A history of Romania

The Frankish king Charlemagne campaigns relentlessly to expand his realm, bringing him right to the border of the khaganate—with no sign of stopping. The khagan is thus confronted with the most powerful foe his people have ever faced, and must muster all the means at his disposal to maintain their independence. Here's the map for the episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informa...

Avar society undergoes profound changes as its warriors are forced to abandon the pursuits of war and turn inwards to govern their own realm. Meanwhile, to their west, a usurper ascends the Frankish throne and makes a pact with the bishop of Rome, leading to the rise of a new regional power. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Decades of collaboration between the Romans and Bulgars come under threat as frictions flare on the frontier, and instead of diffusing tensions, two ambitious leaders seek to secure their legacy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After centuries of living outside of the empire and in isolation from other Romance peoples, the Romanics of the Balkans develop a language of their own and transform into a new people. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Bulgars fortify their new homeland, wary that the Romans may try to reclaim what they’ve lost. Yet the khan has a chance to reset relations with them when a noseless emperor comes calling for aid, and an ambitious caliph assembles all the might of the Muslim world to take Constantinople once and for all. Check out this episode's map. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Romanic and Slavic communities both north and south of the Danube continue to influence each other, as neighbours become bilingual and introduce subtle shifts in their respective languages. Meanwhile, as these two cultures mingle, a prominent Bulgar chieftain flees the Khazar threat with his followers, seeking a new homeland — which leads them right to the Danube. Here's a map showing the Balkans...

A generation after the defeat at Constantinople, the Avars readjust their way of life, all while trying to keep their remaining subjects in line. Check out the map for this episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The siege of Constantinople is over, with the emperor victorious over the khagan and the shah. Yet as all these combatants slink away from each other to lick their wounds, new dangers threaten to bring all three of them down – along with their realms. Check out the map for this episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Having fought the Romans separately for over a decade, the Avars and Persians now join forces to strike Constantinople together and finally destroy their arch enemy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the empire mired in invasions and civil war, the new Avar khagan launches a grand campaign against the Romans to prove himself as a military leader and bolster his legitimacy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We begin this season’s narrative on the Danube where periodic raids by the Romans and Slavs simmer along the frontier—until an unexpected spark triggers a conflagration that engulfs the entire eastern Mediterranean. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this last episode of setup, we explore what daily life looked like for the farmers who made up most of the population of the khaganate, considering everything from their homes to their meals, crafts, and habits. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we explore the khaganate in more depth, we take a look at the subject peoples who lived under Avar dominion, their ways of life, and the relationships they negotiated with their overlords to advance their own interests. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the year 602, the lands north of the Danube were dominated by the Avars, a little-known people from the steppes. In this episode, we take a look at their origins, values, and the khaganate they established to rival the Roman empire. You can check out the extent of their khaganate in this week's map . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we begin season two, I share what you can expect from this next chunk of narrative and then take a look at the story so far to refresh our memories and prepare us for what comes next. Check out the map for the episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this standalone episode, we follow an enslaved man who served a Roman general, saw the Dacian capital in its prime, worked in the palace of the Parthian King of Kings, and staged a daring escape to gain his freedom in the midst of war. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To close out season one, we discuss the impact of the Goths, Huns, and Gepids in the region, ask how we can discern ethnicity in our sources, and consider the effects of Christianity north of the Danube. We also explore some of my storytelling choices and glance at what's next for the podcast. If you can spare a few minutes, please send me an email with your thoughts and comments at ahistoryofroma...

The story of season one is done and we have plenty to discuss: the legacy of the Dacians, Romanization in the provinces, contrasting historical theories, and what it all means for that greatest of unresolved questions — What are the origins of the Romanian people? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the last narrative episode of season one, the Avars spring out of the Carpathian Basin and into the Balkans, while Slavic tribes roam the lands on either side of the Danube seeking a permanent place to settle. Check out this episode's map . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Gepids reign as the most powerful people north of the Danube, but a new rival supported by the Roman empire threatens to dismantle their kingdom, all while a horrifying illness makes its appearance in the Balkans. Check out the map for this episode . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Gepids seek to retake their lost capital at Sirmium, all while dealing with a resurgent Roman empire and ambitious new players on the board. This episode's map . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Having led the war of independence against the Huns, the Gepids take the wealth of their former overlords and establish a kingdom on the lands of the original province of Dacia. Their efforts then turn to securing themselves a spot in the new Mediterranean world created by the collapse of half the Roman empire. Check out the maps for this episode . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more i...

Attila aims the full force of the Hunnic confederation against the western Roman empire, and the resulting confrontation leads to tectonic changes for the Romans as well as for the peoples beyond the frontiers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Attila scourges the Roman empire and outmanoeuvers its forces, the emperor in Constantinople seeks a way to stop the ongoing ravages, and so a conspiracy is hatched to assassinate the Hunnic ruler. You can  read Priscus' original retelling  of his dinner with Attila, or  check out some highlights I've selected  from his first-hand account. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com...

The Huns shatter Germanic kingdoms and Roman defenses as they establish their powerbase in the Pannonian Plain. Their relentless attacks devastate the Balkans and push the tribes of Europe to flee to the safety of the western empire - with disastrous consequences. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.