History of Modern Greece
The History of Modern Greece covers the events of the Greek People from the fall of Constantinople in 1453 to the Greek War of Independence in 1821-1832, to the modern day. We are a father and son team. We are not historians, but we are hardcore fans of history. We embarked on a mission to understand exactly how the Ancient Greek civilization transformed into the modern nation we see today. To prepare ourselves for the journey we purchased dozens of textbooks, watched numberless documentaries, and listened to as many historical podcasts as we could find. Come and join us on our journey to discover the History of Modern Greece.
Episodes
163: The Battle of Maritsa
John V Palaiologos finally returned to Constantinople after being rescued from Venetian detention by his loyal son Manuel, who raised money in Thessalonica, sold his own possessions, and even offered himself as a hostage when the funds proved insufficient. Meanwhile, John's eldest son Andronikos IV had enjoyed ruling in his father's absence and openly refused to help secure his release,
162: The 100 Years war: Part One: The Black Prince
In this episode we move away from the collapse of Constantinople, and the rise of the Ottomans, and see exactly why France and England were nowhere to be seen. For centuries, the French and English were championed crusaders, and now they were fighting each other in a war that would turn so gruesome and bloody it would drain over a century of the best fighting men and fertile land in a shrinking wo
161: The Emperor Bends the Knee
In this episode, we cover the emperor's journey to Rome, where he finally bends the knee to the Pope and converts to Catholicism. This was a gamble, for he risked alienating his people by converting to the faith of those who sacked Constantinople in 1204. But he felt like he had no other choice, for there was no way he was going to defeat the Ottoman Empire on his own. The only trouble was th
160: The Savoyard Expedition
The Savoyard Crusade of 1366 was a late-medieval military expedition led by Amadeus VI, known as the "Green Count," to assist his cousin, the Byzantine Emperor John V Palaiologos. Amadeus successfully recaptured the strategic fortress of Gallipoli from the Ottoman Turks and later campaigned against the Bulgarian Empire to secure the Emperor’s release from captivity. Although the expediti
159: The Fall of Adrianople
As Emperor John V sits atop a crumbling Byzantine world, the once-mighty Roman Empire has been reduced to scattered fragments surrounded by enemies on all sides. While plague ravages Constantinople and internal divisions weaken any hope of recovery, a new and unstoppable force rises in the east. Under Murad I, the Ottomans transform from raiders into rulers, capturing Adrianople and establishing
158: The Earthquake of Galipoli
When an Earthquake shattered the walls of Galipoli, the citizens fled in fear, and instead of a recovery effort sent by the Byzantines to rebuild the city, it was left empty. The Ottomans saw this as an opportunity of a lifetime and moved entire families across the sea from Asia to Europe, settling the city, rebuilding its walls, and forming a permanent Ottoman settlement on the European side of t
157: The Black Death hits Constantinople
The Black Death entered Europe through the black sea while the Mongols were besieging the city of Caffa. The Genoese ships evacuated the city after the plague broke out, sailing to Constantinople and then to Egypt and Sicily. This was the worst outbreak in human history, and it came right as the climate grew colder and the wars stretched beyond empires and borders. The damage to Constantinople can
156: The Civil War of Kantekouzenos
In this episode John Kantezouzenos goes to war with the wife of his deceased best friend... the previous emperor. They both fought this war out of fear that the other would destroy the empire in its time of need, and they had good reason to suspect each other. But really, all they accomplished was to speed up the empire's collapse. When they should have been working together to defend the emp
155: Andronicus III vs Orhan I
This episode covers the reign of Andronicus III as he battles the Ottoman Beylik, but Osman's son employed a different strategy. He no longer wanted to be a nomadic steppe horde; he envisioned creating his own empire from the old Byzantine cities. This is the birth of the Ottoman Empire.The History of Modern Greece Podcast covers the events from Ancient Greece, the Roman Empire, and the fall
154: Andronicus' trouble with grandchildren
Andronicus II had a very long reign. Maybe too long. He lived long enough to see his son crowned emperor, and then die, and his grandson become the heir to the empire. The only downside was the murderous scandal of one grandchild killing the other, which led to a civil war between the grandfather emperor and the grandchild emperor of the same name. While the empire fought itself, its enemies grew
153: The Knights Hospitaller conquer Rhode Island
Andronicus II reigned from 1282 to 1328., that’s a whopping 46 years, and a lot happened in his reign. He lived and reigned so long that his son, the Co-Emperor, died before he did. That left the Grandson, Andronicus III as the next in line. Or did it? Normally yes Andronicus III would be the next emperor, but because Andronicus II was still alive and reigning in his elder years that left his sons
152: The Little Ice Age & the Tragedy of Simonida
In this episode, we talk about the great volcanic eruption in Indonesia that caused a global famine, and was possibly the largest eruption in 7000 years. The consequences of this eruption and the plagues that followed, and the sudden plunge in temperature,s have led to the event now called the Little Ice Age. The effects of the Little Ice Age helped drive the Byzantine Empire to its final decline.
