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A journey through the myths and history of Ancient Greece and Rome for all the family.
Episodes
Wednesday Nov 21, 2018
Wednesday Nov 21, 2018
Manuel II goes a-calling on the heads of state of the major European powers in order to find some support in saving his dying empire.
Sunday Nov 04, 2018
Sunday Nov 04, 2018
A lot has been going on in the former Western Roman Empire in the 300 years between 1100 and 1400!
Sunday Oct 21, 2018
Sunday Oct 21, 2018
Introducing the Hokey Cokey Emperor. Is he in power or out? In, out, in, out!
Tuesday Jul 31, 2018
Tuesday Jul 31, 2018
Fractious and incompetent behaviour from the ruling family plunge the Empire into crisis. It’s not going to get any better!
Sunday Jul 01, 2018
Sunday Jul 01, 2018
A brilliant general becomes Emperor of Nicaea. It only takes him a few years to regain the great city of Constantinople. Unfortunately everyone is out to get him and it takes a lifetime of juggling to stabilise his empire.
Monday May 07, 2018
Monday May 07, 2018
Welcome to nearly sixty years of total and utter chaos. Four empires and at least twenty emperors fight, make alliances, break alliances and generally fail to get on. Something has to give!
Sunday Apr 22, 2018
Sunday Apr 22, 2018
The Angeli prove themselves to be so incompetent that the capital of the Empire cannot withstand the crusading armies. Calamity results.
Sunday Apr 01, 2018
Sunday Apr 01, 2018
Andronicus Comnenus could not, quite obviously, be allowed to continue as Basileus. If only his demise, like that of Domitian for example, had been planned. Then, perhaps, the chaos and incompetence that followed could have been avoided.
Sunday Mar 18, 2018
Sunday Mar 18, 2018
Manuel Comnenus thinks big but is a bit to pro-western. His cousin, though, is an entirely different kettle of fish!
Saturday Mar 10, 2018
Sunday Mar 04, 2018
Sunday Mar 04, 2018
John the Beautiful fails to achieve all his aims as he goes and dies at exactly the wrong moment. He is succeeded by his son: how will he do?
Saturday Feb 17, 2018
Thursday Dec 28, 2017
Thursday Dec 28, 2017
The Pope launches the first crusade with mixed results for Alexius and hie empire!
Saturday Oct 28, 2017
Saturday Oct 28, 2017
A quick look at France, Germany and England in the 300 years up to the start of the First Crusade.
Sunday Aug 20, 2017
Sunday Aug 20, 2017
Everyone knows about 1066 and all that. The Normans' other conquests are less famous but equally important. Just ask Alexius Comnenus!
Wednesday Aug 02, 2017
Monday May 22, 2017
Monday May 22, 2017
The great Macedonian Dynasty comes to an end. The Empire begins its final spiral into nothingness.
Sunday May 07, 2017
Sunday May 07, 2017
Basil's death begins a steep decline. If you want to be emperor then marry Zoe!
Sunday Apr 16, 2017
Sunday Apr 16, 2017
Basil II finally has time to give his full attention to the Bulgars. It's not pretty!
Sunday Jan 22, 2017
Sunday Jan 22, 2017
Basil II takes control of his empire, finally dispatching the pesky Bardases! And then he plans... a lot.
Sunday Jan 08, 2017
Sunday Jan 08, 2017
The Empire is still on the rise despite the meddling of two men called Bardas!
Sunday Dec 25, 2016
Thursday Dec 15, 2016
Thursday Dec 15, 2016
Romanus II succeeds his father but is partied out before too long. Romanus's loss is the Empire's gain.
Sunday Dec 11, 2016
Sunday Dec 11, 2016
An important announcement about Christmas scheduling and my new recording technology.
Sunday Nov 27, 2016
Sunday Nov 27, 2016
Having taken the place of his own son-in-law as senior emperor Romanus Lecapenus begins ro rule. He does a surprisingly good job. Shame about his sons!
Sunday Nov 13, 2016
Sunday Nov 13, 2016
Leo the Wise finally solves his marriage problem and has the legitimate heir he's always wanted. Then he dies too early!
