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Episodes
Thursday Oct 23, 2025
Thursday Oct 23, 2025
A series of civil wars and repeated invasions by Germanic tribes caused the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. Following the end of imperial authority, several Germanic tribes struggled against each other for control of territory. The Franks became the dominant power in Gaul, but Greater Frankia repeatedly broke apart during wars between rival claimants for the throne. Finally, Charlemagne united the Franks, and greatly expanded the size of the kingdom. However, his grandsons proved unwilling to share the empire, and divided it in 843, laying the foundations for France and Germany. Episode Thirty-one explains that the massive expansion of the kingdom required an improved system of local government, so Charles divided each newly conquered region into counties. The counts were royal appointees, responsible for collecting taxes, administering justice, and raising troops for campaigns. The kingdom included several different cultures, each with its own legal tradition, so Charles gathered leading scholars to produce a standard legal system. These scholars could barely understand each other's Latin, so Charles authorized the introduction of a new linguistic curriculum, and then funded a project to copy a huge number of classical Roman texts.
Cast of Characters:
Charles-king of the Franks and the Lombards
Alcuin of York-master of the palace school, English cleric
Peter of Pisa-Lombard deacon
Sources:
Christendom: The Triumph of a Religion-Peter Heather
The Restoration of Rome: Barbarian Popes and Imperial Pretenders-Peter Heather
Women in Purple: Rulers of Medieval Byzantium-Judith Herrin
Sources:
Charlemagne-Derek Wilson
Charlemagne: Father of a Continent-Alessandro Barbero, translated by Allan Cameron
Charlemagne-Johannes Fried, Translated by Peter Lewis
Becoming Charlemagne: Europe, Baghdad, and the Empires of A.D. 800-Jeff Sypeck
Emperor of the West: Charlemagne and the Carolingian Empire-Hywell Williams
The Carolingians: A Family Who Forged Europe-Pierre Riche, Translated by Michael Idomir Allen
The Frankish Kingdoms Under the Carolingians, 751-987-Rosamond McKitterick
The Restoration of Rome: Barbarian Popes and Imperial Pretenders-Peter Heather
The Inheritance of Rome: A History of Europe from 400 to 1000-Chris Wickham
Before the Normans: Southern Italy in the Ninth and Tenth Centuries-Barbara M. Kreutz
Ravenna: Capital of Empire, Crucible of Europe-Judith Herrin
The Popes: A History-John Julius Norwich
The Republic of St. Peter: The Birth of the Papal State, 680-825-Thomas F. X. Noble
Kingdoms of Faith: A New History of Islamic Spain-Brian A. Catlos
God's Crucible: Islam and the Making of Europe, 570-1215-David Levering Lewis
Muslim Spain and Portugal: A Political History of al-Andalus-Hugh Kennedy
Image Credit
By Unknown author - [1] 'Grandes Chroniques de France, Mandragore, BNF, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=723625
Wednesday Oct 15, 2025
Wednesday Oct 15, 2025
A series of civil wars and repeated invasions by Germanic tribes caused the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. Following the end of imperial authority, several Germanic tribes struggled against each other for control of territory. The Franks became the dominant power in Gaul, but Greater Frankia repeatedly broke apart during wars between rival claimants for the throne. Finally, Charlemagne united the Franks, and greatly expanded the size of the kingdom. However, his grandsons proved unwilling to share the empire, and divided it in 843, laying the foundations for France and Germany. Episode Thirty explains that the release of Arichis' son Grimoald ensured the failure of an imperial invasion of southern Italy. Since Saxony and northern Italy were stable, Charles decided that it was time to annex nearby Bavaria, which was merely the first step in a large-scale expansion east. The real target was the lands controlled by the Avars. Charles led several armies deep into Avar territory, but was forced to retreat when his supply chain became dangerously stretched. Meanwhile, a new emir in al-Andalus saw an opportunity since the Franks had moved most of their army far east.
