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Blizzard unveils two major Overwatch 2 map reworks and shows off newcomer Aatlis As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases and other affiliate schemes. Learn more. Overwatch 2 Season 17 is almost here, and Blizzard has a lot on the cards. The update will introduce a long-requested feature for the...

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Early Dark Age Britain is notorious for being poorly recorded. Most of our information about the era comes from much later records, written centuries after the events they allegedly describe. There is endless debate among scholars, based on the literary evidence, surrounding the historicity of the kings of Britain of this era. However, there are a few cases in which archaeology has confirmed the existence of these enigmatic rulers. There are about 200 stone inscriptions from Dark Age Britain that provide us with contemporary or near-contemporary insights into the kings of Britain at that time. Meet three Dark Age kings of England that archaeology confirms were real historical figures.1. Nudd Hael, Northern Britain c. 6th Century CEFolio from the Black Book of Chirk, c. 13th century, Source: National Library of WalesThis first example concerns a king who is not particularly famous but whose historicity most scholars accept, even without the archaeological evidence. Nudd Hael was a king who lived in the latter half of the 6th century. He ruled somewhere in the north of Britain, between the border of England and Scotland, although his exact territory is unknown. His epithet Hael is Welsh for Generous. Thus, his name was Nudd the Generous.He appears in several late records, such as the collection of medieval Welsh traditions known as the Welsh Triads, dating to around the 13th century. He also appears in a document known as the Black Book of Chirk, which dates from c. 1200. This book contains a story about Nudd Hael and several relatives engaging in an attack against the Kingdom of Gwynedd in North Wales. He also appears in several medieval Welsh genealogies. Although the manuscript evidence for his existence does not appear very strong, there is a reference to him in a very early Welsh poem. Thus, most scholars accept him as probably historical.Yarrow Stone with the inscription of Nudus son of Liberalis, Selkirkshire, c. 6th century. Source: Canmore.orgThere is a very interesting archaeological discovery that was made in the late 19th century in Selkirkshire, southern Scotland. It was a stone that contained the personal name Nudus, widely accepted as the early version of the name Nudd that we see in medieval Welsh manuscripts. It also contains the word liberalis, the Latin word for generous. Therefore, when this stone inscription was originally discovered, it was immediately believed to be a reference to Nudd Hael. However, scholars subsequently revised this interpretation. It is now accepted as reading:This is the everlasting memorial: in this place lie the most famous princes, Nudus and Dumnogenus; in this tomb lie the two sons of Liberalis.On this basis, the idea that this is a reference to Nudd Hael has largely been abandoned. It has also been abandoned on the basis that this inscription appears to date from the early 6th century, whereas Nudd Hael was a king of the late 6th century. However, are these objections valid?Gildas De Excidio, folio 14v. Source: British LibraryRegarding the date of the stone, it seems that most commentators have been misled by assumptions regarding how precisely inscriptions from this era can be dated. The only way of dating inscriptions precisely is by having an extensive corpus of other inscriptions, which are, themselves, securely dated. Failing that, we could use a corpus of securely dated literature to see how the language evolved over time. In the case of 6th-century Britain, we have neither. Therefore, we cannot really date this inscription any more precisely than to the 6th century in general.The issue of the parentage of Nudus is more interesting. The inscription calls him the son of Liberalis. As a personal name, this is very strange. What appears to have been overlooked by most commentators is the Biblical use of the term son. The Bible regularly refers to people as the sons of a certain quality or characteristic that particularly defines them. For example, we see expressions such as sons of the East, sons of the exile, and sons of disobedience.Gildas 6th-century De Excidio proves that this specific Biblical terminology was used in 6th-century Britain. Therefore, the inscription