The History of Byzantium - podcast cover

The History of Byzantium

A podcast telling the story of the Roman (Byzantine) Empire from 476 AD to 1453. www.thehistoryofbyzantium.com

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Episodes

Episode 331 - The Last Hope

John VIII Palaiologos asks the Pope for an Ecumenical Council to reunite the churches. To his surprise the Pontiff says yes and a huge Byzantine contingent travels to Italy. Period: 1425-48 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 20, 202527 min

Episode 329 - Buying Time

With the Ottoman civil war raging Manuel II Palaiologos tries to improve the Roman position and ensure his sons succeed him. Period: 1402-30 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 06, 202530 min

Episode 328 - In the Nick of Timur

Manuel II Palaiologos refuses to play vassal to Sultan Bayezid. So the Ottomans set up a permanent blockade of New Rome. The siege would last for eight years and only a miracle could save the Romans. Period: 1391-1402 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 30, 202530 min

Episode 327 - Vassals and Pawns

John V Palaiologos faces rebellions from his sons and Grandsons. Forcing the Romans to become both Ottomans vassals and the pawns of Venice and Genoa. Period: 1371-91 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 23, 202526 min

Episode 326 - The Rise of the Ottomans, Part 2

We look at the details of how the Ottomans ran their state. Including the creation of loyalty to the ruling dynasty, succession policy, military recruitment and slave trading. Period: 1280-1371 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 15, 202526 min

Episode 324 - Just Another Beylik

John V Palaiologos takes charge of the Empire but finds he has only one option left to save his state. He must travel West and beg for Latin help. Meanwhile the Turks conquer Thrace. Period: 1355-71 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 02, 202528 min

Episode 323 - At Least Things Can’t Get Any Worse

Finally in sole control of the Empire John Kantakouzenos makes plans to restore the Roman world. His plans come to nothing though as he immediately faces war, invasion and plague. Period: 1347-55 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 25, 202529 min

Episode 322 - The Worst Civil War, Part 2

In order to gain the throne John Kantakouzenos destroys what is left of the Roman Empire. He allows the Serbs to conquer Macedonia while his Turkish allies enslave his people. Period: 1343-47 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 18, 202523 min

Episode 321 - The Worst Civil War, Part 1

Andronikos III Palaiologos died on the 15th June 1341. Four months later his nearest and dearest were at each others throats. His right hand man John Kantakouzenos declared himself Emperor but was rejected by the people at every turn. Refusing to give up he invited foreign powers to intervene on his behalf. Period: 1341-43 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 11, 202528 min

Episode 320 - The Last Hurrah

Andronikos III Palaiologos takes charge of a Roman state still recovering from the loss of Anatolia and the raids of the Catalans. He takes on the challenge with enthusiasm and tangles with the Turks, Latins and Serbs. He also reunites Epiros and Thessaly with Constantinople. Period: 1328-41 Check out my episodes on the First Crusade which have been turned into videos by @Empire-Builders Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Apr 04, 202523 min

Episode 319 - Orthodox Questions with Father John Strickland. Part 2

This is part two of my Q&A with Father John Strickland. We talk about the Protestant reformation, Autocephalous churches and connections to Byzantium amongst other topics. John is the pastor of an Orthodox Church in Poulsbo in Washington State. He wrote a four-volume series about the history of Christian civilization called Paradise and Utopia. He’s also recorded a podcast of the same name as an accompaniment to the books which you can find wherever you get your podcasts or at www.ancientfai...

Mar 07, 20251 hr 4 min

Episode 318 - Orthodox Questions with Father John Strickland. Part 1

This episode is brought to you by Telepaideia, a collection of live online courses in Latin, Ancient Greek, and the classical humanities offered by The Paideia Institute. Visit www.paideiainstitute.org/telepaideia to browse the course catalogue and register! It’s my pleasure today to welcome back Father John Strickland to the podcast. Four episodes ago we talked in detail about the Divine Liturgy and its place at the heart of Byzantine life. I put out the call for listeners to ask questions. Par...

Feb 12, 202557 min

Intelligent Speech conference this Saturday

This Saturday – the 8th February 2025 is the Intelligent Speech online conference. A gathering of fellow history podcasters. Who will be talking about Deception – lies and forgeries. There are 3 keynote speakers in Jo Hedwig Teeuwisse, Otto English and Wesley Livesay. Along with a host of fun roundtables packed with podcasting talent. I will be on two panels. They are back to back so from 11 am – 1pm Eastern Standard time you will get all the History of Byzantium you need. I will be on a panel d...

Feb 03, 20251 min

Episode 317 - The Byzantine Legacy with David Hendrix

This episode is brought to you by Telepaideia, a collection of live online courses in Latin, Ancient Greek, and the classical humanities offered by The Paideia Institute. Visit www.paideiainstitute.org/telepaideia to browse the course catalogue and register! I interview David Hendrix the man behind the incredible website ' The Byzantine Legacy .' It was David who showed me around Istanbul when I first visited in 2018. His website is an amazing resource for anyone who wants to know what survives ...

