The Spanish ArPodA

New Year, New Emirate! Welcome to Abd al-Rahman I's episode, where we learn how many hero narratives can fit into one man's life, the Franks show up again, and Peter finally gets his mosque. It's King Abd al-Rahman I!   Tracks used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4n).wav" by InspectorJ ( www.jshaw.co.uk ) of  Freesound.org "acoustic_flamenco_imitation.wav" by Noise Collector of Freesound.org    Recommendat...

We end the year here at the Spanish Arpoda with the final governor of Al-Andalus: Yusuf. Hear about his seemingly endless stream of "ibn"s, the broken postal system, and president John Tyler when we review Governor Yusuf!   Tracks used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4n).wav" by InspectorJ ( www.jshaw.co.uk ) of  Freesound.org "acoustic_flamenco_imitation.wav" by Noise Collector of Freesound.org    Recomme...

The man with the badge - it's Abu al-Khattar! Hear about askew turbans, political rivalries, and hiding under a millstone in Governor Abu al-Khattar's episode.   Tracks used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4n).wav" by InspectorJ ( www.jshaw.co.uk ) of  Freesound.org "acoustic_flamenco_imitation.wav" by Noise Collector of Freesound.org    Recommendations The Great British Bake Off on the Roku channel Rolo t...

Back to Al-Andalus to find out how that civil war turned out! Come listen for a Daffy Duck head, an auction to the lowest bidder, and an interesting food recommendation in Governor Balj's episode!   Tracks used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4n).wav" by InspectorJ ( www.jshaw.co.uk ) of  Freesound.org "acoustic_flamenco_imitation.wav" by Noise Collector of Freesound.org    Recommendations Chaotic Neutral:...

Fávila has been nommed by a bear, so his brother-in-law Alfonso takes the Asturian throne! Hear about the Desert of the Duero, a really cool pilgrimage site, and what happens when you have too many cousins in Alfonso I's episode!   Tracks used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4n).wav" by InspectorJ ( www.jshaw.co.uk ) of  Freesound.org "acoustic_flamenco_imitation.wav" by Noise Collector of Freesound.org   ...

Welcome back to the north of Spain, where Pelayo's son Fávila is now king! Hear about the Asturian court, the Church of the Holy Cross, and... is that a bear?!?!? All this in Fávila's episode!   Tracks used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4n).wav" by InspectorJ ( www.jshaw.co.uk ) of  Freesound.org "acoustic_flamenco_imitation.wav" by Noise Collector of Freesound.org 

Jump back in time with us to find out: what the heck happened between Ibn Katan's two reigns? We go into the origins of the Berber Revolt, as well as investigate the patronage system of the Middle East, and Charles Martel shows up again in Governor Uqba's episode!   Tracks used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4n).wav" by InspectorJ ( www.jshaw.co.uk ) of  Freesound.org "acoustic_flamenco_imitation.wav" by...

The man who ruled twice: it's Ibn Katan! Join us to hear about pomegranates in August, cruel and unforgiving punishments, and Sarah messing up a Star Trek series for the third time in a row in Ibn Katan's episode!   Tracks used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4n).wav" by InspectorJ ( www.jshaw.co.uk ) of  Freesound.org "acoustic_flamenco_imitation.wav" by Noise Collector of Freesound.org    Recommendations...

Abd al-Rahman has finally returned from vacation, and he's ready to revenge himself on Duke Odo, 10 years later. Come hear about golden legs, an awkward marriage, and the beardiest portrait when we review Governor Abd al-Rahman!   Tracks used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4n).wav" by InspectorJ ( www.jshaw.co.uk ) of  Freesound.org "acoustic_flamenco_imitation.wav" by Noise Collector of Freesound.org   ...

Uthman sneaked over from Ifrikiya to rule Spain - not a great start, but surely he couldn't be worse than Hudhaifa, right? Hear about the chain of command, the lack of high speed communications, and the interminability of short-term governors in Uthman's episode!   Tracks used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4n).wav" by InspectorJ ( www.jshaw.co.uk ) of  Freesound.org "acoustic_flamenco_imitation.wav" by N...

Chickens are coming home to roost during Governor Al Haytham's reign. Join us for rebellions, Leovigildian punishments, and the ever-lovable Muhammed the Saracen in Al Haytham's episode!   Tracks used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4n).wav" by InspectorJ ( www.jshaw.co.uk ) of  Freesound.org "acoustic_flamenco_imitation.wav" by Noise Collector of Freesound.org    Recommendations Story Graph reading tracke...

Yahya benefited from being a member of the same clan as the governor of Ifrikiya and it got him the governorship of Al-Andalus. But how will he do? Join us for New Jersey Compliments, social justice, and inter-tribe struggles in Governor Yahya's episode!   Tracks used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4n).wav" by InspectorJ ( www.jshaw.co.uk ) of  Freesound.org "acoustic_flamenco_imitation.wav" by Noise Coll...

