The History of Byzantium

This is our last chance to talk about the Crusades on this podcast. So I put listener questions to Dr Nicholas Morton. Dr Morton is Associate Professor in Middle Eastern and Global history at Nottingham Trent University in the UK. His research focuses on the history of the Crusades and the Medieval Middle East between the tenth and the fourteenth centuries. He has written four other books on Crusading and the Crusader states as well as The Mongol Storm: Making and Breaking Empires in the Medieval Near East.  His new book The Crusader Storm: A Global History of the Wars for the Middle East is available now. Stream: Crusader Storm Download: Crusader Storm RSS Feed: The History of Byzantium If you want to send in feedback to the podcast:</p

Just trolling, he’s not on the list. Stream: The 10 Worst Byzantine Emperors Download: The 10 Worst Byzantine Emperors 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. – Follow me on Twitter or Instagram

I answer your questions about where the Romans got their gold from, how Romania ended up with a Romance language, Byzantine games of polo and more. Pic: Playing Polo at the Great palace by AMELIANVS on deviantart.com Stream: Questions XVIII Download: Questions XVIII 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 <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-hist

I answer your questions about the Secret History, eunuchs, the Doukas name, the Byzantine crown, the Crown of Thorns and more. Stream: Questions XVIII Download: Questions XVIII 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. – Follow me on Twitter or Instagram

We explore the history of Trebizond under the Grand Komnenoi. Today I cover the period from 1297-1453. Pic: Emperor Alexios III, from the chrysobull he granted to the Dionysiou monastery on Mount Athos. The music for these episodes comes from the brilliant Youtube channel of Farya Faraji. Farya is a musicologist who collaborates with traditional musicians around the world to present music from different cultures on his channel, with an emphasis on authenticity and accurate cultural representation. This track is called Trapezuntine – Epic Byzantine Music. You can buy his music here. Stream: Trebizond! Part Two Download: Trebizond! Part Two RSS Feed: The History of Byzantium If you want to send in feedback to the podcast: – Either comment on this post. – Or on the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-History-of-Byzantium-Podcast-Listeners/4038548

Pic: Trabzon today, Citadel of Trebizond in the foreground <img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="526" data-attachment-id="4677" data-permalink="https://thehistoryofbyzantium.com/2026/03/31/episode-347-trebizond-part-one/f02d171c49b060e8472a6e5bdf60fd53/" data-orig-file="https://thehistoryofbyzantium.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/f02d171c49b060e8472a6e5bdf60fd53.jpg" data-orig-size="1500,771" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0","alt":""}" data-image-title="f02d171c49b060e8472a6e5bdf60fd53" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-large-file="https://thehistoryofbyzantium.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/f02d171c49b060e8472a6e5bdf60fd53.jpg?w=690" src="https://thehistoryofbyzantium.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/f02d171c49b060e8472a6e5bdf60fd53.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-4677" srcset="https://thehistoryofbyzantium.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/f02d171c49b060e8472a6e5bdf60fd53.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://thehistoryofbyzantium.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/f02d171c49b060e8472a6e5bdf60fd53.jpg?w=150 150w, https://thehistoryofbyzantium.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/f02d171c49b060e8472a6e5bdf60fd53.

I tackle your counter factual questions. Pic: What if Alexios and Bohemond could have worked together? FYI: Two real pictures photoshopped together. Stream: What If? Download: What If? 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. <p cl

Did you hear that Constantine XI didn’t die? That he was taken below ground by an angel and will one day return. We explore all the myths which attached themselves to the final Roman Emperor. Pic: Statue of Constantine XI in Athens Stream: The Immortal Emperor Download: The Immortal Emperor 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. – Follow me on Twitter or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thehistoryofbyzantiu

I investigate the death of the Emperor Constantine XI. What happened to him on the last day of his life? Pic: Constantine XI Palaiologos, fresco from the Holy Monastery of Pammegiston Taxiarchon in Aigialeia Stream: Cold Case: Constantine XI Download: Cold Case: Constantine XI 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 <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/gb/podca

