Donji Brčeli is an Orthodox monastery founded by the Serbian noblewoman Jelena Balšić Kosača between the 14th and 15th centuries. Restored in 1861 to restore the appearance lost due to a fire set by the Ottomans, it is part of the monumental heritage of the village of Virpazar (Montenegro) and still houses a religious community. […]
Russia
Posted inModern Era
How a German Tried to Conquer Hawaii for the Russian Empire
A German resident in America trying to seize Hawaii for the Russians. It sounds convoluted, but it’s the most succinct summary of the strange historical episode that took place between 1815 and 1817, starring an unclassifiable German doctor when he saw the opportunity to conquer the Polynesian island following a minor incident. This event is […]
Posted inModern Era
When Lenin and Stalin Robbed the Bank of Tiflis in 1907
The first quarter of the 20th century was a golden age in the history of bank heists, perhaps not in quality but in quantity—if we consider the amount stolen in the first case and the frequency in the second. The transition from famous 19th-century outlaws like Ned Kelly, Butch Cassidy, Harry Longabaugh, the Dalton brothers, […]
Posted inCulture, Modern Era
The Extravagant 1903 Russian Fancy Dress Ball that Inspired the Costumes for “The Phantom Menace”
The days of February 11th and 13th in the year 1903 were special in St. Petersburg. If, in the words of Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich, someone were to peer through the large windows of the palace attempting to catch a glimpse of the party being held inside, they would have been somewhat confused to see […]
Posted inMiddle Ages
Subutai, the Mongol General who Conquered More Territory than Any Other Man in History
While the main character usually gets all the fame, it was common for the so-called great conquering statesmen to have, by their side and under their command, a military genius who provided them with victories. For example, Napoleon had Davout and Suchet, among many others; Itzcóatl had Tlacaélel; Pachacútec had Vicaquirao; Philip II had the […]
Posted inModern Era
Tsushima, the “biggest and most important naval battle since Trafalgar”
The outcome of a battle can have implications beyond the confrontation between the contenders and even beyond the war itself. Sometimes, it resonates on the international stage, triggering events and behaviors that might never have occurred otherwise. A good example of this is the naval combat at Tsushima, formerly known as the Battle of the […]
Posted inFirst World War
The Story of the Belgian Unit that Fought in Russia during World War I, and its Odyssey Back
You may have heard of 1914. It’s the year the First World War began, yes, but there’s also a Ukrainian death metal band named after that year because they emulate the Swedish band Sabaton, whose songs are about military history. In their case, they focus on the Great War, hence the name they chose. In […]
Posted inFirst World War
“Willy-Nicky Correspondence”, the Exchange of Telegrams between the Tsar and the Kaiser on the Eve of World War I
In the year 1918, just after the end of World War I, American journalist, writer, and diplomat Herman Bernstein published a book titled The Willy–Nicky correspondence. It was an anthology of private telegrams exchanged between Tsar Nicholas II and Kaiser Wilhelm over several years, on the eve of the conflict, attempting to soothe tensions. The […]
Posted inGeography, Modern Era
Kaliningrad, the Strategic City no one Wants
Similar to what happened with the Treaty of Versailles in 1918, the end of World War II reshaped the European map, with a special impact on the eastern part of the continent and the borders between Germany, Poland, Russia, and the present Baltic states. This resulted in some cities that previously belonged to one country […]
Posted inModern Era
How Liechtenstein could have bought Alaska
There was a time when Alaska was Russian territory, something that barely leaves a trace today, except for some churches and a population that predominantly professes the Russian Orthodox religion. In 1867, the Russians sold Alaska to the United States, considering it a better deal than letting it fall into British hands without receiving anything […]