The English Mercenary Companies in Italy
‘The Italianized Englishman is a devil incarnate,’ said Italians of the Renaissance, remembering the blood-thirsty exploits of English mercenary soldiers.
History Today
Kingdoms Come Apart
The path to Britain’s Civil Wars of the 17th century was paved in the three very different realms of England, Scotland and Ireland. But it was in the richest and most populous of these that crisis escalated into conflict.
The Far Right in France
Since the late 19th century, French politics has provided a testing ground for right-wing populism.
Pause for Thought
A far-reaching account of the significance of menopause in human evolution.
Why a Circle Has 360 Degrees
The long and complicated history of why there are 360 degrees in a circle.
For Whom the Bull Tolls
Ernest Hemingway’s love of bullfighting bordered on obsession. Did he see his own insecurities reflected in the ring?
The April Issue
A message from the team at History Today.
Soviet Super Sniper Lyudmila Pavlichenko
Lyudmila Pavlichenko, the ‘Guerrilla Queen’ of Soviet Russia, became a role model for women in combat during the Second World War.
The Inquisition’s Secret Weapon
With the aim of converting souls rather than punishing them, the Jesuits were vital collaborators in the Roman Inquisition.
Empire of the Census
The government’s count of its citizens is of enormous value to historians.