Marlon Wright articles

Shah Mohammad Reza was born into scandal and uprising—and his life somehow only got more dramatic from there. Though he was “The King of Kings,” in Iran, his inner life was anything but exquisite. From the bitter tragedies of his marriages to the utter disaster of his reign, Mohammad Reza has a dark history.

While all of America’s founding fathers left behind powerful legacies, one name continues to spark admiration and controversy: Thomas Jefferson. Hailed by many as one of the country’s greatest presidents, Jefferson’s true motives remain a mystery cloaked in complexity. Was he a visionary leader, or something far more calculated? One thing’s undeniable—he didn’t just influence America’s future. He rewrote it.

In the aftermath of the US Civil War, defeated Confederate president Jefferson Davis faced an uncertain future.

Sam Houston led Texas to become a US state, but he couldn't stop it from seceding and joining the Confederacy.

Everyone knows Buzz Aldrin as the second man on the Moon. An accomplished student and a decorated air pilot, Aldrin arrived at NASA with impressive credentials but still ended up playing second fiddle. And after leaving NASA, the astronaut fell on some dark times that may have had foreshadowing earlier in life…

Pontius Pilate condemned Jesus Christ to death, but the rest of Pilate's life story is shrouded in mystery.

Mumtaz Mahal was the most beloved wife of Shah Jahan, the emperor of the opulent Mughal Empire, but their royal fairy tale left destruction in its wake. From Mumtaz’s palace feuds, to her untimely death, to her utterly bloody legacy, the Taj Mahal—her sublime and tragic mausoleum—is just the beginning of her dark history.

The chaos of 14th-century Rome forced the Pope to relocate to France for several decades.

The Phone Call That Changed EverythingI was thirteen when they told me I couldn't go to my grandfather's funeral. Not 'maybe' or 'we'll see'—just a flat no. My parents dropped me at Aunt Carol's house...