one scene of The Walking Dead, Merle rips Daryl Dixon’s shirt off his back to reveal the scars their father left behind.
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