Shows
A History of Italy197 - Giovanni of the Black Bands part II - The invincible very naughty boyEpisode SummaryPicking up where we left off, Giovanni de’ Medici, son of Caterina Sforza and known to history as Giovanni of the Black Bands, continues his meteoric rise through the bloody and chaotic world of Renaissance warfare. Backed by a Medici pope and driven by his fierce loyalty to his men, Giovanni’s legend as a mercenary commander — and his troubles with the powerful Medici family — only grow.Host Mike Corradi unpacks the dangerous charisma, discipline, and contradictions of this larger-than-life condottiero: a man both feared and admired, ruthless yet loyal, reckless yet revered. From duels a...
2025-11-1114 minA History of Italy170 - The Gonzaga of Mantua MantuaHaving met Francesco II Gonzaga, at the battle of Fornovo, we take some time to go back and have a look at the beautiful city of Mantua from its legendary origins, surrounded by lakes created by the tears of a prophetess, through the period of our heroine, Matilda of Tuscany, countess of Canossa, to see the arrival and rise of the Corradi of Gonzaga. They would take over control of the city of Mantua and set up a county, and then a Marquisate that would put them in third place as the longest lasting dynasty in Italy ...
2024-06-1821 min
The Italian Citizenship PodcastItalian History w/ Mike Corradi - Part 2 - The Italian RepublicEven though you may not need to know Italian history to get Italian citizenship, knowing the history can be great to have a better understanding of what we see in Italy today. In this episode of the Italian Citizenship Podcast, hosts Marco Permunian, an Italian attorney, along with a video podcaster and dual citizen expat living in Italy, known for his project Not Your Average Globetrotter, Rafael Di Furia , are joined by Mike Corradi the host of A History of Italy Podcast. Marco and Rafael wanted to invite Mike to speak about Italian history because of his ability to bring...
2021-09-0152 min
The Italian Citizenship PodcastItalian History w/ Mike Corradi - Part 1 - The Kingdom of ItalyEven though you may not need to know Italian history to get Italian citizenship, knowing the history can be great to have a better understanding of what we see in Italy today. In this episode of the Italian Citizenship Podcast, hosts Marco Permunian, an Italian attorney, along with a video podcaster and dual citizen expat living in Italy known for his project Not Your Average Globetrotter, Rafael Di Furia, are joined by Mike Corradi the host of A History of Italy Podcast. Marco and Rafael wanted to invite Mike to speak about Italian history because of his ability to bring...
2021-08-2549 min
A History of ItalyCrossover: Colombus and Genoa with the History of North AmericaThe famous/notorious Italian explorer and the city of his birth in this interview with Mark Vinet of the "History of North America podcast
2021-03-2345 min
A History of ItalyInterview: Jennifer Anton, author of "Under the Light of the Italian Moon"We had a great chat with Jennifer Anton, author of the novel "Under the Light of the Italian Moon"
2021-03-0839 min
A History of ItalyIntelligent Speech Conference 2021 – 24th AprilThe Intelligent Speech Conference is back! Little old me will be speaking alongside such podcasting greats as David Crowther, Benjamin Jacobs, Liz Covart, Steve Guerra, Bry and Fry of Pontifacts, Marco Capelli and many more!head over to: https://www.intelligentspeechconference.com/product/intelligent-speech-spring-2021/to get your early bird tickets!
2021-03-0701 min
A History of Italy111 – Joanna of Naples, teenage queen with a boring husband (1326 – 1345)the rise to the throne of Joanna of Naples, from her marriage at a young age to Andrew. son of the Angevine king of Hungary to her coronation as a teenager after the death of her grandfather Robert of Naples. We will see how her joyful, lively character clashed with that of her husband as complications rose in the kingdom around them, reaching dire consequqnces.
2021-03-0224 min
A History of Italy110 – Cola fizzes and goes flat (1347 – 1354)After his great rise to power in Rome, we see Cola di Rienzo crash and burn... literally
2021-02-1724 min
A History of Italy109 – Popeless Rome and the rise of Cola (not the drink)We take a look at what was happening in Rome while the popes were off in Avignon. We quickly see how Clement V dealt with the movement of Fra Dolcino (spoiler: violently) and then how John XXII and his successor, Gregory XII did. We then introduce Clement VI just in time for him to receive a delegation from Rome headed by a charistmatic, handsome young notary called Cola di Rienzo who, with the support of papal authority, got back to Rome and managed to put himself in the driver's seat quite quickly, even overcoming the resistance of the Roman noble...
