Tag: 21st Century

A portrait of Peter the Great

Livonia – Russia’s Baltic doorway

In 1558, Ivan the Terrible tried to punch a doorway to the sea — and Europe panicked. The question is: was this a 16th-century war, or the first chapter of a much longer Russian struggle for influence in the Baltics?
A photo of the Hotel Central facade

Prague’s Daring Dame: The Hotel Central

Prague, 1901. A city of soaring Gothic spires and grand Baroque palaces. Then, something new appeared. Something... different. On Hybernska street, a building bloomed into existence, its facade a swirl of pastel colours and floral motifs. This was the Hotel Central.
A photo of the Jablonkow tunnel

Did World War II Start With a Failed Secret Raid?

World War II began on 1 September 1939. What if I told you a secret German commando unit jumped the gun, invading Poland six days early? This is the Jabłonków Incident, a bizarre opening act to the world’s deadliest conflict. Ready to uncover one of WWII’s best-kept secrets?
A photo of the Fruttuaria Abbey - Piedmonte, Italy

The Fruttuaria Abbey

A King Died Here. Then the Church Buried It. Then a Plumber Found It Again. The Abbazia di Fruttuaria has been a monastery, a political pawn, a makeover project, and a school. What lies beneath the floor is one of the most remarkable archaeological finds in northern Italy — and almost nobody knows about it.
An engraving showing the view of the siege of Esztergom, 1595

The Battle of Strigonia

Sixteenth century Europe was ablaze with one war after another. The epoch-defining conflict was the one between the Ottomans and the Hapsburg Empire. This changed European, and Middle-Eastern history. One of this war's battles included a contingent of Maltese fighting forces. This article explains how they came to be there and the story of that siege.
An underwater photo of the Kujawiak's anti-aircraft guns

ORP Kujawiak: From Britain to Malta

During World War II, the Polish Navy operated under the auspices of the British Navy. One destroyer escort, the ORP Kujawiak, helped supply the island of Malta where it hit an Italian mine. This article explains the short life of ORP Kujawiak, its final moments and its current status as an underwater diving site.
A photo of Abu Dhabi today

Creating the Emirates

The United Arab Emirates exist because of a reaction to Britain's loss of power, post-Word War II. That power, in turn, came about because of geography, rather than outright politics. It's strange to think a modern country exists because of a random geographical feature. This article explains the whole story.
A photo of Icelandic Prime Minister Benediktsson at the 1968 NATO ministerial meeting - Reykjavik, Iceland

The Icelandic anomaly

In geopolitical terms, Iceland is a bit of an anomaly. It gained independence from Denmark, but found itself unable to defend itself. It joined NATO even though it doesn't have a standing army of its own. It's crucial to North Atlantic security but is it that crucial? This article examines Iceland before NATO, and how it, and NATO, evolved together.
A photo of the facade of the church of St James - Valletta, Malta

St James’ Church, Valletta

St James' Church on Valletta's bustling Merchants' street never attracted my eye the same way the other churches in the city do. When I found out my ancestors married there so I thought I'd take a closer look at this historical building.
A photo of Selimiye mosque - Nicosia, TRNC

The lost Cathedral of St Sophia

In occupied Cyprus, across the demilitarised zone in Nicosia, the French gothic cathedral of St Sophia is now Selimiye mosque. The building was at the heart of Cypriot crusader history, with many stories in its past. Today, tourists wonder at something that looks like European architecture is a mosque. This article explains the cathedral history, its significance and the current mosque.