He’s one of the five longest reigning monarchs in the history of the world. Emperor Franz Josef ruled over first Austria and then Austria-Hungary for almost precisely 68 years. Coming to the throne on the back of a revolution aged just 18, his reign coincided with some of the most-important events in European history. It was while Franz Josef was emperor that the Second French Empire rose and fell, that Germany was forged by blood and iron, and - most strikingly - that the events unfolded that would pave the way for WWI.

Who comes to mind? Fidel Castro? Che Guevara? Yeah, sure. But one man did it all 19 years before they came to power. None other than their sworn rival, Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista. Confused? You should! But keep on watching to learn more about the complex life of a man who rose from the very bottom of the social scale, ended up ruling the 4th largest economy in Latin America, made an alliance with the Mafia, escaped an assassination attempt thanks to Santería magical practices and eventually fled at dawn with three cargo planes filled with loot.

Visitors to the Saratoga National Historical Park in New York may see the Boot Monument, a frieze that commemorates the Battle of Saratoga, one of the most significant wins for the Americans over the British during the Revolutionary War. Specifically, it honors one officer described as the “most brilliant soldier of the Continental Army”. And although it is extremely bizarre, it does not show his likeness or even name the officer in question.

If you are a film buff, you should be familiar with the early Soviet movie Battleship Potemkin and its iconic scene of a pram rolling down a staircase, as soldiers shoot down protesters. The film is centred around the Russian Revolution of 1905 and directed by cinematic legend Sergej Eisenstein.

“Felicior Augusto, melior Traiano”. According to 4th century historian Eutropius, that was the acclamation used to greet new Roman emperors in his time. It expressed hope that the ruler will be “more fortunate than Augustus and better than Trajan!” The historian lived 200 years after Trajan, but the memory of his reign of prosperity was still very much alive in the hearts and minds of the Roman people.

Being the 2nd born child in a Royal Family can be a blessing in disguise. Nobody expects you to rule, so in a way you are off the hook. But sometimes history gets in the way and unexpected events can bring you in the limelight and on the throne. That throne and that crown may represent one of the youngest, smallest and most peaceful nations in Europe, but that does not mean that trouble won’t get in your way.

The myth of the Vampire is as old as time itself, and many incarnations of this demonic creature are found in almost every culture. And when we think about Vampires today, one novel casts its shadow over legions of imitators -- Dracula, the Undead. One man -- a former civil servant, theatre manager, and part-time writer -- condensed into one single work of fiction all vampiric lore as we know it today.

The sun was setting on the Norwegian port of Bergen. It was early July, 1349, and off in the distance, a lone ship was crossing the line of the horizon. The ship bobbed calmly, port to starboard, coming closer into view. The inhabitants of Bergen noticed its tattered sails and lack of movement on board. As gently as it had appeared, the ship entered the harbour and run aground. Every sailor on board was dead.

In the 6th century BC, Cyrus II of Persia embarked on a mission of conquest. Kingdom after kingdom fell before him as he formed the Achaemenid Empire, the largest empire that the world had ever seen up until that point. It kept growing under successors like Cambyses and Darius until it, too, fell under the might of Alexander the Great during the late 4th century BC.

The King of Jerusalem stood captive in front of the Sultan. Next to him, the Lord of Kerak balked in the sweltering July heat. Earlier that day, a mighty Christian army had been utterly destroyed by the arrows of the Muslims, as much as they were by the decaying rays of an Eastern sun. The Sultan -- renowned for his generosity and kindness toward his enemies -- presented the King of Jerusalem with a most precious gift, at least in that moment: a beading cup of ice-cold water, covered in mountain snow.