Byzantium And The Crusades

I thought you might be interested in my latest book called The Inheritors of Rome which relates particularly well to the content in this podcast since it’s about the period just before the Crusades and it also covers a lot of Byzantine history. Link to Amazon. Why did I write the book? I wanted to close my series on the fall of the Roman Empire with an examination of what happened after the fall....

Although I’m no longer making new episodes of this podcast, I thought you might be interested in my latest book, called The End of Antiquity, which relates particularly well to the content in this podcast since it’s about the rise of Islam in the seventh century AD and the collapse of the Roman and Persian empires. It covers the warfare, politics, and religious upheaval of the time, but also intro...

It’s Nick Holmes from the Byzantium and the Crusades podcast. Although I’m no longer making new episodes of this podcast, I thought you might be interested in my latest project which is a series of books as well as a new podcast on the Fall of the Roman Empire. And I’m contacting you because my latest book, and the fourth in my Roman series, called  ‘Justinian’s Empire’, is out now on Amazon in eb...

Just a quick update to let you know if you like this podcast you can get the book on which it’s based for free on my website nickholmesauthor.com . It’s called The Byzantine World War, and it's about the origins of the First Crusade and suggests that it really began as the result of the defeat of the Byzantines at the Battle of Manzikert in 1071. This caused a revolution in the Middle-East wh...

I wanted to let you know my latest book, Rome and Attila, is now available on Amazon in ebook and paperback, links in the episode notes. It’s about one of the most infamous figures in history—Attila the Hun. He’s a household name, but remarkably little is known about him and his popular legend as a brutal tyrant is not necessarily correct. I delve into the primary sources in search of the real Att...

I wanted to let you know my book The Byzantine World War is available for free here . It's about the reign of Romanos Diogenes and his defeat at the Battle of Manzikert in 1071 which led to the First Crusade. It’s a thrilling story and the book has nearly 400 Amazon reviews, so why not click on the link   and download it for free! Hope you enjoy it! Please take a look at my website nickholmes...

I wanted to let you know my latest book, The Fall of Rome, is now available on Amazon in ebook and paperback. It’s about how the unthinkable happened in AD 410 when Rome was sacked by the Goths. Although it's about Rome rather than Byzantium, you might be interested because it's very relevant as background to how Byzantium and the Christian kingdoms of western Europe developed. It's...

This is just to let you know that you can get my ebook called The Roman Revolution, which accompanies the first part of my new podcast on the Fall of the Roman Empire, at a discounted price at Amazon for the next few days (until 29th September). It focuses on the transition from the classical Roman Empire to Constantine's Christian-centred empire run out of Constantinople. It's priced at...

I thought you might be interested to know that I've just published a book called The Roman Revolution. This is about the Roman Empire in the third century when Rome was truly revolutionized and ended up as a Christian monarchy. This was the origin of the Byzantine Empire, and so if you're interested in the Crusades, you might well enjoy this much earlier time in history which was so form...

On the 29th May, 1453, the city of Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Turks. It was the final end of Byzantium. It was also the final end of the Crusades. Indeed, many historians regard it as the end of the Middle Ages. I regret to say that this episode is also the end of this podcast. But I am delighted to say that I have a new podcast called "The Fall of the Roman Empire"! And I would...

The Ottoman Sultan, Mehmet II, has decided to launch an all-out attack on the city of Constantinople. But the brave defenders are prepared. They resist wave after wave of Turkish troops until their luck runs out with a cruel twist of fate.  Please take a look at my website nickholmesauthor.com where you can download a free copy of The Byzantine World War , my book that describes the origins of the...

For seven weeks the Turks had besieged Constantinople. But all they had to show for it were heavy casualties and not a single victory either on land or at sea. The Turkish Sultan, Mehmet II, had a moment of doubt. Should he abandon the siege? Find out in this episode. Please take a look at my website nickholmesauthor.com where you can download a free copy of The Byzantine World War , my book that...

Constantinople is surrounded. For seven weeks, it has endured Turkish attacks by land and sea. Its defenders have fought heroically but now they are exhausted. But so too are the Turks. Their losses have been huge and the Turkish Sultan, Mehmet II, starts to wonder whether he should call the siege off. Please take a look at my website nickholmesauthor.com where you can download a free copy of The...

