The History Files

You may have noticed some changes being made in the History Files web site during the course of 2007 and 2008.

There has been an on-going process of updating and improving the site's general presentation and organisation over that time. With the implementation of the new front page and the restyling of the King Lists, this process has now been completed.

How to read the data in the king lists

The king lists have been around for many years now. While the format hasn't changed particularly, the appearance of the lists have, so this page offers a brief guide to making the most of the data on each page.

A sample king list showing all the main points in the text below

1. The primary or earliest place name or state name along with an introduction.

2. A sizable gap here, indicated by the space between the introduction and the start of the vertical 'timebar' line, indicates a gap in our knowledge between the beginnings of the state and our first information about it.

3. The first ruler (usually in black unless otherwise indicated) or the first available background information or major events (in plum).

4. A break in the vertical 'timebar' line indicates a gap in our knowledge regarding events or rulers within the state.

5. All links now become underlined when you hold your mouse pointer over them in order to make them more obvious.

6. Joint rulers or regents are shown inset from the timebar line with a small shaded bar before their name.

7. Important relatives who never reigned, or individuals who made a bid for power or who upheld a rival claim to a throne, are shown with a shaded backing.

8. Rulers who are usually known through written sources written centuries after the event, and who are usually considered to be legendary or semi-mythical at best, are usually shown with a pink backing. Alternative (and quite possibly conflicting) data from different sources is often shown in another text colour, such as green, red or grey.

9. There are new buttons for links which lead to relevant features, maps, special indices ('Index'), and which open pop-up windows with extra information ('Open').

10. Shorthand text is often used in the limited space in the notes column. The following conventions are used:

• m. = married
• dau = daughter
• b. = born
• d. = died

Please note that no style is exclusive. There may be slight variations of usage throughout the site to fit in with regional differences or unusual circumstances.

Pictures

In the appropriate places, pictures are included in some lists. The styling is the same as for feature pages, and will always include an information bar at the bottom of the insert.

Notice in the sample below how the picture remains linked to the vertical 'timeline' bar with no gaps above or below, showing that there is no break in the records for this state.

A sample king list with a picture insert