Episode 331 – The Last Hope
Added 2025-06-20 09:37:22 +0000 UTCJohn VIII Palaiologos asks the Pope for an Ecumenical Council to reunite the churches. To his surprise the Pontiff says yes and a huge Byzantine contingent travels to Italy.
Pic: John VIII Palaiologos (from ‘Rulers of the Byzantine Empire’ published by KIBEA)
Period: 1425-48
Comments
This podcast is truly amazing it has completly changed my view of human history.
Lucas
2025-07-09 15:11:59 +0000 UTCRobin, thank you for this podcast. I’ve been fascinated by Byzantium since I was in junior high and found Gibbon on my dad’s bookshelves, and I plan to fill an entire bookshelf of my own with the sources you’ve referenced over the years. Your even-handed, nuanced, and occasionally tongue in cheek approach to the narrative has been spot on. (I can’t imagine a history podcast as being complete without the drums to signal a new year) I hope one day to be able to make it to one of your tours. Cheers!!
RCS
2025-07-03 03:22:52 +0000 UTCI've been listening since Christmas Eve 2014. Been an honor to follow along all this time.
Joseph Molnar
2025-06-27 11:04:46 +0000 UTCCan't even begin to say how much I've enjoyed this series, thank you very much Robin.
Owen Galinac
2025-06-23 18:48:44 +0000 UTCExcellent show.
Luis A. Melendez Albizu
2025-06-22 19:30:04 +0000 UTC110 episodes (1/3 podcast) to catch up...
Kalamarko Pipkavac
2025-06-22 12:37:16 +0000 UTCFunnily enough the "re"conquest of southern greece felt very Norman in character. Vying princes taking as much as they can, create pressure on the neighbours. Also probably shows how much central control has slipped. Now onto the final act
Sascha
2025-06-22 06:23:39 +0000 UTCI'm glad we're getting one more epic, if we're getting one more story. Thank you for the podcast, Robin, its become my favorite of them all.
Jcm
2025-06-22 04:48:57 +0000 UTCSo, we are in the endgame ... Thank you for this podcast, Robin, it was quite a journey.
Alex Dubrovsky
2025-06-21 19:53:27 +0000 UTCAs we approach the end, big thanks to Robin for his decades plus effort here. Your voice is soothing and your story telling well done. Thank for sticking with it the the very end.
T.E. Kolenda
2025-06-21 19:32:38 +0000 UTC
