The History of Byzantium

Turkic nomads begin to raid Anatolia. The Imperial response is hampered by the defection of their Norman mercenaries. Under their commander Roussel de Bailleul they begin operating independently leading the government to squander precious resources in bringing them down. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Doukas' widow Eudocia marries Romanos Diogenes to empower a General who can stop the Turkic raids. Diogenes does his best but ends up meeting the Sultan, Alp Arslan, in battle on the fields outside the city of Manzikert. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Constantine X Doukas spends his reign doing little to help the eastern front. We explore the possible reasons for this inactivity. We also cover Doukas' death and the oath he made his wife swear. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Isaac Komnenos comes to power urgently trying to restore the budget. But when he dies two years later his successor Constantine X Doukas reverses his economising. As he cuts from the military budget instead Turkic raiders sack the Armenian city of Ani. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Theodora resumes control of the Empire but dies a year later. Her eunuchs choose Michael Bringas to replace her but he is not approved of by the Empire's military establishment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An interview with Professor Barry Strauss about his new book '10 Caesars' and his podcast 'Antiquitas.' I quiz him about the two Emperors with most relevance to Byzantium: Diocletian and Constantine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our fourteenth Kickstarter backers reward episode looks at the city of Rome and its development from the height of Antonine Rome to the post Justinian world of Gregory the Great. You will be in the capable hands of Steve Guerra from the History of the Papacy Podcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our thirteenth Kickstarter backers reward episode looks at the legacy of Byzantium and why it seems so forgotten today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Constantine IX leaves the stage we see him desperately searching for ways to raise tax revenue. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The rapacious behaviour of the Normans in Italy brings together an alliance against them. The Byzantines and the Papacy try to get on the same page but discover that they may never be able to. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After the Pecheneg Wars the Roman treasury was empty. We look at Constantine Monomachos' response to this and other Imperial expenses which may have exacerbated the situation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first large Seljuk raids on the Empire lead to a series of events which unravel Byzantium's Western defences. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A quick interview with me about the History of History Podcasting Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Constantine Monomachos faces yet more challenges in the early years of his reign. We cover the annexation of Ani, the Pechenegs crossing the Danube and the revolt of Leo Tornikios. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zoe chooses Constantine Monomachos to be her new husband and Emperor. We discuss his character and relationship with our historian Michael Psellos. Then move on to two major challenges which greeted his arrival on the throne. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our twelfth Kickstarter backers reward episode looks at the life of Harald Hardrada in conversation with Noah Tetzner from the History of Vikings Podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you'd like to hear about the dramatic fall of Michael V then episode 183 is now available to buy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We cover the Bulgarian uprising of 1040 and the events elsewhere in the Balkans which led up to it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael IV marries Zoe and becomes Emperor. Despite ill health he rules well with his brother John the Orphanotrophos. Their invasion of Sicily goes well initially but soon falls apart. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Romanos III is faced with the same problems which troubled his predecessor. He decides that a campaign against Aleppo will solve some of his problems. Meanwhile Zoe is left alone and frustrated in the Palace. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We return to the narrative with a short introduction and the short reign of Basil's brother Constantine VIII. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our eleventh Kickstarter backers reward episode explores Byzantium's Jewish communities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listener questions on Varangians, provincial administration, diplomacy, family mottos and the ever popular top 5 best and worst Emperors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listener questions on houses, slavery, citizenship, vacations and common sayings amongst others. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An interview with Peter Adamson from the History of Philosophy Without any Gaps podcast. We talk primarily about Michael Psellos and his role in the intellectual history of Byzantium. But we also talk about Byzantine philosophy in general. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.