The Ottoman Turks have dragged their ships overland into the Golden Horn and Constantinople is now surrounded on all sides. In desperation, the defenders plan for a night attack to destroy the Turkish fleet and a last appeal to the West for help. Please take a look at my website nickholmesauthor.com where you can download a free copy of The Byzantine World War , my book that describes the origins...

Constantinople was probably the best fortified city in the medieval world. But it had one weak spot. To the north of the city lay the Golden Horn, the wide estuary that was blocked to enemy ships by a great iron chain. The Ottoman Sultan Mehmet II pondered long and hard how to break into the Golden Horn. Then he came up with an extraordinary idea. Please take a look at my website nickholmesauthor....

With over 100,000 Turkish soldiers facing them, the 7,000 or so defenders of Constantinople awaited the first attack. All they could do was to hope and pray for a miracle. Please take a look at my website nickholmesauthor.com where you can download a free copy of The Byzantine World War , my book that describes the origins of the First Crusade.

As the Turkish army approached Constantinople in 1453, the Byzantine defenders were joined by a handful of Genoese, Venetians and other adventurers prepared to join the fight to save the great Christian city. Please take a look at my website nickholmesauthor.com where you can download a free copy of The Byzantine World War , my book that describes the origins of the First Crusade.

By 1452, the Ottoman Sultan Mehmet II had decided to launch a huge attack on the ancient city of Constantinople. But as he gathered his army from all over his dominions, he knew that he would need more than soldiers. To breach the ancient walls he would need gunpowder and cannons! Please take a look at my website nickholmesauthor.com where you can download a free copy of The Byzantine World War ,...

With the Ottoman Turks closing in on Constantinople, the Byzantine Emperor Constantine XI Palaiologus made a last desperate appeal to the West for help. But would it be too little and too late? Please take a look at my website nickholmesauthor.com where you can download a free copy of The Byzantine World War , my book that describes the origins of the First Crusade.

The Ottoman onslaught against Constantinople is getting closer. Two new leaders emerge on either side. Constantine XI Palaiologos, the last Emperor of Byzantium, and the Ottoman Sultan Mehmet II, better known as Mehmet the Conqueror. Both men will go down in history as great heroes - discover why in this podcast. Please take a look at my website nickholmesauthor.com where you can download a free c...

In the fourteenth century, the growing power of the Ottoman Turks seemed unstoppable. But there was one man who checked it. This was Timur the Lame, or Tamerlane, as he was called in Europe. Of mixed Turkish and Mongol descent, he created a vast empire at the end of the fourteenth century that was modelled on the Mongol Empire of the legendary Genghis Khan. Please take a look at my website nickhol...

In the thirteenth century, the Mongols destroyed the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum in Anatolia. But after the Mongols left, a new Turkish dynasty began to rise to power in western Anatolia. This dynasty was that of the Ottomans.  Please take a look at my website nickholmesauthor.com where you can download a free copy of The Byzantine World War , my book that describes the origins of the First Crusade.

In this new mini-series, we will hear about the fall of Byzantine Constantinople in 1453 to the Ottoman Turks. Many people see it as a turning point in history, marking the end of the Middle Ages. But what really happened? Find out here.  Please take a look at my website nickholmesauthor.com where you can download a free copy of The Byzantine World War , my book that describes the origins of the F...

The year is 1396. The Ottoman Turks are threatening to conquer Eastern Europe and take Constantinople from the Byzantines. A new Crusade against them is proclaimed, and a great international army from Hungary and Western Europe is raised to meet them in battle. Please take a look at my website nickholmesauthor.com where you can download a free copy of The Byzantine World War , my book that describ...

As Crusading enthusiasm faded in Europe in the fourteenth century, in the East an obscure Turkish emir called Osman founded a new dynasty. This would rise to become one of the greatest empires in the world: the Ottoman Turks. The response in Europe was to call for a new crusade. Please take a look at my website nickholmesauthor.com where you can download a free copy of The Byzantine World War , my...