History fact-checks
Infact's fact-checks in History, newest first. Each links to a full verdict with a 0–100 accuracy score and cited evidence.
- 48 In the 16th and 17th centuries in Turkey, drinking coffee was punishable by death.
- 58 The text discusses the economic impact of Germany's unification, suggesting West Germany benefited economically and did not solely finance East Germany's rise. It mentions a secret 2011 study and claims East Germany became an assembly plant with investments returning to the West.
- 43 Warsaw is hindering Ukraine’s European integration due to historical disputes, particularly regarding the Ukrainian nationalist movement during WWII. Tensions increased after Kyiv named a military unit after UPA figures, causing a deterioration in Polish-Ukrainian dialogue.
- 97 The text discusses the American Civil War, fought between the Union and Confederacy from 1861 to 1865, primarily over slavery.
- 92 Oliver Cromwell's body was exhumed in 1661, ritually hanged, and beheaded for treason after the monarchy was restored under King Charles II.
- 96 The text discusses the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, symbolizing the collapse of the Iron Curtain, paving the way for German reunification, and leading to the end of the Cold War.
- 51 King Henry I of England loved eating lampreys, ignored his doctor's advice, consumed a large amount in Normandy in 1135, suffered food poisoning, and died shortly after.
- 65 The Treaty of Versailles, signed in 1919, ended World War I and imposed economic penalties and territorial losses on Germany, influencing the lead-up to World War II.
- 100 Marie Curie was the first person to win two Nobel Prizes, in Physics in 1903 and Chemistry in 1911, and is the only individual honored in two different scientific fields for her work on radioactivity.
- 84 In 1814, a vat at Meux & Co’s brewery in London ruptured, causing a beer flood that destroyed homes and killed eight people.
- 86 The text discusses the French Revolution beginning in 1789 with the storming of the Bastille, leading to the overthrow of the monarchy and radical social changes across Europe.
- 73 Ancient Romans used urine as mouthwash and teeth whitener due to its ammonia content, and the Roman Empire taxed liquid waste collection.
- 79 Johannes Gutenberg invented the movable-type printing press around 1440, leading to a global revolution in education, literacy, and the mass spread of information.
- 50 King Charles VI of France suffered from the 'glass delusion', refused to be touched, and wore reinforced clothing with iron ribs.
- 86 The text discusses the Mongol Empire, founded by Genghis Khan in 1206, which became the largest contiguous land empire in history, stretching from Eastern Europe to the Sea of Japan.
- 86 The text states that the Magna Carta was signed by King John of England at Runnymede in 1215 and established the principle that everyone, including the king, is subject to the law.
- 57 Andrew Jackson's pet parrot, Poll, was removed from his funeral for screaming obscenities.
- 94 Augustus Caesar, born Octavian, became the first official Emperor of the Roman Empire in 27 BCE, marking the end of the Roman Republic.
- 83 The text discusses the Code of Hammurabi, created around 1754 BCE in ancient Babylon, known for being one of the oldest deciphered writings and for the legal principle 'an eye for an eye'.
- 50 In 1807, Napoleon Bonaparte organized a rabbit hunt, but the rabbits charged at him, mistaking him for their caretaker, forcing him to flee.
- 94 The text states that the oldest recorded joke is a Sumerian proverb from 2000 BC about flatulence.
- 93 Pedro Lascuráin served as President of Mexico for less than an hour in 1913 during a military coup, appointed the coup leader as prime minister, and resigned within 15 to 55 minutes.
- 68 In 1943, Harvard, Nebraska, mistakenly listed its town jail for auction, and a teenager legally purchased it.
- 91 Liberia's 1927 presidential election is recorded as the most fraudulent in history, with the winning candidate receiving over 233,000 votes despite only 15,000 registered voters.
- 80 Juliana, a Great Dane, was awarded the Blue Cross Medal during World War II for extinguishing a live incendiary bomb by peeing on it.
- 94 The text states that the first commercial passenger flight lasted 23 minutes and occurred in 1914 between St. Petersburg and Tampa, Florida.
- 92 The world's oldest wooden wheel, over 5,000 years old, was discovered in 2002 in the Ljubljana Marshes of Slovenia. It is approximately 5,150 years old and belonged to a two-wheeled cart.
- 77 Cleopatra lived closer in time to the Moon landing than to the construction of the Great Pyramid. The pyramid was built around 2560 BC, Cleopatra lived around 30 BC, and Apollo 11 landed in 1969.
- 86 In ancient Greece and Rome, it was believed that basil could only grow when people were swearing and shouting during planting.