151: Season Six Introduction: The Death of Byzantium
In our first episode of 2026, we recap the last year and the impact of the 4th Crusade of the Byzantine Empire, and how it gave birth to the Greek Identity and revival period. The upcoming season doesn't just talk about the death of the Byzantine Empire, but it also brings forward a world in which the Greek identity overpowers the Roman identity, which paves the way for a future Independent G
150: Andronicus II and the Catalan Company
In this episode we follow the son of Michael Palaiologos, Andronicus II. He is the exact opposite of his father, and actually reversed many of his policies. He disbanded his army and navy to save money, and once he was attacked by Turks and lost the province of Bithynia, he hired mercenaries from the Sicilian Vesper War to do their dirty work. The trouble was, this group became more deadly than th
149: The Fall of the Holy Land
In this episode we cover the Mamluk push out of Egypt, proving to be one of the few great powers that were able to stop the Mongolian Tide, and push them out of the Holy Land. While on a punitive Campaign against those who aided the Mongolians, the Mamluks conquered the last remaining city of the Crusader Kingdoms, marking an end to the Crusader Era. The Holy Land had fallen, and military orders w
148: The Sicilian Vesper Revolution
In this first episode after the reconquest of Constantinople we see the retaliation that was planned for the Greeks in the form of a Crusade. Charles of Anjou prepares a mighty army in Sicily to invade the Balkans and capture the city of Constantinople from the Nicaeans. But Emperor Michael Palaiologos was ready for this, and used his network of spies to encourage rebellion amongst the local Sicil
147: Michael Palaiologos: The Reconquest of Constantinople
In this episode, Michael Palaiologos siezes power from the Laskarids and establishes the longest-reigning dynasty the Roman Empire had ever seen. It was also the last. This coup wasn't just against a family, but also against an idea. All of the grand ideas of Hellenic Revival was cast aside, and glory of the old Roman Empire was restored. Michael found himself at war with Sicily and the Despo
146: The Death of Theodore and the Sack Baghdad
In this episode, we cover two major events in Nicaea's history. Specifically, the death of Theodore Laskaris II, who tragically died similarly to his father, far too early. Theodore was only in his 30s, and his reign had not quite been secured. His final days were filled with epileptic fits and paranoia. But at the same time as the downward spiral of Theodore, the Mongol Empire launched an in
145: The Death of the John Vatatzes
In this episode, we cover the final years of John Vatatze's reign. It was a tragic period for the Laskarid dynasty, which restored the glory of the Byzantine Empire in Nicaea. First, the death of Frederick II, then the death of Conrad, then the death of Theodore Laskaris' wife, and finally, the death of Theodore's father. The Empire in Nicaea was on the rise, but the imperial family
144: The Seventh Crusade and the Death of Frederick II
In this episode, we cover the last few years of John Vatatzes' reign, and the crazy events that surrounded them. The Seventh Crusade was kicked off by King Louis the IX, and just like the 5th crusade, they attacked the city of Damietta, and then overextended their armies and ultimately lost everything to the Ayyubids, but we also cover the rise of the Mamluks, and the final battle in the life
143: The Nicaean Reconquest of Thessalonica
In this episode, we follow John Vatatzes after he received news of a new crusade to the Holy Land, and the Mongolian invasions of the north and east. All of his enemies abroad were dead, and he felt this was the best time to attack his enemies in his neighbourhood. That is when he received a letter from the new ruler of Thessalonica, proclaiming himself to be the Emperor of the Romans. Well... Joh
142: The Collapse of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum
The Seljuks have been a major player in the podcast since the end of season two, and finally, after nearly two centuries, they will be destroyed by the Mongolians. They put up a good fight against the Khwarezmian Empire, and perhaps that gave the Seljuks a false sense of ability. When they do face off against the Mongols, it is a disaster, and they will become vassals to the great Mongol Horde. Th