Jan 30, 202542 min

January 2025 Update

Happy New Year. I have two interviews coming out shortly for you to enjoy. One with David Hendrix of the Byzantine Legacy website ( www.thebyzantinelegacy.com ) and a return visit from Father John Strickland to answer more questions about Orthodoxy. Both those episodes are being sponsored by Telepaideia. a collection of live online courses in Latin, Ancient Greek, and the classical humanities offered by The Paideia Institute. You can take beginner classes in Latin and Ancient Greek. Visit www.pa...

Jan 24, 20254 min

Episode 316 - Questions XVI

We look at listener questions about feudalism, the Catalans, the Armenians and many other topics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 16, 202440 min

Episode 315 - Questions XV

We look at listener questions about Andronikos II. Why was he so useless? Why did no one overthrow him? How poor was the Empire? And many more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 09, 202432 min

Ask me anything and Tour Dates

I have another 3 things to tell you. Tomorrow, as in Sunday 1st December, I will be hosting 3 Zoom Calls for Patrons, where you can ask me anything. This is a reminder for those of you already on Patreon. And if you’re not but want to get on the call then you could just sign up for $1 and join in the conversation. The calls are at 2pm, 5pm and 8pm in Coordinated Universal Time. Which is essentially the same as Greenwich Mean Time but apparently we don’t want to show off too much about that. Anyw...

Nov 30, 20243 min

Episode 314 - The Divine Liturgy with Father John Strickland

It's time we talked about Orthodoxy in more detail. I ask Father John Strickland to explain the Divine Liturgy, and it's Byzantine origins, to me. John is the pastor of an Orthodox Church in Poulsbo in Washington State. He has also written a four-volume series about the history of Christian civilization called Paradise and Utopia. And he’s recorded a podcast of the same name as an accompaniment to the books. He also wrote the Making of Holy Russia : The Orthodox Church and Russian Nationalism be...

Nov 24, 20241 hr 4 min

Episode 313 - A Roman Comic Book with Marco Cappelli

Marco Cappelli, the man behind the Storia D'Italia podcast, has created a Roman history comic book. Ammianus - the Twilight of an Era tells the story of the incredible change that took place across Italy during the 6th century. The comic is so good it made me cry. I interview Marco about why he decided to make this and where the inspiration came from. Get your own copy in Italian, English or Latin! And in physical or digital form here . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information...

Nov 15, 202447 min

Episode 312 - The Mediterranean in the Crusading era with Nicholas Morton

Professor Nicholas Morton returns to tell us about developments on the sea during the Crusading era. We discuss why Venice, Genoa, Pisa and Amalfi were able to dominate the waves. And talk about the ships they used and how they fought. Dr Morton is Associate Professor in Middle Eastern and Global history at Nottingham Trent University in the UK. His new book The Mongol Storm: Making and Breaking Empires in the Medieval Near East is available now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more i...

Nov 06, 20241 hr 3 min

3 things you might like

Hello everyone, Here are 3 podcast-related things you may be interested in. Roman Graphic Novel Friend of the show Marco Capelli has made a comic book set in 6th century Italy. It follows two figures that we know about from an Ostrogothic jewellery collection that was discovered in 1938. A Roman Patrician Stephanus who marries a Gothic noblewoman Valatrud. They are subjects of King Theodoric who is trying to create a functioning Gothic-Roman kingdom in Italy. But their union comes shortly before...

Sep 27, 20246 min

Episode 311 - The Next Generation

When Andronikos' son dies he ponders whether to disinherit his Grandson Andronikos III. This prompts two bouts of civil war as the younger generation try to force change on their elders. Period: 1310-1328 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 17, 202427 min

Episode 310 - The Catalan Company

Andronikos roles the dice and hires the Catalan Grand Company to fight the Turks. Those who advised the Emperor not to hire them could never have imagined just how badly things would go. Meanwhile Latin forces continue to take Aegean islands for themselves. Period: 1281-1303 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 11, 202425 min

Episode 309 - Cautious and Weak

We look at Andronikos II Palailogos' domestic arrangements and European wars. After disbanding his fleet to save money the Emperor was repeatedly humiliated by the Venetians. We also look at the Emperor's personality to understand why he was not best suited to the difficult times he lived in. Period: 1281-1303 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 04, 202423 min

Episode 308 - The Fall of Anatolia

The arrival of the Mongols in Anatolia would eventually lead to the expulsion of the Romans. Mongol dominance of the plateau sent waves of tribes into Byzantine territory. It was a crisis which the Emperor Andronikos was not equal to. Period: 1281-1303 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 28, 202428 min

Episode 307 - Healing the Divisions

The Union of Lyons had unleashed bitter division within Byzantium. We follow Michael and his son Andronikos as they try to make peace with the various factions that had opposed them. Period: 1281-1310 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 21, 202421 min

Episode 306 - Church Union

The Pope responds with despair to the news of Constantinople's fall. He calls for a Crusade to restore the Latin position. The man who answers is the brother of the King of France, Charles of Anjou. Michael Palaiologos is willing to do whatever it takes to stop them. This means he must agree to church union. Period: 1261-82 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 14, 202437 min

Episode 305 - The Return from Exile

Michael VIII Palaiologos enters the city of Constantine for the first time. He has a lot of work to do to rebuild the city and restore its prestige. He must also navigate a complex diplomatic position which sees his forces in action on five fronts simultaneously. Period: 1261-5 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 07, 202422 min
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