The two-part finale of the Eleventh Doctor's first series, which wrapped up the Cracks In Time story arc and furthered the mystery of River Song and the Silence, featured a jaunt to Stonehenge when England was occupied by the Romans. Besides the inaccuracies of the Roman army's uniforms, which are legion (get it?) and the fact that Rory is called the Last Centurion when he is wearing entirely the wrong outfit, the biggest error in the Series Five finale came from the dating. When the TARDIS lands, the Doctor states that it is 1-0-2 AM, no PM, no AD. Meanwhile, River Song has managed to get into the Roman camp, and seize control of the forces gathered there, by pretending to be Cleopatra. When the commander returns, he states that Cleopatra is in Egypt, and dead. All of this is very true. Although there was a whole host of princesses and queens named Cleopatra, the one everyone remembers was Cleopatra VII Philopator, who allied herself with Mark Anthony against the Roman Emperor Augustus. However, all of this occurred in the latter half of the First Century AD. Cleopatra and Mark Anthony both committed suicide after losing the Battle of Actium to the Romans in 30 BC. So according to the date given by the Doctor a few scenes earlier, Cleopatra has been dead for a good hundred years. Even without internet, it seems unlikely that such an important part of Roman military and political history would have escaped the Roman army's attention. Can you think of any other times that Doctor Who failed basic history? What were the most glaring errors in the show's past for you?
With a (nearly) useless degree in English literature and a personal trainer qualification he's never used, Freddie spends his times writing things that he hopes will somehow pay the rent. He's also a former professional singer, and plays the saxophone and ukulele. He's not really used to talking about himself in the third person, and would like to stop now, thanks.