Cast of Characters:
Charles-king of the Franks and the Lombards
Pepin the Hunchback-Charles' eldest son, illegitimate
Charles the Younger-Charles' eldest legitimate son
Pippin-king of Italy, Charles' second-eldest legitimate son, formerly Carolman
Louis-king of Aquitaine, Charles' third-eldest legitimate son
Gerold-prefect of Bavaria (788-799), brother-in-law of Charles
Tassilo III-duke of Bavaria (748-788)
Hadrian I-Pope (772-795)
Arichis II-prince of Benevento (774-787), duke of Benevento (758-774)
Grimoald III-prince of Benevento (788-806)
Adelchis-eldest son of Desiderius, brother-in-law of Arichis
Abd al-Rahman I-emir of al-Andalus (756-788)
Hisham I-emir of al-Andalus (788-796), second-eldest son of Abd al-Rahman
Sulaymin-eldest son of Abd al-Rahman
Abd Allah-third eldest son of Abd al-Rahman
Sources:
Charlemagne-Derek Wilson
Charlemagne: Father of a Continent-Alessandro Barbero, translated by Allan Cameron
Charlemagne-Johannes Fried, Translated by Peter Lewis
Becoming Charlemagne: Europe, Baghdad, and the Empires of A.D. 800-Jeff Sypeck
Emperor of the West: Charlemagne and the Carolingian Empire-Hywell Williams
The Carolingians: A Family Who Forged Europe-Pierre Riche, Translated by Michael Idomir Allen
The Frankish Kingdoms Under the Carolingians, 751-987-Rosamond McKitterick
The Restoration of Rome: Barbarian Popes and Imperial Pretenders-Peter Heather
The Inheritance of Rome: A History of Europe from 400 to 1000-Chris Wickham
Before the Normans: Southern Italy in the Ninth and Tenth Centuries-Barbara M. Kreutz
Ravenna: Capital of Empire, Crucible of Europe-Judith Herrin
The Popes: A History-John Julius Norwich
The Republic of St. Peter: The Birth of the Papal State, 680-825-Thomas F. X. Noble
Kingdoms of Faith: A New History of Islamic Spain-Brian A. Catlos
God's Crucible: Islam and the Making of Europe, 570-1215-David Levering Lewis
Muslim Spain and Portugal: A Political History of al-Andalus-Hugh Kennedy
Image Credit
By Unknown author - [1] 'Grandes Chroniques de France, Mandragore, BNF, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=723625
Wednesday Oct 08, 2025
Wednesday Oct 08, 2025
A series of civil wars and repeated invasions by Germanic tribes caused the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. Following the end of imperial authority, several Germanic tribes struggled against each other for control of territory. The Franks became the dominant power in Gaul, but Greater Frankia repeatedly broke apart during wars between rival claimants for the throne. Finally, Charlemagne united the Franks, and greatly expanded the size of the kingdom. However, his grandsons proved unwilling to share the empire, and divided it in 843, laying the foundations for France and Germany. Episode twenty-nine explains that the Frankish kingdom had expanded close to the border of the eastern Roman Empire. Conflict seemed likely until King Charles and Empress Irene negotiated a marriage alliance between their children. Recognizing that the former Lombard kingdom and Aquitaine needed time to adapt to Frankish control, Charles appointed his two youngest sons sub-kings of the two regions. Once the border regions had been resolved, Charles could focus his energy on the subjucation of the Saxons. Fighting was fierce, but the last major resistance ended when the Saxon leader Widukind bent the knee. When the empire tried to place Desiderius' son Adelchis on the throne of Benevento after Arichis died suddenly, Charles backed Arichis' son Grimoald because he would not be an imperial puppet.