calling Nudus the son of Liberalis may simply mean that generosity was his defining quality. Therefore, this inscription absolutely could be the memorial of Nudd Hael.2. ConomorStatue of Gregory of Tours, by Jean Marcellin, c. 19th century, Source: Wikimedia CommonsA more straightforward example is that of Conomor. Like Nudd Hael, he is accepted as a historical figure based on literary evidence. He is mentioned by Gregory of Tours, a 6th-century writer from France. Conomor was known as a tyrant. He was the king of part of Brittany, having arranged the death of King Jonas. He was eventually overthrown by an alliance of kings, including Judwal, the son of Jonas.There is a large inscribed stone in Cornwall which is variously known as the Tristan Stone, the Conomorus Stone, or the Longstone. It dates broadly to the 6th century, with some margin for error on either side. The correct reading of the short inscription is subject to debate, but there is near-universal agreement about one of the names: Cunomorus. The name is identical to the ruler documented by Gregory of Tours. Furthermore, the chronological match is excellent. For these reasons, many scholars have sought to identify the Cunomorus of this inscription with Gregorys Conomor from Breton history.Tristan Stone, Cornwall, c. 6th century. Source: Cornwall.co.ukOne obvious objection to this identification is that Conomor was a ruler of Brittany, whereas this stone inscription is from Cornwall. However, there is evidence that Conomor was indeed one of the kings of Britain, as well as Brittany.There is a 9th-century record called the Life of St Paul Aurelian. In this account, based in the 6th century and set in the southwest of Britain, there is a reference to a king named Marc. The account claims that he was also known by the name Quonomorius, which is clearly a form of the name Conomor.This supports the conclusion that Conomorus was one of the kings of Britain, not just of Brittany. Furthermore, the 9th-century account says that King Marc, or Qunomorius, ruled over peoples of four different languages. This indicates that he ruled over more than just one area, which is consistent with making Conomor a ruler of part of Cornwall as well as Brittany. Furthermore, the Dark Age kings of Britain in the southwest, by all accounts, had a strong connection with Brittany. Therefore, there is every reason to believe that the Cunomorus of this inscription really was King Conomor.3. King IthelKing Ithels genealogy in the Harleian MS 3859, folio 195r, c. 12th century, Source: British LibraryAnother king of Dark Age Britain was King Ithel. He was the king of Glamorgan and Gwent and the son of King Morgan. He likely lived in the 7th century, although some modern sources place him in the 8th century. King Ithel is mentioned as a very prominent king in the 12th-century Book of Llandaff, which records numerous land grants made by kings to the church. At the town of Llantwit in southeast Wales, there is an inscribed stone known as the Samson Pillar that reads:In the name of the most high God. Begins the cross of the Saviour, which Samson the Abbot prepared for his own soul and for the soul of Ithel the king and for Arthmail and Tecan.There is good reason for identifying the King Ithel of this inscription with King Ithel of the Book of Llandaff, the son of Morgan. Some of the evidence comes from the Book of Llandaff itself, and other evidence comes from another collection of records, the Llancarfan Charters.Book of Llandaff, Wales, c. 12th century. Source: National Library of WalesThese records show that there was a religious figure named Samson who was active just after the death of King Ithel. One record from the Llancarfan Charters specifically identifies him as an abbot, just like on this stone inscription. In the same era, in a charter dated to the reign of one of the sons of Ithel, we also find a Teican. This figure likely matches the Tecan of the inscription. Since this inscription says that the cross was prepared for the soul of Ithel the king, this supports the idea that this inscription was made after Ithel had died. Thus, both Abbot Samson and Teican from the charters are of the correct generation to be the figures from this inscription. Furthermore, Ithel had a grandson recorded as Arthmael, who could easily be the Arthmail mentioned on the stone.Traditionally, this stone has been dated to the 9th century. However, a more recent analysis by historian Brian Davies provided good reasons for dating it to the seventh century, or perhaps about 700. This means that it is near-contemporary with