Wikipedia: Wikipedia History standards

This page has been put up to resolve a number of issues which occur with great frequency when writing articles about history for Wikipedia. As usual with Wikipedia please extend and expand these brief outlines as you uncover them.

Use the English-language form as the FIRST citation of terms

: Since this is English-language wikipedia we should strive to use the English term when there is one. E.g., "Amber road (Bernsteinstrasse)".

Supporters include: MichaelTinkler, sjc, J Hofmann Kemp

Opponents include:

Mixed opinion: Taw (Miyazaki Hayao looks better as-is, with Japanese names of his movies first), and clasqm who broadly agrees with the proviso that we include the native-language term where we reasonably can, also some people's names do not translate (eg Ludwig van Beethoven does not become Louis ...)

: I think that the titles of works of art do have a claim to be represented in their original form, probably even as their initial representation. MichaelTinkler

: Ditto, perhaps a very sensible exception here. sjc

Names of kings and queens should include their kingdom

E.g.: Alphonso XII of Spain

As most monarchical history likely to fetch up in Wikipedia will deal with the English monarchy, and for reasons of concision, kings and queens of England do not require a qualification of nationality; otherwise, the reference should state the nationality of which they were monarch, unless:

they are completely unique (e.g. they are someone like [Vlad Tepes]?)

(other exceptions)

: In the case of Holy Roman Emperors, it should be e.g. [Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor]?.
: In the case of the kings of France, it should be e.g. [Henry I of France]? or, to add a common nickname, [Philip IV of France]?, the Fair

Supporters include: sjc

Opponents include:

Those with mixed opinions include: MichaelTinkler, who sees no reason to privilege the monarchs of England, since the names are in their language anyway. J Hofmann Kemp, who thinks the cognomens might should be part of the link itself...

Names relating to genera should be upper-cased for the first word

E.g.: Homo sapiens

When referring to names of genera, please employ capitalisation, e.g. Homo sapiens and not homo sapiens; [Homo erectus]? and not homo erectus. This style of capitalization is the standard among biologists everywhere, and should be enforced throughout Wikipedia.

Supporters include: sjc, Josh Grosse, MichaelTinkler

Opponents include: