476 to 533 The Vandal Kingdom has had its ups and its downs since the fall of the West. Four kings work to maintain Gaiseric’s legacy in the face of a hostile populace and a looming threat in the East. Website for this episode Instagram Sources Support the Show Title Music: "The Britons" by Kevin MacLeod ( incompetech.com ) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Sound effects from freesound.com...
Sep 11, 2023•29 min•Ep. 38
490ish to 526 A whirlwind tour around Europe, checking in on what’s been going on in the years up to Theodoric’s death. Webpage for this episode Instagram https://darkagespod.com/2023/07/11/2-14-consolidation-and-conversion/ Sources Support the Show Title Music: "The Britons" by Kevin MacLeod ( incompetech.com ) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Sound effects from freesound.com...
Jul 24, 2023•28 min•Ep. 37
493 (maybe?) to 511 We finish off the career of Clovis I, and then backtrack to talk about his conversion to Catholicism, and what it all meant. Webpage for this episode Instagram Facebook Sources Support the Show Title Music: "The Britons" by Kevin MacLeod ( incompetech.com ) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Sound effects from freesound.com...
Jul 10, 2023•34 min•Ep. 36
486 to 508 Clovis and his army carve a new thing, called France, out of old Roman Gaul. Webpage for this episode Instagram Facebook Sources Support the Show Title Music: "The Britons" by Kevin MacLeod ( incompetech.com ) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Sound effects from freesound.com...
Jun 26, 2023•28 min•Ep. 35
c. 400 to 486 CE We review the sources for the reign of Clovis the First, and review the scenario in northern Gaul when he came to power. Webpage for this episode Instagram Facebook Sources Support the Show Title Music: "The Britons" by Kevin MacLeod ( incompetech.com ) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Sound effects from freesound.com...
May 25, 2023•30 min•Ep. 34
The legends and literature that came out of the Dark Ages are rich and stirring tales of heroism that have inspired both great art and terrible crimes. In this episode, I retell three stories from the many contained in the sagas and epics of Germany and Scandinavia. Transcript Title Music: "The Britons" by Kevin MacLeod (incomptech.com) Incidental Music: "Pippin the Hunchback" by Kevin MacLeod (https://freepd.com) "Hidden Past" by Kevin MacLeod (https://filmmusic.io/u/kmac) "Temple of the Manes"...
Apr 24, 2023•57 min•Ep. 33
511 to 526 CE "Lying in a featherbed will not bring you fame, nor staying beneath the quilt, and he who uses up his life without achieving fame leaves no more vestige of himself on earth than smoke in the air or foam upon the water." --Dante The last years of Theodoric's reign in Italy saw the erosion of confidence, and increasing internal strife, along with diplomatic reversals abroad. Episode Webpage Support the Show Sources Title Music: "The Britons" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) License...
Mar 24, 2023•32 min•Ep. 32
484 to 519 CE Divisions within the church have consequence for Theodoric's relationship with the Emperor. Against my better judgment, this episode is mostly about religion. So, remember when I was talking about Boethius and I mentioned the Acacian Schism, and I said it was just too obscure to get into? Well guess what? Transcript and more Support the show Title Music: "The Britons" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/l...
Mar 06, 2023•38 min•Ep. 31
500 - 511 CE Theodoric and Cassiodorus work to prevent war in Western Europe, while crafting an image of imperial majesty. In the end, it works out pretty well for the Ostrogoths. Episode Website Sources Support the Show Title Music: "The Britons" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Sound effects from freesound.com...
Feb 20, 2023•31 min•Ep. 30
We pause to take a look at two of the most famous subjects of Theodoric the Great. Transcript for today's show. Support the podcast here . Title Music: "The Britons" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Sound effects from freesound.com...
Feb 02, 2023•27 min•Ep. 29
493 to about 505 CE Theodoric's kingdom in Italy gets historians unreasonably excited. We'll explore how he ran it, how he turned himself from warband chief to beloved king, and how he worked to restore the glory of old. Support the Show Title Music: "The Britons" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Sound effects from freesound.com...