New governor of Ifrikiya, new governor of Al-Andalus. Just beware of the welcoming party! Hear about tribal loyalty, Inspector Clouseau in the ball-bearing factory, and immediate regret in Governor Hudhaifa's episode!   Tracks used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4n).wav" by InspectorJ ( www.jshaw.co.uk ) of  Freesound.org "acoustic_flamenco_imitation.wav" by Noise Collector of Freesound.org    Recommendat...

He's here! The hero of the Reconquista! Pelayo doesn't want to pay taxes, but he also doesn't want his sister to marry the Muslim prefect, and then he also has to save the Church! Come hear about the man of a thousand statues, an iffy genealogy, and a great pre-battle speech in Pelayo's episode!   Tracks used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4n).wav" by InspectorJ ( www.jshaw.co.uk ) of  Freesound.org "acou...

Al-Samh's humiliation by the Franks doesn't stop Governor Anbasa from wanting to take a crack at Septimania, and even Burgundy! But . . . what's that in the mountains of Asturias? Come hear about company men, wild honey eating, and a studious avoidance of Toulouse in Anbasa's episode!   Tracks used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4n).wav" by InspectorJ ( www.jshaw.co.uk ) of  Freesound.org "acoustic_flamen...

Al-Hurr couldn't manage it, but Al-Samh is ready to take a crack at the Franks and make Septimania his own. Will he succeed? Come hear about censuses, a bridge, and William Henry Harrison in Governor Al-Samh's episode!   Tracks used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4n).wav" by InspectorJ ( www.jshaw.co.uk ) of  Freesound.org "acoustic_flamenco_imitation.wav" by Noise Collector of Freesound.org    Recommenda...

Al-Hurr inherits a mess on the Iberian Peninsula, but he's determined to make the most of it. Come hear about taxes, pocket protectors, and cleaning house in Governor Al-Hurr's episode!   Tracks used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4n).wav" by InspectorJ ( www.jshaw.co.uk ) of  Freesound.org "acoustic_flamenco_imitation.wav" by Noise Collector of Freesound.org    Recommendations The La Portada Podcast (@La...

Musa's son takes the reins from his father and becomes the second governor of Al Andalus! Hear about peace treaties, awkward marriages, and the return of the room of knives and poison in Abd al-Aziz's episode!   Tracks used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4n).wav" by InspectorJ ( www.jshaw.co.uk ) of  Freesound.org "acoustic_flamenco_imitation.wav" by Noise Collector of Freesound.org    Recommendations The...

Dive right in with us as we cover the life and rule of Spain's first Muslim governor: Musa ibn Nusayr! Hear about Mua's humble origins, breaking the chain of command, and a mysterious table in Musa's episode!   Recommendations The History of Georgia podcast ( https://twitter.com/History_Georgia )   Tracks Used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4n).wav" by InspectorJ ( www.jshaw.co.uk ) of  Freesound.org "aco...

We have a changeover of rulers - time for the Muslim governors. After a brief whirlwind tour of Islamic history, learn about Arabic naming conventions, names for the peoples of Spain, and what Al-Andalus means in this introduction episode.   Tracks used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4n).wav" by InspectorJ ( www.jshaw.co.uk ) of  Freesound.org "acoustic_flamenco_imitation.wav" by Noise Collector of Freeso...

At last we come to the end. Roderic is on the throne when the caliphate shows up, but how does he acquit himself? Hear about turban-wearing statues, treachery, and the almost-certainly-made-up figure of Ilyan and Florinda de la Cava in Roderic's episode!   Recommendations Everything Everywhere All At Once ( https://a24films.com/films/everything-everywhere-all-at-once ) A Fernet Fizz cocktail.   Tr...

The petulant child is now an adult and ruling a country - but what actually happened during Witiza's reign? Hear about the 18th Council of Toledo - or not -, the Great Portrait Switcheroo, and bishops getting laid in Witiza's episode!   Recommendations A Bird of Paradise cocktail. The History of China Podcast's Twitter Feed ( https://twitter.com/thocpodcast )   Tracks Used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4...

Égica is on the throne, and we know one thing: Boy, does he hate his in-laws. Hear about how many people is not enough to put into boiling water, the first instance of PLAGUE, and why the Byzantines are over in the West again in Égica's episode! Note: Witiza's episode ended up being longer than we anticipated, so it will be released next week! Tracks Used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4n).wav" by Inspect...

Wamba has been packed off to a monastery, so it's time for Julian to claim the throne. I mean, Ervig! Join us for supervillian origin stories, grammatical corrections, and an ill-fated marriage as we rate and review King Ervig! Recommendations "Our Flag Means Death" ( https://www.hbomax.com/series/urn:hbo:series:GYf3LzwJV98JifQEAAAAO ) A Peanut Flip cocktail.   Tracks Used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4...

Everyone's at the villa when Reccesuinth dies, so what better time to choose a new king! Join us for Pin the Tail on the Wamba, the lamest rebel name ever, what punishment awaits rapists, and who actually mixed that drink in Wamba's episode!   Recommendations The Vulgar History Podcast ( http://vulgarhistory.com/ )   Tracks Used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4n).wav" by InspectorJ ( www.jshaw.co.uk ) of ...