The History of Byzantium

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What's The History of Byzantium about?

A podcast telling the story of the Roman (Byzantine) Empire from 476 AD to 1453. www.thehistoryofbyzantium.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Episode 260 - The Fourth Cr...

01.31.2023

The Latins assault the city and Alexios Angelos Komnenos flees. Alexios Angelos becomes Emperor and empties the treasury into the Crusaders' hands. But when he runs out of money the two sides face an inevitable confrontation. Period: 1203-4 Hosted on ...

The History of Byzantium episodes:

01.31.2023 Episode 260 - The Fourth Crusade (Part 2) The Latins assault the city and Alexios Angelos Komnenos flees. Alexios Angelos becomes Emperor and empties the treasury into the Crusaders' hands. But when he runs out of money the two sides face an inevitable confrontation. Period: 1203-4 Hosted on ...
01.24.2023 Episode 259 - The Fourth Crusade (Part 1) Pope Innocent calls for a new Crusade to retake Jerusalem. A group of French Knights decide to form an expedition to Egypt and make a deal with Venice to transport them. But when they can't pay the bill the mission ...
01.18.2023 Episode 258 - Almost Ungovernable Alexios Angelos faces down one internal rebellion after another as the Roman Empire continues to contract. The biggest threat to his throne comes from disgruntled aristocrats and the people of Constantinople. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
01.10.2023 Episode 257 - What Could Be More Trustworthy than a Brother? Isaac Angelos does his best to secure his position and confront the Bulgarians. But he is overthrown by his brother at the head of a coalition of aristocratic families. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
12.28.2022 Episode 255 - The Third Crusade (part 1) As soon as news reached the West that Jerusalem had fallen a new Crusade was called. The German, French and English Kings all led armies East but only Frederick Barbarossa went by land. He led a large army across the ...
12.21.2022 Episode 254 - Saladin the Strategist with Ben Duval I speak to author Ben Duval, author of the book: "Saladin the Strategist: How the Crusaders Lost the Holy Land." We go through Saladin's career starting with how he captured Egypt. Then how he built the coalition which defeated the ...
12.13.2022 Episode 253 - The Second Bulgarian Empire Isaac Angelos begins his reign by defeating the Normans and making as many alliances as he can to secure his position. Unfortunately he rejects an offer from two Vlach Chieftains Peter and Asen. They turn on the Romans and found ...
12.06.2022 Episode 252 - The Sack of Thessalonica Andronikos continues to terrorise his relatives. Many leave Byzantium seeking help from foreign courts. One arrives in Sicily and calls on the Normans to help him. They launch an invasion and sack the city of Thessalonica. Period: 1184-85 Hosted on ...
11.29.2022 Episode 251 - A Lion Pouncing on a Large Prey When Manuel Komnenos died he left an 11 year old son as his heir. The Regency Council set up to protect him fails. Manuel's cousin Andronikos seizes the throne instead and begins a reign of terror. Hosted on Acast. See ...
08.25.2022 Episode 250 - Retaking Anatolia We talk about why the Romans didn't have more success in fighting the Turks. Was there a better way to fight the nomads? Or was it not really about tactics but strategy? Period: 1070-1180 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for ...
08.18.2022 Episode 249 - Life in Byzantine Anatolia We look around the Roman provinces in Anatolia to review their defensive situation and the lifestyle of its people. We also briefly talk about Turkic people who lived in Byzantium. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
08.10.2022 Episode 248 - Life in Turkic Anatolia We take a look around the parts of Anatolia which were controlled by Turkic peoples between 1080 and 1180 AD. We don’t have a huge amount of written sources to draw on but hopefully there’s enough information available to give ...
08.08.2022 August 2022 Update On my last update I told you that because of my forthcoming fatherhood – I would be switching to a season by season format from now on. Where there are periods of silence followed by a run of episodes altogether. ...
06.14.2022 And the Winner is Hello everyone, as you may remember our last episode was an interview with author Gordon Doherty. Gordon generously offered to give away a copy of his book – Strategos: Born in the Borderlands to one of you. We set a ...
05.11.2022 Baby and New Schedule I have big news. A History of Byzantium baby is on the way. The purple room in the Palace is being prepared for the Autumn and I can assure you that the names Justinian and Theodora will not be under ...
