A History of Europe Key Battles

The most famous battle on English soil in 1066, between the Normans and Anglo-Saxons. Part 1 gives a summary of English and Norman history leading up to that fateful yearwww.historyeurope.net Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first half of the eleventh century, the Normans gained much territory in Italy but in so doing had made many enemies. In 1054 Pope Leo IX brought together a force of Lombards, Germans and Byzantines to confront them. The Normans won an overwhelming victory and effectively conquered the southern half of the peninsula www.historyeurope.net Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more infor...

The Normans arrive in Italy first as pilgrims on their way to the Holy Land, then as mercenaries. It is not long before they begin to acquire territories and titles on the peninsula in their own right.www.historyeurope.net Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The popes of the eleventh and early twelfth century were hardly living by the standards set by their religion. In spite of this this they still enjoyed considerable reverence among the leaders of Christendom. A papal alliance with the German Emperors, which proved highly valuable but sometimes very difficult, became a key element of medieval Italian history. www.historyeurope.net Picture: 12th-cen...

During the next four podcasts I will tell the history of Italy from between the fall of Rome up until 1053, the year of an important battle between Pope Leo IX and Norman invaders of Italy. These centuries witnessed a long struggle for power between various sides, with many shifts of fortune. The Battle of Civitate marks the point at which the Normans firmly established themselves in Italy and so...

A focus on southeastern Europe. The history of early Bulgaria and its relationship with the Byzantine Empire, often one of peace and cultural exchange, but also involving military conflict including the Battle of Kleidion in 1014 AD www.historyeurope.net Picture: Boris I of Bulgaria Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Concluding part of the Battle of Lechfeld, 955 AD. Otto the Great assembles an army of fellow Germans and Bohemians to defeat a force of Hungarian raiders. His victory proved decisive in the shaping of central Europewww.historyeurope.net Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the year 955 was fought a crucial battle for central Europe, which proved highly significant for the early histories of Germany and Hungary. Here I describe the build-up to the Battle of Lechfeldwww.historyeurope.net Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In AD 937 took place 'the Great Battle' of early medieval Britain, a time when the political and cultural map of the isles was forming, which lasts till today. The King of Wessex, Athelstan, grandson of King Alfred the Great, was forced to confront an alliance of Scots, Vikings and northern Britons in his attempt to become King of all Britainwww.historyeurope.net Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pri...

In the ninth century the Vikings repeatedly attacked Britain, overcoming all Anglo-Saxon kingdoms except for Wessex. King Alfred the Great of Wessex, not only managed to defend his kingdom but to turn the tide against the Vikings and build the foundations of the state of England Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On September 18th the people of Scotland will vote to decide whether to stay part of the United Kingdom or whether to form an independent nation. This is the story of the early formation of the kingdoms of Britain after the fall of the Roman Empire, leading to the different regional identities that exist on the isles today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Franks of Charles Martel vs Islamic Umayyad Caliphate. From the mid seventh century the Muslim armies conquered lands from Spain to Persia forming a powerful new world empire. In 732 AD a large Muslim raiding party in southern France was confronted by the leader of the Franks, a Germanic people who over the previous couple of centuries had take control of the area of modern day France. This is...

The Rise of Islam in the 630’s threatened the existence of two ancient superpowers - the Persian and Roman Empires. In 636 AD the decisive battle took place between the Arabs led by Khalid ibn al-Walid and the Byzantine/Roman Empire of Heraklius- the Battle of Yarmouk. www.historyeurope.net Picture: Syria toward end of Muslim conquest, c. 638 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informa...

In the 620's the Eastern Roman Empire faced several threats, most notably the Persian Empire. Part 1 focuses on the conflict between Constantinople and Persia. This provides the context for the Rise of Islam in the 630's leading to the decisive Battle of Yarmouk in 636 AD between the Roman Emperor Heraclius and the Arab invaders. www.historyeurope.net Picture: Solidus of Heraclius, minted 610-613...

Attila and the Huns vs Aetius and the Roman Empire, with their respective allies www.historyeurope.net Picture: A painting of Attila riding a pale horse, by French Romantic artist Eugène Delacroix  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The rise of the Roman army commander Aetius who would face Attila and the Huns in the Battle of the Catalaunian Fields in the twilight of Empire www.historyeurope.net Picture: Possible relief of Aetius Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The western Roman Empire was about to fall. But in 451 AD her soldiers had one last great victory on the battlefield, At the Battle of the Catalaunian Fields the destructive armies of Attila and the Huns were kept at bay and prevented from overrunning Western Europe www.historyeurope.net Picture: The Monza Cathedral Diptych, which may have been commissioned on Aetius' first consulship Hosted on Ac...

In the year AD 312, Constantine the Great defeated his main rival for the title of emperor in Western Europe. He is one of the most significant people in history, as the first Christian Emperor, who vigorously promoted the religion www.historyeurope.net Picture:m A coin struck in 313, depicting Constantine as the companion of a solar deity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informatio...

The Roman Empire of Augustus vs an alliance of Germanic tribes. Description of the battle, in which Arminius led his German followers on an ambush which destroyed three Roman legions, and contributed to halting Rome’s expansion into northern Europe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Roman Empire of Augustus vs an alliance of Germanic tribes. In AD 9 Rome was steadily gaining control over the territory of Germania, north of the Rhine. However, they suffered a devastating defeat, and the loss of three legions in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest. Part 1 describes the build-up to this event. More information at www.historyeurope.net Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy fo...

Hannibal of Carthage v Scipio Africanus of Rome. Rome fought back against Hannibal's campaign in Italy and the various revolts they faced. They then launched an invasion of Africa, which led to the decisive Battle of Zama, 202 BC Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hannibal of Carthage v Scipio Africanus of Rome. In the third century BC the Roman faced its biggest challenge to date - The Punic Wars against the Phoenicians of Carthage. The two sides fought for decades. This podcast describes the build up to the Battle of Zama, the culmination of the Second Punic War. www.historyeurope.net Picture: marble bust, reputedly of Hannibal, originally found at t...

Part 2 of 2 on the Battle of Gaugamela, 331 BC. In 334 BC Alexander the Great's Greek/Macedonian army of conquest marched into Asia. Here I tell the story of the campaign, and Alexander's plans to forge a new Greco-Persian culture Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Part 1 of 2 on the Battle of Gaugamela, 331 BC. Describes the build up to the invasion of the Persian Empire by Alexander the Great, with an army of Greeks and Macedonians www.historyeurope.net Picture: A Hellinistic bust of a young Alexander the Great, possibly from Ptolemaic Egypt, 2nd–1st century BC, now in the British Museum Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Part 2 of 2 on the Battle of Marathon, between the Ancient Greeks and the Persian Empire www.patreon.com/historyeurope Picture: Greek hoplite and Persian warrior depicted fighting. 5th century BC Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.