As Western knights and nobles ride toward Jerusalem, there are many other cities they must take along the way. Their first battlefield encounter with the Turks leaves a lasting impression on both sides, but they are soon occupied with besieging fortified cities. Heads are brandished on spears and bodies hang on display from the ramparts. The siege of Antioch comes close to ending the entire crusade on more that one occasion, with starvation, desertion, and enemy armies of much larger size. Heroic feats, cannibalism, and nearly miraculous escapes are all part of this gripping story.Â
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1:32:20
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1:32:20
The First Crusade: Call to Arms
The First Crusade became the stuff of legend soon after it finished. Western knights headed to Constantinople and ultimately to Jerusalem, to rescue pilgrimage sites from the control of Muslim invaders. The crusade involved close to 100,000 people from Western Europe heading east, in a journey that would cover thousands of miles, mostly on foot. It’s often told as a struggle of East vs. West, and Christianity against Islam. The history is more complicated. What set so many knights off on this journey to the east? Why did so many ordinary people make the crusade? Find out in this episode. Related episodes include: The Great Schism The Normans in Italy Â
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1:28:58
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1:28:58
Knights, Jousts, and Courtly Love
The image of the knight in shining armour has had a very long shadow in Western culture, from King Arthur to Monty Python. The reality of life for medieval knights, obsessed with honour and reputation is the subject of this episode. We meet a real Spanish knight, Suero de Quinones, who wore an iron collar and broke hundreds of lances for the love of a lady. What was courtly love and how did it work? How were jousting matches organised? Enter the world of a medieval knight!  Â
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1:11:51
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1:11:51
Camino de Santiago and Medieval Pilgrimage
The Camino de Santiago pilgrimage is exploding in popularity these days, but the modern travellers are part of a tradition that is over 1000 years old. How did the Camino begin? Why did medieval people go on pilgrimages anyway? From drinking wine used to wash skulls, to pilgrims in chains, this episode explores the world of medieval Christianity, and the surprising traditions around pilgrimage, including why the Camino is booming today. Support this podcast on Patreon at: patreon.com/evaschubertÂ
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1:27:20
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1:27:20
Empire of the Franks Ep 2: The Vikings Attack
The grandsons of Charlemagne slide into civil war, with thousands of Franks killing each other over the division of the empire. Though the Treaty of Verdun ends the bloodletting, Frankish troubles are far from over. Vikings sail up the Seine and sack Paris, finally leaving after being bought off by King Charles of West Francia. However Louis the German, King of East Francia, makes Viking raiders return what they stole from his territory, and collects tribute money from them. He may have been particularly disgruntled since his wife took a vow of chastity. This is the story of a king dubbed "Louis of the Iron Hands" for his extraordinary strength, and the distinctive culture he created in the lands that would become Germany. Â
A history podcast with a focus on violence, religion, and gripping stories, created by Eva Schubert, history nerd, college instructor, and jazz aficionado.
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