Cast of Characters:
Charles-king of the Franks and the Lombards
Pepin the Hunchback-Charles' eldest son, illegitimate
Charles the Younger-Charles' eldest legitimate son
Pippin-king of Italy, Charles' second-eldest legitimate son, formerly Carolman
Louis-king of Aquitaine, Charles' third-eldest legitimate son
Hadrian I-Pope (772-795)
Desiderius-king of the Lombards (756-774)
Arichis II-prince of Benevento (774-787), duke of Benevento (758-774)
Grimoald III-prince of Benevento (788-806)
Adelchis-eldest son of Desiderius, brother-in-law of Arichis
Widukind-king of the Saxons
Sources:
Charlemagne-Derek Wilson
Charlemagne: Father of a Continent-Alessandro Barbero, translated by Allan Cameron
Charlemagne-Johannes Fried, Translated by Peter Lewis
Becoming Charlemagne: Europe, Baghdad, and the Empires of A.D. 800-Jeff Sypeck
Emperor of the West: Charlemagne and the Carolingian Empire-Hywell Williams
The Carolingians: A Family Who Forged Europe-Pierre Riche, Translated by Michael Idomir Allen
The Frankish Kingdoms Under the Carolingians, 751-987-Rosamond McKitterick
The Restoration of Rome: Barbarian Popes and Imperial Pretenders-Peter Heather
The Inheritance of Rome: A History of Europe from 400 to 1000-Chris Wickham
Before the Normans: Southern Italy in the Ninth and Tenth Centuries-Barbara M. Kreutz
Ravenna: Capital of Empire, Crucible of Europe-Judith Herrin
The Popes: A History-John Julius Norwich
The Republic of St. Peter: The Birth of the Papal State, 680-825-Thomas F. X. Noble
Image Credit
By Unknown author - [1] 'Grandes Chroniques de France, Mandragore, BNF, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=723625
Wednesday Oct 01, 2025
Wednesday Oct 01, 2025
A series of civil wars and repeated invasions by Germanic tribes caused the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. Following the end of imperial authority, several Germanic tribes struggled against each other for control of territory. The Franks became the dominant power in Gaul, but Greater Frankia repeatedly broke apart during wars between rival claimants for the throne. Finally, Charlemagne united the Franks, and greatly expanded the size of the kingdom. However, his grandsons proved unwilling to share the empire, and divided it in 843, laying the foundations for France and Germany. Episode twenty-nine explains that Charles invaded the Lombard kingdom, and beseiged the Lombard capital through the winter. The Lombard king was exiled to a remote monastery, and Charles announced that he was now king of the Franks and king of the Lombards. Taking a break from his conquest of the Saxons, Charles intervened in a Muslim civil war in al-Andalus, but the intervention was a disaster. Charles had been invited by several rulers in the northeast of the peninsula, but they refused to let his army enter their cities when they realized that Charles intended to stay in the region. Charles returned home, but unleashed his frustration on the Christian Basques, sacking their city Pamplona.
Cast of Characters:
Charles-king of Frankia, formerly king of Neustria, Frisia and northern Austrasia (768-771), eldest son of Pippin
Bernard-duke, illegitimate son of Charles Martel
Adalard-monk, son of Bernard
Roland-Lord of the Breton march, originally called Hroudloand
Desiderius-king of the Lombards (756-774)
Adelchis-son of Desiderius
Arichis-prince of Benevento (774-787), duke of Benvento (758-774), son-in-law of Desiderius
Hrodgaud-duke of Friuli (774-776)
Hadrian I-Pope (772-795)
Abd al-Rahman I-emir of the emirate of Cordoba (756-788), founder of the emirate
Sources:
Charlemagne-Derek Wilson
Charlemagne: Father of a Continent-Alessandro Barbero, translated by Allan Cameron
Charlemagne-Johannes Fried, Translated by Peter Lewis
Becoming Charlemagne: Europe, Baghdad, and the Empires of A.D. 800-Jeff Sypeck
King and Emperor: A New Life of Charlemagne-Janet L. Nelson
The Emperor Charlemagne-E. R. Chamberlin
The Carolingians: A Family Who Forged Europe-Pierre Riche, Translated by Michael Idomir Allen
Emperor of the West: Charlemagne and the Carolingian Empire-Hywell Williams
The Frankish Kingdoms Under the Carolingians, 751-987-Rosamond McKitterick
The Restoration of Rome: Barbarian Popes and Imperial Pretenders-Peter Heather
The Inheritance of Rome: A History of Europe from 400 to 1000-Chris Wickham
Ravenna: Capital of Empire, Crucible of Europe-Judith Herrin
The Popes: A History-John Julius Norwich
Keepers of the Keys of Heaven: A History of the Papacy-Roger Collins
The Republic of St. Peter: The Birth of the Papal State, 680-825-Thomas F. X. Noble