2021-02-1026 min
A History of ItalyFill-in episode – 2021 Italian government crisisWhile waiting to get back on track with the regular podcast (back soon), we take the opportunity to update you on history in the making: the current mid-pandemic government crisis
2021-02-0714 min
A History of ItalyVote for A History of Italy for the Premio Italia MedioevaleHelp us by voting for A History of Italy!http://www.italiamedievale.org/portale/premio-italia-medievale/
2021-02-0201 min
A History of Italy108 – Italians against stairsMastino II Della Scala gets too big for his own good and Venice, Florence and Milan move in to bring him down a rung or two
2021-01-1922 min
A History of Italy107 – An unexpected kingWhile everyone (the Pope, the king of France, Milan, Verona, Venice, Florence etc.) is manoeuvring in northern Italy along comes an unexpected king, John of Luxembourg, king of Bohemia. Will he be able to unite the northern cities?
2021-01-1219 min
A History of Italy106 – An imperial tour of Italy (1327-1329)We follow the descent into Italy of Holy Roman Emperor Luis IV to visit with the Visconti in Milan, the Dalla Scala in Verona, the Este of Ferrara, the Castracani in Lucca and the Gonzaga in Mantua. At the same time we see the struggle between emperor and pope and get a reminder fo the situation in Naples and Sicily.
2021-01-0522 min
A History of Italy105 – The battle of the Bucket (1325)We take a look at the 1325 battle of Zappolino between Modena and her Ghibelline allies and Bologna and her Guelph ones and how, after one of the largest and bloodiest battles of the Iyaian middle ages, the Modenese cam home with a bucket (and heaps of cash).
2020-12-2326 min
A History of Italy104 – The last Sardinian Judicate (1323-1326)After a quick recap of what was going on around Italy in 1323, we get to the Aragonese invasion of Sardinia that put a definitive end to the presence of the Republic of Pisa on the island leaving the Judicate of Arborea as the last of the old four Judicates surrounded by the new "Kingdom of Sardinia"
2020-12-1522 min
A History of Italy103 – Catching up with Genoa (up to 1310's)It's about time we stop ignoring poor old Genoa up in the top left-hand corner of the country and bring her up-to-date. We take a really quick race from the fall of the Western Roman Empire to Genoa in the 14th century: it's battles against Saracens, Pisans and Venitians as it fights to assert itself as a powerful maritime republic.
2020-12-0820 min
A History of Italy102 – Venice kicks off its 14th century (up to 1310's)We go back to one of our favorite destinations: Venice, which we last left at the start of the 13th century to bring the maritime republic up to the 14th. We see some crazy laws as the republic move more and more to an oligarchy and has bit of trouble as the 14th starts up, especially with the pope.
2020-12-0117 min
A History of ItalyThe first great MEGA-RECAP launchAfter 100 episodes you might want a general overview of the story so far from 476 - 1310: The emperors, the naughty popes and who got a word stuck in which orifice. All of the things you may have forgotten in this over one hour episode that sums up the first 800+ years of "A History of Italy".Available ad-free to Patreon supporters and those who make a recommended $5.00 donation on Paypal. Head over to our Patreon page or get in touch to get a hold of the episode!
2020-11-2803 min
A History of ItalyInterview – Sim Salis on comedy in the Berlusconi era, laughter as resistanceWe chat to Italian TV presenter, comedian and podcaster Sim Salis about his experience growing up and working in comedy in the Berlusconi years as well as the value of comedy not only in resistance to oppression, but also as a precious tool for conflict resolution.
2020-11-2436 min
A History of Italy101 – The many paths to communal demise (up to early 1300's)As we really dig into the 14th century, we look at an overview of the different ways in which the communes turned into the signorie, cities and groups of cities ruled over by a single hereditary ruler.
2020-11-1721 min
A History of ItalyRecap 05 – From episode 077 to 100We go back over around 50 years from the death of Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II to beyond 1300 to retrace the steps of the kingdom of Sicily, the war of the Sicilian Vespers, the northern communes and maritime republics as well as looking over at Sardinia and keeping an eye as always on the papacy.
