Antony Cummins, author of The Dark Side of Japan, explains how spells and superstitions accompanied the samurai in battle
Medieval & Renaissance
History of War
Porsche & the Nazis: How the Supercar King Became Fascism’s Favourite Engineer
From the Volkswagon Beetle to the Panzerjäger Tiger (P), Ferdinand Porsche built in the name of National Socialism
History of War
Saragarhi: The True Story Shows How Heroism Can Overcome Nationalism
Jay Singh-Sohal discusses identity, memory and empire on the 120th anniversary of the heroic Sikh defence of Saraghari
Competitions
Win An Exclusive IWM Spitfire Gift Set Worth £80
Celebrate the finest fighter plane ever produced, with this luxury gift set courtesy of the Imperial War Museums
History Of Royals
Charles II: The Great Fire of London’s Forgotten Hero?
Charles II of England was more than just a Stuart lush, he played a vital role in confronting the Great Fire of 1666
History of War
British Malaya in Japanese Hands: Listening to the Forgotten Asian Voices of World War 2
When the Future Comes Too Soon author Selina Siak Chin Yok on her research into the Japanese occupation of Malaya
Ancient Civilisations
10 Powerful Women of Ancient Rome
While power often rested with generals, senators and emperors, many women made their mark on Ancient Rome
Medieval & Renaissance
Masque of the Black Death: How Europe’s Rulers Resisted the Plague in Vain
Disease knows no status, but Medieval and Early Modern monarchs had options when it came to evading the plague
History Of Royals
Litvinenko Doctor’s New Evidence: Was James VI and I Poisoned by His Lover?
Benjamin Woolley reveals how the doctor that diagnosed the Litvinenko poisoning reopened a 17th century murder
People & Politics
The Elusive Offspring: Who Were the Four Children of Calamity Jane?
Much of Martha “Calamity Jane” Canary’s life is a mystery, Jan MacKell Collins untangles the truth behind her elusive offspring
History Of Royals
Emperor Frankenstein: The Truth Behind Frederick II of Sicily’s Sadistic Science Experiments
Enlightened, tolerant… and cruel? Discover the truth behind Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II
History of War
The Eye of Desert Storm: Inside the Iraqi Army in the First Gulf War
From the Invasion of Kuwait to the Gulf War, discover the campaign of 1990 and 1991 from the Iraqi perspective
History of War
The Sinking of HMS Fiji: World War 2 Survivor Recalls the Disastrous Naval Battle of Crete
Veteran and poet Norman Lewis describes his harrowing tale of survival in both prose and verse
History of War
India’s Hindu Samurai: The British Empire’s Love Affair with the Rajputs
Despite the British Empire’s contempt for Hindus, the Rajputs earned their place in the “Martial Races” of India through victory and valour
History of War
Battle of Cambrai’s Bloody Lesson Taught Britain How to Use Tanks and Win
When the British Army deployed tanks to change the pace of the First World War, it changed the face of it instead
Medieval & Renaissance
Eyam Plague Village: How One 17th Century English Community Sacrificed Itself to Save its Neighbours
When cloth carrying infected fleas arrived in Eyam the small Derbyshire village faced a life-threatening decision
People & Politics
The View From Viceroy’s House: How Britain Lost Control of India’s Violent Partition
Dr Robert Johnson on the bloody reality of Viceroy’s House and the 1947 Partition of India and Pakistan
Medieval & Renaissance
Witch Trials in Context: From Feminism to the Witch Cult Hypothesis
Maleficium: Witchcraft and Witch Hunting In the West author Gordon Napier on the real story of the witch terror
People & Politics
10 Bizarre Assassination Attempts From History
Infected with the plague, stabbed in the bum and attacked by a bear, discover history’s 10 weirdest assassination attempts
People & Politics
Death in the Ice: The Shocking Story of Franklin’s Final Expedition
In 1845, Sir John Franklin set sail for the Arctic with 128 men. They never returned.
History Of Royals
Crusader Queen Sibylla of Jerusalem Sacrificed the Holy City for Love
With the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem at Saladin’s mercy, Queen Sibylla followed her heart and not her head
History of War
Brits vs Blitzkrieg: Dunkirk Veteran Recalls the “Chaos” of Evacuation
World War 2 veteran Garth Wright tells his dramatic story of escape during the Dunkirk ‘miracle’ in 1940
History Of Royals
Sex & The Citadel: Eleanor of Aquitaine and the Courtly Love Myth
Eleanor of Aquitaine’s Court of Love gave Medieval women the upper hand in romance, but was it real?