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"Ottoman & Byzantine Military Postures" Episode 25, Part 2

TRANSCRIPT Read the Official Transcript to this Episode Here:

Thoughts? Feedback? Email Frank at:

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Visit the ⁠⁠⁠Official Ottoman Empire Podcast Website⁠⁠

YOU Can SUPPORT ⁠the Ottoman Empire Podcast by joining the show's official ⁠⁠⁠PATREON⁠ CLICK HERE PATREON ⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Check out the show's Blogpost at:

https://ottomanempirepodcast.com/blog/the-life-and-times-of-vlad-dracula-iii

Be sure and Listen to Part 1 of "Dracula" EXTRAS can be found here:

https://ottomanempirepodcast.com/episode/land-of-myths-shadows-the-life-and-times-vlad-dracula-extra-06-part-1

In the show I reference John Hunyadi EXTRA Episode 05:

https://ottomanempirepodcast.com/episode/extra-05-john-hunyadi-1406-1456-scourge-of-the-ottomans

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In Part 2 of Land of Myths & Shadows: The Life and Times Vlad Dracula... we pick up in Hungary. Dracula's father, Vlad II, has been buddying it up with the Hungarian King in an attempt to gain favor for a play at power in Wallachia.

Meanwhile, Vlad II's, half-brother Alexander assumes control of Wallachia. In this episode King Sigismund dies, Alexander is removed, and Vlad II takes control of Wallachia. However, the fragmented geography is reflected in the internal politics, and Vlad's unstable position forces him to seek aide from the Ottomans.

This episode explores the geography of Wallachia, it's strategic importance to both the Ottomans and Hungarians, and how Dracula and his brother Radu (aged 11 & 4-we think-) ended up in the Ottoman Empire as hostages.

YOU Can SUPPORT ⁠the Ottoman Empire Podcast by joining the show's official ⁠⁠⁠PATREON⁠ CLICK HERE PATREON ⁠⁠⁠⁠

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"Fortress of Doom" Episode 25, Part 1

TRANSCRIPT Read the Official Transcript to this Episode Here:

Thoughts? Feedback? Email Frank at:

[email protected]

Visit the ⁠⁠⁠Official Ottoman Empire Podcast Website⁠⁠

YOU Can SUPPORT ⁠the Ottoman Empire Podcast by joining the show's official ⁠⁠⁠PATREON⁠ CLICK HERE PATREON ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠PATREON⁠ ⁠Will always be 100% ad free and YOU can JOIN now for as little as $3.00 a month! :)

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In episode 23, we left the young 19 year old Ottoman Sultan, Mehmed II, back in the saddle of the Sultanate for a second time in 1451. Most histories, podcasts, YouTube channels, and bloggers completely gloss over Mehmed's early years of 1451-1453. This is a mistake, however, as these three years set the stage for the entirety of Mehmed's life and reign. It would be easy to skip on ahead to the "cool stuff" like siege of Constantinople, but in doing so would be to do this show an injustice.

This episode covers Mehmed's bloody reform and purge of the Janissaries, securing his Eastern flanks in Anatolia, peace treaties with the Christian nations bordering his West, and launching a project to construct a navy.

Along the way Mehmed will build allies for his vision of conquering Constantinople and a sound strategy to this end is identified and laid out for the listener.

YOU Can SUPPORT ⁠the Ottoman Empire Podcast by joining the show's official ⁠⁠⁠PATREON⁠ CLICK HERE PATREON ⁠⁠⁠⁠

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This "Extra" has been a long time in coming. Frank dives into the world of the real historical Vlad Dracula III and his war with the Ottomans, and pretty much all his neighbors. The Balkans of the mid-15th century were a dangerous place and time be alive. A ruthless period in history which produced equally ruthless men.

The story of Vlad Dracula is a tale not for the faint of heart.

In this Part 1, Frank explores the vampire myth, it's connection with the historical "Dracula" Bram Stoker, and more importantly, the "Order of the Dragon" that old Catholic military order equally as sordid as the life of Dracula.

YOU Can SUPPORT ⁠the Ottoman Empire Podcast by joining the show's official ⁠⁠⁠PATREON⁠ CLICK HERE PATREON ⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Murad II is back in the saddle as Sultan. He reconciles with Mehmed and the two face off against the combined armies of Wallachia, Hungary, and various Germanic formations for what history calls: The 2nd Battle of Kosovo. A short overview of Murad's campaigns after Kosovo, the strategic significance of the Crusader's defeat, death of Murad II and final accession of Mehmed II.

YOU Can SUPPORT ⁠the Ottoman Empire Podcast by joining the show's official ⁠⁠⁠PATREON⁠ CLICK HERE PATREON ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠PATREON⁠ ⁠Will always be 100% ad free and YOU can JOIN now for as little as $3.00 a month! :)

[email protected]

YOU Can SUPPORT ⁠the Ottoman Empire Podcast by joining the show's official ⁠⁠⁠PATREON⁠ CLICK HERE PATREON ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠PATREON⁠ ⁠Will always be 100% ad free and YOU can JOIN now for as little as $3.00 a month! :)

[email protected]

YOU Can SUPPORT ⁠the Ottoman Empire Podcast by joining the show's official ⁠⁠⁠PATREON⁠ CLICK HERE PATREON ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠PATREON⁠ ⁠Will always be 100% ad free and YOU can JOIN now for as little as $3.00 a month! :)

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The year is 1444. The young newly minted Mehmed II takes the throne and falls into conflict with the willy old statesman Vizer Candarli Halil Pasha. After Sultan Murad II resigns.. the Crusaders hold a war counsel and are egged on by Cardinal Cesarini to break their vow of a 10 year peace treaty with the Ottoman Empire. The Crusaders rally, decamp from Buda and plunge into Ottoman territory.

The Crusader strategy, army composition and belated Ottoman response is examined.

Sultan Mehmed II summons his father for help and all eyes are turning to the City of Varna, on the Black Sea coast.

YOU Can SUPPORT ⁠the Ottoman Empire Podcast by joining the show's official ⁠⁠⁠PATREON⁠ CLICK HERE PATREON ⁠⁠⁠⁠

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The year is 1444, a Crusade is gathering in Hungary but hits a snag. King Vladislav unites the two kingdoms of Hungary & Poland, thereby creating the greatest existential threat the Ottomans faced in Europe since Nicopolis. Sultan Murad II, resigns, his son, Mehmed II, becomes the new Sultan. Mehmed is profiled and the stage is finally set for the next episode of Varna.