History of Modern Greece
Episodes
162 episodes
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 Constantinop...
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 Gallip...
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 o...
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 entir...
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...
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 sus...
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 citi...
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 ot...
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...
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 ...
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 Byzanti...
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 los...
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,...
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 Consta...
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...
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....
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...
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 the...
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 ...
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 t...
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...
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 br...
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...
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 a...
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...
