The History Blog
Welcome to the only history blog brave enough to admit that the past was mostly just a series of ridiculous accidents and terrible decisions your high school teachers deliberately hid from you. Instead of putting you to sleep with dusty textbook lectures, we actually drag ourselves to real historical locations to dig up the gloriously weird facts that truly matter, delivering a daily dose of yesteryear’s absurdity straight to your inbox. Where else are you going to learn that a Great Dane named Juliana was awarded the Blue Cross Medal, or the most famous female serial killer was a Hungarian Countess, Elizabeth Báthory de Ecsed. Our daily digest is your morning ticket to stepping back in time without having to endure any of the boring parts. Subscribe today, because those who don’t learn from history’s weirdest moments are doomed to be terrible conversationalists at parties.
How Lafayette’s 1781 Virginia Campaign Led to Yorktown
The American Revolutionary War hung in the balance in the spring of 1781. British forces were advancing through the southern colonies with devastating speed, destroying vital supply lines and scattering local militias. To counter this growing threat, General George...
Cleopatra’s True Origins: More Greek Than Egyptian?
Cleopatra wasn’t actually Egyptian! As far as historians can tell, Egypt’s famous femme fatal was actually Greek! She was a descendant of Alexander the Great’s Macedonian general Ptolemy.
How George Washington built a whiskey empire at Mount Vernon
After his presidency, George Washington opened a whiskey distillery at Mount Vernon. By 1799, it had become one of the largest distilleries in the United States, producing nearly 11,000 gallons of un-aged whiskey annually.
Ching Shih: History’s Most Successful Pirate Commander
Ching Shih (Zheng Yi Sao) was likely a Cantonese prostitute before marrying the pirate leader Zheng Yi around 1801. According to historian Dian H. Murray, she became an active partner in his pirate confederation, helping lead the powerful Red Flag Fleet. After his death, she consolidated control and commanded one of the largest pirate forces in history, making her widely regarded as the most successful pirate ever.
The Truth About Female Gladiators in Ancient Rome
When you think of the grand arenas of the Roman Empire, a very specific image usually comes to mind. Heavily armored men clash with swords and shields while thousands of spectators cheer from the stands. Historical accounts and Hollywood movies alike have cemented...
The Surprising History of Abraham Lincoln the Bartender
When we think of the sixteenth president of the United States, we usually picture a towering figure in a top hat, a seasoned statesman, and the Great Emancipator. We picture the man who delivered the Gettysburg Address and safely guided a fractured nation through the...
