Badass Stories from Byzantium
26 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 3 years ago -Constantinople wasn't built in a day, nor did it fall as quickly. In Badass Stories from Byzantium, I tell the stories from the Eastern Roman Empire that you haven't heard and won't soon forget. Sit on the edge of late antiquity with me while we listen to it burn. Follow the podcast at twitter.com/badassbyzantium or facebook.com/badassbyzantium.
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Episodes
Episode 8: Roman Fire
July 22, 2021 22:00 - 28 minutes - 39 MBThe massive Arab navy nor the Vikings of the Early Middle Ages stood a chance against Roman Fire, a fact that was proven on more than one occasion to both peoples. In Episode 8: Roman Fire, I examine this Medieval super weapon and why it mysteriously disappeared. Huge thanks to Podcorn for sponsoring this episode. Explore sponsorship opportunities and start monetizing your podcast by signing up here: https://podcorn.com/podcasters/ Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/badassbyzantium)
Episode 8: Roman Fire
July 22, 2021 22:00 - 28 minutes - 39 MBThe massive Arab navy nor the Vikings of the Early Middle Ages stood a chance against Roman Fire, a fact that was proven on more than one occasion to both peoples. In Episode 8: Roman Fire, I examine this Medieval super weapon and why it mysteriously disappeared. Huge thanks to Podcorn for sponsoring this episode. Explore sponsorship opportunities and start monetizing your podcast by signing up here: https://podcorn.com/podcasters/ Support the show
Episode 7: The Blue Augusta
June 17, 2021 23:00 - 34 minutes - 47.7 MBThere was no pathway for women to rule the Byzantine Empire as there was for men, but that didn't stop some from reaching the top. Theodora was one such woman. In Episode 7: The Blue Augusta, I follow Theodora's journey from blue rags to purple riches as she championed women's rights and saved the empire from descending into chaos on more than one occasion. Big thanks to Podcorn for sponsoring this episode. Explore sponsorship opportunities and start monetizing your podcast by signing up her...
Episode 7: The Blue Augusta
June 17, 2021 23:00 - 34 minutes - 47.7 MBThere was no pathway for women to rule the Byzantine Empire as there was for men, but that didn't stop some from reaching the top. Theodora was one such woman. In Episode 7: The Blue Augusta, I follow Theodora's journey from blue rags to purple riches as she championed women's rights and saved the empire from descending into chaos on more than one occasion. Big thanks to Podcorn for sponsoring this episode. Explore sponsorship opportunities and start monetizing your podcast by signing up her...
Ramblings on the Black Death in Byzantium
April 12, 2021 07:00 - 41 minutes - 57.5 MBIn today's episode I deviate from my conventional narrative style and take a more laidback approach to the topic, the Bubonic Plague and its effect on the Byzantine Empire. We'll go over numbers and the difficulty in finding them, as well as how disease was interpreted in the medieval ages, and more. Support the show
Ramblings on the Black Death in Byzantium
April 12, 2021 07:00 - 41 minutes - 57.5 MBIn today's episode I deviate from my conventional narrative style and take a more laidback approach to the topic, the Bubonic Plague and its effect on the Byzantine Empire. We'll go over numbers and the difficulty in finding them, as well as how disease was interpreted in the medieval ages, and more. Support the show
Short Stories: The Megali Idea
March 20, 2021 10:00 - 23 minutes - 32 MBWhat if the Byzantine Empire were alive today? If the Kingdom of Greece had its way in the 19th century, that very well could have been the case. In Short Stories: The Megali Idea, I talk about Eastern Roman pipe dreams in the modern day and how they almost came to be. Big thanks to Podcorn for sponsoring this episode. Explore sponsorship opportunities and start monetizing your podcast by signing up here: https://podcorn.com/podcasters/ Support the show
Short Stories: The Megali Idea
March 20, 2021 10:00 - 23 minutes - 32 MBWhat if the Byzantine Empire were alive today? If the Kingdom of Greece had its way in the 19th century, that very well could have been the case. In Short Stories: The Megali Idea, I talk about Eastern Roman pipe dreams in the modern day and how they almost came to be. Big thanks to Podcorn for sponsoring this episode. Explore sponsorship opportunities and start monetizing your podcast by signing up here: https://podcorn.com/podcasters/ Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/badassbyzant...
Episode 6: Are You Romiós?
March 06, 2021 06:00 - 30 minutes - 42.6 MBThe Byzantine Empire fell in 1453, but the Greek-speaking, Eastern Orthodox Romans lived on as exiles in Western Europe and second-class subjects under the Ottoman sultans. In Episode 6: Are You Romiós, I follow the last of the Palaiologi and the Romií in the 15th century and beyond. In doing so, I will answer the question: Do Eastern Romans still walk among us? Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/badassbyzantium)
Episode 6: Are You Romiós?
