The first crusade

Emily Briffett: Why does the 14th century, which is often dubbed ‘calamitous’, have such a bad reputation? Helen Carr: Some pretty bad things happened during the 14th century – including the greatest

How an upstart noble family emerged from the Wars of the Roses to rule England

BRANXTON, ENGLAND 9 SEPTEMBER 1513

Matt Elton Can you briefly explain the papal conclave, and who’s involved? Rebecca Rist It’s based on the system instituted by Pope Gregory X in the 13th century. After the death of a pontiff, members

The celebrity mystics who captivated Europe in the interwar years

Driven by the hunger for new territory, in the 16th century Russia embarked on the ruthless subjugation of a vast and hostile land in the frozen east