Sunday Oct 23, 2016
Sunday Oct 09, 2016
Sunday Oct 09, 2016
Michael III is known to history as Michael the Drunkard. While this may have some truth, it is mostly slander - perpetrated by a certain Basil the Macedonian.
Sunday Sep 25, 2016
Sunday Sep 25, 2016
Christmas Day dawns and Leo V is a troubled man. By the end of it he would be a dead one. The Empire, though, is soon rolling in cash.
Sunday Sep 11, 2016
Sunday Sep 11, 2016
The Khagan of the Bulgars proves to be more than a match for Nicephorus. Meanwhile the hermit's prophecy begins to come true!
Sunday Aug 28, 2016
Sunday Aug 28, 2016
Leo IV could have been a good emperor but didn't get the chance. Unfortunately his wife did!
Sunday Aug 14, 2016
Sunday Aug 14, 2016
What's been happening in the west in the 300 years since Rome fell? Time to find out!
Tuesday Jul 19, 2016
Tuesday Jul 19, 2016
My new ebook: Legends of King Arthur and His Knights is now available on all Amazon stores. The ASIN code is B01I8IB7J8.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01I8IB7J8 for the UK
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01I8IB7J8 in the US
Sunday Jul 10, 2016
Sunday Jul 10, 2016
After decades of turmoil a strong emperor finally assumes the purple. His reign may have been good news for the people but it was bad news for icons! And as for his son....
Sunday Jun 26, 2016
Sunday Jun 26, 2016
The Empire realises, far too late, that exile is not enough for a deposed hated emperor..... he just might come back!
Sunday Jun 12, 2016
Sunday Jun 12, 2016
Is there finally some light? Maybe. Bring on a vigorous young emperor and a brand new weapon!
Sunday May 29, 2016
Sunday May 29, 2016
Heraclius completes his mission against the Persians. Has he done enough?
Sunday Apr 03, 2016
Sunday Apr 03, 2016
A huge welcome to Elias Belhaddad who will take us through the rise of a new force. The world will never be the same again!
Sunday Mar 20, 2016
Sunday Mar 20, 2016
Phocas's reign comes to an end in a brutal manner. His successor proves to be just what the Empire needs.
Sunday Mar 06, 2016
Sunday Mar 06, 2016
The Empire successfully keeps its enemies at bay for more than 20 years. And then...?
Monday Feb 22, 2016
Monday Feb 22, 2016
Justinian was certainly a great man; a man of drive, vision and courage. His achievements were many... but at what cost?
Sunday Jan 31, 2016
Sunday Jan 31, 2016
Justinian sends his best general, the great Belisarius, to North Africa to evict the Vandals. If successful he will plough on and have a go at the big one: the reconquest of Rome.
Sunday Jan 17, 2016
Sunday Jan 17, 2016
Justin is the Emperor but he's not really in charge. His nephew, Peter Sabbatius, gains a new name and a lot of power. Not only that, Peter has the ambition and drive to exercise his power.
Sunday Jan 03, 2016
Sunday Jan 03, 2016
The Eastern Empire is healthy and flourishing but the Western Empire is gone. It's time to reflect on the reasons why.
Thursday Dec 24, 2015
Sunday Dec 13, 2015
Sunday Dec 13, 2015
The fact that the Roman Empire used to contain a city called Rome quickly becomes a distant memory. Constantinople has its own problems. Stability is provided by an old man who proves that age is no barrier to imperial success.
Friday Nov 20, 2015
Friday Nov 20, 2015
Rome may have fallen but it's not taking this podcast with it. The Eastern Empire is still going strong but will undergo major changes, making our histories of Greece and Rome merge into one.
Monday Nov 16, 2015
Monday Nov 16, 2015
And so Rome falls. The inevitability is clear but the shock is still remarkable. On the other hand life continues as normal.
Sunday Nov 01, 2015
Sunday Nov 01, 2015
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear! Barbarian generals and emperors battle for control of the Empire while other barbarians annex large parts of it. The countdown towards the fall of Rome gathers pace.
Sunday Oct 18, 2015
Sunday Oct 18, 2015
And so we reach the beginning of the end. The signs have been there since the death of Theodosius the Great but now everyone can see them, including a certain very famous barbarian king!