Tag: Asia

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 colonnaded street - Apamea, Syria

Why Bohemond III gave Apamea away

In 1168, Bohemond III of Antioch handed the frontier district of Apamea to the Knights of St John. A prince doesn't do this unless he needs something bigger; so what was he getting out of the deal? 
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 image of the Ibelin coat of arms

A Medieval Marriage That Never Was

The idea that noble medieval families' marriages were all political is neither new nor surprising. It's rare to see situations where the wife-to-be is the one who ended up benefiting as much as her husband. This article is about Cypriot Alice of Ibelin, her bethrotal and marriage.
A painting of the French fleet in the grand harbour

When Napoleon Conquered Malta in 72 Hours

Think the fall of powerful nations takes months? Napoleon Bonaparte dismantled 268 years of Knights' rule over Malta in three days. If you want to understand how empires truly fall, keep reading.
A portrait of Pope Sylvester II

The Phantom Time Hypothesis

There are dark corners of the internet where I've found mentions of "The Phantom Time Hypothesis". This suggests that the years between 614 AD and 911 AD didn't exist. But how can that be? How can human history have misplaced 300 years of history?
A photo of the Archeological museum of Macedonia - Skopje, Macedonia

Macedonia and the Bulgarian Horrors

During my travels in North Macedonia, I was puzzled to see lots of references and mentioned to ex-UK Prime Minister William Gladstone. What would a 19th-century British statesman have in common with a modern nation-state? The answer focuses on the interdependencies of foreign policy and 19th century realpolitik.
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 Ħal-Għargħur parish church

The independence of Ħal-Għargħur

In the 16th century, the rural village of Ħal-Għargħur became an independent parish for 3 brief years. It’s unusual that someone thought it should be independent and changed their mind a few years later. This article explains the village politics behind the situation, and how Ħal-Għargħur became a parish.