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”.
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.
The Vanderbilts are likely America's closest thing to a royal family—at least, they spent money like one. The money came from Cornelius Vanderbilt, and the lavish spending came from just about anyone carrying the Vanderbilt name.
Elizabeth II was the longest-serving monarch in English history—but things weren’t exactly supposed to happen the way they did. The world was very different back when Elizabeth was born, and no one ever expected her to ascend to the throne. That is, until a strange twist of fate changed the course of history.
In less than a decade, Alexander the Great conquered the known world, even pushing the borders of his sprawling empire into the uncharted territories of the Indus Valley. How he conquered the world—and then lost it—is an epic tale of betrayal, fate, heroism, and villainy.
Tsar Alexander II of Russia stood at the crossroads of history—after all, his reign paved the way to the fall of the Romanov empire. And when you look at his scandalous life, it’s no wonder why it ended in tragedy. From secret, explosive letters to his utterly violent and shocking end, Alexander makes the mad, power-hungry Tsars that came before and after him look downright innocent.
Queen Tamar is something of a puzzle to historians. They have trouble believing that someone could be so pious and kindhearted, but also responsible for so many gruesome battles. To which I say: Can’t it be both? Her piousness actually seemed to help make her such a powerful, successful Queen, in battle and otherwise. And I like to think the most brilliant people are also the most paradoxical. But we'll let you decide for yourself.
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.
Lots of historical figures are complicated, but they don’t get much more complicated than Franz Joseph I of Austria. A staunch monarch in an era when kings were going out of style, Franz Joseph made himself many enemies. As if that wasn’t already a ton to handle, his family life was complex, and marred by tragedy. Brilliant, stubborn, and kind in equal measure, it’s hard to say whether Franz Joseph was a good guy. Judge for yourself.
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.
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