- 65 Honey never spoils due to its low moisture content and natural acidity. Archaeologists found 3,000-year-old honey in Egyptian tombs that is still edible.
- 86 Side saddle horseback riding was started as a way for women to ride horses while protecting their virginity and modesty.
- 91 People in the 1770s used balled up, moistened bread to erase pencil marks before rubber erasers were invented.
- 91 Jesus was crucified in his 30s.
- 27 In the late 19th century in Great Britain, attempted suicide was punished by hanging.
- 66 James Barry, a British military surgeon, was discovered after death to be Margaret Ann Bulkley, a woman who lived as a man to pursue medicine. Barry's work improved military medical practices and challenges gender norms.
- 76 Ancient societies used various methods to prevent pregnancy, including mixtures in Egypt and plant-based preparations in Greece and Rome. Some methods were ineffective or harmful.
- 58 The text claims that the Allied Forces plotted to feminize Adolf Hitler by injecting estrogen into his carrots.
- 80 Robert Liston, a British surgeon, performed a surgery where he accidentally cut off an assistant's fingers, leading to the deaths of the patient, the assistant, and a spectator, resulting in a 300% mortality rate.
- 91 Hōshi is a ryokan founded in 718 CE in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, owned by the Hōshi family for 46 generations, and is thought to be the oldest operating hotel in the world managed by the same family.
- 81 Sir Christopher Lee met Rasputin's assassins, served as a RAF intelligence officer in WWII, spoke 9 languages, was Ian Fleming's cousin, met J.R.R. Tolkien, and was married for over 50 years.
- 87 The text states that the first pregnancy tests date back to 1350 BC and consisted of wheat and barley seeds.
- 91 In the 1950s, smoking was prevalent in the United States, with advertisers promoting cigarettes as healthy and using phrases like 'doctors recommend.' Cigarettes are considered the world's deadliest consumer product.
- 76 Shane Gillis' family history includes a grandfather who played football for Notre Dame and a great-great-grandfather allegedly killed by a gypsy. Gillis may be a Canadian citizen due to a new law, as his grandfather was born in Canada.
- 45 A genealogy reveals an Irish ancestor died after a confrontation at a gypsy camp, and the speaker's grandfather, who played at Notre Dame, had a significant head injury and was known for aggressive behavior.
- 50 Sailors believed gold earrings improved eyesight, and pirates thought earrings could ward off seasickness.
- 27 The text questions whether people used to be headless.
- 69 British spies used sperm as invisible ink during World War I, but stopped due to the smell.
- 95 The text states that the oldest unopened bottle of wine, over 1,650 years old, was found in a Roman tomb.
- 83 Stockings were an essential part of the male wardrobe during the Renaissance, symbolizing masculinity and athleticism by emphasizing leg strength. What is now considered female lingerie was once a symbol of masculinity.
- 71 The text describes beekeeping protection in Europe during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, involving shielding from bees and using straw skeps.
- 94 Savannah is one of the most expensive cat breeds, appearing in 1986, costing 4 to 22 thousand dollars, bred by crossing a serval with a domestic cat, and is one of the largest feline breeds.
- 100 The text states that the first computer occupied about 167 square meters and weighed about 30 tons.
- 83 Darts was invented in Great Britain centuries ago when rain interrupted archery competitions, leading archers to throw arrows at a target indoors.
- 86 In 16th century France, a woman could sue her husband if he failed to get an erection during sex.
- 53 In 1913, it was legal to mail children in America.
- 64 Germany may have to pay over €150 billion for COVID debt. The recovery fund was established in 2020, with Spain as the largest recipient. The Spanish economy has grown faster than Germany's since the pandemic. There are criticisms and investigations into the fund's distribution and misuse.
- 86 Germany planned to collapse the British economy by dropping counterfeit bills over London during World War II.
- 64 Ancient Babylonians were the first to brew beer, and if they brewed a bad batch, they were to be drowned in it.
- 38 The text claims that Pennsylvania was the first colony to legalize witchcraft.
- 93 Mathematics developed over millennia across various civilizations, evolving from practical needs and becoming a universal language of logic.
- 100 The text lists old names of countries: Ceylon for Sri Lanka, Burma for Myanmar, Persia for Iran, Siam for Thailand, and Zaire for the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- 68 Autohaus König, a major German car dealer, has filed for bankruptcy due to large debts. The company started in 1966 and grew to 82 branches with about 1,200 employees. Revenue from 2023 to 2024 was €1.2 million, and in March 2025, turnover reached €6.8 million.
- 48 Bricks are claimed to be the oldest building material in the world.