God's Crucible: Islam and the Making of Europe, 570-1215-David Levering Lewis
Muslim Spain and Portugal: A Political History of al-Andalus-Hugh Kennedy
Image Credit
By Unknown author - [1] 'Grandes Chroniques de France, Mandragore, BNF, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=723625
Wednesday Sep 24, 2025
Wednesday Sep 24, 2025
A series of civil wars and repeated invasions by Germanic tribes caused the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. Following the end of imperial authority, several Germanic tribes struggled against each other for control of territory. The Franks became the dominant power in Gaul, but Greater Frankia repeatedly broke apart during wars between rival claimants for the throne. Finally, Charlemagne united the Franks, and greatly expanded the size of the kingdom. However, his grandsons proved unwilling to share the empire, and divided it in 843, laying the foundations for France and Germany. Episode Twenty-seven explains that the enlarged Frankish kingdom was divided between Pippin's two sons when he died. Charles, the eldest son, made a marriage alliance with the Lombard king, while his younger brother Carloman tried to ally with the papacy. However, Carloman died suddenly, and Charles quickly gained control of his brother's lands. Meanwhile, Desiderius, king of the Lombards, had helped pope Stephen deal with a violent tyrant. Naturally, Stephen was grateful, but he died, and was succeeded by Hadrian, a more aggressive pope who asked for Frankish help against the Lombards.
Cast of Characters:
Charles-king of Frankia, formerly king of Neustria, Frisia and northern Austrasia (768-771), eldest son of Pippin
Carloman-king of southern Austrasia, Provence, Languedoc, Burgundy and Alemannia, younger son of Pippin (768-771)
Bertrada-mother to both Charles and Carloman
Desiderius-king of the Lombards (756-774)
Tasssilo-duke of Bavaria (748-788)
Hadrian I-Pope (772-795)
Stephen III-Pope (768-772)
Constantine II-illegitimate pope (767-768)
Christopher-head notary of the papacy
Sergius-treasurer of the church, Christopher's son
Sources:
Charlemagne-Derek Wilson
Charlemagne: Father of a Continent-Alessandro Barbero, translated by Allan Cameron
Charlemagne-Johannes Fried, Translated by Peter Lewis
Becoming Charlemagne: Europe, Baghdad, and the Empires of A.D. 800-Jeff Sypeck
King and Emperor: A New Life of Charlemagne-Janet L. Nelson
The Emperor Charlemagne-E. R. Chamberlin
The Carolingians: A Family Who Forged Europe-Pierre Riche, Translated by Michael Idomir Allen
Emperor of the West: Charlemagne and the Carolingian Empire-Hywell Williams
The Frankish Kingdoms Under the Carolingians, 751-987-Rosamond McKitterick
The Restoration of Rome: Barbarian Popes and Imperial Pretenders-Peter Heather
The Inheritance of Rome: A History of Europe from 400 to 1000-Chris Wickham
Ravenna: Capital of Empire, Crucible of Europe-Judith Herrin
The Popes: A History-John Julius Norwich
Keepers of the Keys of Heaven: A History of the Papacy-Roger Collins
The Republic of St. Peter: The Birth of the Papal State, 680-825-Thomas F. X. Noble
Image Credit
By Unknown author - [1] 'Grandes Chroniques de France, Mandragore, BNF, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=723625
Wednesday Sep 17, 2025
Wednesday Sep 17, 2025
A series of civil wars and repeated invasions by Germanic tribes caused the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. Following the end of imperial authority, several Germanic tribes struggled against each other for control of territory. The Franks became the dominant power in Gaul, but Greater Frankia repeatedly broke apart during wars between rival claimants for the throne. Finally, Charlemagne united the Franks, and greatly expanded the size of the kingdom. However, his grandsons proved unwilling to share the empire, and divided it in 843, laying the foundations for France and Germany. Episode twenty-six explains that Pippin agreed to support Pope Stephen against the Lombards, and king Aistulf was forced to return territory to Rome, which had become a papal republic. Once the papacy had been made secure against aggressive neighbors, Pippin decided that it was time to regain control of Aquitaine. Pippin was relentless, and campaigned there year after year for most of a decade. Resistance finally ended when the duke was killed by his own men. Ordinarily, the Muslims of al-Andalus would have taken advantage of the situation, but they were preoccupied with a civil war. Finally, Abd al-Rahman established a new emirate, but he was busy strengthening his control over the peninsula.
