France’s entry into the Thirty Years’ War did not happen in a vacuum; decades of political sparring and power politics led to that point. To fully understand why and how France got into the war, it’s important to see France through the eyes of Louis XIII, or better yet, through the eyes of his most important advisor, Cardinal Richelieu.

Born as Armand Jean du Plessis, Richelieu is one of the most influential – and overrated figures in all of history. He’s a priest, a general, a scholar, a diplomat, and a brilliant politician. It will take all of his skills to hold France together, and stand against the combined Habsburg powers of Spain and the Holy Roman Empire.

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Episode transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTOX-pLT7cTHQtRNZofjsK9GgNmZgjZccjq89dJxft9OjCUVd0gR9BWn6a3Ajy5_neXXLDWgwZ0718l/pub

Music credit: Sergey Cheremisinov - Black Swan

In 1626, King Christian IV of Denmark-Norway joined the Thirty Years’ War as a champion of the Protestant cause. Within four years, he would be sent home with his tail between his legs. But the Protestants would gain a new champion: the Swedish King Gustavus Adolphus.

In a few short years, the Lion of the North would forge a military reputation equaled by only a handful. Just as importantly, he would keep the Protestants in the fight, forcing the Catholic Habsburg monarchy to continue a costly, draining war. Here is Gustavus Adolphus’ story, and how he shaped the course of history.

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Music credit: Sergey Cheremisinov - Black Swan

At the beginning of 1618, the Holy Roman Empire is at peace. By the end of the year, there is a rebellion in Bohemia, and Protestants and Catholics throughout the empire are at each others’ throats. In the Third Defenestration of Prague, Bohemian Protestants, tired of royal abuses, have literally thrown Emperor Ferdinand’s royal representatives out the window.

This local revolt could have been restrained to Bohemia. But Emperor Ferdinand makes a series of blunders and overreaches that draw outside powers into the war. Within a few years, the Thirty Years’ War will engulf much of Europe.

Check out The History Voyager podcast, with Ben Kitchings: https://t.co/lD9RQOe76R?amp=1

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Episode transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vR4-v4x0gAnLnaeUbjZI-9RLq-xUKtYGVAdrFOrMG0u8Ua1NdlZCOglorMelWZx1BinAah5aKKJkYSr/pub

Music credit: Sergey Cheremisinov - Black Swan

In the middle of the 16th century, Habsburg Spain rules over the world’s first global empire – an empire on which the sun never set. But their new king, Philip II, is dead set on centralizing his rule. All of his domains, even the newest, must submit to his taxes, his legal code, and most of all to the dreaded Spanish Inquisition.

In the freedom-loving Spanish Netherlands, this royal overreach would not stand. Led by William of Orange, the Dutch people would rise up to resist Spanish tyranny. This would begin the 80 Years’ War, one of the world’s longest conflicts. And in the process, it would create a new nation, the Netherlands.

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Music credit: Sergey Cheremisinov - Black Swan

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TIMESTAMPS:

EPISODE 1: BOOZE, STRYCHNINE, AND FERAL DOGS – THE STORY OF THE 1904 MEN’S OLYMPICS – 04m: 20s

EPISODE 2: CORPORAL VOJTEK –  30m: 20s

EPISODE 3: THE FIRST SERIAL KILLER (WE KNOW ABOUT) – 54m: 33s

EPISODE 4: SPOOKY HISTORY – 1h: 28m: 47s

Music: “Krampus’s Workshop” by Kevin MacLeod

In the early 1500s, the Catholic Church is plagued by corruption, and the Pope is blind to his people. To fund the building of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, he offers to sell indulgences; money in exchange for eternal salvation. In Germany, a priest named Martin Luther takes offense.

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Music credit: Sergey Cheremisinov - Black Swan

When Bohemian priest Jan Hus begins preaching some novel theological concepts, he thinks he’s engaging in mere academic expression. Instead, he gets sucked into an ecclesiastical war between three Popes and an emperor. Against these forces, he fails.

But the legacy of Jan Hus would spread beyond Bohemia. Over the next century, he would become a symbol of church reform, and his teachings would form the backbone that would change Christianity forever.

Also, I apologize for my inconsistency in the pronunciation of “Sigismund” and “Hussite.” I am an American.

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Music credit: Sergey Cheremisinov - Black Swan

In the 1400s, the Iberian peninsula is divided into a handful of smaller countries. By the end of the century, Spain would be one of the leading powers in Europe. By the end of the next, her colonial empire would be the greatest in the world. But what if you found out that “Spain” never even existed until the 1700s?

In this episode, Dan talks about the marriage of Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon. Their marriage, and the union of their two crowns, would forge a new kingdom, and a new national identity.

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By the end of April, 1453, the city of Constantinople is in a desperate state. Without immediate relief from their fellow Christians, the city will surely fall. Can the defenders hold out until help arrives? In his second episode on the Fall of Constantinople, Dan brings the story to its epic conclusion.

MAP OF THE FIRST THREE WEEKS OF THE SIEGE: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/62/Siege_of_Constantinople_1453_map-fr.svg/2500px-Siege_of_Constantinople_1453_map-fr.svg.png

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Whether or not 1453 is the most important year in history is a subjective question. But if it’s not on your top five list, it should be. It was the year the city of Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Empire. This isn’t just about the transfer of one city, or even the end of the Byzantine civilization. It’s the day the Middle Ages ended and the Renaissance began. It heralded a new day in the history of Islam, with the Ottomans rising to supremacy, and it motivated Western European nations to look for a new route to the riches of the east. Here is the first half of the story of the Fall of Constantinople.

MAP OF THE FIRST THREE WEEKS OF THE SIEGE: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/62/Siege_of_Constantinople_1453_map-fr.svg/2500px-Siege_of_Constantinople_1453_map-fr.svg.png

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Music credit: Sergey Cheremisinov - Black Swan