Best history TV mistakes of all time

Please vote as you browse around to help the best rise to the top.

The Crown picture

Beryl - S2-E4

Continuity mistake: During the photo shoot, after Tony takes the final shot and tells Margaret to "get dressed", so he can show her his place, she is wearing a different blouse and different earrings when she comes upstairs to his apartment.

More The Crown mistakes
Daniel Boone picture

The Ordeal of Israel Boone - S4-E2

Other mistake: When Daniel starts to fall down the hill when he is sick from the snake bite, there are two pick up trucks parked down on the road, a white one and a blue one. They show up on the right side of the screen.

More Daniel Boone mistakes
The Pacific picture The Pacific mistake picture

Guadalcanal/Leckie - S1-E1

Factual error: On the map behind the colonel during the first scene, Iceland is labelled as being under Nazi control. This is incorrect, as the British were in control of the country during the whole of the war. (00:05:10)

More The Pacific mistakes
Vikings picture

Burial of the Dead - S1-E6

Factual error: The snakes in the King of England's pit are all constrictors. They do not have venom and are too small to see a human as prey, yet they show a man dying from a bite by one of these snakes.

More Vikings mistakes
More Blackadder mistakes
Band of Brothers picture

Carentan - S1-E3

Factual error: In this episode we see Blithe get shot in the neck and are told that he died in 1948. In reality he was shot in the shoulder and survived. He later served in Korea and was promoted to master sergeant as well as receiving the paratrooper of the year award. Blithe died in 1967 while on active duty in Germany.

More Band of Brothers mistakes
More Rome mistakes
Victoria picture

Christmas Special 2017 - S2-E9

Continuity mistake: Price Albert's ice skates change after falling through the ice. Prior to the fall the ice skates have a curly blade front (appropriate for the time), upon emerging from beneath the ice the skates look like current models.

More Victoria mistakes
The Tudors picture

Episode 8 - S1-E8

Revealing mistake: In the scene where the king and his entourage are walking through the crowd, someone in the crowd (right side) is wearing a watch on his left hand while applauding.

More The Tudors mistakes
Attila picture

Show generally

Factual error: Aetius' troops don't look anything like 5th century Roman soldiers. They are carrying a large rectangular shield, a pilum (a spear which was used for throwing) and a sword (gladius) on their right. This was typical for the Roman army until about the 3rd century A.D. In Aetius' time, the soldiers would have had smaller oval shields, a hasta (a lance used for stabbing and for fending off cavalry attacks) and a sword (spatha) on their left. Also, there would be an enormous amount of "barbarian" mercenaries in the Roman army (Goths, Vandals, even Huns.), so it was hardly a Roman army anymore. And where's Aetius' cavalry?

More Attila mistakes
Krøniken picture

Del 6 - S1-E6

Continuity mistake: When Erik enters his father's office the clock on the wall shows 5.10pm. After they have been talking for a couple of minutes the clock still shows 5.10pm.

don_corleone

More Krøniken mistakes
The Borgias picture

The Poisoned Chalice - S1-E1

Factual error: In the Pope's coronation procession they play the anthem Zadok the Priest. It was composed by Handel for the coronation of George II in 1727, 235 years after this coronation took place.

Necrothesp

More The Borgias mistakes
The Blue and the Gray picture The Blue and the Gray mistake picture

Show generally

Visible crew/equipment: During the Battle of Bull Run, just before the first shell is fired towards the plantation house, at the upper part of the screen you can see a helicopter flying over the battle action. (01:45:00)

Jean G

More The Blue and the Gray mistakes
Project Blue Book picture

The Green Fireballs - S1-E6

Factual error: The Secretary of the Air Force enters a room. A captain not in uniform salutes him. You do not salute out of uniform, and you do not salute civilians. You stand at attention. (00:09:20)

toroscan

More Project Blue Book mistakes
Mr. Sunshine picture

Episode #1.1 - S1-E1

Factual error: The American flag shown waving outside the White House is the current present-day flag with 50 stars. From 1896 to 1908, (the time period that this show is set in) the US flag only had 45 stars as Oklahoma, New Mexico, Nebraska, Alaska and Hawaii were not recognised as states in that time period. The flag did not have 50 stars until 1960. (00:04:30)

Casual Person

More Mr. Sunshine mistakes
More The Kennedys mistakes
More Roots mistakes
Birdsong picture

Show generally

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

More Birdsong mistakes
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)

More Medici: Masters of Florence mistakes
More The Path to 9/11 mistakes

Join the mailing list

Separate from membership, this is to get updates about mistakes in recent releases. Addresses are not passed on to any third party, and are used solely for direct communication from this site. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Check out the mistake & trivia books, on Kindle and in paperback.