The Hussite Wars were a series of crusades in the Kingdom of Bohemia (Czech Republic) against religious dissidents, prepared to go to war against the Catholic Church to protect their religious freedoms
Category Archives: Crusades
Turmoil in the Balkans
Released on Patreon.com now 2 of the 4 episodes on the Fall of Constantinople 1453. Build-up to the siege, the Ottoman Turks recover from a civil war and become stronger under the rule of Sultan Murad II, inflicting a string of defeats against Christians in the Balkans, most notably at Varna, Bulgaria in 1444 (pictured) and Kosovo 1448
Battle of Grunwald 1410, Part 4
The Battle of Grunwald/Tanneberg 1410 – an important battle in the history of Poland and the Baltic Region. Fought between the Teutonic Knights with guest crusaders on one side against a combined Polish/Lithuanian army. Also discussed is the battle’s aftermath and its relevance today
Battle of Grunwald 1410, Part 3
In the 14th century Lithuania became a major European power under the leadership of Algirdas, his brother Kęstutis, and their respective sons Jogaila and Vytautas (pictured), This episode describes Lithuania and her relations with the Teutonic Knights leading up to the Battle of Grunwald 1410
Battle of Nicopolis 1396
The Battle of Nicopolis 1396 is available to subscribers at Patreon.com- https://www.patreon.com/user?u=3521613
Part 1
Background to the Battle of Nicopolis 1396. The rise of the Ottomans in the 1300’s at the expense of the Byzantine Empire, and then their expansion into the Balkans. Brief description of the geography of the Balkans and (Blue) Danube, and histories of 14th century Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Romania – a golden age in the minds of some nationalists.
Part 2
In 1396 a large crusader army assembled, made up of numerous nationalities- French, German and Burgundian knights, together with soldiers from Hungary and Romania (Wallachia), plus a fleet from Venice, Genoa and Rhodes. The aim was to drive back the Ottomans, who had already conquered much of the Balkans and now threatened central Europe. The crusaders were confronted by an Ottoman army led by Sultan Bayezid at the strategic city of Nicopolis, on the lower Danube. Pictured: John Count of Nevers, King Sigismund of Hungary, Sultan Bayezid
Map of Balkans
Constantinople 1204 (Fourth Crusade), Part 2
When crusaders arrived at Constantinople in 1203 they gazed in wonder, having never imagined that there could be so fine a place in the world. The ‘Queen of Cities’, founded by Constantine The Great in the early fourth century, had become imbued over the centuries with legends and Christian myths that gave the place a spiritual aura to match its physical grandeur. Yet in 1204 the city would be violently sacked and the once mighty Empire brought to its knees.
Painting by Tintoretto (16th century)
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Third Crusade 1189-92
After the disaster at Hattin in 1187 Saladin appeared on the verge of completely wiping out the Crusader States from the Middle East. Instead he was met by stubborn resistance at Tyre, and the Acre. And when the kings of France and England arrived at Acre the tide began to turn in favour of the Christians, who now set the sights on recapturing Jerusalem
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Battle of Hattin 1187, Part 4
The Battle of Hattin fought on 4th July between Saladin and a considerable Christian army was a major turning point in the history of the Crusader States
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Battle of Hattin 1187, Part 3
The emergence of Saladin as preeminent Muslim ruler of the Levant, and the struggle for Egypt between Saladin and the Kingdom of Jerusalem
Statue of Saladin in Damascus
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Battle of Hattin 1187, Part 2
The Second Crusade (1145-1449), triggered by the Fall of Edessa. Conrad III of Germany and Louis VII of France lead the military campaign to boost the Crusader States in the Levant.
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