2020-11-1028 min
A History of ItalyBerlusconi and Bunga Bunga part 3We arrive at the third and last Berlusconi government (so far) from 2008 to 2011 and his downfall under the onslaught of the EU, economic crisis, legal trouble and Bunga Bunga.
2020-11-0332 min
A History of ItalyBerlusconi and Bunga Bunga part 2In this second part of our review of Wondery's "Bunga Bunga" podcast and our memories of the Berlusconi era, we look at the 2001 - 2006 legislation, lead by Berlusconi and the longest lasting in Italian republican history
2020-10-2727 min
A History of ItalyBerlusconi and Bunga Bunga part 1Following the publication of Wondery's excellent "Bunga Bunga" podcast, with co-host and legal expert Matteo Marconi we review the show and look back on our own experience of the Berlusconi era. In this episode his first government experience in 1994.
2020-10-2026 min
A History of Italy100 – An interview the godfather of history podcasting and moreFor our 100th episode we have the wishes from fellow podcasters and an interview with Mike Duncan, creator of the History of Rome, Revolutions and the book "The Storm Before the Storm". We also have an interview with one of the starts of the A History of Italy sketches.
2020-10-1348 min
A History of Italy099 – The Visconti lose Milan and take it back againMatte Visconti tries to pass power to his son Galeazzo, who ends up making a mess and losing the city to the Della Torre for almost a decade before would-be Holy Roman Emperor Henry VII come sto Milan and puts the Visconti back in power for the next few centuries, despite their own best efforts to do each other in. We also see some rather annoyed popes and of course a battle with Italians on both sides as usual.
2020-10-0621 min
A History of Italy098 – The Visconti take Milan, Act 1We see the rise of the Visconti family in Milan as they battle the power of the Della Torre for control over the city and subsequently much of Northern Italy. First however, I take a personal look at my relationship with Milan and tell the story of how my mother was an unwitting baby sitter to the Mafia.
2020-09-2819 min
A History of ItalyAnti-mafia martyrs: Father Pino Puglisiwords and culture, to give the citizens of his city schools, homes all the elements that are fundamental rights, stolen by the Mafia and then handed out as favours.
2020-09-1525 min
A History of Italy097 – Dante Alighieri and the Divine ComedyWe have a look at the opus magna of Dante Alighieri, the Divine Comedy, before seeing him off to the end of his days and beyond, with the adventures of his corpse
2020-09-0823 min
A History of ItalyAnti-mafia martyrs: Carlo Alberto Dalla ChiesaOn 3rd September, the anniversary of his death, we look at the struggle against organised crime of Carlo Alberto Dalla Chiesa, general of the Italian Carabinieri police force who dedicated his life to the fight against terrorism and the Sicilian Mafia.
2020-09-0335 min
A History of ItalyAnti-mafia martyrs series launchWe are going to take a look at some of the brave men and women who have given their lives to fight organised crime in Italy. known as "Le Mafie", the mafias, which include Cosa Nostra, the 'Ndrangheta, the Stidda, the Sacra Corona Unita and the Camorra. On the anniversary of their deaths, we will look at the lives and struggle of people such as General Carlo Alberto Dalla Chiesa, Peppino Impastato, Pio La Torre, Giovanni Falcone, Paolo Borsellino and Don Pino Puglisi just to nae a few.
2020-09-0106 min
A History of Italy096 – Florence goes black and white and Dante gets involvedAfter definitively defeating the Ghibellines, the Florentine Guelphs need new enemies so they split into White and Black Guelphs, catching Dante Alighieri, who had entered politics just a few years before, in a crossfire that will have dire consequences. On a literary level, he starts to get the idea of a sort od mid life crisis travel book...
2020-08-2618 min
A History of Italy095 – Young Dante Alighieri and FlorenceWe start to take a look at the life and times of the great poet Dante Alighieri, taking the opportunity to look more closely at the history of his city, Florence.
2020-08-1926 min
A History of Italy094 – Naples vs SicilyWe see how the descent of Emperor Henry VII reignites the conflict between Frederick of Sicily and the new king of Naples, Robert. The animosity will last as long as the two men live.
2020-08-0221 min
A History of Italy093 – A change of scenery for the papacy and an anachronistic emperorThe papacy, under Clement V heads off for its long exile to Avignone and then Holy Roman Emperor Henry VII tries to move back the clock on the Italian scene.