141: The Empire in Nicaea: Part Three: Saint John Vatatzes the Merciful
After five long episodes covering the Mongolians, we return to the narrative. John III Vatatzes ruled over the Empire in Nicaea, and it was becoming pretty clear that he would be the one to retake Constantinople so long as they could keep up the momentum. But then all of the neighbouring kingdoms, powerful kingdoms that had existed for centuries, were brought to their knees by the Mongolians. In
140: The Mongolians: Part Five: The Death of Genghis
In our final episode on our Mongol mini-series, we discuss the expedition into Europe, which introduced the Christian Knights to the mighty and invincible horde that had just devastated the Chinese and Islamic world. A small two-general army broke through the Kingdom of Georgia, and annihilated the Cumans and Kievan Rus in a deadly ambush, after luring 80,000 soldiers out into the Steppe. By the e
139: The Mongolians: Part Four: Breaking the Wall
Genghis Khan was just wrapping up his campaign in Northern China when his caravan carrying silks and goods along the Silk Road suddenly met a hostile force in Central Asia. This episode follows the rise and terrible fall of a short-lived empire in the Middle East called the Khwarezmian Empire. Here we see Genghis Khan bring the entire wrath of the Mongols into the Middle East along with all the te
138: The Mongolians: Part Three: The Golden Khan
In our third episode on the Mongolian mini series, we see exactly what Genghis Khan's army is capable of as he launches his first full-scale war against an outside empire. The Mongolians start the campaign as nothing more than a mighty Steppe army, but with the capture of Chinese cities and engineers, Genghis incorporates all of the Chinese technology into his army, making him the most feared
137: The Mongolians: Part Two: Genghis Khan
In this episode, we see Temujin face off against two of his greatest rivals on his journey to becoming the Great Khan. And both of them were his allies from his earlier life, including his Blood Brother, and his father's best Friend. After this series of battles, Genghis Khan will have no more rivals in Mongolia and will be able to focus all of his efforts on attacking his enemies to the sout
136: The Mongolians: Part One: The Way of the Steppe
In our very first episode on the Mongols, we leave our current narrative around the Empire in Nicaea and Constantinople, and we travel East. Crossing the Middle East, we discover the Mongolians completely annihilated their enemies and laid entire cities to waste. But where did it all begin? We go back in time to the very foundation of the Mongolians, to a small river north of the Eurasian Steppe,
135: John of Brienne: Part Three: Latin Emperor of Constantinople
In our final episode on the trilogy of John of Brienne, follow his journey after the disappointing 5th Crusade, from the minor rivalry that grew into a war between Kings, Popes, and Emperors. We see how viciously Frederick treated his father-in-law and the treatment he bestowed upon the Princess of Jerusalem. However, the final battle in John of Brienne's magnificent life was not against his
134: The Sixth Crusade: The Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II
We are going to take a small detour from the history of modern Greece to wrap up the story of the Fifth Crusade. When we left the Fifth Crusade, John of Brienne had returned to Europe to gather more men for the cause. But while he was trying to gain support, the crusader holdings in Egypt fell. And still the Holy Roman Emperor had not arrived, did he? Well, this crusade follows the story of the Ro
133: The Second Bulgarian Empire: Part Two: Ivan Asen II
In our second episode covering the revival period of the Bulgarian Empire, we find out what happened to the man who replaced the dreaded Roman Slayer, and how a banished Prince gathered the aid of the Kievan Russ and came back with a vengeance, to rid the realm of his usurper cousin and deal a brutal blow to the Despotate of Epirus. The History of Modern Greece Podcast covers the events from Ancie
132: The Empire in Nicaea: Part Two: The Seeds of Hellenism