Cast of Characters:
Pippin-king of Frankia (751-768), formerly mayor of the palace of Neustria (741-751) and mayor of the palace of Austrasia (747-751), and the eldest son of Charles the Hammer
Carloman-monk, formerly mayor of the palace of Austrasia (741-747), Pippin's brother
Zacharias-pope (741-752)
Stephen II-pope (752-757)
Paul I-pope (757-767)
Ratchis-king of the Lombards (744-749), formerly duke of Friuli, Aistulf's brother
Aistulf-king of the Lombards (749-756), formerly duke of Friuli, Ratchis' brother
Desiderius-king of the Lombards (756-774), formerly duke of Tuscany
Waifar-duke of Aquitaine (745-768), son of Hunald
Abd al-Rahman I-emir of the emirate of Cordoba (756-788), founder of the emirate
Yusuf ibn Abd al-Rahman al-Fihri-governor of al-Andalus (747-756), former governor of Narbonne
Sources:
The Merovingian Kingdoms: 450-751-Ian Wood
The Franks-Edward James
Charlemagne-Derek Wilson
Emperor of the West: Charlemagne and the Carolingian Empire-Hywell Williams
The Carolingians: A Family Who Forged Europe-Pierre Riche, Translated by Michael Idomir Allen
The Frankish Kingdoms Under the Carolingians, 751-987-Rosamond McKitterick
The Restoration of Rome: Barbarian Popes and Imperial Pretenders-Peter Heather
The Inheritance of Rome: A History of Europe from 400 to 1000-Chris Wickham
Ravenna: Capital of Empire, Crucible of Europe-Judith Herrin
Women in Purple: Rulers of Medieval Byzantium-Judith Herrin
The Popes: A History-John Julius Norwich
Keepers of the Keys of Heaven: A History of the Papacy-Roger Collins
The Republic of St. Peter: The Birth of the Papal State, 680-825-Thomas F. X. Noble
God's Crucible: Islam and the Making of Europe, 570-1215-David Levering Lewis
Muslim Spain and Portugal: A Political History of al-Andalus-Hugh Kennedy
Image Credit
By Unknown author - [1] 'Grandes Chroniques de France, Mandragore, BNF, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=723625
Wednesday Sep 10, 2025
Wednesday Sep 10, 2025
A series of civil wars and repeated invasions by Germanic tribes caused the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. Following the end of imperial authority, several Germanic tribes struggled against each other for control of territory. The Franks became the dominant power in Gaul, but Greater Frankia repeatedly broke apart during wars between rival claimants for the throne. Finally, Charlemagne united the Franks, and greatly expanded the size of the kingdom. However, his grandsons proved unwilling to share the empire, and divided it in 843, laying the foundations for France and Germany. Episode twenty-five explains that tensions had deteriorated between the pope and the emperor. Tired of defiant popes, emperor Leo claimed the diocese of East Illyricum, which included the Balkans, Greece, Crete, Sicily and southern Italy. The administrative division made sense since these regions largely spoke Greek, and were linked economically to Constantinople, but Pope Gregory and his successors resented the loss of authority over regions near Rome. Since Rome and Ravenna no longer supported each other, Liutprand, king of the Lombards, saw an opportunity to expand his influence in southern Italy. Increasingly vulnerable, the papacy worked hard to build a relationship with the Franks to counterbalance the threat of the Lombards.
