Historian, Sharon Bennett Connolly and historical author, Derek Birks are joined by historian and writer, David Pilling, to discuss the the Royal House of Wales. Music by Adriel Fair licensed from E

#OTD in 1460 the battle of Northampton was fought, resulting in a Yorkist victory and the capture of Henry VI.

Onto Edward IV, my last-but-one biography of the Plantagenet kings.

David Pilling on The Wolf Cub. The medieval historian talks about the latest book in his new series, exploring the real history

In the high summer of 1266, royalist forces started to converge on Kenilworth.

Onto the next Plantagenet.

In September 1203 Theodore Laskaris escaped from prison.

In May 1203 a fugitive Byzantine prince, Alexios Angelos, joined the army of the Fourth Crusade at Corfu.

Onto Richard II, #8 in my series of Plantagenet mini-biographies.

Today marks the death of John II Komnenos in 1143, killed in a hunting accident in Cilicia, near the fortress of Anazarbus.

In April 1199 Richard the Lionheart died outside the walls of Châlus castle in France, from a botched operation to remove a crossbow bolt from his shoulder.

#OTD in 1325 Elizabeth Comyn was granted permission by Edward II to give her lands to his favourites, principally Hugh Despenser the Younger.

#OTD in 1282 Edward I summoned a military council to Devizes in Wiltshire to plan the campaign in Wales.

In early April 1264 Henry III declared war on Simon de Montfort.

Spring 529.

#OTD in 1461 the battle of Towton was fought in North Yorkshire.

To continue my series of mini-biographies of Byzantine rulers, let’s have a look at Constantine VII, called Porphyrogennetos or ‘born in the Purple’.

In autumn 944, at the height of his career, John Curcuas was suddenly dismissed from his post.

In June 941, while campaigning in the east, John Curcuas received dire news from the emperor, Romanos I.

John Curcuas (otherwise spelled Gungan or Kourkouas) is a forgotten military hero of the Byzantin Empire.

This is a guest spot by Ian Ross, an acclaimed writer of historical fiction who is currently writing a series of novels set during the Montfortian wars in England.

For Women’s History Month, I thought it only right to post something on Anna Komnene (1083-1153) daughter of Alexios I Komnenos and author of his famous biography, the Alexiad.

To begin at the beginning.

In this second and concluding part on the Causes of the Wars of the Roses, Henry VI fails in his kingly duties, and rival factions were gain strength across England. Two houses had emerged: The Hou...

Writers behind a new collection of Scottish folk tales hope their stories can act as a “powerful” way of connecting people in an era of social…

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Who was Poppa of Bayeux? “Who was she ?” When you research history, you often ask yourself that question. History is, usually, about men – ...

Full details  The world's best prize for writing on food history How to Enter Conditions of Entry: 2025 Pu...

1137. After his conquest of Armenian Cilicia, John II marched on Antioch in northern Syria. First he sent his son, Alexios, to secure the ga...

The King's Spy: A Tudor Tale By  David Pilling Publication Date: 1st March 2025 Page Length: 215 Pages Genre: Historical Fiction 1485.  He...