The Civil Wars wreaked havoc on the British Isles in the 17th century
The Civil Wars of the 17th century turned life upside down for people all over the British Isles. As Charles I and Parliament fought bitterly for control, ordinary men and women were sucked into the conflict and families were ripped apart: brother fighting brother, father battling son, neighbour against neighbour. Ultimately, Charles I lost his head and England was declared a Commonwealth, until history turned a full circle and the monarchy was restored in 1660. This month, we’ve teamed up with Professor Mark Stoyle to explore the Civil Wars in more detail – from the road to war and key battles, to propaganda and Charles’s execution. Turn to page 26 to find out more.
Fast-forwarding to the 20th century, a new eight-part BBC series this month will explore the heinous crimes of serial killer Charles Sobhraj (nicknamed the Serpent for his ability to wriggle away from capture), who left a trail of death and destruction across Asia in the 1970s. We take a closer look at his story, and discover how he was finally brought to justice, from page 58. The Serpent premieres on New Year’s Day on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.