Cast of Characters:
Charles Martel-duke and prince of the Franks (718-741), mayor of the palace of Austrasia (715-741), and mayor of the palace of Neustria (718-741), illegitimate son of Pippin II
Pippin-king of Frankia (751-768), formerly mayor of the palace of Neustria (741-751) and mayor of the palace of Austrasia (747-751), and the eldest son of Charles the Hammer
Gregory III-pope (731-741)
Zachary-pope (741-752)
Stephen II-pope (752-757)
Eutychius-exarch of Ravenna (727-751)
Constantine V-emperor of Byzantium (741-775)
Liutprand-king of the Lombards (712-744)
Hildeprand-king of the Lombards (744), nephew of Liutprand
Ratchis-king of the Lombards (744-749), duke of Friuli (739-744)
Aistulf-king of the Lombards (749-756), duke of Spoleto (751-756) and duke of Friuli (744-749), brother of Ratchis
Sources:
The Merovingian Kingdoms: 450-751-Ian Wood
The Franks-Edward James
Charlemagne-Derek Wilson
Emperor of the West: Charlemagne and the Carolingian Empire-Hywell Williams
The Carolingians: A Family Who Forged Europe-Pierre Riche, Translated by Michael Idomir Allen
The Frankish Kingdoms Under the Carolingians, 751-987-Rosamond McKitterick
The Restoration of Rome: Barbarian Popes and Imperial Pretenders-Peter Heather
The Inheritance of Rome: A History of Europe from 400 to 1000-Chris Wickham
Ravenna: Capital of Empire, Crucible of Europe-Judith Herrin
Women in Purple: Rulers of Medieval Byzantium-Judith Herrin
The Popes: A History-John Julius Norwich
Keepers of the Keys of Heaven: A History of the Papacy-Roger Collins
The Republic of St. Peter: The Birth of the Papal State, 680-825-Thomas F. X. Noble
God's Crucible: Islam and the Making of Europe, 570-1215-David Levering Lewis
Muslim Spain and Portugal: A Political History of al-Andalus-Hugh Kennedy
Image Credit
By Unknown author - [1] 'Grandes Chroniques de France, Mandragore, BNF, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=723625
Wednesday Sep 03, 2025
Wednesday Sep 03, 2025
A series of civil wars and repeated invasions by Germanic tribes caused the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. Following the end of imperial authority, several Germanic tribes struggled against each other for control of territory. The Franks became the dominant power in Gaul, but Greater Frankia repeatedly broke apart during wars between rival claimants for the throne. Finally, Charlemagne united the Franks, and greatly expanded the size of the kingdom. However, his grandsons proved unwilling to share the empire, and divided it in 843, laying the foundations for France and Germany. Episode twenty-four explains that when Charles the Hammer died, Frankia was divided between his sons Pippin and Carloman. The brothers cooperated to crush attempts by Aquitaine and Alamania to leave Frankia, but Carloman lost a power struggle with Pippin, and entered a monastery in 747. When his half-brother Grifo attempted to make himself duke of Bavaria, Pippin intervened, and placed his young cousin Tassilo on the ducal throne. Pippin was dominant in Frankia, but king sounded better than mayor, so Pope Zacharias was persuaded to support the coronation of Pippin as king of Frankia.
