Ruins of the Clifden Castle witness the first Gothic Revival building in Ireland
There once was a “beard tax” in England (and in Russia), those who payed the tax were given a token
The last emperor of Mexico was offered a chance to escape execution, but he felt that shaving his beard to avoid recognition would ruin his dignity
At his coronation, King Pedro I of Portugal dug up the body of his dead wife, placed it on a throne and demanded that his vassals kiss her hand
The Lisbon Earthquake in 1755: natural disaster or God’s punishment?
Madame d’Esperance: one of the most popular spiritualist frauds in 19th century
The Skull Tower: Horrific monument of Serbian rebel skulls who fought against the Ottoman Empire
Cross Bones Graveyard: unconsecrated memorial to the prostitutes in London since the late medieval period
The story of Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water” a theater fire caused by a flare gun
Teddy Roosevelt was shot in the chest at a rally, he gave his speech anyway