05.05.2022 Episode 247 - Writing Byzantine Fiction with Gordon Doherty I talk to historical fiction author Gordon Doherty about his Byzantine book series 'Strategos.' We talk about inspiration and research but also what advice he'd give to aspiring writers. We also give you the chance to win a copy of ...
04.20.2022 Episode 246 - Travelling to Turkey with Şerif Yenen While I'm away on the third 'History of Byzantium' tour I thought it was time to talk to the man behind them - Şerif Yenen. Şerif has been a tour guide in Istanbul for decades and has published many excellent ...
04.16.2022 April 2022 Update April 2022 Update Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
04.05.2022 Episode 245 - Means and Ends I answer listener questions about Manuel's reign. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
03.29.2022 Episode 244 - Not Completely Unreasonable Manuel deals with the aftermath of the Battle of Myriokephalon. He is left out of an Italian peace conference and must negotiate a peace of his own in Anatolia. He continues his efforts to position Byzantium as a friend of ...
03.22.2022 Episode 243 - The Battle of Myriokephalon Manuel launches a Crusade against the Turks of Iconium. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
03.11.2022 The History of Byzantium on Youtube - Flash Point History I have teamed up with Nitin Sil of the Flash Point History Youtube Channel. We are turning the podcast into a Youtube series with brilliant maps, images and animations accompanying my words. Check out our first video now https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2pQjfOebdI&t;=2241s charting ...
03.10.2022 Episode 242 - Manuel’s Follies While his armies were fighting in the Balkans Manuel's diplomats and fleets were busy elsewhere. Komnenos poured money into Italy to try and gain influence there. He considered alliances with the Germans, the Pope and the Normans but ultimately lost ...
02.26.2022 History of Byzantium Tour - April 23 to May 2, 2022 History of Byzantium Tour - April 23 to May 2, 2022. The tour will visit Istanbul, Cappadocia and Ephesus. If you'd like to come or if you'd like to hear about future tours please email [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See ...
02.22.2022 Episode 241 - Hungary for Security Manuel spends the 1160s at war with Hungary. During these campaigns the Emperor adopts the Hungarian King's brother making him his heir. This enables the Romans to seize Sirmium and parts of Dalmatia. The Hungarian elites won't stand for it ...
02.14.2022 Episode 240 - Manuel’s Constantinople We look around Constantinople in Manuel's day. We discuss his use of the two urban palaces and the growth of the Italian population along the Golden Horn. Period: 1143-61 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
02.04.2022 Episode 239 - The New Aristocracy When Alexios Komnenos came to power his family decided to marry their way out of the civil wars which threatened the state. By Manuel's day this meant that a new aristocracy had grown up who dominated the organs of the ...
01.26.2022 Episode 238 - Queens of Jerusalem with Katherine Pangonis Today we talk to historian Katherine Pangonis about her book 'Queens of Jerusalem.' Not only do we talk about the fascinating lives of the women of Outremer but we also pick up Andronikos' story as he manages to scandalise all ...
01.24.2022 Episode 237 - Manuel and Andronikos We pause the narrative briefly to learn more about Manuel's world. Today we talk about the Emperor's personality and relatives. Including his cousin, friend and rival Andronikos. Period: 1143-61 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
01.07.2022 Episode 236 - Why Make Peace? With Italy and the Balkans at peace Manuel turns his attention to Anatolia. He marches to Antioch to punish those who'd wronged him. He then campaigns against the Turks with surprisingly positive results. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more ...
12.21.2021 Episode 235 - Sundered by Gold Manuel's Italian campaign begins brightly but ends in failure. Meanwhile his cousin Andronikos tries to kill him and more bad news arrives from Antioch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
12.13.2021 Episode 234 - Changing Priorities The Normans raid the cities of Greece during the passage of the Second Crusade. Manuel sees this as such a worrying development that he makes the decision to prioritise the recovery of Apulia over Antioch. This sets off a series ...
11.25.2021 Episode 232 - The Second Crusade, Part 2 We follow the Emperor Conrad and King Louis as they both attempt to cross Anatolia. Period: 1147-1148 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