King Ithel himself.Why Are There So Few Literary Sources for the Dark Ages?Illustration of Gildas, by William Marshall, c. 17th century. Source: National Portrait Gallery, UKAs can be seen, most of the surviving evidence for Dark Age Britain comes from fragmentary sources, which are difficult to date with precision and are difficult to connect with specific individuals due to the lack of context.There are many reasons why so few written texts survive from the Dark Ages, including a reduction in literacy, the loss of administrative infrastructure to copy texts that was provided by the infrastructure of the Roman Empire, and disruption to the papyrus trade, which forced people to turn to more expensive materials such as parchment and vellum. This didnt mean that texts werent being written, copied, and preserved, but they were being done so more selectively.Wehave some valuable works from the Dark Ages, such as GildasDe Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae,orOn the Ruin and Conquest of Britain,written by the prominent religious figure Gildas in the 6th century; however, the earliest surviving copy dates back to the 10th century. But this was not a work of history, but rather a polemical sermon that paralleled the devastation of the Anglo-Saxon conquests of England with the punishment of God as described in the Old Testament, telling a vivid but not always historically accurate story.Similarly, Bede produced his Ecclesiastical History of the English People in the early 8th century. Again, while he reports to tell a history of the English people from the time of Julius Caesar to his own day, it is a vehicle for sharing his thoughts on politics and religion.The introduction of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle E, the Peterborough Copy of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, c. 1150. Source: Bodleian LibraryThe Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is an attempt at a historical chronicle and is one of our most important sources for Dark Age Britain. It was initially compiled by a group of scholars in the Kingdom of Wessex in the 890s during the reign of King Alfred the Great. It also looks back to Roman Britain and attempts to chronicle the history of the country into contemporary times, with a focus on the development of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms from the mid-5th century onwards. As might be expected, much of the information recorded for the early centuries is legendary, but becomes more accurate as it approaches the 9th century.The nature and paucity of literary sources are why confirming, where possible, with archaeological evidence is so important.How Archaeology Confirms Several Dark Age Kings of BritainDark Age inscribed stones inside the present-day Llanilltud Fawr, Glamorgan. Source: Wikimedia CommonsIn summary, there are several Dark Age kings of Britain who are confirmed, or very likely confirmed, by archaeology. One is Nudd Hael, a king of the north in the second half of the sixth century. The stone inscription referring to Nudus son of Liberalis can definitely be understood as a reference to him. We simply need to recognize the existence of the Biblical meaning of the word son, which Gildas shows us was in use in 6th-century Britain. This Nudus could therefore have been the son of Liberalis in a figurative sense, with Liberalis referring to his defining quality, identifying him as Nudd Hael.There is also Conomor, principally a king of Brittany. However, he was also one of the kings of Britain, as supported by the 9th-century Life of St Paul Aurelian. He can certainly be identified as the Cunomorus who appears on the Tristan Stone in Cornwall.Finally, we have seen that King Ithel of Glamorgan and Gwent appears on the Samson Pillar, which likely dates to the 7th century.

Most societies throughout world history have been ruled by men. In these patriarchal systems, women typically come to the throne in the absence of male dynasts or as queens who outlive or overthrow their spouses. Most female rulers who exercised power in their own right are known as queen (or empress) regnants. However, within a few societies in the ancient and medieval world, female rulers were officially known as kings or equivalent titles conventionally reserved for men.1. HatshepsutStatue of Hatshepsut as a male king at her Mortuary Temple. Source: Wikimedia CommonsSeveral ancient Egyptian kings were women who used male titles. The first to do so was Sobekneferu, the final ruler of the Twelfth Dynasty at the beginning of the 2nd millennium BCE. The longest-reigning