2020-07-1824 min
A History of Italy092 – Boniface VIII peaks and crashes1298- 1303 Boniface VIII crushes the internal opposition of the Colonna, organises the first Jubilee, dabble in Italian politics including Florence and then clashes once again with Philipp IV of France, which seals his fate.
2020-06-2623 min
A History of Italy091 – Boniface VIII on the scene1295 - 1297 We go back to the abdication of pope Celestine V in 1295 and see the rise to power of one of the most controverstial popes in history, Boniface VIII in this first of two episodes on the man and his time.
2020-06-2120 min
A History of Italy090 – Twilight of the Sardinian JudicatesBefore finally getting on to the 14th century, we see how the end of the 13th marked the beginning of the end of the Sardinian Judicates, before of course going back to look at what they actually were.
2020-06-1225 min
A History of Italy089 – The "cannibal" count – an example of late 13th century Italian politicsthe politics of late 13th century Pisa as an example of the general situation in the communes as well as touching on Sardinia.
2020-06-0422 min
A History of Italy088 – Twilight of the communesBefore saying goodbye to the 13th century, we take a quick tour of the peninsula to tie up some loose ends, such as the maritime, republics, Piedmont and the situation with the communes.
2020-05-1619 min
A History of Italy087 – Marco Polo part 2Marco Polo finally leaves on his great voyage which will take him to the ends of the known earth to meet a whole series of different cultures to then come back to Venice and live though one of the republic's most dangerous moments
2020-05-0921 min
A History of Italy086 – Marco Polo part 1In this first episode on the 13th century explorer Marco Polo we look at some background on Venice at his time and his family as well as introducing the figure of the Great Khan Kublai.
2020-04-3019 min
A History of ItalySpecial: 25th April LiberationA special episode for the 75th anniversary of the liberation from Nazi and Fascist occupation
2020-04-2518 min
A History of Italy085 – The war of the Sicilian Vespers gets confusing1285 - 1302 The War of the Italian Vespers gets quite confusing, but in the end finally leads to the Peace of Calbelotta in 1302 in which the island of Sicily is separated from the rest of the kingdom.
2020-04-1718 min
A History of Italy084 – The war of the Sicilian Vespers1282 - 1285 The start of the War of the Sicilian Vespers and a strange duel to attempt to put an end to it.
2020-04-1022 min
A History of Italy083 – Who are these Aragonese anyway? With David Cot of "The History of Spain"Before going into the war of the Italian Vespers, we get some help from David Cot of "The History of Spain" podcast to bring us u to date on the kingdom of Aragon and Peter III and his sons.
2020-04-0220 min
A History of Italy082 – Charles in charge and the Sicilian Vespers1266-1282 Charles of Anjou settles down to govern his new kingdom... and make a mess if it, provoking the rebellion of the Sicilian Vespers.
2020-03-2720 min
A History of Italy081 – The last stand of the house of Staufen with guest host Marco CappelliMarco Cappelli tells us about the last stand of Conradine of Hohenstauen at the battle that took place near Marco's home town Tagliacozzo.
2020-03-1921 min
A History of Italy080 – Frederick II's boys and here come the French1250 - 1266 We take a look at what happened to the sons of Frederick II, Conrad, Henry and Manfredi. In the case of Manfredi we see his rise to influence over almost all of Italy before it all came crashing down with the invasion of Charles of Anjou.
2020-03-1318 min
A History of Italy079 – The Prisoner King and the rest of Frederick II's boys1248 -1272 We start taking a look at how things progressed after the death of Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II, starting with his son Enzo, who fell prisoner to the Coomune of Bologna, giving rise to a whole series of legends
2020-03-0520 min
A History of Italy078 – The Golden age of communesWe take a look at some of the factors that made the 13th century the golden age of the communes such as trade and finance as the consular communes transformed into popular communes as early signs of the coming era of the "signorie" loomed.
2020-02-2721 min
A History of Italy077 – The situation in the 13th century and revenge in FlorenceWe take a look at how our communes are evolving in the 13th century with the whole messy Guelphs and Ghibellines business and have a look at the legend of how the factions were formed in Florence with the tragic tale of Buondelmonte dei Buondelmonti, a real soap opera, Florentine style.