Jan 16, 2023•25 min•Ep. 28
488 to 493 Theodoric leads his people to Italy, to make war on Odoacer and win for himself a permanent kingdom. Transcript and Maps Here Just Maps Here Support the show Here Title Music: "The Britons" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Sources: Heather, Peter J. The Restoration of Rome: Barbarian Popes and Imperial Pretenders . Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2014. Martindale, J.R. The Prosopography ...
Dec 27, 2022•22 min•Ep. 27
479 to 488 Rocky relations between Theodoric and Zeno lead to ups and downs for the Ostrogoths, along with many diversions and detours in their search for a stable home. Finally, an opportunity arises in Italy, and Theodoric moves boldly in the direction of one last gamble. Maps for this episode. Support the show Title Music: "The Britons" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Sound effects from freesoun...
Dec 12, 2022•29 min•Ep. 26
c. 460 to 479 CE We welcome to the stage Theodoric, soon to be Theodoric the Great, king of the Ostrogoths. In the process we catch up on the overwritten soap opera that was politics in Constantinople in the 470s. It’s a wild ride. Webpage for this episode Maps Title Music: "The Britons" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/...
Nov 28, 2022•40 min•Ep. 25
455 to 490 CE Odoacer is a name that is little known and little celebrated. This episode illuminates the career of the soldier who closed the book on the Roman empire, who was he, and why don't we know him better? Episode Website Support the Show References Bury, John B. 1967. The Invasion of Europe by the Barbarians . Edited by Fossey John C. Hearnshaw. New York: Norton. Eugippius. 1965. Commemoratorium Severinus . Translated by Ludwig Bieler. Washington, DC: Catholic University Press. Frassett...
Nov 07, 2022•28 min•Ep. 24
This the first episode of Season 2 takes a broad look at what the waging of war looked like in the dark ages, from weapons to tactics and funding. It's good to be back. For the transcript of this episode, along with images and links, visit www.darkagespod.com . Now you can support the podcast at ko-fi.com/darkagespod , the digital tip-jar. Help me keep the lights on around here with just a few bucks, if you can. Links: Full text of "The Battle of Maldon" A reading of "The Battle of Maldon" Music...
Oct 24, 2022•44 min•Ep. 23
474 to 476 CE In which we kill off the Western Roman Empire, and then dig through the remains to try and figure out what happened. More importantly, where do we go from here? Title Music: "The Britons" by Kevin MacLeod at Free Music Archive Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Sep 12, 2022•32 min•Ep. 22
c. 367 to c. 460 CE The much-promised episode about post Roman Britain arrives, to explore what a real Dark Age would look like. Sources Music Credits: Title Music: "The Britons" by Kevin MacLeod at Free Music Archive Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Other Music: "Pippin the Hunchback", "Nordic Wist", & "Moorland", all by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativeco...
Aug 29, 2022•40 min•Ep. 21
453 CE to 460 CE Out of the wreckage of Attila's empire, new peoples emerge. New actors inject new elements into the political game of the late Roman empire British Museum entry for the Gepids, with some artefacts History Files Article and Regnal List of the Gepids Scirian Earring found at Bakod Puszta Sources Title Music: "The Britons" by Kevin MacLeod at Free Music Archive Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/...
Aug 08, 2022•37 min•Ep. 20
466 to around 473 The Visigoths break out, under the leadership of their new and aggressive King Euric. Inside the empire, another emperor falls to Ricimer's scheming. An appropriate map for this episode is here . Sources are here Title Music: "The Britons" by Kevin MacLeod at Free Music Archive Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/...
Jul 25, 2022•30 min•Ep. 19
461 to 468 CE The East and West combine forces in one great push to take Africa backs from the Vandals and make everything all better. Sources Title Music: "The Britons" and "The Vikings" by Kevin MacLeod at Free Music Archive Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Sound effects from freesound.com...