and most successful of Egypts female kings was Hatshepsut, who hailed from the Eighteenth Dynasty. This dynasty ruled Egypt from around 1550 BCE to 1292 BCE and was known for its powerful royal women.Born around 1500 BCE, Hatshepsut was the daughter of King Thutmose I, a successful military leader who expanded his realm north into the Levant and south into Nubia. Her mother was Thutmoses Great Royal Wife, Queen Ahmose. When Thutmose I died, he was succeeded by Thutmose II, his son from a minor wife. To bolster the new kings claim to the throne, he was married to his half-sister Hatshepsut.Hatshepsut gave Thutmose II a daughter named Neferure. When Thutmose died in 1479, his young son Thutmose III came to the throne. Since the new king was still a child, Hatshepsut took control of the government as regent.This was standard practice, but in Year 7 of Thutmose IIIs reign (1473 BCE), Hatshepsut began representing herself as a male king with a beard and male pronouns. Her motivations for doing so are not entirely clear. However, according to the Egyptologist Peter Dorman, she may have done so at a time of political crisis to consolidate the claim of her stepson Thutmose III.Hatshepsuts Mortuary Temple at Deir el-Bahri. Source: ancient-origins.netHatshepsut backdated her reign as king to 1479, sharing her regnal years with Thutmose III. She continued to rule Egypt until she died in 1458. She was one of the most prolific builders in Ancient Egypt, restoring and expanding several temples in Karnak and building her grand Mortuary Temple at Deir el-Bahri on the west bank of the Nile in the Theban Necropolis.After Hatshepsuts death, Thutmose III ruled Egypt as sole king for another three decades, leaving a legacy as Egypts greatest warrior king. Near the end of Thutmose IIIs reign, there was an official campaign to erase Hatshepsuts kingship from history. The motivations behind this are unclear, though it may have been part of the kings efforts to consolidate the succession in favor of his son Amenhotep II.2. Neferneferuaten NefertitiIconic bust of Nefertiti at Berlins Neues Museum. Source: Staatliche Museen zu BerlinThe Eighteenth Dynasty is unique among ancient Egyptian dynasties for having two female kings. The second was Neferneferuaten, who ruled Egypt during a period of political turmoil in the 14th century BCE after King Amenhotep IV changed his name to Akhenaten and suppressed the Cult of Amun in favor of the sun disc Aten. This era is known as the Amarna Period, after the Arabic name for the site of Akhenatens new capital, Akhetaten.Egyptologists have had difficulty establishing the chronology of the Amarna Period, as later pharaohs attempted to erase all traces of the heretic king Akhenaten and his family. It has been particularly difficult to place the reigns of two kings, Smenkhkare and Neferneferuaten. The latter is known to be female based on the occasional appearance of the feminine t particle in her throne name, Ankhkhe(t)perure.Most Egyptologists now believe that King Neferneferuaten is none other than Akhenatens Great Royal Wife Nefertiti, who assumed the name Neferneferuaten in around Year 6 of Akhenatens reign. Aidan Dodson, one of the preeminent experts on the Amarna Period, argues that not long after Year 12 of Akhenatens reign, the royal family experienced a major crisis with the death of several members (likely from plague).Conscious of his mortality, and with only his infant son Tutankhaten as his heir, Akhenaten first elevated his elusive brother Smenkhkare as co-ruler. However, he died within a year or two, forcing the king to rethink his succession plans. In Year 16, Akhenaten designated his wife Neferneferuaten Nefertiti as a king in her own right. (Dodson, p. 83)Panel depicting Akhenaten, Nefertiti, and three of their daughters under the rays of the sun disc Aten. Source: Egyptian Museum, BerlinFollowing Akhenatens death in Year 17 of his reign, Neferneferuaten ruled as king alongside Tutankhaten. Her reign lasted around three years, during which she may have tried to revive the Cult of Amun while continuing to worship the Aten herself. This was apparently not enough for the conservatives at court who wanted to abandon the Aten entirely. It is unknown how Neferneferuaten died, but Dodson believes that she was brutally killed in a power struggle. (Dodson, pp. 94-95)As sole ruler and under the influence of an advisor named Ay (possibly Nefertitis grandfather), Tutankhaten changed his name to the more familiar Tutankhamun, restored the old religion, and returned the court to Thebes. The likelihood that Neferneferuaten