The History of England Magazine
Every month we present new feature articles relating to the history of this green and pleasant land. From ancient battlefields to famous people, hangings to national celebrations, we’ve got something to interest everyone.
You may also be interested in our History of Britain section covering the period from the Act of Union during Queen Anne‘s reign to the modern day.
Amphitheatres and Gladiators in Roman Britain
Gladiators were professional fighters who fought in the amphitheatres of the Roman Empire. They were usually slaves, former slaves or condemned prisoners who volunteered to fight for fame, riches…and often their lives.
King Aethelred I
The third of the Wessex brothers, Aethelred’s reign (866-871) was dominated by the near constant struggle against the Danes. He would be succeeded by his famous brother, Alfred.
King James I – First Royal Submariner?
The alleged voyage of King James I in a submarine under the River Thames remains one of the most intriguing mysteries of 17th-century England…
The History of the Bloody Code
The “Bloody Code” was the series of laws in the 18th and early 19th century which imposed the death penalty for over 200 offences, many of which seem surprisingly trivial, including pickpocketing, stealing from a shipwreck and destroying a fishpond…
Bringing Potatoes to Britain
Britain loves potatoes! Roasted, chipped, mashed – the humble potato has been a staple of our diet for hundreds of years, yet its humble origins lie far away, in the Andes…
Sir Walter Raleigh
One of Britain’s most famous explorers, Sir Walter Raleigh was also a poet, scholar and courtier, a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I. He is however usually remembered for introducing tobacco and the potato to Britain, and for failing to find the legendary El Dorado.
Lettice Knollys
Widowed three times, romantic rival of Queen Elizabeth I and one of the most notorious women in Tudor England, Lettice Knollys led a tumultuous life…
Kitty Fisher and Joshua Reynolds
The Courtesan & The Painter: Kitty Fisher and Joshua Reynolds. An unusual bond developed between Kitty, a famous 18th century courtesan and Sir Joshua Reynolds, celebrated painter, a bond that embodied the complexities of Georgian power, sexuality and artistic inspiration.
Aura Soltana: First Recorded Muslim Woman in Tudor England?
Following her excommunication by the Pope in 1570, Queen Elizabeth I, and therefore England, was no longer bound by papal edicts forbidding trade with the Muslim world. This opened up huge opportunities for new lucrative trading relationships with the East: the first Elizabethan Brexit if you like! One of the pioneering merchant explorers, whilst travelling through modern day Uzbekistan, bought a Muslim slave girl and returned with her to the English court…