Pic: Silver basilikon coin of Andronikos II and Andronikos III
When Andronikos’ son dies he ponders whether to disinherit his Grandson Andronikos III. This prompts two bouts of civil war as the younger generation try to force change on their elders.
Period: 1310-1328
Stream: The Next Generation
Download: The Next Generation
RSS Feed: The History of Byzantium
If you want to send in feedback to the podcast:
– Either comment on this post.
– Or on the facebook page.
– Leave a review on Itunes.
Andronikos roles the dice and hires the Catalan Grand Company to fight the Turks. Those who advised the Emperor not to hire them could never have imagined just how badly things would go. Meanwhile Latin forces continue to take Aegean islands for themselves.
Period: 1303-1310
Pic: Roger de Flor parades the Catalan Company before Andronikos and the court (Painting by José Moreno Carbonero)
Stream: The Catalan Company
Download: The Catalan Company
RSS Feed: The History of Byzantium
If you want to send in feedback to the podcast:
– Either comment on this post.
– Or on the facebook page.
– Leave a review on Itunes.
We look at Andronikos II Palailogos’ domestic arrangements and European wars. After disbanding his fleet to save money the Emperor was repeatedly humiliated by the Venetians. We also look at the Emperor’s personality to understand why he was not best suited to the difficult times he lived in.
Period: 1281-1303
Pic: Andronicus II Palailogos. From a fresco in the Moni Agiou Ioannou Prodromou monastery, Greece.
Stream: Cautious and Weak
Download: Cautious and Weak
RSS Feed: The History of Byzantium
If you want to send in feedback to the podcast:
– Either comment on this post.
– Or on the facebook page.
– Leave a review on Itunes.
The arrival of the Mongols in Anatolia would eventually lead to the expulsion of the Romans. Mongol dominance of the plateau sent waves of tribes into Byzantine territory. It was a crisis which the Emperor Andronikos was not equal to.
Period: 1281-1303
Pic: 19th-century depiction of Osman (the founder of the Ottoman dynasty) by Konstantin Kapıdağlı
Stream: The Fall of Anatolia
Download: The Fall of Anatolia
RSS Feed: The History of Byzantium
If you want to send in feedback to the podcast:
– Either comment on this post.
– Or on the facebook page.
– Leave a review on Itunes.
The Union of Lyons had unleashed bitter division within Byzantium. We follow Michael and his son Andronikos as they try to make peace with the various factions that had opposed them.
Period: 1281-1310
Pic: Andronikos II Palaiologos from the manuscript of George Pachymeres’ ‘Historia‘
Stream: Healing the Divisions
Download: Healing the Divisions
RSS Feed: The History of Byzantium
If you want to send in feedback to the podcast:
– Either comment on this post.
– Or on the facebook page.
– Leave a review on Itunes.
Left Pic: Michael VIII Palaiologos from ‘Rulers of the Byzantine Empire’ by Kibea. Right pic: Statue of Charles of Anjou by Arnolfo di Cambio c. 1277
The Pope responds with despair to the news of Constantinople’s fall. He calls for a Crusade to restore the Latin position. The man who answers is the brother of the King of France, Charles of Anjou. Michael Palaiologos is willing to do whatever it takes to stop them. This means he must agree to church union.
Period: 1261-82
Stream: Church Union
Download: Church Union
RSS Feed: The History of Byzantium
If you want to send in feedback to the podcast:
– Either comment on this post.
– Or on the facebook page.
– Leave a review on Itunes.
Pic: The Deesis mosaic from the gallery of the Hagia Sophia. Created after the return to Constantinople in 1261.
Michael VIII Palaiologos enters the city of Constantine for the first time. He has a lot of work to do to rebuild the city and restore its prestige. He must also navigate a complex diplomatic position which sees his forces in action on five fronts simultaneously.
Period: 1261-5
Stream: The Return from Exile
Download: The Return from Exile
RSS Feed: The History of Byzantium
If you want to send in feedback to the podcast:
– Either comment on this post.
– Or on the facebook page.
– Leave a review on Itunes.
We look at listener questions about this period of narrative. Were the Varangian Guard still employed at Nicaea? Had Greek Fire been lost? How many Emperors are actually Saints? Why did Nicaea win? Should they have moved back to Constantinople? Were the Romans Greeks now?
Period: 1204-61
Pic: Saint Constantine I
Stream: Questions XIV
Download: Questions XIV
RSS Feed: The History of Byzantium
If you want to send in feedback to the podcast:
– Either comment on this post.
– Or on the facebook page.
– Leave a review on Itunes.
We talk about the challenges which Michael Palaiologos and the Nicaens faced as they prepared to move back to Constantinople.
Period: 1204-61
| Pic: Michael VIII Palaiologos. Miniature portrait in a manuscript of George Pachymeres’ Historia, early 14th century |
Stream: Pinch Me
Download: Pinch Me
RSS Feed: The History of Byzantium
If you want to send in feedback to the podcast:
– Either comment on this post.
– Or on the facebook page.
– Leave a review on Itunes.
Pic: Chlemoutsi Castle (in Andravida in the Peloponnese) was built by the Latin rulers of the Principality of Achaea.
We talk about the Latin occupied parts of Byzantium. What was life like for the conquered and the conquerors? Was the occupation a colonial enterprise?
Period: 1204-61
Stream: Colonial Occupation
Download: Colonial Occupation
RSS Feed: The History of Byzantium
If you want to send in feedback to the podcast:
– Either comment on this post.
– Or on the facebook page.
– Leave a review on Itunes.
The History of Byzantium 