We know that the morals of a decent society 200 years ago were extremely strict, but there was one woman among society ladies who seemed to deliberately violate all conceivable prohibitions, but at the same time remained always on the crest of success. The only obstacle she really feared was old age
It is known that the last monarchs from among the Rurikovichs were Tsars Fedor I Ioannovich and Vasily Shuisky. Further, the family of the first chronicle prince of ancient Russia was interrupted, but this applies only to the straight line. Rurik had many children, and calculations show that any person of the 9th century, whose family was not forcibly interrupted, today you can find at least 300 thousand descendants. Moreover, due to the common practice among ancient Russian rulers of giving sisters and daughters in marriage to foreign kings, after
Today, the fascination with remakes in cinema is so great that sometimes it seems as if the Dream Factory have forgotten how to invent new plots. In our country, after several extremely unsuccessful attempts, this trend, fortunately, has outlived its usefulness, but Hollywood producers do not get tired of rearranging old ideas. Most often, an appeal to a plot familiar to the viewer is not very interesting, but there have been examples in the history of cinema when remakes turned out to be more popular than the original. Compare thin
The amazingly talented translator Maria Spivak had her own view of books in general and the works of J.K. Rowling in particular. Her acquaintance with the magic boy first grew into a passion for translating books about Garrry Potter, and then became her profession. At the stage of her passion, Maria Spivak had her admirers and admirers, and during the period of official work on the translation, readers expressed a sharply negative opinion about the work of the translator. Why Maria Spivak remained misunderstood and us
Each generation of people creates its own beauty canons. In the first half of the 20th century, thanks to the advent of accessible photography and cinema, new standards of female attractiveness began to form. Since that time, the media began to create and disseminate stereotyped ideas about what is beautiful and what is not. Therefore, old photographs of actresses, singers and courtesans are all the more valuable because they preserve the memory of that femininity and beauty that were not imposed on people from blue
As soon as the diamond is not called "Hope"! And the "Blue Diamond of the French Crown", and "Blue Tavernier", and "French Blue", and "Blue Hope", and "Blue Frenchman" … Behind all these loud names there is a stunningly beautiful stone that has brought misfortune to its owners for many centuries … But, despite the notoriety of the diamond, people fanatically sought the right to own it, buying up or even stealing the stone from the previous owners. And all because "Hope" was distinguished by an amazing blue
From the history of the Patriotic War of 1812 and the foreign campaign of the Russian army, we know the names of the hussar-partisan Denis Davydov and the cavalry girl Nadezhda Durova. It turns out that there were similar heroes in Prussia
On November 28, 1734, the most unpleasant event happened in Moscow - during the casting of the Tsar Bell, two casting furnaces went out of order at once. As a result, the bell was still cast, but its fate was not easy, however, like many other Russian bells. In Russia, bells were raised not only with trepidation on the bell towers and listened to the "crimson" ringing. They were exiled, tortured, and in the heat of theomachy they were thrown from the belfries, smashed and sent to be melted down. So, the most interesting facts about ro
In the history of the Soviet state during the Second World War, there is a place not only for heroic deeds. Betrayal and complicity to fascism at times acquired a mass character. The formation of the Russian Liberation Army (ROA) can be called a dirty spot in Soviet history. Citizens who were opposed to the Soviet regime united in this structure and joined the Wehrmacht troops. Well, the victims of repression and their family members had every reason not to support the Soviet regime
She admired. Either beauty, or the danger that came from her. Indeed, the fame of Lyudmila Pavlichenko, a Soviet girl sniper, spread far beyond the country. On account of her more than 300 destroyed enemies, including the officers and those on whom the real hunt was carried out. The image of the "beauty Komsomol", who demonstrated strength and courage at the front, was idealized in the Soviet press. All ambiguous moments, blunders or mistakes were deleted from her biography, making
Harvard Bridge is no different. An ordinary bridge. Unless it is the longest of those that pass across the Charles River. It also connects the two cities of Cambridge and Boston. It was built in 1890 and its length is 364.4 Smoot plus one ear. No, this is not a joke. More precisely, it was a joke sometime in 1958, when students decided to measure the bridge with their friend Oliver Red Smith. But now it is quite a formally used unit of measurement. There is undoubtedly some kind of
In November 1939, war broke out between the USSR and Finland. Outside of these two countries, few doubted that the Red Army would very quickly defeat the small Scandinavian republic. In America, they were so sure of the defeat of Finland that they even developed a plan for the evacuation of the entire population of the country. They were planned to be relocated to the northernmost state, to Alaska
How the Caucasian highlanders chose their wives, and which girls risked being left without a husband
For many centuries, the inhabitants of the Caucasus have lived at the intersection of different cultures, which often became the cause of interethnic conflicts. In such conditions, the problem of family survival and procreation is especially acute. And although today free relationships have become the norm in many European countries, Caucasians in matters of marriage remain faithful to traditions, while presenting very strict requirements to their future wife
The Second World War, like a litmus test, exposed all human qualities in people. Heroes and traitors - all of them yesterday were ordinary Soviet citizens and lived side by side. The future leaders of the Soviet state, Khrushchev, Brezhnev and Andropov, were suitable age to become Red Army soldiers. However, not all of them were at the front and have military merits. What did the future heads of state do instead of fighting a common enemy together with the entire Soviet people?