11.21.2021 Episode 231 - The Second Crusade, Part 1 A 'Second' Crusade is called in response to the fall of Edessa in 1144. The French and German monarchs sign up leaving the Byzantines with multiple headaches to deal with. Period: 1144-1147 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
11.13.2021 Episode 230 - The Sack of Edessa John II Komnenos' youngest son Manuel takes charge of the Empire. After securing the capital and punishing Raymond of Antioch the new Emperor goes on campaign against the Turks. After chasing the Sultan of Iconium to his capital Manuel realises ...
11.02.2021 Discussion with Marco Capelli about Byzantium and Italy Robin discusses 'Byzantium and Italy' with Marco Capelli. Marco is the brilliant host of Storia d'Italia - a podcast telling the story of the History of Italy - in Italian. This interview is in English. Please do tell any Italian ...
10.23.2021 Family Update Family Update Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
10.10.2021 Episode 229 - John Komnenos with Dr Maximilian Lau Today we talk to the man whose research has guided our last few podcasts Dr Maximilian Lau. Dr Lau is Adjunct Professor of Economic History at Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo, and also a Research Associate in History at St Benet’s ...
10.03.2021 Episode 228 - Forgiveness not Permission Last time we watched as John Komnenos attempted to untangle the Gordian knot which Anatolia had become. After campaigning against the Danishmends – John moved on to Cilicia and Antioch. The Emperor attempted to enforce his rights without angering the ...
09.22.2021 Episode 227 - Just Take the Damn City John II Komnenos is finally free to campaign in Anatolia. If he can keep the Turks quiet then he can make it to Antioch where his real goal lies. But once there will he risk outraging Latin opinion by assaulting ...
09.17.2021 Episode 226 - A Crowded Chessboard John II Komnenos takes charge of the Empire and campaigns immediately in Anatolia. But he is soon beset by the complications of the new position Byzantium finds itself in. Serbians, Steppe tribes, Hungarians and Venetians all demand his attention. Enemies ...
08.28.2021 Back to the Narrative I have now finished all of the videos of Istanbul. So do subscribe to the History of Byzantium Youtube channel if you’d like to see them. The first few will go up next week. I have also completed our next ...
08.02.2021 Family Illness Hello everyone, I don’t normally talk about personal things on the podcast. But my father has been diagnosed with cancer. It’s serious and it’s all happened very quickly. I am still working away on the next Byzantine Story but further ...
07.14.2021 Byzantine Stories, Episode 9 - Women in the Byzantine World. Part 1 - Immense and Immeasurable As you may know I have already produced three episodes about Women in the Roman World which are available for you on the Ad-Free Bonus Feed at Patreon. I now present three more episodes about Women in the Byzantine World. ...
07.14.2021 Women in the Byzantine World announcement Hello everyone, I am back with three bonus episodes for you about Women in the Byzantine World. These episodes should be available within an hour or so of this update. Since women get much less attention than they deserve in ...
05.13.2021 An update on the schedule of the podcast, May 2021 An Update on the schedule of the podcast, May 2021 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
04.16.2021 Backer Rewards Episode 16 - Russia and Byzantium with Professor Sergey Ivanov Our sixteenth Kickstarter backers reward episode looks at the relationship between Byzantium and the Rus and later Russia in conversation with Professor Sergey Ivanov. Professor Ivanov is a Russian scholar who has been studying Byzantium for many decades. He currently ...
03.10.2021 Merchandise High Speed History have Byzantine-themed merchandise available! The good people over at Highspeedhistory.com have produced a range of delightful items featuring our beloved Byzantium. We’re talking t-shirts, hoodies, bags, clocks, towels and stickers amongst many other items. I’m very pleased ...
03.04.2021 Episode 225 - Belisarius in Metal When I announced I would be taking a break back in the Autumn I received an email from listener Brian Sherry offering to produce an episode of the show for me. He told me about the metal band Judicator recording ...
02.23.2021 Episode 224 - The Coup of Anna Komnene with Leonora Neville Our final episode on Alexios' reign returns us to our first. Back in episode 197 we interviewed Professor Leonora Neville about Anna Komnene. That interview set us up to cover Alexios' reign and the First Crusade with Anna as our ...

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