DECEMBER 2016

CONTENTS

Features

Every month

6 ANNIVERSARIES 11 HISTORY NOW 1 1 The latest history news

1 4 Backgrounder: the Philippines 1 6 Past notes: banknotes

Discover more about the shadowy story of Rasputin’s murder, on page 58

22 Edward I’s battle for Britain The medieval monarch believed that it was his kingly duty to wage war on his nearest neighbours, writes Andy King

28 The SAS: desert heroes Ben Macintyre reveals how a group of bearded ru ans terrorised Axis forces in north Africa during the Second World War

31 Medieval cities Join Paul Old eld on a tour of the 13th-century’s thriving metropolises

38 The deadly gold rush Felicity Aston describes the perilous search for yellow metal in the Klondike

18 LETTERS 21 MICHAEL WOOD’S VIEW 56 OUR FIRST WORLD WAR 65 BOOKS The latest releases, plus David

Olusoga discusses black history

77 TV & RADIO The pick of new history programmes

80 OUT &ABOUT 80 History Explorer:

the Arts and Cra s Movement 85 Five things to do in December 86 My favourite place: Barcelona

93 MISCELLANY 93 Q&A and quiz 94 Samantha’s recipe corner 95 Prize crossword

98 MY HISTORY HERO Heather Small enthuses about ToussaintLouverture

36 SUBSCRIBE Save when you subscribe today

43 Britain’s cartoon warrior Chris Williams on how JM Staniforth took the ght to the enemy in the Great War

50 Emma Hamilton Quintin Colville traces the sensational rise to fame of Nelson’s mistress

58 Who murdered Rasputin? Were the British behind the killing of the Russian mystic? Douglas Smith investigates

USPS Identification Statement

BBC HISTORY (ISSN 1469-8552)

(USPS 024-177) December 2016 is published 13 times a year under licence from BBC Worldwide by Immediate Media Company Bristol Ltd, Tower House, Fairfax Street, Bristol BS1 3BN, UK. Distributed in the US by Circulation Specialists, Inc., 2 Corporate Drive, Suite 945, Shelton CT 06484-6238. Periodicals postage paid at Shelton, CT and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to BBC HISTORY MAGAZINE, PO Box 37495, Boone, IA 50037-0495.

50 How Emma Hamilton took Europe by storm

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28 When the SAS changed the face of war

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BBC History Magazine