112 – Queen Joanna of Naples (1345 – 1382)
We follow Queen Joanna of Naples as she goes through three more husbands, ever searching for the right one, but getting ambitious power grabbing insensitive men or total nut jobs until she finally settles on the one who will see her to her end. Meanwhile she will guide the kingdom of Naples through the Sicilian question, rebellions, the plague, warring bandits and the great Western schism.
30 Mars 202121min
Crossover: Colombus and Genoa with the History of North America
The famous/notorious Italian explorer and the city of his birth in this interview with Mark Vinet of the "History of North America podcast
23 Mars 202145min
Interview: 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"
8 Mars 202139min
111 – 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.
2 Mars 202124min
110 – Cola fizzes and goes flat (1347 – 1354)
After his great rise to power in Rome, we see Cola di Rienzo crash and burn... literally
17 Feb 202124min
109 – 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 families... for now.
10 Feb 202126min
Fill-in episode – 2021 Italian government crisis
While 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
7 Feb 202114min
108 – Italians against stairs
Mastino 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
19 Jan 202122min