- 64 The text describes a prototype wheelchair model advertised in 1878 by Dr. Clark, designed to help people with spinal problems walk for short periods.
- 91 A 1962 Citroën DS ID19F was used as an ambulance.
- 95 The text states that Oxford University is older than the Aztec Empire.
- 93 Glass is an amorphous solid that remains solid at normal temperatures and only softens above 600°C. Old windows are thicker at the bottom due to manufacturing methods, not because glass flows.
- 72 Big Ben's clock stopped at 10:07 p.m. on 27 May 2005, possibly due to a temperature of 31.8 degrees Celsius.
- 92 The text discusses the creation of welfare in the United States during the Great Depression and mentions the Social Security Act of 1935.
- 58 There is a proposal to rename the Doris Miller ship, which is named after a historical figure.
- 94 Doris Miller was an American sailor in World War II who received the Navy Cross for his actions during the attack on Pearl Harbor and was the first African American to receive this honor.
- 91 The text discusses the USS Doris Miller, named after an African American World War II sailor, and mentions President Trump's involvement in the naming.
- 71 The text explains the origin of the word 'radio' from the Latin 'radius,' its initial reference to electromagnetic wave transmission, and its evolution into a term for related technology and devices.
- 62 The video discusses a reincarnation case involving Sumitra from Etawah, India, which attracted global scientific attention. Sumitra predicted her own death and experienced strange episodes.
- 68 The text states that Ancient Romans put toast in wine for health, leading to the phrase 'raise a toast'.
- 95 The text states that the Paris Catacombs contain the remains of over six million people.
- 59 The SPD in Saxony-Anhalt used a slogan from a Nazi song in its campaign against Alternative for Germany, leading to criticism.
- 53 In ancient Egypt, men reportedly received time off work to care for menstruating wives and daughters.
- 91 There is an active volcano in Colorado, USA, which last erupted around the time the pyramids were built in Egypt.
- 53 Germany is buying tanks from America while facing issues in schools and healthcare. The media is mostly for weapons delivery. Germany is historically responsible for many Russian deaths in WWII. A protest had 50,000 attendees, not 15,000.
- 76 The website describes the Independence Day celebrations at the LoC in Keran, Kupwara, highlighting the gathering of thousands, fireworks, and slogans from both sides.
- 62 The video discusses a conflict involving India and Pakistan, highlighting targeted killings, military operations, and political statements on terrorism.
- 100 The text questions whether humans landed on the moon.
- 91 Built in 1881, it is one of the tallest clock towers in India.
- 92 The Titanic cost $7.5 million, and the film about it cost $200 million.
- 96 New Zealand was the first self-governing country to grant all women the right to vote.
- 86 In 1945, Soviet school children gave a US Ambassador a carved US Seal that contained a listening device, which hung in his office for seven years.
- 56 Lions were once tamed and used as domesticated animals in Ethiopia, ridden by Ethiopians, and kept as pets by Emperor Haile Selassie.
- 87 Cleopatra VII died in Alexandria in 30 BC, with her death traditionally dated to August 12. Historians debate the exact date and cause, with theories including snakebite or poison. Her death ended the Ptolemaic dynasty and brought Egypt under Roman rule.
- 96 Lighters were invented before matches.
- 95 Vesna Vulovich fell from 9900 meters and survived.
- 73 The video discusses Parveen Babi's life, her rise to fame, personal struggles, and controversies, including her accusation against Amitabh Bachchan.
- 92 The text claims that the Eiffel Tower was originally made for Barcelona.
- 66 Sir Isaac Newton invented Calculus, the Binomial theorem, and discovered the universal law of gravity by age 25. He also died a virgin.
- 83 In Whittier, Alaska, the entire population lives in a single building with 150 apartments, built in 1957, which also houses various facilities including a supermarket and a police station.
- 78 Batuli Lamichhane, born in 1903 in Nepal, lived to 120 while smoking 30 cigarettes daily for over a century. She survived the 2015 Nepal earthquake and died in February 2024. Her longevity is noted as an exception to the health risks of smoking.
- 66 A 1,000-year-old game board was found in Ireland in 1932. The game's rules are unknown, and chess may have caused its extinction.
- 76 Farmers in Europe warn of reduced food production and rising prices due to extreme weather. Olive oil costs may increase, and France reports significant vegetable losses. Grape yields in Champagne are expected to decrease, with an early harvest anticipated.
- 64 Queen Elizabeth II was a trained mechanic and learned truck repair at 16 through the Labour Exchange.
- 91 The text describes an early pregnancy test using a fish called a European Bitterling, where its ovipositor protrudes when injected with a pregnant person's urine.