2020-02-2120 min
A History of ItalyRecap 04: Episodes 051 – 076 from the Concordat of Worms to the death of Holy Roman Emperor Frederick IIWe stop for our usual recap to look back over episodes 051 to 076 going from the Concordat of Worms in 1122 to the death of Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II, with a look at the rise of the Commune city states and the maritime republics, Venice in particular.
2020-02-1117 min
A History of Italy076 – St. Francis of AssisiWe look at the life and ideas of one of the most famous and influential figures in religious and non religious history, a young man who deemed of being a great soldier, who became one of the greatest champions of peace.
2020-02-0638 min
A History of Italy075 – Heresies and the InquisitionWe take a break to look at the increase in heretical ideas and movement in the 12th and 13th centuries such as the Cathars and Waldensians and how the church decided to dea with the rising tide of critical opposition to it.
2020-01-2122 min
A History of Italy074 – Goodbye Freddie IIWe see the reign of Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II to its end as he faces off with Gregory IX and then Innocent IV, all the while dealing with the ever rebellious communes of northern Italy in their continuous struggle between pro-imperial Ghibellines and pro-papal Guelphs, up to the Battle of Parma in 1247.
2020-01-1422 min
A History of Italy073 – Frederick II stupor mundi (and a bit naughty)1231 - 1237 We take a moment to look more into the provate life of Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II and see how his court, as well as seeing a little naughtiness going on, was a cradle of culture and science. We than deal with a rebellion by his first born son Henry before we see a rematch of Empire vs Lombard League.
2020-01-0819 min
A History of Italy072 – Frederick II takes the reigns and trouble starts1220 - 1231 After his coronation as Holy Roman Emperor in 1220, Frederick II has to first consolidate the south, facing the Muslim rebellion and then deal with the insistence of the popes for a new Crusade, an issue he will find a completely unprecedented solution for.
2019-12-2922 min
A History of ItalyChristmasCappuccino 2019This is the special Christmas episode of NewsCappuccino, a feature available to Patreon supporters, offered to all listeners as a Christmas present.
2019-12-2606 min
A History of Italy071 – Wonderboy rising: Freddie II1197 - 2020 We see the early life of Frederick I of Sicily, son of Constance of Sicily and Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI up to the point when he becomes Emperor Frederick II himself with great regret from the popes who had hoped to keep the crown of the empire and that of the kingdom of Sicily separate. Are we in for another great class between Empire and Papacy?
2019-12-2318 min
A History of Italy070 – No more Normans and Horrid Henry1186 - 1197 We sadly saw goodbye to the Norman kings in Sicily and usher in a new era in which the Hohenstaufen, under emperor Henry VI, son of Barbarossa, extend their dominion from the north sea to the centre of the Meditteranean.
2019-12-1222 min
A History of Italy069 – Venice part 06This is the last in our miniseries on Venice, taking us from the mid twelfth century back up to the notorious 4th Crusade, but not before we look at a 1997 attempt at Venetian independence using a WWII machine gun and a home-made tank called "Tanko"
2019-12-0420 min
A History of Italy068 – Venice part 05This episode takes us through Venice in the 12th century, overcoming issues with Normans, Hungarians and seeing trouble starts with the Eastern Roman Empire as well as more interest towards the rest of Italy. Also there is a doge with an odd name and some confusion with the bodies of dead Saints.
2019-11-2820 min
A History of Italy067 – Venice part 04After being guided into the new millenium by Domenico II Orsoleo, we follow the (all too high) rise and downfall of the family as Venice itself rises and falls along its way through the 11th century with its new Norman threat as the first crusade draws closer.
2019-11-1421 min
A History of Italy066 – Venice part 03After addressing some listener questions on Venice, we first see Venice pass through a period of division and crisis before it finds a "saviour" in Pietro II Orsoleo who bring the city triumphantly into he new millenium.
2019-11-0719 min
A History of Italy065 – Venice part 02After the danger of a Franish invasion passes in 810, we then follow the Venetians as they head for the new Millenium with a change of capital and facing new enemies, threats and opportunities.
2019-11-0120 min
A History of Italy064 – Venice part 01We take another break from our chronological progress to take a look at Venice as we reach the fourth Crusade, the event that dramatically changed the maritime republic. IN this episode we go from the foundation to the Frankish attack in 810.
