Plus was the Cult of Kali real, how the Confederates surrendered at Appomattox, what if Carthage had defeated Rome and much more!
It’s a very exciting time for UK-based historians and historical enthusiasts as we await the opening of the Bayeux Tapestry exhibition at The British Museum from 10 September. As we also mark the 960th anniversary of the battles that would reshape and redefine England, it seemed only right that we should dive head first into the story of 1066 this issue.
To start, we open our ‘All About’ section on the Normans and their Viking origins as well as their impact across Europe. Then we welcome Tom Licence as our guide to the conflicts between King Harold II, Harald Hardrada and William the Conqueror. We conclude our Bayeux-inspired journey with the tapestry (or we should really say embroidery?) itself with a panel of experts revealing its secrets, including the new exhibition’s lead curator.
You can read all of this in the latest issue of All About History, available now at a newsstand near you and available to order from MagazinesDirect. Here’s a closer look at our War of the Three Kings feature and the other fascinating stories you can explore in All About History 173.
War of the three kings
Why was it that three powerful men would end up battling it out for the crown of England following the death of Edward the Confessor? We delve into the origins of the battles of 1066 at Stamford Bridge and Hastings that changed the course of England’s destiny forever.
Secrets of the Bayeux Tapestry
Lead curator of the British Museum Bayeux Tapestry exhibition Michael Lewis, textile archaeologist Dr Alexandra Makin and Medieval expert Professor Robert Mills help us break down the hidden and unexpected details of this famous record of the build-up and confrontation of the Battle of Hastings.
Making Freddie Mercury
To mark what would have been his 80th birthday, we reflect on the upbringing, music and tragedy of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury. From being a young boy in India teased for his teeth to standing on stage at Wembley Stadium, we explore the journey that took Farrokh Bulsara to superstardom.
The cult of Kali: Fact or fiction
Were the followers of Thuggee really the murderous cult of Kali that some painted them as or was their demonisation all a plot of colonisation? Perhaps that question itself gives the game away a little. We explore this fascinating history that inspired Spielberg and Lucas in making Indiana Jones and the Tempe of Doom.
What if Carthage had defeated Rome?
How might the world have turned out differently if the Punic Wars between Carthage and Rome had turned out differently? Could Carthage have established itself as the dominant power in the Mediterranean? What would that have meant for the Roman Empire? We explore the possibilities with Dr Eve MacDonald. You can also listen to this conversation in episode 3 of Almost History, our What If podcast.
Plus much more
Also in this issue of All About History:
- Learn how Alcibiades made enemies on all sides of the Peloponnesian War by betraying Athens for the Persian Empire only to flip-flop his allegiances and what that meant for the conflict.
- From their Viking origins to the fall of their kingdoms in France and Italy, we explore the history of the Normans and their impact on Europe.
- Did you know that Charles II was integral in the modernisation and creation of the Royal Navy? And did you know that this plan was threatened by fears of the Popish Plot? Read the full story this issue.
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