When we study history at school, we learn about the most important events that shaped the world: wars, revolutions, scientific discoveries and great figures.
However, there are many curious details that end up being left out of conventional history books. These little episodes, although lesser known, are fascinating and offer a unique insight into the past.
Let's explore five surprising historical facts that you probably won't find in your history books.
1. The US President Who Was Arrested
It's hard to imagine a US president being arrested, but it happened to Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th US president, in 1872.
Grant was a hero of the American Civil War, and after his election, many expected him to lead the country with determination.
However, there was one small detail about Grant that was not widely publicized: he loved horses and had a habit of driving his carriage at high speed through the streets of Washington, D.C.
At one point, he was stopped by a local police officer named William H. West, who warned him about the dangers of his racing. Grant apologized and was released, but the next day, he was caught speeding again.
This time, the police officer had no choice but to arrest the president. Despite his position, Grant accepted the punishment in good humor and posted bail.
While this episode is not widely mentioned, it shows a more human side to one of the most revered figures in American history.
2. World War I Was Halted By A Football Match
During World War I, in December 1914, one of the most unlikely events in modern history occurred.
The trenches along the Western Front were at an impasse, and conditions were extremely harsh for both sides.
However, on Christmas Eve, British and German soldiers temporarily laid down their weapons and entered into an unofficial truce.
Reports say the soldiers began singing Christmas carols and eventually emerged from the trenches to find themselves in “no man’s land.”
There was an exchange of gifts, cigarettes and, at some points, even improvised football matches between the two sides.
Although war resumed with intensity soon after, this brief moment of peace and camaraderie is one of the most moving and surprising episodes of the First World War, often overlooked in traditional history books.
3. The Great Fire of London Was Blessed With An Infection
The Great Fire of London in 1666 devastated much of the city, destroying thousands of homes, churches and important buildings.
It was a colossal disaster that left a trail of destruction, but ironically, it also helped save the city from an even greater threat: the Bubonic Plague.
In the months leading up to the fire, London was suffering from a severe plague epidemic, which had decimated the population.
However, the fire ended up burning much of the most unsanitary and rat-infested areas of the city, where the disease thrived.
Although the fire was a disaster in terms of material losses, it was a decisive blow against the spread of the plague, which virtually disappeared after the event. This unexpected positive effect is rarely highlighted when talking about the fire.
4. Cleopatra Was Not Egyptian
When we think of Cleopatra, the last ruler of Ptolemaic Egypt, we usually think of her as an iconic Egyptian figure. However, what many people don’t know is that Cleopatra was not originally Egyptian.
She was part of the Ptolemaic dynasty, which was of Macedonian descent. The Ptolemies were descendants of one of Alexander the Great's generals, who conquered Egypt and established his own ruling dynasty after Alexander's death.
Cleopatra, who ruled from 51 BC until her death in 30 BC, was culturally Egyptian and adopted many of the traditions of the country she ruled, but her lineage was Greek.
She was one of the few in her dynasty to learn the Egyptian language, which allowed her to better connect with her people.
Her story, full of intrigue, romances with figures such as Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, and her tragic death, is one of the best known in Antiquity, but her family's origins often go unnoticed.
5. The Pope Who “Exhumed” Another Pope to Judge Him
One of the most bizarre events in the history of the Catholic Church was the “Cadaver Synod” in 897 AD. Pope Stephen VI ordered the body of his predecessor, Pope Formosus, to be exhumed and put on trial.
Formosus had died nine months earlier, but Stephen VI, who had a deep enmity for him, accused him of several transgressions, including ascending the papacy illicitly.
Formosus’ body was dressed in papal robes and placed on a judgment seat. Since he could not defend himself, a deacon was appointed to speak on his behalf. The “trial” ended with Formosus’s condemnation, and his body was mutilated and thrown into the Tiber River.
This event is one of the most macabre and absurd episodes in papal history, often ignored in history books.
These five curious facts offer a different perspective on the history we know.
They remind us that, in addition to major events and iconic figures, history is made up of many surprising, bizarre, and sometimes even amusing details that rarely appear in conventional accounts.
By exploring these lesser-known episodes, we can develop an even greater appreciation for the complexity and diversity of the human past.