SEASON 6 FINALE!!!

Dilexi iustitiam et odivi iniquitatem, propterea morior in exilio. I hope you are sitting down for this one. I have one more bit of news to share with you all. The question is…how will the Countess take the news?

SEASON 6: The Other Norman Conquest

EPISODE 144: An Example For All

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For only a dollar per month, you can hear multiple varying stories and storylines so far through the 11th century, including but not limited to the creation of the Kingdom of Poland, what’s happening on the Continent while Duke William is conquering England, and, currently, our series called “The Book of Alexios” detailing all those details of the monumental medieval emperor, Alexios Komnenos, that didn’t make it into the public podcast. Every dime donated will be put directly back into the show, so I hope you consider becoming a Patreon member!  Just follow this link to our Patreon page to peruse the right “subscription” for you: https://www.patreon.com/FortunesWheelPodcast. 

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Hic Terror Mundi, Guiscardo. It’s one of the most powerful epitaphs in world history.

SEASON 6: The Other Norman Conquest

EPISODE 143: Hic Terror Mundi, Guiscardo

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For only a dollar per month, you can hear multiple varying stories and storylines so far through the 11th century, including but not limited to the creation of the Kingdom of Poland, what’s happening on the Continent while Duke William is conquering England, and, currently, our series called “The Book of Alexios” detailing all those details of the monumental medieval emperor, Alexios Komnenos, that didn’t make it into the public podcast. Every dime donated will be put directly back into the show, so I hope you consider becoming a Patreon member!  Just follow this link to our Patreon page to peruse the right “subscription” for you: https://www.patreon.com/FortunesWheelPodcast. 

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One of the most devastating events in the Middle Ages occurs on this episode. The fact that it isn’t talked about more is, frankly, criminal. And of all of our protagonists and antagonists in this season of the podcast, you may be surprised who it affects the most. 

SEASON 6: The Other Norman Conquest

EPISODE 142: The Norman Sack of Rome

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For only a dollar per month, you can hear multiple varying stories and storylines so far through the 11th century, including but not limited to the creation of the Kingdom of Poland, what’s happening on the Continent while Duke William is conquering England, and, currently, our series called “The Book of Alexios” detailing all those details of the monumental medieval emperor, Alexios Komnenos, that didn’t make it into the public podcast. Every dime donated will be put directly back into the show, so I hope you consider becoming a Patreon member!  Just follow this link to our Patreon page to peruse the right “subscription” for you: https://www.patreon.com/FortunesWheelPodcast. 

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Pope Gregory VII is stuck in Rome awaiting his knight in shining armor, Duke Robert Guiscard, who just returned to quell the uprisings in Apulia and Calabria. Henry IV is within reach of his life’s ambition, and Emperor Alexios is broken but not finished. And there is one place that is at the center of it all: Castel Sant’Angelo.

SEASON 6: The Other Norman Conquest

EPISODE 141: Castel Sant-Angelo

Members-Only Series on Patreon:

For only a dollar per month, you can hear multiple varying stories and storylines so far through the 11th century, including but not limited to the creation of the Kingdom of Poland, what’s happening on the Continent while Duke William is conquering England, and, currently, our series called “The Book of Alexios” detailing all those details of the monumental medieval emperor, Alexios Komnenos, that didn’t make it into the public podcast. Every dime donated will be put directly back into the show, so I hope you consider becoming a Patreon member!  Just follow this link to our Patreon page to peruse the right “subscription” for you: https://www.patreon.com/FortunesWheelPodcast. 

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Robert Guiscard returns to Apulia, Count Roger deals with his own issues back in Sicily, and Pope Gregory VII is driven into hiding. The period of 1082 - 1084 is a rollercoaster.

