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The official website for BBC History Magazine, BBC History Revealed and BBC World Histories Magazine

Maritime history

Illustration of pirate John Ward

Pirate John Ward: the real Captain Jack Sparrow

Historian and writer William Dalrymple during the Edinburgh International Book Festival 2017 (Photo by Martina Bocchio / Awakening / Alamy)

William Dalrymple on the East India Company

William Dalrymple is an award-winning writer and historian based in India. (Photo by Bikramjt Bose)

“This was a corporation that cold topple kings”: William Dalrymple on the East India Company

Explorer Ferdinand Magellan

Dire straits: Ferdinand Magellan’s fatal voyage of discovery

Digitally restored vintage photo of the RMS Titantic departing Southampton on 10 April 1912. (Photo by John Parrot/Stocktrek Images via Getty Images)

10 facts about the Titanic

Pilgrim Fathers boarding the Mayflower

5 facts about the Mayflower

Simon was found with his whiskers burned off and hurt by four pieces of shrapnel. The medical officer thought he wouldn’t survive the night (Photo by Keystone Pictures USA / Alamy Stock Photo)

10 top cats in history

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Building RMS Titanic: exploring Belfast’s “world-leading” shipbuilding heritage

The HMS Victory in Portsmouth

A visit to HMS Victory, Nelson’s flagship at Trafalgar

Henry VIII's Mary Rose (© 19th era/Alamy)

7 things you (probably) didn’t know about Henry VIII’s flagship, the Mary Rose

An episode of the naval battle at Trafalgar: the ship Redoutable (French) against the vessels Victory (British), Téméraire (British) and Thunderer (British). (Photo by Fototeca Gilardi/Getty Images).

Britain didn’t “rule the waves” after the battle of Trafalgar, says historian Sam Willis

Clash between the English Temeraire and the French Redoutable ships during the Battle of Trafalgar, October 21, 1805. (Photo by DeAgostini/Getty Images)

The battle of Trafalgar

Winner takes all: A painting shows the French ship 'Redoutable' clashing with the British 'Temeraire'. "Regardless of the victory off Cape Trafalgar, it was another decade before Britain and her allies defeated Napoleon. (Photo by DeAgostini/Getty Images)

Trafalgar, a futile victory? Why Nelson’s triumph didn’t turn the tide on Napoleon

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4 revelations about the Titanic disaster

The Endurance, the ship of Ernest Shackleton

My history hero: Ernest Shackleton (d1922)