It seems more than likely that Bram Stoker was inspired to write Dracula by this fifteenth century ruler in Transvylvania, whose father bore the nickname ‘Dracul’ (which simply…
Elisabeth Báthory, ‘The Blood Countess’
In a recent post on this blog, Gilles de Retz or Rais was discussed. France has its Gilles de Retz, and Hungary has its Elisabeth Báthory. The connection…
A message from Dean Swift
I apologise to this website’s watchers for the fact that I have not posted anything for a couple of days. I and my family have been struck down…
The US Senate & the House of Lords
The Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress. The first, or lower is called the House of Representatives; both represent all States of the Union….
Sir Walter Raleigh (1552 – 1618): a life of frustration
He was an explorer, courtier, navigator, cartographer and part-time corsair. Young Walter took part in privateering expeditions to the West Indies, an increasingly important staging post between the…
James I and VI, a survivor 1567 – 1625 (updated)
This King of England was also King of Scotland. He had a French wife, seven children, a mother who was beheaded, a father murdered, a son executed and…
British barons & the Barons’ Wars
A ‘Baron’ indicates the lowest rank in the British peerage*, though the title itself is one of the oldest. A Barony meant land that went with the title….
The English Civil War 1642 – 1649 (updated)
The history of Britain includes only one genuine civil war. The Wars of the Roses (q.v.) do not come into this category because they were a private struggle…
Figures in a Revolution: Two French revolutionary leaders
The former government in Spain, evicted by a powerful majority of votes last November 20, had two Robespierres and one Fouquier-Tinville. I refer to leaders of the French…
Merry King Charles II and his Ladies
At the same time as Felipe IV reigned in very grand Spain, and Louis XIV in very rich France, the ‘Sun King’s’ cousin Charles II was living a…