Bernard Lovell introduces a particularly striking figure in the history of science, Tycho Brahe. This princely astronomer, whose observatory took the form of a fantastic castle, made the series of precious observations from which Kepler evolved his three great laws of planetary movement.
In 1748 Sweden embarked on the construction of an elaborate island fortress. This was her last attempt, writes Anthony Wood, to check the Russian thrust westwards.
Michael Srigley describes how, on November 30th, 1718, one of the foremost soldiers of the age was shot while besieging a fortress in Norway. Did he succumb to a stray bullet, or was he assassinated?
Michael Roberts examines the end of the reign of a Swedish monarch of "natural genius".
S.M. Toyne investigates how, from earliest times, the migration of the herring has exercised an important influence on the history of the peoples living around the North Sea and the Baltic.
The Vikings are back with a vengeance, writes Jeffrey Richards
Inspired by his upbringing at the English court, Hákon I – nicknamed ‘Athelstan’s foster-son’ – strove to make Norway more like his mentor’s realm, a well-organised Christian kingdom. His reforms were to have a lasting impact, explains Synnøve Veinan Hellerud.
An 18th-century ménage à trois involving the King of Denmark inspired the recent film, A Royal Affair. Stella Tillyard considers what makes it a story for our times.
Richard Cavendish explains how Europe's earliest modern-style banknotes were introduced by the Bank of Stockholm in the 17th century.
Janina Ramirez, presenter of a new BBC documentary on Iceland and its literature, explores the country’s sagas, their wide-ranging legacy and what they tell us about the history and culture of the Arctic island and its peoples.
