OCTOBER 2017
CONTENTS
Features
Every month
8 ANNIVERSARIES 13 HISTORY NOW 1 3 The latest history news
1 6 Backgrounder: Northern Ireland 18 Past notes: robots
Read how “hustler” Michael X became a Black Power figurehead on page 46
22 Templars on crusade The Knights Templar defended Christian interests in the Holy Land with unblinking ferocity, writes Dan Jones
28 The prince in the trenches Heather Jones describes how experiences in the First World War shaped the later reign and abdication of Edward VIII
36 Victoria and India Shompa Lahiri examines how the Empress of India helped popularise that country’s culture in Britain
42 TheNormanwarriorqueen Alison Weir illuminates the history of Queen Matilda, who took up arms against her namesake empress
46 Michael X: hero or hustler? Robin Bunce and Paul Field explore the life and legacy of a controversial Black Power gurehead
51 Attlee the anti-communist Dan Lomas reveals the Labour prime minister’s quest to root out the far le
19 MICHAEL WOOD’S VIEW 20 LETTERS 32 OUR FIRST WORLD WAR 67 BOOKS Thelatestreleasesreviewed,plus Anne Applebaum discusses her book ontheUkrainefamineof1932 33
77 TV & RADIO The pick of new history programmes
80 OUT &ABOUT 80 History Explorer: Oxford Martyrs
85 Five things to do in October 86 My favourite place: Cody, Wyoming
93 MISCELLANY 93 Q&A and quiz 94 Samantha’s recipe corner 95 Prize crossword
98 MY HISTORY HERO EntrepreneurandchefLeviRoots picksBobMarley
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59 Not the end of the world Simon Beard explores ve moments when the world edged to the brink of global catastrophe
56 EVENTS Details of our events at Winchester and York
62 Finding Brunanburh Where did English king Æthelstan win a crucial victory over a Viking-led army in AD 937? Michael Wood has a new theory
USPS Identification Statement BBC HISTORY (ISSN 1469-8552) (USPS 024-177) October 2017 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.
42 Matilda of Boulogne: the queen who went to war
28 How the future Edward VIII was changed by his wartime experiences
36 Why Brits fell in love with all things Indian
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