had fallen into disgrace is also shown by the fact that many of her grave goods were usurped by Tutankhamun for his famous tomb.3. Tamar of GeorgiaRepresentation of King Tamar from the Samtskhe-Javakheti History Museum at Alkhaltsikhe Castle based on original wall painting at Vardzia Monastery, photograph by Jimmy Chen, 2025. Source: Jimmy ChenKing Tamar of Georgia sat on her throne during the 12th century CE, the height of Georgias Golden Age. The Golden Age was inaugurated by King David IV, who ruled from 1089 until 1125. A formidable military leader, David centralized power internally and regained Tbilisi after defeating the Seljuk Turks at the Battle of Didgori in 1121. His patronage of churches and monasteries earned him the nickname David the Builder. By the time of his death, his realm stretched from the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea.Davids conquests were consolidated by his son Demetre I (1125-1156) and expanded by his grandson Giorgi (1156-1184). Giorgi had only two daughters. In 1178, he made his eldest daughter Tamar his co-ruler as King (mepe) of Kartli (the traditional name for central Georgia). This gave Tamar the time to gain political experience and acceptance among the Georgian nobility before her fathers death.In 1184, when she was around 25, Tamar was crowned king by the Georgian noble council and granted supreme civil and military authority. However, she was obliged to grant concessions to the council in the process. In 1191, she defeated an attempt by her divorced husband, Russian prince Yuri Bogolyubsky.Queen Tamar. Painting by Niko Pirosmani at the Sighnaghi National Museum, Sighnaghi, Georgia, photograph by Jimmy Chen, 2025. Source: Jimmy ChenTamars second husband, David Soslan, won further victories over Seljuk armies at Shamkhor (1195) and Basiani (1202), enabling her to gain suzerainty over the cities of Erzurum and Kars in what is now northeastern Turkey. Following the Sack of Constantinople in 1204 during the Fourth Crusade, Tamar exploited her family connections to the exiled Byzantine House of Comnenus and helped them establish the Empire of Trebizond on Georgias western flank.After David Soslan died in 1206, Georgian armies continued to experience success, campaigning deep into Seljuk Persia in 1208-1210. When Tamar herself died in 1213, the kingdom of Georgia reached its largest extent. However, the luster of Georgias Golden Age would fade away very quickly as new players entered the stage.4. Rusudan of GeorgiaDirham of Rusudan of Georgia, 1230s. Source: Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas WhittemoreTamar and David Soslan had two children: a son named Giorgi and a daughter named Rusudan. After an unsteady start to his reign, Giorgi IV redeemed himself by defeating rebellious Turkish vassals in 1219. However, Georgia soon faced an unexpected invasion by Mongol generals Jebe and Subutai, who, in 1220, embarked on an ambitious three-year raid into the Russian principalities via the Caucasus after Mongol armies vanquished the Khwarazmian Empire. In January 1221, Giorgi was severely wounded in battle against the Mongols and died two years later in January 1223.While the late king had a young illegitimate son, he was succeeded by his younger sister, Rusudan. Since her mother Tamar had proved such a successful ruler, Rusudan faced little impediment in being recognized as king. She was a pragmatic ruler who aimed to rebuild the nation after the shock of the Mongol invasion.Her efforts were rudely interrupted in 1225. In his efforts to restore his late fathers empire, Sultan Jalal al-Din of Khwarazm sought an alliance with Georgia against the Mongols. When Rusudan refused, Jalal invaded her kingdom, defeated her generals, and captured Tbilisi. The Georgian monarch fled to Kutaisi in western Georgia. Thousands of Christians were massacred in Tbilisi for refusing to join in the desecration of sacred icons. As Rusudan continued to resist an alliance and offer of marriage from Jalal, Tbilisi was sacked in 1228.Sion Cathedral in Tbilisi suffered heavy damage during Jalal al-Dins invasions, photograph by Jimmy Chen, 2025. Source: Jimmy ChenJalals death in 1231 offered Rusudan some brief respite. This came to an end in 1236 when the Mongol general Chormoqan renewed the invasion of Georgia. Rusudan was obliged to flee to Kutaisi once again. While she continued to exercise independent rule over Western Georgia, by 1238, central and eastern Georgia were under Mongol control.After unsuccessfully appealing to Pope Gregory IX for military assistance, she sought recognition