Historical people

A black‑and‑white photograph of a person with wavy light hair holding a spaniel‑like dog near an open car door, with a building and another person in the background.

From Joan of Arc to Brigitte Bardot: meet the trailblazing women who shaped French history. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

A Venn‑diagram style image with two overlapping circles on an orange background. The left circle shows a painting of a man in a dark hat and white collar looking through an early optical device. The right circle shows a colour photograph of an older man in a suit, smiling slightly. The overlapping section is tinted magenta

He was one of England's greatest astronomers – so why has no one heard of him?. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

A detailed engraving shows William Shakespeare with wavy shoulder‑length hair, a mustache and trimmed beard, and an earring in his left ear. He wears a collared shirt and a textured doublet with decorative trim, set against a softly shaded background.

"Let the sky rain potatoes!": the hidden meanings behind Shakespeare's food obsession. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

An older man wearing round glasses, a bow tie, and an academic-style robe stands behind a cluster of microphones, delivering a public speech

Churchill vs Stalin: did this one speech cause the Cold War?. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

The relentless rise of the mafia: a grisly tale of extortion, execution and Don Corleone. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

"We shall never surrender": 14 quotes that have defined the past century. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

A detailed Persian miniature painting showing a central figure seated on a raised platform beneath a decorated canopy, surrounded by a halo of flames. Attendants and courtiers in colourful robes and turbans sit or stand around them, with trays of food, vessels, and fans arranged in the scene. Stylized hills, flowers, and animals fill the background, all rendered in intricate patterns and bright colours.

12 modern trends with surprisingly ancient roots. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

A seated person wearing an elaborate costume poses with one hand resting on their face. They wear a large, ornate headdress with wing‑like extensions and pearls, and a richly decorated outfit with detailed embroidery and an eagle motif on the chest.

"It wasn't very open about its queer connections": the hidden history of the National Trust. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

A monochrome woodcut-style illustration of a small camp. Several conical tents stand in the background. In the foreground, three people are engaged in different tasks: one person carries a large bundle on their back, another kneels beside a small fire as if cooking or tending it, and a third lies on the ground wrapped in a blanket, appearing to rest. The scene emphasises daily life and work within the camp

Inside Britain's first refugee camp: a 300-year history of immigration. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

A large statue of a man in a long military-style coat and cap, standing on a pedestal in a forest. Tree trunks in the foreground partially obscure the figure. The statue shows the man with a stern expression, one hand holding the lapel of his coat. Tall trees and undergrowth surround the statue, giving the scene a secluded, wooded setting.

I’ve just been to Europe’s weirdest theme park – and came face to face with Josef Stalin. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

"She was like an angel – albeit one with claws": Zandra Rhodes chooses Adel Rootstein (1930–62) as her history hero. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

A modern illustration shows a man dressed in a grey and red hooded outfit, knelt on the ground with a wooden bucket behind him and a lit lantern in front of him. He is shovelling a pile of poo

Think your job is bad? These 17 occupations from the past were much, much worse. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

A black and white illustration showing two men dressed in dark clothing and hats sitting in a rowing boat. One of them sits halfway in the boat, holding the oars. The other is leant over the front of the boat and is pulling the body of a woman out of the water. Behind them is a bridge with two large arches underneath it

He's the Victorian serial killer you've never heard of – and we may now know who he was. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

A photo collage featuring three images. On the top left is a black and white photograph of a group of men and women pulling an aeroplane. On the bottom left is a black and white photograph of five men, three in military uniform, standing outside a hut that is advertising fish and chips. On the right is an image of a large group of soldiers walking through a city, holding large flags.

Fascism? No thanks! Why Britain rejected extremism in the 1930s. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

A man in a black long sleeved top, beige trousers and brown shoes sitting on a low wooden bench. He is leant on his knees, with his hands held together. Behind him, there is a river covered in lily pads and a bank of large trees

The overlooked history of Muslims in Europe. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

An illustration depicting a man in black trousers and a black and white striped jumper and an orange cap, holding a bunch of balloons. On some balloons are the faces of famous people, including a Viking and Winston Churchill

Who is the most overrated person in history? 9 experts reveal their choices. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

A man dressed in a plain white button up shirt and black trousers stands in front of a row shelving with his arms behind his back

"I can lose myself for hours in a hypnotic trance": why we should all spend more time in archives. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

An illustration showing a man dressed in a pale blue robe, and a red hat. He has curly brown hair and a thick beard. He is speaking and large waves with ships on them are coming out of his mouth

Was Homer a real person? Michael Wood on the surprising origins of The Iliad. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

An illustration showing a royal purple robe being lifted from the ground, with some dust being swept under it with a dustpan and brush

The prince and the brothel: 6 scandals that rocked the British monarchy. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

A black and white illustration shows a building on fire, with a woman throwing a young child out of the top window

Humble Victorian heroes: the ordinary Britons who sacrificed their lives for others. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Did Hitler have sexual relations with Eva Braun? What my research reveals about the Führer's love life. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

The SAS played a vital role in defeating Hitler – so why did Britain disband them?. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

A collage of images showing a woman in a red and brown dress, with her arms around a small child to her left. Behind them is a large building, some ships and a crowd of people

Meet the incredible woman who saved Portugal's Jews. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

An illustration showing a Viking wearing a silver helmet that comes down over his eyes, holding a circular shield and an axe. Behind him is a large yellow building with arches, tall purple trees and a few other Vikings running along a path

It was an "extravaganza of brutality": how the Vikings menaced the Mediterranean. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

A photograph showing two Asian women, one dressed in white robes sitting in a chair, leaning over with her arm around the other, crouched on the floor wearing blue jeans and a purple top

The Bengal Famine was one of the 20th century's greatest tragedies – so why is there no memorial to it?. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

An illustration showing two bearded men in a wooden boat with oars, on a blue river, surrounded by jungle, with animals poking out the trees. The man at the back of the boat is holding an umbrella in one hand and a wooden crucifix in the other

Uncontacted peoples: why do nearly 200 groups choose to live outside 'civilisation'?. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

A purple and blue illustration shows a young woman in a long dress with frilly sleeves, holding a red book. Around her, there is a pirate ship and a man dressed in white robes, sitting crossed-legged on a rug

In 1756, a young Englishwoman was taken hostage by Barbary pirates. This is her story. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

A large drawing showing multiple different sea creatures in a light blue ocean

From krakens to serpents: 5 fearsome sea monsters from history. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Nero's doomed love affair: did a failed romance trigger his descent into madness?. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

A sketch showing a woman surrounded by men. One man is putting a hood over her head and another is reading from a book next to her

These are four of the most brutal Victorian murders. Were women really the perpetrators?. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.