Warlords of History

Through 208 BC, as Scipio expands Rome’s grip over Hispania, it comes at a heavy cost, allowing Hasdrubal Barca to escape Iberia with his army and invade Italy. A decision that ignites political fury within the Senate, nearly costing Scipio his command and future career. From there, we’ll briefly pivot to the events in Italy, culminating in the fateful Battle of the Metaurus, before returning to S...

Scipio leads his forces deep into southern Hispania in 208 BC for his first great pitched battle. Lured inland by Hasdrubal Barca, he turns the trap against his enemy, concealing the Roman approach before launching a daring, unorthodox attack that shatters the Carthaginian army holding an almost unassailable position. The victory at the Battle of Baecula mark ing Scipio’s arrival as a preeminent c...

Incredible stories of the world’s greatest military leaders, uncovered from the folds of history. Warlords of History takes you on immersive journeys, deep into the lives and worlds of ancient and medieval commanders who re defined their eras through strategy, courage and audacity. Hosted by Mark Pimenta , each episode blends in-depth research with compelling storytelling to reveal how these milit...

In this episode, we dive into Scipio’s meticulously planned and breathtaking assault o f Carthago Nova in 209 BC. Tracing his rapid ten-day march down the eastern coast of Iberia, with infantry , cavalry and fleet moving in perfect unison, before launching an exquisitely coordinated strike on the city. Blending deception, precision and raw ferocity to achieve the unthinkable, capturing the jewel o...

Into the chaos of Rome’s collapsing front in northeastern Hispania, Scipio arrives in the summer of 210 BC. We’ll follow along in the early months of his campaign as the young General masterfully uses psychology and religion to rebuild the morale of his shattered army, before imposing an intensive training regimen to restore their fighting edge. All the while, behind the scenes, Scipio establishes...

Between 212 and 210 BC, the Second Punic War enters a volatile phase, as triumph and catastrophe hit the Republic in rapid succession. Hannibal wins major victories, yet fails to stop Rome’s momentum as Syracuse falls and pressure mounts on Carthaginian allies. In a desperate bid to save Capua, Hannibal marches on Rome, but fails to divert the Legions from reasserting control across nearly every f...

In this episode, we explore Rome's spectacular resurgence in 214 BC as it began to turn the tide of the Second Punic War. Through key victories abroad and sweeping economic reforms at home, how the Republic sustained its unprecedented buildup of Legions, that in 213 BC started clawing back lost ground from Hannibal in southern Italy. Undeniable momentum, fueling a renewed surge of confidence in Ro...

In 215 BC as Scipio witnesses his city's desperate struggle to stave off collapse and rebuild its shattered military, Rome focuses its Legions on holding the line against Hannibal in Campania. Only to see its prospects in the Second Punic War grow darker when two foreign powers, Macedon and Syracuse, form alliances with Carthage to bring the Republic to its knees. Triggering the eruption of new th...

With Hannibal having shattered Rome's image as a dominant power at the Battle of Cannae, the cities of southern Italy begin forming alliances with Carthage, bringing the Republic close to collapse in 216 BC. Yet, with the Roman Senate remaining defiant, refusing to accept anything less than total victory in the Second Punic War. Driving them to desperate extremes to assemble new Legions amidst hor...

With Scipio as the youngest Military Tribune in the largest army ever fielded by the Roman Republic, this incredible force descends upon Apulia where Hannibal and the Carthaginians await. Leading to the Battle of Cannae, fought on August 2, 216 BC, as we dive into the tactics and maneuvers that would ultimately produce Rome's greatest military disaster. Also leaving 8,000 soldiers trapped within t...

In this friendly takeover of the Warlords of History Podcast airwaves, the History Daily podcast hosted by Lindsay Graham is featured. Taking you through one of the most pivotal moments in history, which set into motion the series of events that would proceed to rip the Roman Republic apart, leading to its demise and ultimately, its rebirth as the Roman Empire. When on January 10th 49 BC, a provin...

As Scipio takes part in Rome's zealous religious efforts to turn the tide of the Second Punic War, the Republic fails to look inwards, seeing the deficits among its Generals. That Hannibal continues to exploit, invading Central Italy before drawing the Legions into a devastating ambush at the Battle of Lake Trasimene. Driving Rome to adopt the Fabian Strategy to stop the Carthaginian threat, that...

