194 - The Italian Wars 11 - Medici pope to Medici pope - Battle of Pavia and Cognac

194 - The Italian Wars 11 - Medici pope to Medici pope - Battle of Pavia and Cognac

After three episodes exploring the life of Leonardo da Vinci, we return to the turbulent stage of the Italian Wars. In this episode, we pick up in the early 1520s, a period shaped by papal politics, dynastic rivalries, and the shifting fortunes of France and Spain.

Highlights include:

  • The succession of popes after Leo X: Hadrian VI and Clement VII, and their struggles with reform, neutrality, and survival.
  • The tug-of-war between France and Spain over Milan and Naples, with Spain ultimately gaining the upper hand.
  • The dramatic Battle of Pavia (1525) — where Francis I of France was captured, changing the balance of power in Italy.
  • Local legend and culinary history: the devil’s bridge of Pavia and the birth of zuppa alla pavese.
  • The curious origin of the word lapalisiano (and its English cousin lapalissade), born from the death of French commander Jacques de La Palice.
  • The rise of the League of Cognac (1526), a desperate coalition including France, the Papacy, Florence, and Venice against Charles V’s growing dominance.

Along the way, we balance high politics with folklore, language quirks, and even a recipe or two — showing how wars, words, and food can be unexpectedly intertwined.


Avsnitt(288)

137 - The Republic of San Marino

137 - The Republic of San Marino

While attempting to catch up with our studies, we go outside (or inside) Italy to look at a foreign country within our borders up to the 15th century and find out why we have yet another independent country on the peninsula.

7 Juni 202219min

Special: Anti-Judaism in Medieval Italy - The case of Simonino da Trento with Lorenzo Paluan

Special: Anti-Judaism in Medieval Italy - The case of Simonino da Trento with Lorenzo Paluan

We explore a tragic travesty of justice as we look into the anti-jewish case of Simonino da Trento, a young boy who was found dead in 1475 and whose murder was blamed on the local Jewish community with no tangible proof, leading to their very rapid trial and execution.

31 Maj 202244min

Recap 06: Episode 101 - 136

Recap 06: Episode 101 - 136

After quite a long tour (36 episodes) we take our routine look back to recap what we have been over, moving around Italy and back and forth in time

25 Maj 202233min

136 - Savoy from count to duke to pope (1391 - 1451)

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

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

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)

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!

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

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