On Patreon I am releasing a four part set of episodes on the Italian Wars (1494-1559) and the Battle of Pavia (1525).
The first episode is available to all here
The full set of episodes is available to patrons of the History of Europe, Key Battles podcast
Italy 1500
Battle of Pavia 1525
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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In the year 1204, Constantinople, the largest and most splendid city by far in Europe was sacked, not by Muslims abut by fellow Christians – not only sacked but gutted by fire and indiscriminate violence. Part 1 describes the build-up and first steps of the crusade, including a history of early Venice.
Modern day Zadar (formerly Zara) in Croatia:
Medieval Venice (Flemish Tapestry) 
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