We look at the reaction to the fall of Constantinople in Venice, Rome and Russia. And briefly discuss those who claimed descent from Constantine XI. Pic: The gravestone of Fernando Paleologus (c. 1619–1670), also known as Ferdinando or Fernando Palaiologos. He was an Anglo-Greek settler in Barbados who worked as a planter of cotton, sugar, and pineapples, served as a churchwarden at St. John’s Parish Church, and claimed descent from the Palaiologos dynasty Stream: The End of Crusading and the Third Rome Download: The End of Crusading and the Third Rome 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 <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcas

We look at the fate of the Roman people after 1453. Many were enslaved while others searched desperately for loved ones. Those who adapted quickly to Ottoman rule could gain great wealth. While some fled to the West. Pic: Thomas Palaiologos from the Pintoricchio fresco of Pius II’s arrival at Ancona, in the Siena Cathedral Stream: The Roman Diaspora Download: The Roman Diaspora 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. – Follow me on Twitter or Instagram

Mehmed did not make Constantinople his capital straight away. There were political, practical and psychological arguments against it. We talk about these and how the Sultan overcame them. Pic: Mehmed II investing Gennadios II as the new Patriarch. Housed in the Patriarchal buildings in Istanbul. Stream: Mehmed and Constantinople Download: Mehmed and Constantinople 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 <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcas

We look at all your questions about the siege of 1453. As well as the Palaiologan era in general. Pic: This painting of the siege is from the Panorama 1453 History Museum in Istanbul. It was a collaborative project led by Hashim Vatandaş If you want to hear more about Trebizond then check out Byzansimp’s Youtube series Stream: Questions XVII Download: Questions XVII 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. – Follow me on <a href="https://twitter

XIR161714 Entry of the Turks of Mohammed II (1432-81) into Constantinople, 29th May 1453, 1876 (oil on canvas) by Constant, (Jean Joseph) Benjamin (1845-1902); 697×536 cm; Musee des Augustins, Toulouse, France; (add.info.: Entree des Turcs de Mohammed II a Constantinople; Byzantine empire fell to Ottoman invaders; end of the Holy Roman Empire;); French, out of copyright. " data-large-file="https://thehistoryofbyzantium.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/benjamin-constant-the_entry_of_mahomet_ii_into_constantinople-1876.jpg?w=500" src="https://thehistoryofbyzantium.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/benjamin-constant-the_entry_of_mahomet_ii_into_constantinople-1876.jpg?w=500" alt="" class="wp-image-4609 size-full" srcset="https://thehistoryofbyzantium.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/benjamin-constant-the_entry_of_mahomet_ii_into_constantinople-1876.jpg 500w, https://thehistoryofbyzantium.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/benjamin-constant-the_entry_of_mahomet_ii_into_constantinople-1876.jpg?w=115 115w, https://thehistoryofbyzantium.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/benjamin-constant-the_entry_of_mahomet_ii_into_constantinople-1876.jpg?w=229 229w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" /> We follow events after the Ottomans broke through the walls of Constantinople. Taking the story up to the Sultans triumphant return to Edirne. Pic: The entry of Mehmed II into Constantinople, Benjamin Constant, 1876 Stream: What Happened Next? Download: <a href="https://open.a

Professor Leonora Neville joins us to make the case for getting rid of the term Byzantium for good. She wants to replace it with a different term and a different understanding of Roman history. Professor Neville is the John W and Jeanne M Rowe Chair of Byzantine History at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She specialises in the 9-12th centuries of the Empire’s history. And her research has focussed on gender, civic religion, and religious aspects of political culture as well as historical memory and historiography. She has written several excellent books which have been vital to this podcast. Her guide to Byzantine historians is essential reading for students. Her book on Byzantine gender helped direct my episodes on ‘Women in the Roman world’ and her book on provincial authority was extremely helpful in understanding Kekaumenos. She is also a Senior fellow at Dumbarton Oaks and an editor of several book series. Find out more at the University of Madison-Wisconsin website. Stream: Get Rid of Byzantium Download: Get Rid of Byzantium RSS Feed: The History of Byzantium If you want to send in feedback to the podc