As we return to the Empire in Nicaea, we follow the reign of Emperor John Vatatzes. After rebuilding the Byzantine Navy, he launched an invasion of Thrace and expanded Nicaea into Europe. While John spent most of his reign on the battlefield, his son Theodore grew up in the Empire in exile. Because of his prolific writing, we have an insight into his thoughts and ideas. We can see how he viewed th
131: The Despotate of Epirus: Part Two: Theodore Komnenos Doukas
This is our second episode on the Despotate of Epirus, and after covering the amazing foundation of the state by Michael Komnenos Doukas, everyone thought the state would simply dissolve after its founder was assassinated. But, with the arrival of his Half-Brother, the despotate grew to greater heights. Theodore built up the power of the Despotate and sought to retake the capital city, Constantino
130: John of Brienne: Part Two: The Fifth Crusade
In our second episode of John of Brienne, the King of Jerusalem, we follow him on his adventures to Egypt. The Austrians and the Military Orders have followed him to the city of Damietta. This city, at the mouth of the Delta, was the key to gaining a foothold in the Delta Nile. Once the crusaders had control of Cairo, the entire Ayyubid Caliphate was doomed to collapse. But first they needed to wa
129: John of Brienne: Part One: The King of Jerusalem
We always love to slow down and go into greater detail whenever we find an interesting character from history. Well, this is one of those times. John of Brienne went from being a small-time lord in France to the King of Jerusalem, to the leader of the 5th Crusade, and ended up as the Emperor of the Latin Crusader Empire in Constantinople. What a record… what a life…. What a story.The History of M
128: The Latin Empire: Part Two: Henry of Flanders
Once it became clear that Baldwin was dead, his brother was crowned Emperor. Henry had a much more successful reign than his predecessor... that being said, there were many challenges facing the Latin Crusader Empire. When they first took Constantinople, they were the strongest military force in the region, but as time progressed, the Romans formed their own resistance states, and the Bulgarians c
127: The Latin Empire: Part One: Partitioning of Byzantium
After spending six episodes covering the events happening in the Roman renegade states, we finally get to see what happened inside the walls of Constantinople. The 4th Crusaders had to elect an Emperor... the first Latin emperor in over 700 years. The choice was narrowed down between two leaders, Baldwin of Flanders and Boniface of Montferrat. The election created a rift between the two that would
126: The Empire of Trebizond: Part One: The Black Sea Empire
After Alexios and David Komnenos succeeded in creating the largest and richest of the three Byzantine Successor states, their luck started to turn. Overconfidence, civil war, and an embarrassing hostage situation crippled any ambition of the Komnenos brothers to conquer the Capital city... Constantinople. However, the Empire of Trebizond maintained a strong force on the Black Sea, and this control
125: The Kingdom of Georgia: Part One: Queen Tamar
To tell the story of the third successor state that popped up after the Sack of Constantinople, The Empire of Trebizond, we must take a deep dive into the History of the Kingdom of Georgia. The reason for this is that the Kingdom of Georgia, under their leader Queen Tamar, financed and organized the two grandchildren of Andronicus into capturing the city of Trebizond. Georgia is a kingdom in the C
124: The Second Bulgarian Empire: Part One: The Roman Slayer
In this episode, we move a little north of Constantinople to Bulgaria. During the years of turmoil at the Capital, the Bulgarians rebelled against Isaac Angelov and broke away, forming the Second Bulgarian Empire. At first, it didn't look too promising, but then the third crusade happened, which bought the Bulgarians more time and freedom, and then the Fourth Crusaders sacked the capital. All
123: The Despotate of Epirus: Part One: Michael Komnenos Doukas
In this episode, we visit the rouge imperial state that popped up in the Balkans after the conquest of Constantinople. This state is called the Despotate of Epirus, as it was the rightful inheritor of the Roman Empire. Michael Komnenos Doukas was a bastard cousin of the Emperor in Constantinople... but now he had the chance to really make a name for himself and carve out a piece of the old empire
122: The Empire in Nicaea: Part One: Theodore Laskaris the Elder
