Explainer

Did Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville marry for love?

Colour illustration of people gathering outside a church during the Middle Ages

The medieval church: your guide to religion and worship in the Middle Ages

The Three Musketeers sitting at a table

The real three musketeers: the historical Athos, Porthos and Aramis (and d’Artagnan) revealed

Eggs, bunnies and Jesus Christ: the history and origins of Easter

Photo of pears

Second World War

Q&AWhy do we say it's all gone pear-shaped?

British soldiers lie on the floor an gumpoint during the Falklands War, guarded by Argentine soldiers

The Falklands War: why did it happen?

A 16th-century portrait of Bess of Hardwick. Bess's talent, ambition and eye for a well-connected husband elevated her to dizzying levels of wealth and power in Tudor England. (Photo by Bridgeman Art Library)

Bess of Hardwick: schemer, social climber, scourge of Elizabeth I

The real Amazons: how the legendary warrior women inspired fighters, feminists and Wonder Woman

Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians, illustrated sitting on a throne

Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians: the warrior queen who crushed the Vikings

Alexander Dreymon as Uhtred of Bebbanburg in The Last Kingdom season 5

The real Uhtred of BebbanburgThe historical inspirations for The Last Kingdom’s hero

The Last Kingdom season 5 starsAlexander Dreymon as Uhtred of Bebbanburg

The Last Kingdom: real history and historical accuracy

A photograph of Al Capone, in a suit, looking into the camera

Your guide to the Prohibition-era gangster Al Capone

A late 16th century portrait of Anne Boleyn (c.1500-1536)

Q&ADid Anne Boleyn have six fingers on one hand?

Leif Erikson in Vikings Valhalla

Vikings: Valhalla – the real history behind Netflix’s successor to Vikings

Sir Oswald Mosley taking the salute from female members of the BUF

Your guide to Oswald Mosley and the British Union of Fascists (BUF)

An aerial photo of Stonehenge

Your guide to Stonehenge, plus 12 fascinating facts you might not know

Valentine's celebrations in historyFrom fertility festivals to the first cards

John Wilkes Booth flees the theatre after shooting US president Abraham Lincoln

Q&AWhy do we say ‘your name is mud’ – and what does it have to do with Abraham Lincoln?

A Roman soldier stands on guard during a re-enaction at Birdoswald Roman fort in Carlisle

Roman legions: the backbone of the Roman military

In partnership with Expeditions Rome

Soldiers from Mao Zedong’s Red Army assemble in Yan’an, Shaanxi province, 1936 (Photo by Getty)

The Chinese Civil War: a guide to the conflict and the rise of Mao Zedong

Portrait showing Mary, Queen of Scots with her hand on her hip

Mary, Queen of Scots: your guide to her life and times

The Immortals shown holding long spears on a frieze from the palace of Darius the Great

General ancient history

The Persian Immortals: the feared elite guard of the Achaemenid empire

(Illustration by Glen McBeth for BBC History Magazine)

Q&AWhat is the origin and meaning of the pirate expression ‘shiver me timbers’?

A pirate ship flying the Jolly Roger closes in on another vessel during a storm

The golden age of piracy: when pirates ruled the waves

A 17th century sketch of a peg-legged pirate walking with the aid of crutches

Q&ADid any real pirates wear eyepatches or have peg legs?

Nineteenth century engraving depicting raining cats and dogs

General Early Modern

Q&AWhy do we say 'raining cats and dogs'?

Froissart illustration of Hugh Despenser the Younger's execution by being hanged, drawn and quartered. Despenser is on a ladder, as a man beside him disembowels him and tosses his entrails into a fire

‘Godly butchery’: the horrifying history of hanging, drawing and quartering

The Normans had a profound influence on Britain – so why do we not speak French?

Ancient greek alphabet contains 24 letters, starting with alpha and ending with omega

The ancient Greek alphabet: when was it invented, how many letters are there and how do you pronounce them?

A Viking ship is burned in a reproduction of a funeral

What do we know about Viking funerals?