askhistorians

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Claudius was declared emperor of Rome by being found behind a curtain after Caligula’s assassination. Given how capable he turned out to be, is it reasonable to think he had no hand in the assassination?	2631
Pharaoh Rameses II had ~50 sons by multiple wives. As a result he had many crown princes before he eventually passed. How did they make sense of the succession in these circumstances?	2499
How common were lesbian relationships among the European elite in the 18th Century?	1416
When Edward IV of England married a widow with two sons already, how did they figure out how those non-Royal sons would fit in the royal court?	989
Was Diocletian's Tetrarchy considered a successful or failed political system/model overall? Why?	586
When Henry VIII was looking for his fourth wife he had already abandoned one, executed another and lost his third due to childbirth. Did his marital history hinder his search for his fourth wife? How would fathers (or brothers) feel about a suit from Henry VIII?	535
Louis XV kept a place called Parc-aux-Cerfs (The Deer Park): a harem of young women he could have sex with. What was it like and what kind of life would the women of the deer park have?	331
In Pride and Prejudice Mr Wickham targets a number of teenage girls for elopement for various reasons. Would this pattern of behaviour have been considered creepy or predatory?	210
In his will, Emperor Augustus adopted his wife, Livia, as his daughter. He had already adopted her son, Tiberius, making them legally siblings. How would other Romans see this new legal relationship?	197
When reading about rebellions or wars of succession I see read “[They] raised an army” as they travelled. How did leaders raise armies? What did they do, say, plot and bargain to be successful?	185

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