Nicknames and nicknames exist to show the "reverse side of the medal", those qualities of a person that he tries not to advertise. Funny or offensive, truthful or derisive, they stick not only to ordinary people. Emperors, tsars, presidents, leaders and party leaders are no exception. They treated some nicknames favorably, others annoyed them. What did the world leaders wear and why did they get them?
Many people know that during the war years Stalin did not leave Moscow. Even when the Germans were already on the outskirts of the city, and the evacuation began in the capital, the leader did not even think about running away. But Adolf Hitler traveled, and not only in his country, but also in the occupied territories. Moreover, he visited not only the capitals of European countries, but also came to the USSR. For what purpose did Hitler visit the country of the Soviets, what objects he chose and why it was not customary to advertise it
In the late 1930s, many German women entered the concentration camps. Not everyone liked this job, but some became real professionals. So, Maria Mandel became the head of the women's section of Auschwitz. She was very fond of music, but that did not stop her from sending 500,000 people to the gas chambers
Many pilots of the Great Patriotic War were awarded the high title of Hero of the Soviet Union. But Lieutenant Mikhail Devyatayev accomplished a feat that really has no equal. A brave fighter escaped from Nazi captivity on a plane that he captured from the enemy
Domestic history as a science has always been more a tool of propaganda than a story about the development of the state. It is not surprising that many circumstances remain not fully understood, and the materials on them are classified. The consequences of the 1953 amnesty, in particular the siege of Ulan-Ude by criminals, are poorly understood. However, there are eyewitness accounts that become important for historians and interesting for contemporaries
In 1941, the Soviet Union entered a bloody battle with Nazi Germany. The Red Army retreated to Moscow, and the Germans began to rule over the abandoned territory. They established their own order everywhere except the Lokot Republic. This unique formation was founded by two Russian engineers, whose orders even the Germans did not dare to challenge
Jack the Ripper and Professor Moriarty come to mind when it comes to the Victorian underworld. But few people know that a century ago the Forty Elephants gang operated in London. It consisted exclusively of women who "took" prestigious shops, and each other was called "elephants"
In the USSR, it was dangerous to occupy high positions, especially in the 30s and 40s. Things could change overnight. Three of the four people's commissars of internal affairs were sentenced to death. 11 out of 17 deputies shared their fate. Before the sentence was carried out, searches were carried out at all, for the sake of destroying the reputation, the most impartial finds were often made public. What was the strangest thing they found during searches at the USSR leadership?
