HBICs of history » G e o r g i a n a, duchess of Devonshire Georgiana was a celebrated beauty and socialite who gathered around her a large circle of literary and political figures. She was also an active political campaigner in an age when women’s suffrage was still over a century away. During …

HBICs of history » M e s s a l i n a Messalina  (c. 17/20 – 48 AD) was a Roman empress and the wife of emperor Claudius; she was also a cousin of Caligula and Nero. Messalina was very wealthy, an influential figure and a regular at Caligula’s court.  When Caligula was plotted against and murdered, …