2019-10-2422 min
A History of ItalyAssassinations crossover part 2 – The fall of the BorgiasThis is the second and last part of a collaboration with Assassinations Podcast on the notorious Borgia family. First Niall Cooper focuses on Lucrezia Borgia and then I follow the downfall of the short-lived dynasty.
2019-10-1553 min
A History of ItalyAssassinations crossover part 1 – The Rise of the Borgiasa collaboration episode with one of my favourite podcast, Assassinations Podcast. In this episode I talk about the rise of the Borgia family and Neil of Assassinations Podcast focuses on Cesare Borgia.
2019-10-0833 min
A History of Italy063 – After Legnano, the cool Crusade and the Italian one1176 - 1204 We take a look at the aftermath of the battle of Legnano which saw the forces of the Lombard League victorious against Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. Then we take a quick look at the third and fourth Crusades.
2019-10-0127 min
A History of Italy062 – The battle of Legnano1176 Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa and the Cities of the Lombard League gather their forces and clash at a small town outside of Milan, called Legnano. The battle would echo through the centuries to be remembered in Italian politics to this day.
2019-09-2427 min
A History of Italy061 – Prelude to Legnano1166 - 1174 After the formation of the Lombard League of the communes of northern Italy a clash with Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa had become almost inevitable. Both sides now started to prepare for the confrontation that would decide the future of Italy.
2019-09-1325 min
A History of ItalyCrossover 1 part 2 – With "The History of the Papacy" on the LombardsIn this first ever crossover episode, we talk to Steve Guerra of the History of the Papacy podcast about the Lombards. This is part 2 of 2.
2019-09-0326 min
A History of ItalyCrossover 1 part 1 – With "The History of the Papacy" on the LombardsIn this first ever crossover episode, we talk to Steve Guerra of the History of the Papacy podcast about the Lombards. This is part 1 of 2.
2019-08-2726 min
A History of Italy060 – A communal storm arising1162 - 1167 We see how after sorting out Milan, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa also goes on to try and deal with pope Alexander III. Meanwhile, the communes start to learn that there can be strength in numbers, with the League of Verona in 1164 and the Lombard and Italic Leagues in 1167.
2019-08-2022 min
A History of Italy059 – Barbarossa brings the heat1158 - 1162 After the diet of Roncaglia, we follow Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa as he tries to deal with a papal schism between Victor IV and Alexander III and then goes on to deal with the communes, particularly the every obstinate Milan.
2019-08-1421 min
A History of Italy058 – Byzantium is back and so is Barbarossa1155 - 1158 We see an attempt by Eastern Roman Emperor Manuel Komnenus to bring at least part of Italy back into the empire, a peace between pope Hadrian IV and the Norman king William I. Then, of course there is the continuing struggle between Frederick Barbarossa and the northern communes headed by Milan.
2019-08-0721 min
History of the Papacy PodcastThe Lombards with Mike Corradi of A History of Italy PodcastEpisode 84
The Lombards with Mike Corradi of A History of Italy Podcast
Description: Today we have a special collaboration episode with Mike Corradi of the podcast A History of Italy. I can’t say how much I enjoy this show. It is so well researched and presented. It is funny, informative and entertaining. A History of Italy really has everything you want on one of the best topics out there. In this collaboration, we talk about a group of people who came into Italy during the fall of the Ostrogothic kingdom and during the Byzantine Wars: The Lombards. They were an...
2019-08-0453 min
History of the Papacy PodcastThe Lombards with Mike Corradi of A History of Italy PodcastEpisode 84The Lombards with Mike Corradi of A History of Italy PodcastDescription: Today we have a special collaboration episode with Mike Corradi of the podcast A History of Italy. I can’t say how much I enjoy this show. It is so well researched and presented. It is funny, informative and entertaining. A History of Italy really has everything you want on one of the best topics out there. In this collaboration, we talk about a group of people who came into Italy during the fall of the Ostrogothic kingdom and during the By...
2019-08-0453 min
A History of Italy057 – Hadrian and Frederick's troubles in Rome1154 - 1155 Hadrian IV tries to come to terms with the Roman commune and its moral leader, Arnaldo da Brescia, but the results are not quite as they expected
2019-07-3019 min
A History of Italy056 – Communal growing pains, an English pope and Barbarossa on the sceneThe communes start to feel they need some admin changes. We go from pope Eugene III through an Anastasius for a bit to the major hitter Hadrian IV. All the while Frederick Barbarossa starts to come into play
2019-07-2321 min
A History of ItalyFill in episode – Women's world cup and how offsides came to Pulaski, VAWhile still doing a little dillying and a touch of dallying, we take a moment to look at the recent Women's Fifa soccer world cup and relive some soccer memories from the great state of Virginia.
