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Episode 334 - State Builders from the Steppe with Eric Halsey
Dec 30, 2025 46 min

Episode 334 - State Builders from the Steppe with Eric Halsey

I talk to Eric Halsey about his new book State Builders from the Steppe: A History of the First Bulgarian Empire.In it he chronicles the rise and fall of the Bulgars as they arrive in the Balkans a...

Episode 333 - The Bachelorhood of Basil II with Mark Masterson
Dec 15, 2025 44 min

Episode 333 - The Bachelorhood of Basil II with Mark Masterson

To mark the 1000th anniversary of his death we revisit the bachelorhood of Basil II. My guest is Mark Masterson — until recently Associate Professor of Classics at Victoria University of Wellington...

What Happens Next
Jul 15, 2025 3 min

What Happens Next

I talk about what will happen with the podcast next. Send your questions to [email protected] This Sunday the 20th July I will be hosting 3 Zoom calls for Patrons at 1, 5 and 9pm...

Episode 332 - Not with a Whimper but a Bang
Jul 13, 2025 1h 41m

Episode 332 - Not with a Whimper but a Bang

Mehmed II becomes Sultan in 1451 and immediately makes plans to conquer Constantinople.Period: 1448-53 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 331 - The Last Hope
Jun 20, 2025 27 min

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 o...

Episode 329 - Buying Time
Jun 06, 2025 30 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.

Episode 328 - In the Nick of Timur
May 30, 2025 30 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 Roman...

Episode 327 - Vassals and Pawns
May 23, 2025 25 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/...

Episode 326 - The Rise of the Ottomans, Part 2
May 15, 2025 25 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: 1280-137...

Episode 325 - The Rise of the Ottomans, Part 1
May 09, 2025 19 min

Episode 325 - The Rise of the Ottomans, Part 1

We follow the last century of narrative from an Ottoman point of view.Period: 1280-1371 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 324 - Just Another Beylik
May 02, 2025 28 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...

Episode 323 - At Least Things Can’t Get Any Worse
Apr 25, 2025 28 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 Ho...

Episode 322 - The Worst Civil War, Part 2
Apr 18, 2025 22 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...

Episode 321 - The Worst Civil War, Part 1
Apr 11, 2025 28 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 r...

Episode 320 - The Last Hurrah
Apr 04, 2025 23 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 Turk...

Intelligent Speech conference this Saturday
Feb 03, 2025 1 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 ke...