Episodes
Oct. 1, 2019
063 – After Legnano, the cool Crusade and the Italian one
1176 - 1204 We take a look at the aftermath of the battle of Legnano which saw the forces of the Lombard League victorious against Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. Then we take a quick look at the third and fourth Cru...
Sept. 24, 2019
062 – The battle of Legnano
1176 Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa and the Cities of the Lombard League gather their forces and clash at a small town outside of Milan, called Legnano. The battle would echo through the centuries to be remembered in...
Sept. 13, 2019
061 – Prelude to Legnano
1166 - 1174 After the formation of the Lombard League of the communes of northern Italy a clash with Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa had become almost inevitable. Both sides now started to prepare for the confrontatio...
Sept. 3, 2019
Crossover 1 part 2 – With "The History of the Papacy" on the Lombards
In this first ever crossover episode, we talk to Steve Guerra of the History of the Papacy podcast about the Lombards. This is part 2 of 2.
Aug. 27, 2019
Crossover 1 part 1 – With "The History of the Papacy" on the Lombards
In this first ever crossover episode, we talk to Steve Guerra of the History of the Papacy podcast about the Lombards. This is part 1 of 2.
Aug. 20, 2019
060 – A communal storm arising
1162 - 1167 We see how after sorting out Milan, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa also goes on to try and deal with pope Alexander III. Meanwhile, the communes start to learn that there can be strength in numbers, with ...
Aug. 14, 2019
059 – Barbarossa brings the heat
1158 - 1162 After the diet of Roncaglia, we follow Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa as he tries to deal with a papal schism between Victor IV and Alexander III and then goes on to deal with the communes, particularly t...
Aug. 7, 2019
058 – Byzantium is back and so is Barbarossa
1155 - 1158 We see an attempt by Eastern Roman Emperor Manuel Komnenus to bring at least part of Italy back into the empire, a peace between pope Hadrian IV and the Norman king William I. Then, of course there is the continui...
July 30, 2019
057 – Hadrian and Frederick's troubles in Rome
1154 - 1155 Hadrian IV tries to come to terms with the Roman commune and its moral leader, Arnaldo da Brescia, but the results are not quite as they expected
July 23, 2019
056 – Communal growing pains, an English pope and Barbarossa on the scene
The communes start to feel they need some admin changes. We go from pope Eugene III through an Anastasius for a bit to the major hitter Hadrian IV. All the while Frederick Barbarossa starts to come into play
July 12, 2019
Fill in episode – Women's world cup and how offsides came to Pulaski, VA
While still doing a little dillying and a touch of dallying, we take a moment to look at the recent Women's Fifa soccer world cup and relive some soccer memories from the great state of Virginia.
July 3, 2019
Fill-in episode – A trip to Puglia and listener questions
While waiting to get back on track, we take a virtual trip to Puglia and answer some listener questions and comments
June 13, 2019
055 – A new Roman Republic and a kind-of crusade
1143 - 1147 n the first half of the 12th century, with communes popping up like mushrooms, Rome wasn't just gonna sit back and let them have all the fun. However, if there's something about Rome, it's that there is always a p...
June 7, 2019
054 – A troubled new kingdom and cantankerous communes
1130 - 1143 We accompany Duke Roger of Sicily, Puglia and Calabria in his attempt to set up a kingdom before we take a look around our spanking new communes.
May 29, 2019
053 – Guelfs, Ghibellines and Normans with big ideas
1122 - 1130 We finally get back to the chronological narration of Italian history, popping in to see a new Holy Roman Emperor, a new pope, or couple of popes and catch up with the ambitious Normans
May 21, 2019
052 – A wander around in the early 12th century
Having set up the start of the communes, we take a look at what it would be like to wander around an Italian city in the early 12th century
May 14, 2019
051 – Communes rising
We take a look at how a new form of local government, the Communes rose and gained their independence from the feudal powers that be,
May 1, 2019
Recap 03: Episodes 28 – 50 from the year 1000 to the concordat of Worms in 1122
Using th concordat of Worms as a stopping point, we look back over th episodes that cover from the year 1000 to the end of the investiture crisis in 1122.
April 22, 2019
050 – Arrivederci Arabs, the Emirate of Sicily part 2
We see the golden age of Muslim Sicily under the Fatimids and Kalbids before everything comes crashing down to to interval division and outside forces.
April 15, 2019
049 – Arrivederci Arabs, the Emirate of Sicily part 1
We take a look back at the Arab invasione of Sicily starting with the early raids in the seventh century, through the invasion of 827 up to the fall of the Aghlabids in the early tenth century.
April 1, 2019
048 – Bye bye Byzantines -The end of Byzantine Italy part 2
In the second part of this miniseries we go from the time of king Rotari of the Lombards at the end of the seventh century to the fall of Bai and the end of the Byzantine presence in Italy.
March 20, 2019
047 – Bye bye Byzantines – The end of Byzantine Italy part 1
We take a look back at the Byzantine presence in Italy, from the Gothic War in 535 up to the start of the seventh century.
March 5, 2019
046 – Matilda of Tuscany, the iron countess of Canossa, part 2
We continue the story of Matilda of Canossa as war breaks out with Emperor Henry IV. We then see yet another failed attempt at marriage, the end of the fight against Henry IV and how things went with his son and successor, H...
Feb. 25, 2019
045 – Matilda of Tuscany, the iron countess of Canossa Part 1
1046 - 1080 We look at the life of Matilda of Canossa, starting from the history of her family through her childhood, the humiliation of Canossa and to the start of the war against Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV.