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.
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.
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.
Decades after her time in the White House, Jackie Kennedy is still seen as one of the most popular First Ladies in US history. With her iconic style, tragic romances, and high-key messed up family, Jackie’s life was always going to be the stuff of soap operas. But what was she like behind the infamous bloodstained Chanel suit?
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.
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”.
Meg Ryan has been a Hollywood fixture for the better part of four decades. Best known for rom-com romps such as Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail, the actress’s off-screen life has been equally romance and comedy-filled....
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.
If there was ever a woman who defined the phrase “poor little rich girl,” it was Doris Duke. She was born into immense wealth and privilege, but nothing could stop heartbreak and controversy from coming for her in the most vicious way possible—even after she was gone. From quickie marriages to mysterious “accidents” and dark family secrets, Doris Duke took scandal to the next level.
Game of Thrones has nothing on the Wars of the Roses. One of the most important conflicts in English History, this brutal saga saw the fall of a mad king, two families torn apart from within, and the rise of one of England's most powerful dynasties. For more than three decades, the White Rose of York and the Red Rose of Lancaster struggled for power on and off the battlefield. But how did it all begin? Who were the winners? Who were the losers?
Although never completing a formal education, Benjamin Franklin constantly learned about everything he could, using his natural wisdom to make waves in colonial America. Not only did he regularly show his intelligence and ingenuity in his studies and experiments, but also an unyielding courage in establishing US independence. The mix of these qualities made him possibly the most respected Founding Father—even in his time.
Louise de la Vallière was one of King Louis XIV’s many mistresses but his only true love. Innocent and naïve, Louise waltzed—or limped—right into the King’s heart but then went running for the nunnery when it all fell apart. Read these heartbreaking facts about the modest mistress that gave it all up for a life of rosaries and celibacy.
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