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The House of Tudor had more than its fair share of scandalous figures, from Henry VIII’s many marriages to the intrigue and plots of the court of Elizabeth I. But few remember the twisted tale of Mary Tudor—the English princess who briefly became Queen of France. From her secret marriage to her bitter rivalry with Anne Boleyn, Mary packed a lot into her short life.

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Francis I of France is inevitably compared to Henry VIII. Both kings had big personalities, big love affairs, and big scandals that rocked the face of Europe. But there’s a lot more to Francis than just the similarities to the Tudor counterpart. From his unlikely ascension to the throne to his brutal defeats and torturous later years, Francis did not languish in his neighbor's shadow.

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Queen Elizabeth I trusted very few people, but she trusted her lady-in-waiting Kat Ashley with her life. From devastating lows to royal highs, Kat Ashley was with Elizabeth through it all, and she watched more secrets unfold behind the throne than anyone else at court. One in particular could have ruined Elizabeth, and nearly cost Kat her life.

VIDEO

A gentleman to some and a menace to others, John Dillinger put America in a frenzy with a spree that led to the formation of the FBI itself—until his luck ran out.

VIDEO

Imagine a world where burly Norse warriors discover a new continent—and then just... walk away. Wild, right? Get ready for a story into why the Vikings pulled the ultimate “not interested” move on North America. But first, an introduction.

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Field Marshal Bernard Law “Monty” Montgomery was instrumental in defeating the Axis forces during WWII. His strategic brilliance, however, was second only to his massive ego and total lack of tact. More people need to know about Bernard “Monty” Montgomery, the man who Winston Churchill himself described as, “In defeat, unbeatable; in victory, unbearable”.

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PEOPLE

Brian Wilson was the musical mastermind behind the Beach Boys—but, between the bars of his incredible songs, he is an equally brilliant and burdened man.

EDITORIAL

The heiress to the vast Singer sewing fortune, Winnaretta Singer began and ended her life under twin stars of utter privilege and absolute infamy.

PEOPLE

People said King Charles II of Spain’s physical deformities were proof that he was “bewitched”—but the truth was far more heartbreaking.

PEOPLE

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.

EDITORIAL

The Unknown Woman of the Seine began as a mystery and became one of the most recognizable faces in the world—and there were plenty of twists along the way.

PEOPLE

The Bible describes Barabbas as the prisoner released by Pilate while Jesus was condemned to crucifixion. Then the extraordinary happened: Barabbas disappeared.

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THINGS

The world is filled with spectacular, bizarre, and iconic buildings—but these structures often have a surprisingly dark history.

THINGS

So notorious that its name is synonymous with madness, the history of Bethlem Royal Hospital, or Bedlam, is filled with some of humanity's darkest moments.

EDITORIAL

The history of Mexico City stretches back almost two centuries before the Spanish ever set foot in the Americas. Rather, the Spanish built their capital on top of the ashes of one of the most beautiful and unique cities in history: Tenochtitlan.

PLACES

Alcatraz was only in operation for less than 30 years, but in that time it gained the reputation as one of the most notorious prisons in American history.

PLACES

Area 51's workers don't drive there. They fly in on a classified US Government airline known only as "Janet."

PLACES

We may be standing on the shoulders of giants—and, if some legends are believed, that phrase might be shockingly literal.

THINGS

Facing impossible odds, the mighty 300 of Sparta made a stand at the Battle of Thermopylae that determined the course of history—despite how it ended.

THINGS

The world is filled with spectacular, bizarre, and iconic buildings—but these structures often have a surprisingly dark history.

THINGS

So notorious that its name is synonymous with madness, the history of Bethlem Royal Hospital, or Bedlam, is filled with some of humanity's darkest moments.

THINGS

Today, a zipper feels so ordinary that most people barely notice one unless it jams. The basic idea took generations of experimentation before manufacturers could make a sliding fastener that was reliable, affordable, and easy to sew into everyday products. Its history shows that inventing something is not the same as convincing millions of people to trust it.

THINGS

Thirty years can completely rewrite what a familiar company does. Some businesses traded counters and catalogs for apps and subscriptions; others moved into cloud computing, streaming, health care or logistics. A few shrank from national institutions into tiny remnants. These 22 companies show how much can change in one generation.



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