SEASON 6: The Other Norman Conquest

EPISODE 140: Unbathed & Unshaven

Members-Only Series on Patreon:

For only a dollar per month, you can hear multiple varying stories and storylines so far through the 11th century, including but not limited to the creation of the Kingdom of Poland, what’s happening on the Continent while Duke William is conquering England, and, currently, our series called “The Book of Alexios” detailing all those details of the monumental medieval emperor, Alexios Komnenos, that didn’t make it into the public podcast. Every dime donated will be put directly back into the show, so I hope you consider becoming a Patreon member!  Just follow this link to our Patreon page to peruse the right “subscription” for you: https://www.patreon.com/FortunesWheelPodcast. 

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SEASON 6: The Other Norman Conquest

EPISODE 139: Henry IV Wants More Than Some Kingdoms

Call this one a historical pit stop. In the whirlwind of 1081, a few crucial threads got lost in the chaos—and that’s on me. This addendum episode fills in the missing pieces, offering key context that deepens everything we’ve been covering. Because let’s face it: history isn’t neat, and it sure as hell isn’t linear. When you realize something’s been skipped or misunderstood, you don’t just press on—you circle back and set it right. Thanks for sticking with the story, bumps and all.

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SEASON 6: The Other Norman Conquest

EPISODE 138: Aftermath of Durazzo

Emperor Alexios I Komnenos is wounded, his army shattered, and the road to Constantinople lies wide open. The Battle of Durazzo didn’t just end in defeat—it exploded into chaos. In this episode, we follow Alexios in the desperate, bloody aftermath: wounded, hunted, and clinging to survival. Does the emperor escape? Or does the Norman tide finally sweep the East? The fate of the empire hangs by a thread—and it's fraying fast.

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SEASON 6: The Other Norman Conquest

EPISODE 137: The Battle of Durazzo, 1081

It all comes to a head at Durazzo. Alexios Komnenos and Robert Guiscard face off in a clash that could decide the fate of Eastern Rome. For Guiscard, Durazzo is the key to the empire’s front door; for Alexios, it’s the last lock holding the West at bay. This isn’t just a battle—it’s a test of ambition, endurance, and sheer nerve. If Guiscard wins, Constantinople is next. If he fails, the dream dies on the beach. This is the moment.

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SEASON 6: The Other Norman Conquest

EPISODE 136: The Adriatic At War

Spring, summer, and fall of 1081—it's a whirlwind on both sides of the Adriatic. While Robert Guiscard sharpens his blade and tests the defenses of Eastern Rome, Alexios Komnenos races to hold together a collapsing empire. Meanwhile, alliances shift, cities burn, fleets sail, and popes pray for more than just divine intervention. This episode is your front-row seat to the chaos, the strategy, and the high-stakes drama that set the stage for one of the Middle Ages' defining confrontations. Buckle up—1081 doesn’t slow down.

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If you believe in what’s happening here – bringing our shared history to life, warts and all, free to the public with absolutely no more paywalls…ever…please consider donating to my caffeine-mediated research and writing through the website/app Buy Me A Coffee! With opportunities for one-time donations and even a monthly donation plan, you can voluntarily contribute to the continuation of this show. I would be eternally grateful!

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SEASON 6: The Other Norman Conquest

EPISODE 135: Arrival of the...Venetians?

Norman versus Eastern Roman. Robert Guiscard versus Alexios Komnenos. The war for the fate of the Balkans ignites—but just as the Old Fox prepares for a clean sweep, a new player sails into view: the Venetians. Wealthy, well-armed, and annoyingly loyal to Byzantium (for now), they throw a gilded wrench into Guiscard’s invasion plans. Before the Battle of Durazzo even begins, the stakes have changed, and the Normans aren’t the only sharks in the water anymore.

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If you believe in what’s happening here – bringing our shared history to life, warts and all, free to the public with absolutely no more paywalls…ever…please consider donating to my caffeine-mediated research and writing through the website/app Buy Me A Coffee! With opportunities for one-time donations and even a monthly donation plan, you can voluntarily contribute to the continuation of this show. I would be eternally grateful!

NOTE: DISREGARD ANY MENTION OF PATREON. That account has been closed in the process of tearing down of any paywalls! 

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