In this episode, we meet our first main character from Season Four. Theodore Laskaris started his career in Constantinople when he married the daughter of the Roman Emperor Alexios the 3rd. But after the city was sacked, the noble members of the Imperial fled in all directions. Theodore found himself in Nicaea, where he started a resistance against the Latins. After many successes, he was crowned
121: Greece in 1205
After the sack of Constantinople, the ousting of the Royal Family, and the occupation of the Ancient Roman Capital, the Greek world was turned upside down. The Latin Crusaders now ruled over the Greek capital, and three offshoot empires sprung up around the Imperial City. The Greek people were all but defeated, and the Turks, Latins, Bulgarians, and Venetians swallowed up all that was known as the
120: Season Four Introduction
In our 1st episode of the 4th season of The History of Modern Greece, we discuss what stood out from the third season, and the impact of the crusades on the Greek World. We talk about our favorite male and female characters, as well as the heroes of the Crusades, such as Saladin, Bohemond, and Richard the Lion Heart. However, we also discuss how the 4th Crusade really shattered the Greco-Roman wor
119: The Fourth Crusade: Part Five: The Sack of Constantinople
Once the Venetians and the Frankish Crusaders breached the city walls, the greatest sacking of a Roman city took place in all their history. The atrocities committed against the citizens of Constantinople are one of the greatest crimes against humanity in the Western World. Artifacts over a thousand years old were stripped and melted down... giant statues older than the Roman Empire were destroyed
118: The Fourth Crusade: Part Four: The Siege of Constantinople
For over a year now, a Latin Crusading Army has been camped outside of the Roman Capital City, Constantinople, and it quickly became apparent that there was no way they were going to leave. They hadn't the money to continue nor the support of the army to retreat in shame. The timer had run out, and the Crusaders were forced to turn against their Greek adversaries. The war had begun, and the V
117: The Fourth Crusade: Part Three: The Marvel of Constantinople
The History of Modern Greece Podcast covers the Greek people's events from the fall of Constantinople in 1453 to the Greek War of Independence in 1821-1832, through to the Greco-Turkish War from 1919 to 1922 to the present day.Website: www.moderngreecepodcast.comMusic by Mark Jungerman: www.marcjungermann.comCheck out our 2nd Podcast: www.antecedors.com
116: The Fourth Crusade: Part Two: Alexios the Bad
The Crusaders are lured away from their objective in Egypt by a tempting offer made by the son of the deposed Roman Emperor. If the Crusaders make a little side quest and restore the old Emperor to his throne, they will be rewarded with thousands of gold and silver coins, and all of their money troubles will be over forever. The only problem was Alexios was full of crap and unable to deliver on an
115: The Fourth Crusade: Part One: The Venetian Republic
The 4th Crusade was called almost immediately after Richard the Lionheart's successes. Its intention was to deal a knock-out punch to the Ayyubid Dynasty and retake the Holy City of Jerusalem. But there is a problem: no one wants to go. When the Pope finally rallied enough Crusaders to go on Crusade, they spent all of their money on a fleet hired from the Venetian Republic, but the trouble wi
114: The Third Crusade: Part Three: Richard the Lionheart
As King Richard and Saladin go head to head in the holy land, the invincible Sultan finally meets his match. Richard recovers the coastline for the Kingdom of Jerusalem, but he fails to retake the holy land. Meanwhile, Saladin's endless conquests finally meet their match when they face Richard the Lionheart in battle.The History of Modern Greece Podcast covers the Greek people's events f
113: The Third Crusade: Part Two: The Emperor's Crusade
King Richard and King Phillip left Western Europe for the long journey by sea to the holy land; they made a few stops along the way, including the casual conquest of the island of Cyprus. Meanwhile, back in Germany, the Holy Roman Emperor also decided to go on the Crusade, and he marched by foot through the Byzantine Empire and Anatolia... following the footsteps of the First Crusaders. One