With Hannibal continuing to tip the scales of power in the Po Valley, the young Scipio bears witness to treacherous setbacks as Rome's authority in the region unravels. Before being forced to abandon the north due to Hannibal's crushing defeat of the Roman Legions at the Battle of the Trebia in late 218 BC. Resulting in Scipio retreating to Rome to find his city feverishly raising new armies, howe...

While fighting the Gallic tribes to assert control over northern Italy, the Roman Republic becomes distracted to the power that Carthage begins amassing in Spain. Until the legendary Carthaginian General, Hannibal Barca, storms onto the scene to ignite the Second Punic War. In 218 BC, leading his army in an incredible march to ultimately burst through the Alps and invade Italy, before delivering a...

Joined by Elliot Gates from the Anthology of Heroes podcast, we reach the conclusion of our story on Leonidas I. Under the shadow of the Achaemenid Persian Empire's enormous second invasion of Greece, we explore the strategy and actions of the Spartan King leading to the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC. Going deep into this violently primal clash, ending in a heroic last stand for Leonidas, his 30...

Joined by Elliot Gates from the Anthology of Heroes podcast, we dive into the life of Leonidas I. The Spartan King who led one of the most incredible last stands in history at the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC. Exploring Sparta's development into a severe and militaristic society, possessing the finest warriors of Ancient Greece, so utterly dedicated to the Spartan state above all. Including the...

In this episode we begin exploring the awe-inspiring lifetime of Scipio Africanus (236 - 183 BC). One of the greatest military commanders of antiquity, who guided the Roman Republic out from its darkest moment. In the Second Punic War, leading brilliant campaigns, winning scintillating battle victories to propel Rome as the unrivalled power in the Mediterranean. Starting our story by digging into...

In the series finale following the life of Judah Maccabee "The Hammer", Gil Kidron joins me to discuss the Maccabean Revolt broadening from a religious conflict into a war of independence. With Judah reshaping his guerrilla force into a veritable Hebrew field army, daring to take on the superior armies of the Seleucid Empire in pitched battle. Initially meeting with a grave setback, foll...

Joined by Gil Kidron from A Podcast of Biblical Proportions, we continue with the incredible story of Judah Maccabee "The Hammer" and the early years of the Maccabean Revolt. Initially, a small rebel band, driven by religious zeal, bringing civil war to Judea. But with Judah assuming its leadership early on and transforming them into a fierce guerrilla force. Unleashing devastating ambus...

Gil Kidron from A Podcast of Biblical Proportions joins me to bring you the incredible story of Judah Maccabee "The Hammer". A Hebrew priest, turned guerilla warlord, who would win spectacular battlefield victories in an unexpectedly fierce rebellion against the mighty Seleucid Empire in the 160s BC called the Maccabean Revolt. A conflict with its origins laying in bitter Judean factiona...

In the series finale, with Nader Shah poised to continue the dominant run of his Afsharid Iranian Empire, a failed assassination marks the tipping point for his complete mental unravelling. As Nader maliciously lashes out at all around him while pillaging his people to fuel an incessant pace of warfare. Igniting rebellions throughout his realms that he stomps out with excessive brutality and the u...

Having just secured the Iranian crown, Nader Shah begins disrupting the religious bedrock of his nation, while draining its resources to feed his fearsome military machine. Crushing all internal unrest and recapturing Iran's lost domains, before looking abroad. Winning a series of dazzling battlefield victories to overwhelm the Mughal Empire and then smash the Khanates of Central Asia in 1740. Bri...

Recently named as Regent of the Iranian Empire, Nader sets out on the war path to reclaim Iran's lost domains, only to be handed a devastating defeat by the Ottomans. A dire setback that threatens to cast him into oblivion, forcing Nader to show a tremendous force of will to quickly rebuild his broken army. Before returning to the field to avenge the loss, crush his domestic rivals and then delive...

Newly rooted as savior of the Safavid Iranian Empire and source of power behind the throne of Shah Tahmasp, Nader begins seeding the notion that his ascendancy is Divinely influenced. Strengthened by his spectacular lightening campaign waged against the Ottoman Empire, before racing across Persia to stamp out a dangerous rebellion. This however, giving Tahmasp the breathing space to attempt emergi...

Despite breathing life in the bid to restore Shah Tahmasp II to the throne in Persia, Nader is soon caught up in the petty intrigues of his unstable King. Resulting in Nader launching a military coup to firmly take control of the Safavid army. Modernizing and reshaping it into a ferociously effective force. Then embarking on campaign in 1729, displaying sheer strategic and tactical military brilli...