Some of the greatest stories buried in the folds of history...until now.
A podcast that uncovers the lifetimes and achievements of prolific warlords from ancient and medieval times.
Going beyond the mainstream historical figures that everyone is familiar with, providing a thorough account of lesser known warriors and leaders that were titans during their respective ages.
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Through 208 BC, as Scipio expands Rome’s grip over Hispania, it comes at a heavy cost, allowing Hasdrubal Barca to escape Iberia with his army and invade Italy. A decision that ignites political fury within the Senate, nearly costing Scipio his command and future career. From there, we’ll briefly pivot to the events in Italy, culminating in the fateful Battle of the Metaurus, before returning to Scipio’s campaign, where his subordinates begin to shine, helping Rome seize two-thirds of Carthagini...
Scipio leads his forces deep into southern Hispania in 208 BC for his first great pitched battle. Lured inland by Hasdrubal Barca, he turns the trap against his enemy, concealing the Roman approach before launching a daring, unorthodox attack that shatters the Carthaginian army holding an almost unassailable position. The victory at the Battle of Baecula marking Scipio’s arrival as a preeminent commander, while breaking Carthage’s grip on southern Spain and access to its vital silver mines. Resu...
Incredible stories of the world’s greatest military leaders, uncovered from the folds of history. Warlords of History takes you on immersive journeys, deep into the lives and worlds of ancient and medieval commanders who redefined their eras through strategy, courage and audacity. Hosted by Mark Pimenta, each episode blends in-depth research with compelling storytelling to reveal how these military titans rose to power, igniting daring campaigns and epic battles through which empires were topple...
In this episode, we dive into Scipio’s meticulously planned and breathtaking assault of Carthago Nova in 209 BC. Tracing his rapid ten-day march down the eastern coast of Iberia, with infantry, cavalry and fleet moving in perfect unison, before launching an exquisitely coordinated strike on the city. Blending deception, precision and raw ferocity to achieve the unthinkable, capturing the jewel of Carthage’s Spanish dominion in a single day. A stunning victory that Scipio immediately exploited th...
This episode chronicles Scipio Africanus's challenging early command in Hispania (210 BC) after Rome's devastating losses. He confronts a demoralized army and formidable Carthaginian forces by restoring confidence through inspiring speeches and a brutal training regimen. Concurrently, Scipio develops an extensive intelligence network to formulate a daring, unexpected plan: a lightning strike on Carthago Nova, the heart of Punic power in Spain, setting the stage for one of Rome's most brilliant surprise attacks.
Between 212 and 210 BC, the Second Punic War enters a volatile phase, as triumph and catastrophe hit the Republic in rapid succession. Hannibal wins major victories, yet fails to stop Rome’s momentum as Syracuse falls and pressure mounts on Carthaginian allies. In a desperate bid to save Capua, Hannibal marches on Rome, but fails to divert the Legions from reasserting control across nearly every front. Until disaster strikes in Spain upon the deaths of Scipio’s father and uncle. Driving the youn...
In this episode, we explore Rome's spectacular resurgence in 214 BC as it began to turn the tide of the Second Punic War. Through key victories abroad and sweeping economic reforms at home, how the Republic sustained its unprecedented buildup of Legions, that in 213 BC started clawing back lost ground from Hannibal in southern Italy. Undeniable momentum, fueling a renewed surge of confidence in Rome, while also setting the stage for a bold political maneuver by the young and ambitious Scipio, wh...
In 215 BC as Scipio witnesses his city's desperate struggle to stave off collapse and rebuild its shattered military, Rome focuses its Legions on holding the line against Hannibal in Campania. Only to see its prospects in the Second Punic War grow darker when two foreign powers, Macedon and Syracuse, form alliances with Carthage to bring the Republic to its knees. Triggering the eruption of new theatres of war engulfing much of the Western Mediterranean and despite some surprising successes abro...
With Hannibal having shattered Rome's image as a dominant power at the Battle of Cannae, the cities of southern Italy begin forming alliances with Carthage, bringing the Republic close to collapse in 216 BC. Yet, with the Roman Senate remaining defiant, refusing to accept anything less than total victory in the Second Punic War. Driving them to desperate extremes to assemble new Legions amidst horrific casualties, a ruined economy, food shortages and mass allied defections. This, while Scipio an...
With Scipio as the youngest Military Tribune in the largest army ever fielded by the Roman Republic, this incredible force descends upon Apulia where Hannibal and the Carthaginians await. Leading to the Battle of Cannae, fought on August 2, 216 BC, as we dive into the tactics and maneuvers that would ultimately produce Rome's greatest military disaster. Also leaving 8,000 soldiers trapped within the lone standing Roman encampment, the point at which Scipio arose to lead them to safety through a ...