112: The Third Crusade: Part One: The Fall of Jerusalem
Saladin and his mighty army defeated the Knights of Jerusalem and the Knights Templar at the battle of Hattin and then conquered Jerusalem. The Holy Land had fallen, and so a third crusade was called. The first two to answer the call were Richard the Lion Heart, King Phillip of France, and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. For the first time in nearly one hundred years, a crusade was called to liberat
111: No One Fights Like Andronicus
The History of Modern Greece Podcast covers the Greek people's events from the fall of Constantinople in 1453 to the Greek War of Independence in 1821-1832, through to the Greco-Turkish War from 1919 to 1922 to the present day.Website: www.moderngreecepodcast.comMusic by Mark Jungerman: www.marcjungermann.comCheck out our 2nd Podcast: www.antecedors.com
110: The Order of Assassins
The Order of Assassins is an order that dates back to the end of the Fatimid Caliphate and had its headquarters in a castle high up in the northern mountains of Persia. These Assassins were a menace to both the Crusaders and the Turks during the era of the Crusades. We cover the origin of their founding and the mystical legend told by Marco Polo.The History of Modern Greece Podcast covers the Gree
109: The Second Crusade: Part 7: The Siege of Damascus
With a mighty army of crusaders assembled in Jerusalem, they picked their first target. Did they choose an enemy of the Crusader states? No, they decided to besiege the only city friendly to the Crusaders. Did it go well? No, the Second Crusade would ultimately become one of the greatest failures of the Crusader states.The History of Modern Greece Podcast covers the Greek people's events from
108: The Second Crusade: Part Six: Roger II of Sicily
While Kings, princes, and Lords marched or sailed across Europe to participate in the Second Crusade, one king used this opportunity to wage his own personal war against the Byzantine Roman Empire—Roger II of Sicily.The History of Modern Greece Podcast covers the Greek people's events from the fall of Constantinople in 1453 to the Greek War of Independence in 1821-1832, through to the Greco-T
107: The Second Crusade: Part Five: King Louis & Eleanor's journey to Jerusalem
King Louis and his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, journey across Europe and traverse the hostile lands of Anatolia. They encounter multiple Turkic armies and face a near-total catastrophe before being whisked away to Antioch. Here, Eleanor is caught up in a romantic tangle with her uncle, Raymond.The History of Modern Greece Podcast covers the Greek people's events from the fall of Constantinopl
106: The Second Crusade: Part Four: King Conrad's Expedition
King Conrad embarked across Europe and entered the Byzantine Empire before crossing the Bosphorus into Anatolia. Despite warnings from the Greek Emperor, Conrad was determined to follow in the exact footsteps of the First Crusaders. This decision turned out to be a terrible one and would spell the end of the German Campaign.The History of Modern Greece Podcast covers the Greek people's events
105: The Second Crusade: Part Three: The Siege of Lisbon
The first wave of Crusaders left Southern England and consisted of a rough coalition of English, Norman, French, Flemish, and Germans. When the rough seas forced their fleet of 200 ships to find a safe harbor in Portugal, King Alfonso convinced the entire army of Crusaders to wait out the summer in Portugal and assist in the siege of Lisbon... the first Great Siege of the Second Crusade.The Histor
104: The Second Crusade: Part Two: The Papal Bull & Bernard of Clairvaux
For the first and only time, we read a Papal Bull, the document that officiated the Second Crusade. It is a wild document written by the Pope that declares who, where, why, and how the Second Crusade will be carried out. We also follow Bernard of Clairvaux as he travels across Europe and recruits two Great Kings to fight for the holy land and their very souls.The History of Modern Greece Podcast c
103: The Second Crusade: Part One: the Kings Crusade
There are many different characters from the second crusdade that all have their own motives for joining the crusade. And once we find out exactly what drove each King to join the campaign, its easier to understand why everything unfolded the way it did. So this episode is going to introduce the Kings of the King's Crusade, as well as follow up on the fate of the mighty Turko Ruler who united