for her son Davids right of succession in all of Georgia from the Batu Khan, ruler of the Golden Horde. While this was granted, when she died in 1245, David was obliged to travel to Karakorum, in the Mongol heartland. The Mongols also recognized Davids illegitimate cousin, David Ulu (David the Elder), and the two Davids ruled jointly until 1259.5. Mary of HungaryMary of Hungary from the Chronica Hungarorum, by Jnos Thurczy, 1488. Source: Wikimedia CommonsWhile female kingship was accepted in medieval Georgia, it was considered a temporary expediency in late 14th-century Hungary. Between 1342 and 1382, the central European kingdom was ruled by King Louis I of the French House of Anjou, who also inherited the Polish throne in 1370. While Louis was one of the most powerful Hungarian monarchs in history, he had no male heir. After his first wife died childless in 1349, he married Elizabeth of Bosnia in 1353. The couple waited until 1370 for the birth of a daughter. Two more girls followed in 1371 and 1373, respectively.In 1374, Louis second daughter, Mary, was betrothed to Sigismund of Luxembourg, the son of Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia. In 1378, Marys eldest sister, Catherine, died, leaving her the heir to her fathers kingdoms. Charles IV died a few months later, and Sigismund moved to the Hungarian court and was designated the heir to the kingdom of Hungary. The ambitious prince also laid claim to the succession in Poland.When Louis died in September 1382, Sigismund was suppressing a rebellion in Poland. Louis widow, Elizabeth, assumed the regency in the name of her daughter Mary, who was crowned king (rex Hungariae) on September 17. The peculiar arrangement was accepted by part of the Hungarian nobility. However, another faction resented political power being in the hands of two women and supported the succession of King Charles III of Naples (also known as Charles of Durazzo).Sigismund of Luxembourg, Painting attributed to unidentified Bohemian artist, 1433. Source: Wikimedia Commons/Kunsthistorisches Museum, ViennaIn the meantime, Elizabeth repudiated her daughters engagement to Sigismund and arranged for her to marry Louis of Orlans, the younger brother of King Charles VI of France. Sigismund was infuriated and led his army into Slovakia, forcing Elizabeth to acquiesce to his marriage with Mary in October 1385.They were unable to prevent Charles III from occupying the Hungarian capital of Buda. While Sigismund fled, Mary renounced the throne on December 31 and remained in Buda. Outwardly paying fealty to the new king, Elizabeth arranged an assassination attempt on Charles in February 1386. Two weeks later, on February 24, Charles died from his wounds. Mary was then restored to the throne.However, they faced opposition from loyalists of Ladislaus of Naples, the son of the slain Charles. In July, Elizabeth and Mary were captured in an ambush by their opponents. Elizabeth was killed in January 1387, but Mary was liberated by Sigismunds forces in June. She was officially her husbands co-ruler until she died in childbirth following a horse-riding accident in 1395, though her political influence was severely limited.6. Jadwiga of PolandJadwiga of Poland, portrait by Marcello Bacciarelli. Source: Wikimedia Commons/Royal Castle in WarsawMary of Hungarys reign as king of Hungary caused political instability, but her sister Jadwigas kingship over Poland proved more secure. Born in late 1373 (or early 1374), Jadwiga was soon betrothed to William of Austria, a member of the House of Habsburg. She was raised at the Austrian court in Vienna for two years but returned to Buda around 1378.The Polish nobles had sworn to recognize the succession of Jadwigas elder sister, Mary, to the Polish throne after King Louis died in 1382. However, the Poles demanded that their sovereign reside permanently within the kingdom. In early 1383, Queen Elizabeth agreed to allow her younger daughter Jadwiga to be crowned in Krakow on the condition that she return to Buda for three more years until her twelfth birthday.The Poles were unwilling to wait so long and threatened to recognize Duke Siemowit of Mazovia as king. Jadwiga was eventually crowned king of Poland in Krakow on October 16, 1384. This affirmed Jadwigas rule and ensured that her prospective spouse could not claim the title without the consent of the Polish nobility.The Polish lords did not believe that Jadwigas fianc, William of Austria, was capable or experienced enough to defend the kingdom from its regional rivals. By the summer of 1385, they urged Jadwiga to marry