In a bonus episode for Patrons I take you through what the Christmas period looked like in Constantinople. To listen to this episode join the History of Byzantium Patreon at the highest level of support ( Ad-Free Bonus Feed ). You can cancel any time. 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. – Follow me on Twitter or Instagram

As we look back at Byzantium I turned once more to Professor Anthony Kaldellis. I asked him to present a list of ten influential East Romans who were not featured heavily in the political narrative. Anthony Kaldellis is a Professor in the Department of Classics at the University of Chicago. He is the author of over a dozen books on Byzantium including the definitive history (The New Roman Empire: A History of Byzantium). Find out more here. Pic: Saint Photios Timestamps: Photios: 0.47 secs – 15m 08s Michael Psellos: 15m 09s – 31m 25s Anna Komnene: 31m 26s – 39m 25s Eustathios of Thessaloniki: 39m 26s – 47m 27s George Gemistos Plethon: 47m 28s – 1h 07m 22s Stream: 10 Influential East Romans with Anthony Kaldellis. Part 2 Download: <a href="https://open.acast.com/public/streams/60eee15192322e0c04ee9b3d/episodes/696570789a

As we look back at Byzantium I turned once more to Professor Anthony Kaldellis. I asked him to present a list of ten influential East Romans who were not featured heavily in the political narrative. Anthony Kaldellis is a Professor in the Department of Classics at the University of Chicago. He is the author of over a dozen books on Byzantium including the definitive history (The New Roman Empire: A History of Byzantium). Find out more here. Pic: Gregory of Nazianzus, fresco from the Chora Church Timestamps: Gregory of Nazianzus: 6m 10s – 21m 12s John Chrysostom: 21m 12s – 38m 12s Tribonian: 38m 12s – 52m 40s Anthemius of Tralles: 52m 40s – 1h 02m Theodore the Studite: 1h 02m – 1h 15m Stream: 10 Influential East Romans with Anthony Kaldellis. Part 1 Download: 10 Influential East Romans with Anthony Kaldellis. Part 1 <p class="wp-blo

I talk to Eric Halsey about his new book State Builders from the Steppe: A History of the First Bulgarian Empire. In it he chronicles the rise and fall of the Bulgars as they arrive in the Balkans and forge a state that would be a thorn in the Byzantine side. I thoroughly recommended the book. It’s well researched, easy to read and it’s nice to hear about a subject so intimately entwined with Byzantine history from a different perspective. Find the book on Amazon or check out the Bulgarian History podcast where Eric takes the Bulgarian story all the way to the present. Stream: State Builders from the Steppe with Eric Halsey Download: State Builders from the Steppe with Eric Halsey RSS Feed: The History of Byzantium If you want to send in feedback to the podcast: – Ei

To mark the 1000th anniversary of his death we revisit the bachelorhood of Basil II. My guest is Mark Masterson — until recently Associate Professor of Classics at Victoria University of Wellington (retired 2025). His work explores masculinity, desire, and male social bonds in the Roman world. In his book Between Byzantine Men he discusses an oration written in Basil’s day which may shed light on his intimate life. Picture: Basil II by J Foliveras Find out more about Professor Mark Masterson here and check out his two books on male relationships within the Roman world. Between Byzantine Men: Desire, Homosociality, and Brotherhood in the Medieval EmpireRoutledge (2022) Man to Man: Desire, Homosociality and Authority in Late-Roman Manhood The Ohio State University Press. (2014) Stream: The Bachelorhood of Basil II with Mark Masterson Download: The Bachelorhood of Basil II with Mark Masterson <p class="wp-block-p