Jun 27, 2022•29 min•Ep. 18
456 to 464 CE Emperor Majorian and his Right-Hand man Ricimer attempt to pull the empire back from the brink after the departure of Avitus. But there's a snake in the grass, a fly in the ointment, and a bad apple in the barrel. It all leads to the creation of a new entity called the Kingdom of Soissons. Or does it? Map of Majorian's Campaigns Sources Title Music: "The Britons" by Kevin MacLeod ( incomptech.com ) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licen...
Jun 07, 2022•36 min•Ep. 17
The Franks, Part I 280 to 480 CE We welcome the Franks onto the stage of Europe, and look at their origins, early history, ferocious reputation, and the way modern politics work their way into the telling of history. Fittings from the Sword and Scabbard found in Childeric's tomb. Childeric's Ring at the Bibliotheque Nationale de France Childeric's Bees Sword and Scabbard Decoration from Childeric's Treasure Sources Title Music: "The Britons" by Kevin MacLeod ( incomptech.com ) Licensed under Cre...
May 13, 2022•32 min•Ep. 16
418 to 456 CE A senator by the name of Eparchius Avitus is dragooned into filling the imperial shoes left behind by the well-aimed brick that took out Petronius Maximus. His life gives a framework for discussing the place of southern Gaul within the Roman empire, and how the Visigoths were settling in. The full text of Sidonius' letter describing Theodoric. Sources Title Music: "The Britons" by Kevin MacLeod ( incomptech.com ) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativeco...
Apr 20, 2022•37 min•Ep. 15
The Vandals Part III 439 to 455 CE “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be therefore as wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” Matthew, 10:16 Gaiseric weathers Roman attempts to recover the African provinces, and begins to set his house in order. Marriage deals are made and broken, and an ancient version of gunboat diplomacy is used by the new king. Meanwhile, jealousy and paranoia lead to big changes in the Roman government, and the consequences are severe. The Vandals ...
Apr 04, 2022•38 min•Ep. 14
c. 450 to c. 482 CE Saint Severinus was a holy man who was active in Noricum Ripensis, in modern Austria and Bavaria. His life coincided with the end of Roman rule in the west, and the biography that was written by his disciple Eugippius includes several insights into the world as the ancient social structures changed and were replaced by new anxieties and dangers. In this episode we'll talk about those changes and the new role religion was taking on in the formerly Roman West. Article on the No...
Mar 21, 2022•28 min•Ep. 13
The Huns, Part IV 450-453 CE Attila unleashed his fury on the Western empire in two back to back campaigns. The first culminated in the Battle of the Catalaunian Fields. The second ended with the famous meeting between Attila the Hun and Pope Leo I. Map of Attila's Invasion of Italy Sources War dominates the scene on today's episode, as it does on today's headlines. The inevitable consequence of war is the displacement of those caught in its path. If you can, please donate to one of the organiza...
Mar 08, 2022•34 min•Ep. 12
c. 448 CE In the spring, a diplomatic mission set out from Constantinople for discussions with Attila the Hun. One of the men on the trip later wrote out his experience in one of the most detailed accounts of life among the Huns. This episode condenses the writing of Priscus of Panion, diplomat and historian. Title Music: "The Britons" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Sound effects from freesound.co...
Feb 20, 2022•37 min•Ep. 11
408 - 439 CE The Vandals, along with their allies, the Alans and Suevi, ravage Spain before moving into Africa. There, under the leadership of their king Gaiseric, they will achieve something no other Barbarian tribe has yet accomplished. Map of the Vandal Invasion of Spain Roman Provinces of Africa The Peutinger Tabula Music Title: "The Britons" by Kevin MacLeod http://www.freepd.com Incidental Music by Andrew Sitkov...
Feb 04, 2022•39 min•Ep. 10
c. 200 BCE to 408 CE I introduce the Vandals with a cold. The Vandals don't have a cold, I have a cold. So, sorry about that. The Vandals rose up next door to the Goths, with whom they would have a complicated relationship. This episode tracks their early migration into Gaul and then Spain, and talks a little bit about what their home life would have been like. There's also a bonus tribe, as we sketch a bit about the Alans. And as promised, I learned to pronounce "Przeworsk" Report on the Archae...
Jan 21, 2022•34 min•Ep. 9