102: The Latin Crusader Kingdoms: Part Four: The Fall of Edessa
As the Latin Crusader Kingdoms squabbled amongst themselves, a new superhero was rising in the East. A man named Zengi rose up from the ranks of the Seljuks and united his fellow Turks and Muslims with the sword. Once he had a mighty, multi-ethnic, super coalition of Islamic forces, he pointed his army to the City of Edessa... which just so happened, was unguarded.The History of Modern Greece Podc
101: Emperor John II Komnenos vs the Prince of Antioch
Emperor John Komnenos must deal with the Crusader States in the East. The Latins have betrayed the Greeks almost every day, despite being fellow Christians... they took the land that belonged to the Roman Empire and governed over it as if it were their own. But instead of working together to secure the Crusader States, they were busy fighting amongst themselves. Emperor John II used this time to m
100: The Knights Templar: Part One: The 1st Grand Master
The formation of the crusader states created a vast new realm in Christendom, but the land was still foreign and hostile to Latin Christians. When 300 pilgrims were slaughtered on their way to the Dead Sea, it became apparent that there was a need for security to protect the Christian pilgrims. However, due to the rift between the separate Crusader States, it was determined that a group of monast
099: Emperor John II Komnenos: Trouble with Venice
When John came to power he realized the most dangerous threat to the empire did not come from without, but it came from within. It was the bad trade deals set up by his father, that allowed Latin merchants to control the imperial navy as well as trade without taxation. This transferred an incredible amount of power and wealth from the Greeks, to the Latins. When John tried to sever the deal and ta
098: The Alexiad: Part Seven: The Death of Alexios
This is the final episode of the Alexiad mini-series, where we see the last years of Alexios and his battle against the heretics who have infiltrated the Western provinces of his empire. With the help of his brother Isaac, they were able to weed out the bishop of the Dualist Sect of Bogomils. We also get to see the very detailed death described by Anna Komnene.The History of Modern Greece Podcast
097: The Latin Crusader Kingdoms: Part Three: The Death of Tancred
In this episode, we discuss the amazing life of Tancred after the Crusades, specifically his campaigns and rise to power as the ruler of Antioch after his uncle Bohemond left for Europe and never returned. Tancred became a legend himself, won amazing victories in the Middle East, and brought the kingdom of Antioch to its absolute height. We also discuss the deaths of Kilij Arslan, Robert of Norman
096: The Alexiad: Part Six: Alexios vs Bohemond - the Rematch
In the episode, we wrap up the untimely end of Raymond of Toulouse; then we return to the story of Bohemond and return to Anna Komnene's The Alexiad to see how the rematch between Bohemond and Alexios show just how things have changed in the world, and how much Alexios had built up the empire. Bohemond leaves his entire kingdom to Tancred and embarks on a crusade of revenge against the Roman
095: The Armenian Origin Story
As we talked more and more about the Armenian role in the Roman Empire and the Latin Crusader Kingdom, we decided to do an origin story episode of the Armenians. This is to show just how influential they were in Anatolian history, how deep their history goes back in the region, and how they always found themselves squeezed between the empires in the East and the Empires in the West. This episode w
094: The Latin Crusader Kingdoms: Part Two: The Failed Crusade
The Crusade called by Pope Pascal the 2nd is now underway, and they march across Europe and pass through Constantinople. Raymond of Toulouse is now a trusted servant of Emperor Alexios and he escorts the men through Anatolia. But he has a lot of trouble controlling these men, and they soon break off on their own quest to attack the Sultanate of Rum.The History of Modern Greece Podcast covers the G
093: The Latin Crusader Kingdoms: Part One: The First King of Jerusalem