2019-07-1214 min
A History of ItalyFill-in episode – A trip to Puglia and listener questionsWhile waiting to get back on track, we take a virtual trip to Puglia and answer some listener questions and comments
2019-07-0317 min
A History of Italy055 – A new Roman Republic and a kind-of crusade1143 - 1147 n the first half of the 12th century, with communes popping up like mushrooms, Rome wasn't just gonna sit back and let them have all the fun. However, if there's something about Rome, it's that there is always a pope around.
2019-06-1319 min
A History of Italy054 – A troubled new kingdom and cantankerous communes1130 - 1143 We accompany Duke Roger of Sicily, Puglia and Calabria in his attempt to set up a kingdom before we take a look around our spanking new communes.
2019-06-0722 min
A History of Italy053 – Guelfs, Ghibellines and Normans with big ideas1122 - 1130 We finally get back to the chronological narration of Italian history, popping in to see a new Holy Roman Emperor, a new pope, or couple of popes and catch up with the ambitious Normans
2019-05-2923 min
A History of Italy052 – A wander around in the early 12th centuryHaving set up the start of the communes, we take a look at what it would be like to wander around an Italian city in the early 12th century
2019-05-2121 min
A History of Italy051 – Communes risingWe take a look at how a new form of local government, the Communes rose and gained their independence from the feudal powers that be,
2019-05-1421 min
A History of ItalyRecap 03: Episodes 28 – 50 from the year 1000 to the concordat of Worms in 1122Using th concordat of Worms as a stopping point, we look back over th episodes that cover from the year 1000 to the end of the investiture crisis in 1122.
2019-05-0125 min
A History of Italy050 – Arrivederci Arabs, the Emirate of Sicily part 2We see the golden age of Muslim Sicily under the Fatimids and Kalbids before everything comes crashing down to to interval division and outside forces.
2019-04-2221 min
A History of Italy049 – Arrivederci Arabs, the Emirate of Sicily part 1We take a look back at the Arab invasione of Sicily starting with the early raids in the seventh century, through the invasion of 827 up to the fall of the Aghlabids in the early tenth century.
2019-04-1520 min
A History of Italy048 – Bye bye Byzantines -The end of Byzantine Italy part 2In the second part of this miniseries we go from the time of king Rotari of the Lombards at the end of the seventh century to the fall of Bai and the end of the Byzantine presence in Italy.
2019-04-0122 min
A History of Italy047 – Bye bye Byzantines – The end of Byzantine Italy part 1We take a look back at the Byzantine presence in Italy, from the Gothic War in 535 up to the start of the seventh century.
2019-03-2024 min
A History of Italy046 – Matilda of Tuscany, the iron countess of Canossa, part 2We continue the story of Matilda of Canossa as war breaks out with Emperor Henry IV. We then see yet another failed attempt at marriage, the end of the fight against Henry IV and how things went with his son and successor, Henry V while alone she tan one of the largest areas in Italy.
2019-03-0529 min
A History of Italy045 – Matilda of Tuscany, the iron countess of Canossa Part 11046 - 1080 We look at the life of Matilda of Canossa, starting from the history of her family through her childhood, the humiliation of Canossa and to the start of the war against Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV.
2019-02-2522 min
A History of Italy044 – Goodbye Henry, goodbye Matilda and a can of wormsWe see how Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV ended up, as well as his long-term nemesis Matilda of Tuscany, countess of Canossa. Meanwhile we change couple of popes and get a new Emperor, yet another Henry as he also struggles with a couple of popes on their way to the concordat of Worms.
2019-02-1625 min
A History of ItalyInterview – The massacre of the Foibe and the Italian Istrian exodus with Roberta Alessandra BelulovichOn the "giornata del ricordo", a commemoration to remember the victims of the Massacre of the Foibe in Istria and Venezia Giulia in 1943 and 1945, we talk to Roberta Alessandra Belulovich, an Istria Italian about her family history and the Istrian question.
2019-02-1033 min
2017-10-0102 min