In this friendly takeover of the Warlords of History Podcast airwaves, the History Daily podcast hosted by Lindsay Graham is featured. Taking you through one of the most pivotal moments in history, which set into motion the series of events that would proceed to rip the Roman Republic apart, leading to its demise and ultimately, its rebirth as the Roman Empire. When on January 10th 49 BC, a provincial governor named Julius Caesar marched his army across the Rubicon river and invaded Italy, plung...
As Scipio takes part in Rome's zealous religious efforts to turn the tide of the Second Punic War, the Republic fails to look inwards, seeing the deficits among its Generals. That Hannibal continues to exploit, invading Central Italy before drawing the Legions into a devastating ambush at the Battle of Lake Trasimene. Driving Rome to adopt the Fabian Strategy to stop the Carthaginian threat, that although promising, is quickly tossed aside in 216 BC. As Rome begins amassing an unprecedented forc...
With Hannibal continuing to tip the scales of power in the Po Valley, the young Scipio bears witness to treacherous setbacks as Rome's authority in the region unravels. Before being forced to abandon the north due to Hannibal's crushing defeat of the Roman Legions at the Battle of the Trebia in late 218 BC. Resulting in Scipio retreating to Rome to find his city feverishly raising new armies, however with the populace also deeply unsettled by a series of dark omens sent from the gods. Soon casca...
While fighting the Gallic tribes to assert control over northern Italy, the Roman Republic becomes distracted to the power that Carthage begins amassing in Spain. Until the legendary Carthaginian General, Hannibal Barca, storms onto the scene to ignite the Second Punic War. In 218 BC, leading his army in an incredible march to ultimately burst through the Alps and invade Italy, before delivering a stinging defeat upon the Romans at the Battle of Ticinus. Where the young Scipio would lay witness ...
Joined by Elliot Gates from the Anthology of Heroes podcast, we reach the conclusion of our story on Leonidas I. Under the shadow of the Achaemenid Persian Empire's enormous second invasion of Greece, we explore the strategy and actions of the Spartan King leading to the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC. Going deep into this violently primal clash, ending in a heroic last stand for Leonidas, his 300 Spartans and allies. That, from the moment they fell, transported their sacrifice and legacy into ...
Joined by Elliot Gates from the Anthology of Heroes podcast, we dive into the life of Leonidas I. The Spartan King who led one of the most incredible last stands in history at the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC. Exploring Sparta's development into a severe and militaristic society, possessing the finest warriors of Ancient Greece, so utterly dedicated to the Spartan state above all. Including the brutal training Leonidas endured as a youth and the events leading up to his crowning. Coinciding w...
In this episode we begin exploring the awe-inspiring lifetime of Scipio Africanus (236 - 183 BC). One of the greatest military commanders of antiquity, who guided the Roman Republic out from its darkest moment. In the Second Punic War, leading brilliant campaigns, winning scintillating battle victories to propel Rome as the unrivalled power in the Mediterranean. Starting our story by digging into Rome's tumultuous history up to Scipio's youth, alongside the culture and virtues that influenced hi...
In the series finale following the life of Judah Maccabee "The Hammer", Gil Kidron joins me to discuss the Maccabean Revolt broadening from a religious conflict into a war of independence. With Judah reshaping his guerrilla force into a veritable Hebrew field army, daring to take on the superior armies of the Seleucid Empire in pitched battle. Initially meeting with a grave setback, followed by Judah's greatest battlefield victory. The prelude to his death in a heroic last stand that would inspi...
Joined by Gil Kidron from A Podcast of Biblical Proportions, we continue with the incredible story of Judah Maccabee "The Hammer" and the early years of the Maccabean Revolt. Initially, a small rebel band, driven by religious zeal, bringing civil war to Judea. But with Judah assuming its leadership early on and transforming them into a fierce guerrilla force. Unleashing devastating ambushes within the Judean wild-lands to win a series of astounding battle victories over the Seleucid armies throu...
Gil Kidron from A Podcast of Biblical Proportions joins me to bring you the incredible story of Judah Maccabee "The Hammer". A Hebrew priest, turned guerilla warlord, who would win spectacular battlefield victories in an unexpectedly fierce rebellion against the mighty Seleucid Empire in the 160s BC called the Maccabean Revolt. A conflict with its origins laying in bitter Judean factionalism, between those embracing Hellenism versus ardent Hebrew traditionalists. Smoldering resentment that erupt...