History says that the 1st Crusade ended after the Battle of Ascalon, but for all of the main characters in the saga, this was far from over. A political battle was forming over who would be the one to rule the Holy City, and the war between the Normans and the Roman Empire was about to reignite. This episode covers the events that happened in the first year after the capture of Jerusalem.The Histo
092: The First Crusade: Part Eight: The Siege of Jerusalem
Now that the Crusaders had made it to the Walls of Jerusalem... the final showdown began. If the 1st Crusade was a video game, this was the final boss. The soldiers were cut off from reinforcements, food, water, and supplies. There was no time for a long drawn-out siege, like at Antioch... this was going to be a fight. They were going to take Jerusalem or die trying.The History of Modern Greece Po
091: The First Crusade: Part Seven: Trial by Fire
Antioch now lay in Christian hands, but the unity of the Crusaders was fractured. Different leaders argued over who would rule over their captured cities. Bohemond refused to honor his oath to Alexios and demanded the city rest under his influence. Meanwhile, the rest of the crusaders march South for Jerusalem.The History of Modern Greece Podcast covers the Greek people's events from the fall
090: The First Crusade: Part Six: the Battle of Antioch
Less than a day after capturing the city of Antioch, the Crusaders were themselves besieged by a mighty army of 40,000 men, led by the commander Kerbogha. But instead of waiting behind the walls to starve, the Crusaders launched an all-out assault beyond the gates of the city and routed the mighty army of Turks, Arabs, and Persians.The History of Modern Greece Podcast covers the Greek people'
089: The First Crusade: Part Five: The Siege of Antioch
Now that the Crusaders had made it all the way to the ancient city of Antioch, they gazed upon the mighty walls and set up their camps. Antioch was built on the side of a mountain, so that the city walls went right up into the hills, and the tallest tower in the city looked down on the fields and the crusader camp from thousands of feet above. This was going to be a very long siege... one that wou
088: The First Crusade: Part Four: Tancred and Baldwin's lil Side Quest
After trekking through Central Anatolia, the Crusaders come to a fork in the road in the middle of the hot summer. The Bulk of the Crusaders took the longer route through the mountains. At the same time, Tancred and Baldwin traveled south into the plains of Cilicia, where they gathered the support of the local Armenians and took back several cities, which led to the formation of the very first Cru
087: The First Crusade: Part Three: The Siege of Nicaea
Now that the Crusaders have crossed the seas from Europe to Asia Minor, they face their first major obstacle... the ancient city of Nicea. And the Crusaders proved themselves more fierce than the peasants who came this way before.The History of Modern Greece Podcast covers the Greek people's events from the fall of Constantinople in 1453 to the Greek War of Independence in 1821-1832, through
086: The First Crusade: Part Two: Swearing of Oaths
One by one, the leaders of the Crusading Armies swore their oaths of loyalty to the Roman Emperor Alexios before departing Constantinople for Anatolia. We also had a quick recap on the events that transpired in Jerusalem between Arab Conquests and the 1st Crusade.The History of Modern Greece Podcast covers the Greek people's events from the fall of Constantinople in 1453 to the Greek War of I
085: The First Crusade: Part One: The Princes Crusade
An army of a hundred thousand Soldiers, Knights, Lords, and Princes leave Europe and make their way to the Holy Land, to take Jerusalem back from the infidels and, if possible, win a little glory for themselves while they're at it.The History of Modern Greece Podcast covers the Greek people's events from the fall of Constantinople in 1453 to the Greek War of Independence in 1821-1832, th
084: The Peasant's Crusade: Part Two: They all died
Peter the Hermit has made it to Constantinople after wreaking havoc on the kingdom of Hungary and laying waste to the city of Belgrade... but their luck is about to run out, and everyone is going to die.The History of Modern Greece Podcast covers the Greek people's events from the fall of Constantinople in 1453 to the Greek War of Independence in 1821-1832, through to the Greco-Turkish War fr
