Hardly anyone recognizes the name Felix Yusupov. He was a Russian aristocrat and a member of the imperial family, whose place in history was secured by his involvement in the assassination of Rasputin—a fascinating and unique figure well known to history enthusiasts. However, that episode had a curious epilogue years later when Felix, already in […]
Russia
The Incredible Wrangel Island: The Place Where Mammoths Survived Until 2000 BC
Located in the Arctic Ocean, between the Chukchi Sea and the East Siberian Sea, Wrangel Island is a 7,600 km² enclave, equivalent in size to Crete. It is part of Russia’s Chukotka Autonomous District and has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004 due to its unique biodiversity and historical significance. The […]
18 Horses Found in an Iron Age Tomb in Siberia Reveal the Possible Origin of Scythians
A team of archaeologists has discovered evidence of funerary rituals involving sacrifices at the burial mound of Tunnug 1, located in the Republic of Tuva, southern Siberia. This finding suggests that the Scythians, primarily known for their presence in Eastern Europe, may have originated much further east than previously thought. The Scythians, a nomadic people […]
The Oldest Carpet in the World, Found in an Iron Age Tomb
It is reasonable to deduce that in the successive phases of prehistory, humans, in their effort to create a warmer environment, used animal skins to cover the floors of the caves and huts they inhabited. These were the precursors to what would later be purposefully woven with advancing technology and is known today as the […]
Šcepan Mali, the first and only tsar of Montenegro, who pretended to be the Russian Peter III
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. […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]