In the series finale, with Nader Shah poised to continue the dominant run of his Afsharid Iranian Empire, a failed assassination marks the tipping point for his complete mental unravelling. As Nader maliciously lashes out at all around him while pillaging his people to fuel an incessant pace of warfare. Igniting rebellions throughout his realms that he stomps out with excessive brutality and the unhinged Shah heaping more atrocities upon the Iranian populace. Leading to his assassination in 1747...
Having just secured the Iranian crown, Nader Shah begins disrupting the religious bedrock of his nation, while draining its resources to feed his fearsome military machine. Crushing all internal unrest and recapturing Iran's lost domains, before looking abroad. Winning a series of dazzling battlefield victories to overwhelm the Mughal Empire and then smash the Khanates of Central Asia in 1740. Brining Nader to the apex of his power as an unstoppable King of Kings, but under the shadow of his wor...
Recently named as Regent of the Iranian Empire, Nader sets out on the war path to reclaim Iran's lost domains, only to be handed a devastating defeat by the Ottomans. A dire setback that threatens to cast him into oblivion, forcing Nader to show a tremendous force of will to quickly rebuild his broken army. Before returning to the field to avenge the loss, crush his domestic rivals and then deliver an incredible victory at the Battle of Yeghevard. Bringing the Ottoman Empire to its knees and rai...
Newly rooted as savior of the Safavid Iranian Empire and source of power behind the throne of Shah Tahmasp, Nader begins seeding the notion that his ascendancy is Divinely influenced. Strengthened by his spectacular lightening campaign waged against the Ottoman Empire, before racing across Persia to stamp out a dangerous rebellion. This however, giving Tahmasp the breathing space to attempt emerging out from Nader's shadow, in launching a foolhardy expedition that ends in disaster. A humiliation...
Despite breathing life in the bid to restore Shah Tahmasp II to the throne in Persia, Nader is soon caught up in the petty intrigues of his unstable King. Resulting in Nader launching a military coup to firmly take control of the Safavid army. Modernizing and reshaping it into a ferociously effective force. Then embarking on campaign in 1729, displaying sheer strategic and tactical military brilliance to win a series of astonishing victories to dislodge the Afghan Hotaks from their occupation of...
Under the shadow of a crumbling Safavid Iranian Empire, torn apart by rebellions, foreign heavyweights and destined to fall to the Afghan Hotak dynasty in 1722, Nader is pulled into the chaotic maelstrom. Emerging from the rubble as a rogue warlord within Khorasan until a renegade Safavid prince (Tahmasp II) appears in the region, looking to regain the empire. Nader entering his service and quickly proving himself indispensable to the Iranian Shah in exile, headlined by Nader's engineering of a ...
In this episode we begin uncovering the lifetime of Nader Shah (1688 - 1747), the last of the Great Asiatic Military Conquerors. A brilliant battlefield commander who reversed the fortunes of 18th century Iran, salvaging it from the teeth of internal and external foes. Beginning as the unlikely story of an insignificant and poverty stricken youth, hardened by his chaotic environment. Struggling to survive within the crumbling Safavid Iranian Empire, its foundation now rotting due to a series of ...
In the series finale exploring the lifetime and dazzling achievements of King Philip II of Macedon, Philip leads his unstoppable army to win scintillating victories against both familiar and new Balkan foes. Before stumbling heavily, failed sieges on Greek cities that reignites war with the Athenians, under whom a formidable Greek coalition is formed. The prelude to Philip's crowning achievement, his astonishing victory at the Battle of Chaeronea in 338 BCE, asserting Macedon as the unquestioned...
In this episode, Professor Strauss, a leading expert on ancient military history and best selling author, joins the podcast as a featured guest. We explore the attributes and motivations that define those that reach the upper echelons as the most effective military leaders in antiquity. Before going deeper into one of the greatest, Octavian, the future Augustus and first Roman Emperor. Discussing his spectacular rise in the face of a formidable opposing duo, Mark Antony and Cleopatra. All of who...
With Thermopylae blocked to his passage, Philip II of Macedon leads his forces north, asserting dominance over friend and foe alike. Triggering the powerful Chalcidian League to flip their allegiance to Athens and attempt a daring invasion into Macedon while Philip is abroad. Who unleashes a clever diversion and an overwhelming counterattack to decisively end the threat, firmly entrenching Macedon as a major power in Greece. A status galvanized in 346 BCE through masterful deception and diplomat...