Jogalia, the Grand Duke of Lithuania. Although he was a pagan, he was already an experienced ruler and was willing to convert to Catholicism.In response, William of Austria hurried to Krakow to press his claim to Jadwigas hand, which her mother Elizabeth had confirmed. It is unclear whether the pair consummated the marriage, but William soon left Krakow, possibly fearing assassination, leaving the path open for Jogalia.Wadysaw II Jagieo, King of Poland, detail from a triptych in Wawel Cathedral, Krakow, 15th century. Source: Wikimedia CommonsIn February 1786, Jogalia converted to Christianity and received the baptismal name of Wadysaw. He married Jogalia and was crowned king on March 4, 1386. Unlike Sigismund of Luxembourg, Wadysaw II Jagieo shared power with his wife. In 1387, the 13-year-old Jadwiga led an expedition to Ruthenia (Ukraine) to secure the submission of local lords.She was also an effective diplomat who met with her sister Mary in 1392 to address tensions between their respective courts after King Sigismund entered into an agreement with the Teutonic Knights to partition Poland. After Mary died in 1395, Jadwiga laid claim to Hungary but found little support among the Hungarian elite.Jadwiga became pregnant in late 1398 and gave birth to a daughter named Elizabeth Bonifacia in June 1399. The girl died within three weeks, and Jadwiga herself died a few days later, on July 17, 1399. Her widowed husband married three more times, founding the Jagiellonian Dynasty, which ruled Poland until 1572.Despite her short life, Jadwiga is remembered as one of Polands greatest monarchs. Through her marriage to Jogalia, she ensured the union of Poland-Lithuania, which became one of the most powerful states in Europe. Together with her husband, she established hospitals and educational institutions and re-established the Jagiellonian University in Krakow in the 1390s.She was venerated as a saint in Poland soon after her death, but her sainthood was only officially recognized in 1997 by the Polish Pope John Paul II.List of works citedDodson, A. (2020). Nefertiti: Queen and Pharaoh of Egypt: Her Life and Afterlife. American University in Cairo Press.

Hyper realistic life sim Inzoi is a strong contender to the virtual-world titan that is The Sims 4, even if Krafton still has a way to go to finish fleshing it out through early access. What I didnt expect was for it to square up to the likes of Stardew Valley. In a new letter from Hungjun Kjun Kim, the Inzoi game director teases its third location, and its been given a pretty dramatic redesign. Formerly announced as Kucingku, its now Cahaya, a resort-themed destination that totally changes how your digital life plays out, making it into more of a farming game. Continue reading The next Inzoi city completely transforms the Sims rival into Stardew ValleyMORE FROM PCGAMESN: InZoi release date, Best simulation games, InZoi system requirements

Overwatch 2 Season 17 is almost here, and Blizzard has a lot on the cards. The update will introduce a long-requested feature for the multiplayer FPS, map voting. Alongside this comes the introduction of the third Flashpoint destination, the Morocco-inspired Aatlis; but the developer isnt stopping there, as its totally transforming both of the other locations used in the large-scale mode. Now, its just showcased the Suravasa and New Junk City changes, and the pair are already looking a lot more appealing. Continue reading Blizzard unveils two major Overwatch 2 map reworks and shows off newcomer AatlisMORE FROM PCGAMESN: All Overwatch 2 characters, Best Overwatch 2 settings, Overwatch 2 tier list

Every now and then, a game gets an iconic genre and twists it in a unique, interesting way that feels like its never been done before. The Alters is exactly that, a survival game with a unique gimmick that thematically and mechanically works very well. If you want to give this new experience a try, you can grab The Alters at a huge 30% discount already, just days after it launched. Continue reading New survival game The Alters gets a massive discount just after launchMORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best survival games, Best strategy games, Best story games

The Suitcase Packing Habit You Should Stop Right Now Credit: Kathleen Finlay / Getty Images Vacation season is finally here, and with it comes the inevitable packing. If you're just throwing your shoes into a suitcase among your clothes and toiletries, you're doing it wrong. We asked intrepid traveler and expert Jess Field of @travelmomsquad to advise us on the right way to deal with shoes...