Cast of Characters:
Charles Martel-duke and prince of the Franks (718-741), mayor of the palace of Austrasia (715-741), and mayor of the palace of Neustria (718-741), illegitimate son of Pippin II
Pippin-king of Frankia (751-768), formerly mayor of the palace of Neustria (741-751) and mayor of the palace of Austrasia (747-751), and the eldest son of Charles the Hammer
Carloman-mayor of the palace of Austrasia (741-747), and younger son of Charles the Hammer
Drogo-mayor of the palace of Austrasia (747), and son of Carloman
Grifo-son of Charles the Hammer, Pippin and Carloman's half-brother
Childeric III-king of Frankia (743-754)
Odilo-duke of Bavaria (737-748)
Tassilo-duke of Bavaria (748-788), son of Odilo
Hunald-duke of Aquitaine (735-745), son of Odo
Waifar-duke of Aquitaine (745-768), son of Hunald
Theuderic IV-king of Frankia (721-737)
Childeric III-king of the Franks (743-751)
Zachary-pope (741-752)
Sources:
The Merovingian Kingdoms: 450-751-Ian Wood
The Franks-Edward James
Charlemagne-Derek Wilson
Emperor of the West: Charlemagne and the Carolingian Empire-Hywell Williams
The Carolingians: A Family Who Forged Europe-Pierre Riche, Translated by Michael Idomir Allen
The Frankish Kingdoms Under the Carolingians, 751-987-Rosamond McKitterick
The Restoration of Rome: Barbarian Popes and Imperial Pretenders-Peter Heather
The Inheritance of Rome: A History of Europe from 400 to 1000-Chris Wickham
Ravenna: Capital of Empire, Crucible of Europe-Judith Herrin
Women in Purple: Rulers of Medieval Byzantium-Judith Herrin
The Popes: A History-John Julius Norwich
Keepers of the Keys of Heaven: A History of the Papacy-Roger Collins
The Republic of St. Peter: The Birth of the Papal State, 680-825-Thomas F. X. Noble
God's Crucible: Islam and the Making of Europe, 570-1215-David Levering Lewis
Muslim Spain and Portugal: A Political History of al-Andalus-Hugh Kennedy
Image Credit
By Unknown author - [1] 'Grandes Chroniques de France, Mandragore, BNF, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=723625
Wednesday Aug 27, 2025
Wednesday Aug 27, 2025
A series of civil wars and repeated invasions by Germanic tribes caused the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. Following the end of imperial authority, several Germanic tribes struggled against each other for control of territory. The Franks became the dominant power in Gaul, but Greater Frankia repeatedly broke apart during wars between rival claimants for the throne. Finally, Charlemagne united the Franks, and greatly expanded the size of the kingdom. However, his grandsons proved unwilling to share the empire, and divided it in 843, laying the foundations for France and Germany. Episode twenty-three explains that Frankia broke apart soon after Pippin's death. Supported by Frisia, the Neustrians revolted, but Pippin's illegitimate son Charles drove the Frisians out of Austrasia. The Neustrians then allied with Odo, duke of Aquitaine, but were defeated. Odo won a major victory over Muslim invaders from al-Andalus, but was weakened, so Charles burned his way through Aquitaine until Odo submitted. Worse, when the new governor of al-Andalus attacked Aquitaine, Odo had to ask Charles for help, thus acknowledging the Frankish king as his overlord. Together, they defeated the Muslims at Poitiers.
Cast of Characters:
Charles Martel-duke and prince of the Franks (718-741), mayor of the palace of Austrasia (715-741), and mayor of the palace of Neustria (718-741), illegitimate son of Pippin II
Plectrude-regent of Theodald, mayor of the palace of Austrasia, widow of Pippin II
Theodald-mayor of the palace of Austrasia (714-716), son of Grimoald and Theudesinda (daughter of Radbod)
Ragenfred-mayor of the palace of Neustria (715-718)
Radbod-king of Frisia (680-719)
Clothar IV-king of Austrasia (717-718)
Chilperic II-king of the Franks (715-721), formerly a monk named Daniel, possibly the son of Childeric II
Theuderic IV-king of the Franks (721-737), son of Dagobert III
Liutprand-king of the Lombards (712-744)
Odo-duke of Aquitaine (700-735)
Hunald-duke of Aquitaine (735-745)
Al-Samh ibn Malik al-Khawlani-governor of al-Andalus (719-721)
Abd al-Rahman ibn Abd Allah al-Ghafiqi-governor of al-Andalus (730-732)
Sources:
Christendom: The Triumph of a Religion-Peter Heather
The Fall of Rome and the End of Civilization-Bryan Ward-Perkins