March 06, 2021 06:00 - 30 minutes - 42.6 MBThe Byzantine Empire fell in 1453, but the Greek-speaking, Eastern Orthodox Romans lived on as exiles in Western Europe and second-class subjects under the Ottoman sultans. In Episode 6: Are You Romiós, I follow the last of the Palaiologi and the Romií in the 15th century and beyond. In doing so, I will answer the question: Do Eastern Romans still walk among us? Support the show
Short Stories: Manuel II's European Tour
February 06, 2021 20:00 - 16 minutes - 23.2 MBDesperate times call for desperate measures. With an Ottoman army at the gates in Constantinople, Manuel II Palaiologos knew this all too well. In today's Short Stories episode, I tell of Manuel's trip to Western Europe, where he pled for aid and met the likes of Henry IV. Support the show
Short Stories: Manuel II's European Tour
February 06, 2021 20:00 - 16 minutes - 23.2 MBDesperate times call for desperate measures. With an Ottoman army at the gates in Constantinople, Manuel II Palaiologos knew this all too well. In today's Short Stories episode, I tell of Manuel's trip to Western Europe, where he pled for aid and met the likes of Henry IV. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/badassbyzantium)
Episode 5: Ashes to Ashes
January 30, 2021 09:00 - 46 minutes - 64.2 MBThe last couple centuries of the Byzantine Empire were defined by a cycle: Civil war begot foreign aid begot opportunism. With each rotation, the empire wound up weaker. In Episode 5: Ashes to Ashes, I examine the Eastern Roman Empire's final breaths on the world stage and the 1453 Fall of Constantinople. Support the show
Episode 5: Ashes to Ashes
January 30, 2021 09:00 - 46 minutes - 64.2 MBThe last couple centuries of the Byzantine Empire were defined by a cycle: Civil war begot foreign aid begot opportunism. With each rotation, the empire wound up weaker. In Episode 5: Ashes to Ashes, I examine the Eastern Roman Empire's final breaths on the world stage and the 1453 Fall of Constantinople. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/badassbyzantium)
Episode 4: Phoenix in the East
December 05, 2020 06:00 - 42 minutes - 29.2 MBThe medieval Eastern Romans looked up to their glorious past and down on their Latin cousins. The former would let them down time and time again and the latter would remind them through blood and fire that the west shared the same history. In Episode 4: Phoenix in the East, I tell of the disasters leading up to the Fourth Crusade and the Byzantine Empire's reclamation of Constantinople in the 13th century. Support the show
Episode 4: Phoenix in the East
December 05, 2020 06:00 - 42 minutes - 29.2 MBThe medieval Eastern Romans looked up to their glorious past and down on their Latin cousins. The former would let them down time and time again and the latter would remind them through blood and fire that the west shared the same history. In Episode 4: Phoenix in the East, I tell of the disasters leading up to the Fourth Crusade and the Byzantine Empire's reclamation of Constantinople in the 13th century. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/badassbyzantium)
Series Announcement
November 13, 2020 21:00 - 2 minutes - 2.06 MBWho were the folks that made up the Byzantine Empire and what happened to them after it fell? I hope to answer these questions in Diaspora, a Badass Stories from Byzantium three-part series starting Dec. 5. Also, I'd love to see how you're liking the show, so please give a rating, review, or drop me a line at [email protected]. Support the show
Episode 3: Norsemen
September 30, 2020 01:00 - 35 minutes - 24.4 MBFor centuries, the Varangians were the cream of the crop of the Byzantine army. As Scandinavian warriors in a foreign land, they were ruthlessly efficient and loyal to a man. In Episode 3: Norsemen, I tell the history of the Varangian Guard and the most famous Varangian, Harald Hardrada. Support the show
Episode 3: Norsemen
September 30, 2020 01:00 - 35 minutes - 24.4 MBFor centuries, the Varangians were the cream of the crop of the Byzantine army. As Scandinavian warriors in a foreign land, they were ruthlessly efficient and loyal to a man. In Episode 3: Norsemen, I tell the history of the Varangian Guard and the most famous Varangian, Harald Hardrada. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/badassbyzantium)
Update on schedule
July 22, 2020 18:00 - 1 minute - 1.25 MBHi everyone! Wanted to give a heads up on Episode 3: Northmen, coming out Saturday, Aug. 8, and say thanks for listening! Get updates at Twitter.com/badassbyzantium and Facebook.com/badassbyzantium. We'll go exploring soon.
Episode 2: Hooligans
June 28, 2020 02:00 - 25 minutes - 17.5 MBHooligans have been around as long as there have been competitions and young, bored men to watch them. For a time in the Eastern Roman empire, it was a state-paid gig. In Episode 2: Hooligans, I dive into the world of the Byzantine Blues and Greens and examine their transformation from fire-hungry, murdering fanatics to fire-hungry, murdering imperial PR machines. Photo credit: Ediacar. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/badassbyzantium)
Episode 2: Hooligans
June 28, 2020 02:00 - 25 minutes - 17.5 MBHooligans have been around as long as there have been competitions and young, bored men to watch them. For a time in the Eastern Roman empire, it was a state-paid gig. In Episode 2: Hooligans, I dive into the world of the Byzantine Blues and Greens and examine their transformation from fire-hungry, murdering fanatics to fire-hungry, murdering imperial PR machines. Photo credit: Ediacar. Support the show
Episode 1: Empire of the Dead
May 16, 2020 22:00 - 20 minutes - 14.1 MBThe Plague of Justinian, thought to be a demon by its contemporaries, ravaged what was left of the ancient world. What came out on the other side was quite medieval. In this episode, I tell the story of a 200-year plague pandemic that struck the Mediterranean in 541 CE and its effects — or lack thereof — on the Byzantine Empire. Support the show
Episode 1: Empire of the Dead
May 16, 2020 22:00 - 20 minutes - 14.1 MBThe Plague of Justinian, thought to be a demon by its contemporaries, ravaged what was left of the ancient world. What came out on the other side was quite medieval. In this episode, I tell the story of a 200-year plague pandemic that struck the Mediterranean in 541 CE and its effects — or lack thereof — on the Byzantine Empire. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/badassbyzantium)