Savvy and resourcefulness, what distinguishes Russians from everyone else. And here the point is not even that "the need for invention is cunning." The desire to outwit, to cheat, and to do it beautifully, apparently is part of the mentality. Military tactics are no exception, combined with knowledge and skill, ingenuity gives excellent results. The Great Patriotic War showed many examples of how resourceful soldiers can be
German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck warned that one should never fight the Russians. Because their military cunning borders on stupidity. Only because of his lack of understanding, stupidity, he called courage and heroism, bordering on self-sacrifice. The great feat of the Soviet people during the Second World War sometimes surprised even the fascists, who were not at all ready for such fierce resistance. History remembers many examples of the heroism of ordinary Soviet soldiers. And how many were there who
There are pages in history that are rethought and perceived differently in different periods. The history of the deportation of peoples also evokes contradictory feelings and emotions. The Soviet government was often forced to make decisions at a time when the enemy was already trampling on their native land. Many of these decisions are controversial. However, without trying to denigrate the Soviet regime, we will try to figure out what the party leaders were guided by when they made such fateful decisions. And how they solved the issue of deportation to Ev
History knows many strong people, but few can compare with this Austrian girl who defeated the bodybuilding legend Evgeny Sandov. She easily lifted her own husband over her head, and at the first meeting she completely threw out of the ring
Many have heard of the Russian traveler Nikolai Nikolaevich Miklouho-Maclay, who went to the other end of the Earth and lived for several years among the Papuans. He studied their culture and life, as well as the flora and fauna of New Guinea. But all this could not have happened, because the local savages almost ate the famous ethnographer
It is difficult to imagine how a woman with such an unusual appearance could survive in the 17th century. It is all the more surprising that Barbara van Beck achieved success, became famous and even posed for artists
The myths and legends of Ancient Greece made a great contribution to the culture of many peoples. The way of life and beliefs of the Greeks, it would seem, for two and a half millennia should be studied thoroughly, but much remains unknown. So, the Greeks, who believed in the afterlife, prepared in advance to accept death, for this they even made special golden documents
During the Renaissance, European medicine received a significant impetus in development, which is difficult to overestimate. But at the same time, wild remnants of the past have not disappeared anywhere. So, for the treatment of any ailments, very extravagant drugs were used, made from … the human body
In the south of Scotland, near the town of Gervan, there is a deep cave in the coastal cliffs, which the locals willingly show to tourists, telling a blood-cold story. According to legend, in the XIV-XV centuries this place was the abode of real cannibals
The era of the sailing fleet is usually associated with adventures and battles among ordinary people. But for Russian sailors of the 18th-19th centuries, it was a time of hard work for the good of the Motherland, occasionally brightened up with a glass of vodka. Where did this tradition come from, and why it disappeared - further in the review
Visitors to Belgian breweries are usually surprised to find that barrels of their favorite beverage are being infused in a dark, dry room thickly braided with cobwebs. But this does not cause negative emotions among the brewers themselves - they have their own secret
In the Middle Ages, the city of Wroclaw was the capital of Silesia - a historical region, parts of which now belong to Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany and Poland. It is hard to believe that in the 14th century, the authorities of Wroclaw started a war against beer, despite its popularity among all segments of the population. At that time, the intoxicating drink was indispensable at parties, dinners, public events
A hundred years ago, in November 1918, the First World War ended. It affected the entire civilized world and changed the lives of millions of people. There are no longer any witnesses of that war, but black and white photographs of the brave people of those years have survived. But with the help of modern technology, ordinary people got the opportunity to see the life of those times in color
It is difficult to imagine a more difficult job than serving as a sailor on an 18th century ship. At that time, people were already being poisoned on distant sea expeditions, leaving their native shores for many months. And among the trials that were prepared by such a voyage, not only winds and storms awaited them, but also the food they were fed on the ship
Looking at this married couple, it is difficult to even imagine what trials and sorrows their path went through. And only thanks to the great mutual love, Stephen King and Tabitha Spruce are still together. Contrary to all obstacles and forecasts, he took place as a writer, husband, father, because his Tabitha was next to him
Writers, especially beginners, often take for themselves literary pseudonyms, the reasons for this may be very different. And it often happens that these pseudonyms of theirs so "grow together" with the authors that many of them in life replace real names and surnames
Every year archaeologists and historians make new discoveries, some of which make significant changes in history. What findings and studies became the most significant in 2017 - further in the review
The sale of Alaska by the decision of Alexander II in 1867 was accomplished not out of someone's stupidity and short-sightedness, but for a number of very good reasons. And one of them was fierce resistance to the Russian colonists from the warlike Indians of the Tlingit tribe