The Inheritance of Rome-A History of Europe from 400 to 1000-Chris Wickham
Powers and Thrones: A New History of the Middle Ages-Dan Jones
The Restoration of Rome: Barbarian Popes and Imperial Pretenders-Peter Heather
The Franks-Edward James
The Merovingian Kingdoms: 450-751-Ian Wood
The Carolingians: A Family Who Forged Europe-Pierre Riche, Translated by Michael Idomir Allen
Emperor of the West: Charlemagne and the Carolingian Empire-Hywell Williams
Lost to the West: The Forgotten Byzantine Empire that Rescued Western Civilization-Lars Brownsworth
Byzantium: The Early Centuries-John Julius Norwich
Visigothic Spain 409-711-Roger Collins
Keepers of the Keys of Heaven: A History of the Papacy-Roger Collins
Ravenna: Capital of Empire, Crucible of Europe-Judith Herrin
God's Crucible: Islamd and the Making of Europe, 570-1215-David Levering Lewis
Muslim Spain and Portugal: A Political History of al-Andalus-Hugh Kennedy
The Great Arab Conquests: How the Spread of Islam Changed the World We Live In-Hugh Kennedy
Kingdoms of Faith: A New History of Islamic Spain-Brian A. Catlos
In God's Path: The Arab Conquests and the Creation of a Islamic Empire-Robert G. Hoyland
Image Credit
By Unknown author - [1] 'Grandes Chroniques de France, Mandragore, BNF, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=723625
Thursday Aug 21, 2025
Thursday Aug 21, 2025
A series of civil wars and repeated invasions by Germanic tribes caused the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. Following the end of imperial authority, several Germanic tribes struggled against each other for control of territory. The Franks became the dominant power in Gaul, but Greater Frankia repeatedly broke apart during wars between rival claimants for the throne. Finally, Charlemagne united the Franks, and greatly expanded the size of the kingdom. However, his grandsons proved unwilling to share the empire, and divided it in 843, laying the foundations for France and Germany. Episode Twenty-two explains that the new Muslim caliphate had conquered North Africa, which had been controlled by the eastern Roman empire. An expedition across the Strait of Gibraltar to the southern part of the Iberian peninsula proved surprisingly successful when the Visigoth king died in battle. The major Visigoth nobles failed to unite behind a successor, so the Muslims were able to conquer most of the peninsula in a few years, replacing the Visigoths as the rulers of Hispania. Meanwhile, Frankia had been reunited by Pippin, the mayor of Austrasia.
Cast of Characters:
Wittiza-king of the Visigoths in Hispania (702-710)
Ruderic-king of the Visigoths in Hispania (710-711)
Musa b. Nusayr-governor of Ifriqiya (province of North Africa in the Muslim caliphate)
Tariq b. Ziyad-governor of Tangier
Theodemir-Visigoth duke of Murcia
Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik-caliph (715-717)
Sources:
Christendom: The Triumph of a Religion-Peter Heather
The Fall of Rome and the End of Civilization-Bryan Ward-Perkins
The Inheritance of Rome-A History of Europe from 400 to 1000-Chris Wickham
Powers and Thrones: A New History of the Middle Ages-Dan Jones
The Restoration of Rome: Barbarian Popes and Imperial Pretenders-Peter Heather
The Franks-Edward James
The Merovingian Kingdoms: 450-751-Ian Wood
The Carolingians: A Family Who Forged Europe-Pierre Riche, Translated by Michael Idomir Allen
Emperor of the West: Charlemagne and the Carolingian Empire-Hywell Williams
Lost to the West: The Forgotten Byzantine Empire that Rescued Western Civilization-Lars Brownsworth
Byzantium: The Early Centuries-John Julius Norwich
Visigothic Spain 409-711-Roger Collins
Keepers of the Keys of Heaven: A History of the Papacy-Roger Collins
Ravenna: Capital of Empire, Crucible of Europe-Judith Herrin
God's Crucible: Islamd and the Making of Europe, 570-1215-David Levering Lewis
Muslim Spain and Portugal: A Political History of al-Andalus-Hugh Kennedy
The Great Arab Conquests: How the Spread of Islam Changed the World We Live In-Hugh Kennedy
Kingdoms of Faith: A New History of Islamic Spain-Brian A. Catlos
In God's Path: The Arab Conquests and the Creation of a Islamic Empire-Robert G. Hoyland
Image Credit
By Unknown author - [1] 'Grandes Chroniques de France, Mandragore, BNF, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=723625