136 - Savoy from count to duke to pope (1391 - 1451)
We follow little count Amedeo VIII as he comes to power and manages to not only expand, consolidate and organise first his county and then duchy, but even has a go at being pope for a while!
10 Maj 202219min
Anti-mafia martyrs - Pio La Torre, the mafia fighting communist
We take a look at the life and struggle of Sicilian communist party leader Pio La Torre, who spent his whole life trying to oppose Cosa Nostra for the good of the opressed, even when it meant going against his own party.
3 Maj 202219min
F100: Before Evil - Interview with Brandon Gauthier on Benito Mussolini
As we finish celebrating the 77th anniversary of our liberation from the Fascist government and Nazi occupiers, I talk to author Brandon Gauthier about his new book, which explores the early lives of notirious dictators such as Hitler, Stalin and Kim.
26 Apr 202243min
135 - Savoy - different coloured counts and a murder mystery (1255 - 1391)
We continue catching up with the house of Savoy picking up in 1255 and, after some zig-zagging succession, see the "colourful" green count Amedeo VI and then try to discover what really happened to his son, Amedeo VII the Red count, as the counts slowly continue to expand their lands and influence in France and north-west Italy.
12 Apr 202220min
Announcement: 200th upload, new platform, new logo and happy birthday!
We have reached the 200th upload ( regular episodes plus extras) and have moved to a new platform. To celebrate this as well as my 45th birthday we are unveiling the new "A History of Italy" logo
5 Apr 20228min
134 - Piedmont and the rise of the house of Savoy
We catch the region of piedmont up to the 13th century and then start to take a look at the rise of the house of Savoy, beginning with its founder Umberto Biancamano, he of the white hand (for some reason).
22 Mars 202219min
F100: 03b The occupation of Fiume part 02
The second part of our chat on the occupation of Fiume where we look at the occupation itself and the life of D'Annunzio after the endeavor
15 Mars 202227min
F100: 03a The occupation of Fiume - part 01
We draw a profile of the Italian poet and activist Gabriele D'Annunzio up to the time in which he takes command of an expedition to take the city of Fiume, the current day Croatian city of Rijeka. We take a look at his extreme lifestyle of women, drugs and excesses such as being the first recognised Italian toappear naked in a photo! We also have a look at the situation in Italy between WWI and the expedition to Fiume in 1919.
8 Mars 202221min
