195 - Italian Wars 12 -  The sack of Rome (again) and the end of the Sforza (1526 - 1530)

195 - Italian Wars 12 - The sack of Rome (again) and the end of the Sforza (1526 - 1530)

In this episode, we pick up with Emperor Charles V consolidating his power over Italy after the Battle of Pavia (1525), where the French king Francis I was captured. The uneasy Italian states, including Pope Clement VII (Giulio de’ Medici), soon realized they had traded one master for another and formed the League of Cognac (1526) — an anti-imperial alliance including France, Venice, Florence, the Papal States, Milan, and under English protection, Henry VIII.

The league’s formation was steeped in intrigue, false pretenses, and even secret dealings with the Turks. One of Charles’s own commanders, the Marquis of Pescara, pretended to side with the league while feeding the emperor inside information.

Meanwhile, Giovanni dalle Bande Nere, the famed mercenary from the Medici-Sforza line, met his end in battle, struck by artillery supplied by the duplicitous Duke of Ferrara. His death marked the fading of Italy’s old mercenary tradition — and one of its most charismatic figures.

When the pope attempted to back away from the alliance, Charles’s allies struck at Rome. The Sack of Rome (1527)followed — a devastating episode where mutinous Landsknechts, many of them fervent Lutherans, unleashed horrific violence on the city. For days, the Eternal City was ravaged: thousands slaughtered, churches desecrated, art looted, and the Renaissance dream in Rome brutally extinguished. Pope Clement VII barely escaped to Castel Sant’Angelo, thanks to the sacrifice of his Swiss Guards.

In the chaos that followed, the Papal States collapsed, local lords reclaimed their territories, and the Medici were expelled from Florence, where a new republic was declared — with Jesus Christ symbolically named as its king.

Ultimately, Charles V and Clement VII reconciled. Political realism won out over ideology. Through the Treaties of Barcelona (1529) and Bologna (1530), the Italian Wars entered a quieter phase, and imperial dominance over Italy was secured.

We close with the final chapter of the Sforza dynasty: Francesco II Sforza, the last Duke of Milan, whose death in 1535marked the end of an era — from the rise of the free communes to the age of dynastic rule and foreign domination.

Episoder(289)

150 - Decline of the Savoy and the Holy Shroud of Turin (1451 - 1490)

150 - Decline of the Savoy and the Holy Shroud of Turin (1451 - 1490)

We go back to the north west to visit with Piedmont and the house of Savoy to take them out of the 15th century as they go through a period of decline with the rising power of France threatening their independence. It is in this period, in 1553, that the Savoy acquire the Holy Shroud, which was supposed to have been the burial cloth of Jesus Christ himself... or was it just one of histories most elaborate middle aged hoaxes?

20 Des 202220min

149 The Genoa of Columbus (1442 - 1492)

149 The Genoa of Columbus (1442 - 1492)

We close out the 15th century for Genoa with things not looking too great thanks to the advancing Ottomans in the Eastern Mediterranean and in parallel follow the life of one of Genoa's most famous sons, Christopher Columbus in his early life and follow the adventures of his body after his death before reflecting on his legacy.

13 Des 202218min

148 - Peak and twilight of the Magnificent (1478 - 1492)

148 - Peak and twilight of the Magnificent (1478 - 1492)

After the failed Pazzi conspiracy and its bloody vengeful aftermath, Lorenzo has to face war against pope Sixtus IV AND Naples AND Urbino. As if that wasn't enough also plague and more plots.Then, would you believe it, another war, the salt war of Ferrara and once all that is over, a good old teenage Cardinal is on the way

6 Des 202218min

147 - The conpiracy of the crazies (1476 - 1478)

147 - The conpiracy of the crazies (1476 - 1478)

Things heat up as the animosity between the Medici and pope Sixtus IV leads to one of the most infamous conspiracies in history: the Pazzi conspiracy, set up to kill Giuliano and Lorenzo De Medici and overthrow the Signoria, the government of Florence

15 Nov 202220min

Interview with Philippa Gregory on Maria Beatrice D'Este

Interview with Philippa Gregory on Maria Beatrice D'Este

We got the chance to talk to bestselling author, Philippa Gregory, about one of the characters of her new book, Dawnlands,Maria Beatrice D'Este, a real historical figure as well as a character, daughter of Duke Alfonso IV of Modena and Reggio Emilia and Queen of England, married to King James II.Philippa has written many historical novels whch include "The other Boleyn girl" and "The White Queen"

8 Nov 202219min

Halloween special: Azzurrina, the ghost of Montebello

Halloween special: Azzurrina, the ghost of Montebello

We imagine the story behind the ghost of Montebello Castle, supposedly that of Gwendalina, nicknamed "Azzurrina", (little blue) due to her strange blueish hair. The little girl is said to have vanished without a trace in 1375, leaving many legends behind.

31 Okt 202222min

F100: 04 The March on Rome

F100: 04 The March on Rome

One hundred years ago, a series of events between 24th and 31st October 1922 culminated in Fascist leader Benito Mussolini taking power in what is known as "The March on Rome". Did the Black shirts actually take Rome by force? Why did the government not put a stop to the events? Together we will take a look at the fateful days in which Fascism came to power.

28 Okt 202231min

146 - Lorenzo vs Sixtus and America's beautiful cousin (1471 - 1476)

146 - Lorenzo vs Sixtus and America's beautiful cousin (1471 - 1476)

The rivalry between Lorenzo de Medici and pope Sixtus IV, Francesco della Rovere starts to heat up as they clash over lands and resources, reaching very dangerous levels. Meanwhile the Medici brothers find time for another great tournament and Giuliano finds love with the most beautiful woman in Florence, the "living Venus" Simonetta Vespucci, whose name leads us into a digression on where America got its name.

18 Okt 202221min

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