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Diana Mitord

The real Diana Mitford: society beauty and unabashed fascist

Nancy Mitford

The real Nancy Mitford: meet the bestselling novelist who betrayed her sister

When was the worst time to be alive? You'll be surprised at what our expert has to say. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Hand-coloured engraving of someone being tortured on the wheel.

Stretched, crushed and impaled10 shocking torture methods from medieval history

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From the podcast

Incredible historical stories from the recent episodes of the HistoryExtra podcast

This 9th-century illustration shows Alcuin of York presenting his pupil Rabanus Maurus to Saint Martin. An influential scholar and teacher, Alcuin played a key role in the intellectual revival of Charlemagne’s court.

The first mafia? How an early medieval kingdom perfected the art of deadly diplomacy

This painted portrait depicts Ranavalona I, who ruled the Merina Kingdom of Madagascar from 1828 to 1861. Her reign was marked by violent efforts to resist European influence and preserve Malagasy sovereignty.

Meet the blood-soaked African queen who killed her own people in the face of colonialism

This 12th–14th century mosaic from the Pala d’Oro in St Mark’s Basilica, Venice, depicts Noah releasing animals from the ark — a moment of renewal after the biblical flood. (Photo by Getty Images)

General ancient history

Long before the Bible, an ancient Mesopotamian civilisation predicted one of its most famous stories

A mosaic of servants or enslaved people making preparations for a Roman feast.

You probably eat these foods every day, so why did the ancient Romans think they were disgusting poison?

Illustration of Neolithic druids performing a ceremony at the Stonehenge stone circle.

General prehistory

A Bronze Age Brexit: why did these Britons mysteriously cut themselves off from Europe?

Winston Churchill and Winston the Platypus

Second World War

Winston and the platypus: how a bizarre WW2 diplomacy mission to influence Churchill ended in death and tragedy

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HistoryExtra Podcast

The latest episodes from the History Extra podcast

International security & rough sleeping: history behind the headlines. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Make Mercia Great Again. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

The Merovingians: everything you wanted to know. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

How the Allies won WW2. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Ancient tips for health and happiness. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Thomas Aquinas: life of the week. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Barmier than Bond: Ian Fleming's extraordinary wartime escapades. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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Michael Wood on the New Angel | "Few works of 20th-century art have such a distinguished list of past owners". This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

An illustration showing Queen Elizabeth I. Her body has been replaced with an egg timer and her facial expression is looking worried.

Master the art of procrastination, with the help of the Virgin Queen. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Are Bertha and George Russell real? Inside the real Vanderbilt divorces that rocked the Gilded Age

Unity Mitford

The real Unity Mitford: meet the high society British Nazi who was rumoured to have had Hitler's child

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How much do you know about history? Test out your knowledge with our quizzes...

How much do you know about the Vikings? Test your knowledge with our quiz. This mid-19th century painting shows Viking ships on the River Thames. (Photo by Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images)

QuizHow much do you know about the Vikings?

Flagellants or Brothers of the Cross in Netherlands scourging themselves as they walk through streets

QuizHow much do you know about medieval history?

General History

Quiz of the weekWhich instrument was patented on 28 June 1846?

The effects of the disease known as the Black Death

History quiz: how much do you know about the Black Death?. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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Portrait of King Henry VIII, Jane Seymour and Prince Edward. (Photo by Getty Images)

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Illustrated Medieval scene from the Romance of Lancelot

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20th Century

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Painting of Henry VIII

Henry VIII

Portrait of Queen Victoria

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Winston Churchill gives his famous v-sign as he opens the new headquarters of 615 (County of Surrey) Squadron of the RAAF (Royal Auxiliary Air Force) at Croydon, 1948. (Photo by Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Winston Churchill

Golden funerary mask of Tutankhamun, inlaid with lapis lazuli, obsidian and turquoise. (Photo By DEA / G. DAGLI ORTI/De Agostini/Getty Images)

Tutankhamun

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Dockers unloading wine barrels

Photo of Mabel Capper and Patricia Woodlock advertising a meeting, Manchester, Lancashire, July 1908

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The charge of the light, battle illustration

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