Ying Chen (259BC-210BC) became King of Qin at an early age. It was a time, when the area of China was still several independent kingdoms. Ying Chen (also known as Qin Shi Huang) was the ruler who one by one warred against these states and eventually united them all into one Kingdom of Qin.
The Prussian prince who ran away
Frederick the Great (1712-1786) was the King of Prussia and one of the greatest military leaders of all time. However, his story almost turned out quite different. As a teen, he tried to run away from Prussia to Great Britain. Together with his friend (who was also with high probabilty his lover) Hans Hermann von Katte, they prepared their journey …
The myth of Napoleon’s height
In literature and movies, Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) is often portrayed as a man of short stature. The term “Napoleon complex” refers to short man with a big ego. Nevertheless, it is now widely accepted that the famous leader was actually a bit above average height for his day and age. Reportedly, he stood around 5ft 7 in (around 170cm). But where did …
Jane Digby: Lover of Kings, Sheiks and Generals
Jane Digby (1807– 1881) was an English lady who lived a life straight out of a romantic novel. In her day, she was famous for being the wife and mistress of some of the most influential men of her time.