Who was Charles II? Why was he called the ‘Merry Monarch’?
Charles II ran a hedonistic court, despite the early years of his reign being marred by the bubonic plague and Great Fire of London. He reigned from 1660-1685
Known as the ‘Merry Monarch’, Charles II’s...
Who was Oliver Cromwell? What was his role in the English Civil War?
Oliver Cromwell sided with the Roundheads during the English Civil War and became a leader of the New Model Army. He ruled from 1653 to 1658
The only non-royal to rule the country, Oliver Cromwell...
Who was Mary, Queen of Scots? Why was she imprisoned?
Mary Stuart became queen of the Scots when she was six days old, was widowed at 18 and was executed aged 44. She ruled from 1542 to 1567
Mary Queen of Scots was born in 1542,...
Who was Robert the Bruce? Who did he murder?
Robert I of Scotland murdered his rival, attacked English occupiers and eventually negotiated peace talks. He ruled from 1306 to 1329
Born in Ayr in 1274, Robert the Bruce was on the side of King...
Tudor John Knox: Scottish minister, writer and leader of the Reformation
This month Melita Thomas of Tudor Times explores the life and times of Tudor John Knox, a Scottish firebrand who lived through during the reigns of King Henry VIII, Edward VI, Bloody Mary and...
Kings and Queens: Canute the Great 1016-1035
King Canute invited and conquered much of England - and didn't really believe he could control the tides
Danish-born King Canute is often held up as an example of monarchical folly. Much of this is due...
Kings and Queens: Alfred the Great 871-899
The Anglo-Saxon King Alfred the Great fought off the Vikings
In the early Middle Ages, England was divided into seven kingdoms but, as the 9th century progressed, marauding hordes of Vikings took control of large...
Charlie Chaplin: his life story
As a blue plaque is unveiled in his honour, we tell the story of London-born Charlie Chaplin – a British comedy genius who used silent films to convey a subtlety that revolutionised cinema
Today, British...
The Tudor Rose, Elizabeth of York
Elizabeth of York was a queen who was greatly loved in her own lifetime, and sincerely mourned at her death, yet for five hundred years she has been half-forgotten. Melita Thomas of Tudor Times...
Henry VIII: King of England
Remembered as much for his wives as his politics, we delve into the life of this most complicated monarch, who is perhaps the most well-known of all the Kings of England.
“Have fun with Henry...
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