Best history TV mistakes of all time

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Birdsong picture

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Factual error: The battalion commander wears the correct crown and pip of a lieutenant-colonel, but the four cuff rings of a full colonel (lieutenant-colonels wore three).

Necrothesp

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Medici: Masters of Florence picture

Purgatory - S1-E7

Continuity mistake: During the Medici brothers vs. Marco Bello confrontation near the end of the episode Lorenzo grabs a candlestick to defend himself against Marco Bello's knife - you can even notice a candle slipping off the candlestick. As Marco Bello turns to leave the chamber, however, Lorenzo's hands are empty and the candlestick rests on the table. In the next shot he's holding it again, with the candle sitting atop of the candlestick. (00:47:30)

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The Chosen picture

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Factual error: In season 1, there is an Egyptian woman wearing ornate jewellery around her head. Unfortunately, at least 3 components are old UK currency coins from the latter half of the 20th century. Clearly visible are copper 2p pieces and one old silver 10p coin. (00:38:40)

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Poldark picture

Episode #5.7 - S5-E7

Other mistake: Two actors are standing on an ancient muddy track which shows the tyre prints of a modern vehicle, made probably by the 4WD camera car. (00:09:00 - 00:10:00)

Conrad

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The Sinking of the Laconia picture

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Factual error: The Merchant Navy rank insignia is very poorly researched. Each officer seems to have a different style of insignia, despite working for the same company and they incorrectly wear rank insignia on the shoulders of their blue uniforms as well as the cuffs. The main character, Junior Third Officer Mortimer, wears a bizarre mix of insignia, apparently consisting of a Royal Navy petty officer's sleeve badge, a Royal Navy chief petty officer's cuff buttons, and a rank badge of three inverted chevrons on his shoulder boards that doesn't seem to resemble anything from reality. In reality, he should simply wear a single cuff ring (or shoulder bar in white uniform).

Necrothesp

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The Terror picture

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Factual error: Sir John Franklin, Francis Crozier and James Fitzjames all wear a crown over an anchor on their epaulettes, the rank badge for a captain with over three years in rank. This is correct for Franklin and Crozier, but Fitzjames only held the rank of commander, and should therefore only be wearing an anchor on his epaulettes.

Necrothesp

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Roots picture

Part 3 - S1-E3

Factual error: At the picnic, a woman says she is going to New York by train. It is 1828. Railway passenger service in the United States did not begin until 1830 and it would not be possible to travel from North Carolina to New York until some years after that.

Necrothesp

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I, Claudius picture

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Revealing mistake: The set where Augustus visits Agrippa on Lesbos for reconciliation is the same set where Augustus already was before - he was there earlier, reading the news of Marcellus' death while he was away from Rome to visit the Eastern provinces. But as stated, he had not visited Lesbos at all, because he and Agrippa had temporarily fallen out. (00:39:30 - 00:41:30)

Spiny Norman

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Six (2017)

Six picture

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Factual error: The Navy Seals call in air support and provide a fire mission to given coordinates. The targets are engaged with rockets and gatling/chain guns. The UH-60 Black Hawk is shown leaving after the air strike. This UH-60 however only had mini-guns in the doors. The type of UH-60 needed for this action would be the UH-60 DAP, which is configured as a gunship and has no troop carrying capacity. The DAP can carry chain guns, mini-guns, missiles and or rockets. (00:03:00 - 00:03:23)

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Himmel und Hölle picture

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Factual error: Johann Eck is dressed as a cardinal and Albrecht von Brandenburg addresses him as "Your Eminence" and kisses his ring. In reality, Eck was not a cardinal. Albrecht, however, was. It should be Eck showing deference to him, not vice versa. Albrecht was also only thirty, half the age of the actor playing him.

Necrothesp

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Edward the King picture

Alix - S1-E4

Continuity mistake: When the princess moves between rooms, the door in the first room is left well open, but when the shot changes to the second room, the first door is almost closed. (00:05:40)

PeterNZ

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Shogun picture

Episode #1.1 - S1-E1

Character mistake: In the opening minutes of the first episode, as the Erasmus is struggling through a storm, Blackthorne is told that the boatswain is dead. He checks the corpse and then says, "Get the body aloft," which would entail carrying the deceased up the mast. The correct order would be "Get the body topside."

mdwalker

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The Tower picture

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Factual error: Both Inspector Shaw and Chief Inspector Bailie wear their medal ribbons in the wrong order. The Golden Jubilee Medal is worn first, followed by the Diamond Jubilee Medal, followed by (for Bailie) the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.

Necrothesp

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