"I am a free man, of a free state" When Julius Caesar became Governor of Gaul in 58BC he dreamt of fame, fortune and legacy. Conquest had always been the path to glory for a Roman senator and with this position he hoped to make his name. At first, he…
'He bore the impending demise of his religion, culture and way of life' Boabdil had earned his bloody throne. But there was little time to celebrate. As the armies of Christendom camped outside the last Islamic stronghold in Spain, its citizens knew the end of their world would come soon.…
'Stop, stop! Don't kill him you fool, that's the Moorish King!' Boabdil's path to the throne had not been easy. He had been pressured into overthrowing his father by his mother and was captured during his first battle. After being forced to swear an oath of loyalty to The Christian…
"A last alliance against tyranny - the battle for free Gaul" Gaul hung by a thread. As Rome’s grip tightened around their homeland, the Tribal Kings met to discuss their grim reality. Age-old rivalries were tossed aside for the sake of unity, and Vercingetorix was raised as supreme commander of…
‘Rome made a desert, and called it peace’. Caesar’s first foray into Gaul had been an overwhelming success. He had vanquished one of the most powerful tribes, and their wealth had paid off his debts. Emboldened by the quick victory, he sent his legions to the distant corners of the…
"I am a free man, of a free state" When Julius Caesar became Governor of Gaul in 58BC he dreamt of fame, fortune and legacy. Conquest had always been the path to glory for a Roman senator and with this position he hoped to make his name. At first, he…
In this special episode I'm joined by Professor Emanuel Buttigieg from The University Of Malta! The Professor shares with me the fascinating story of The Siege Of Candia that took place over a whopping 21 years starting in 1648. The siege pitted The Knights Hospitaller against their old rivals, The…
'Saviour' of The Reconquista: El Cid (Part 2) El Cid was down but not out! After sacking King Alfonso's lands he was in exile, barred from returning to his home and family. But, his deeds had made him famous and he soon found employment in the pay of al-Mu'taman, Lord…
Alfred The Great And The Last Kingdom (Part 2) After a humiliating defeat, Alfred retreats to the swamps of Wessex and desperately tries to pickup the pieces of his shattered kingdom. Meanwhile, Viking Warlord Guthrum recruits more Danes to help subdue the troublesome realm. The fate of England balances on…
Yi Sun-sin was a Korean soldier in the 16th century. Throughout his career he had built up a reputation as an exemplary leader with a brilliant eye for military decisions. Despite this, he had received few promotions and had made fewer friends within the military due to his 'no nonsense'…
Pemulwuy was a member of the Bidjigal people, one of the Aboriginal tribes who lived on the east coast of Australia. When the British arrived to colonise his people's ancestral land he fought back. Over 12 years, Pemulwuy led and unending war against the new colony and united multiple Aboriginal…
Valette and The Great Siege of Malta (Part 1) In the year 1565 an enormous Ottoman fleet departed Constantinople heading for the tiny Mediterranean island of Malta. With around 40,000 troops onboard, the army was tasked with the eradication of a handful of Christian knights, 'The Knights Hospitaller'. With only…
While Admiral Yi Sun-sin languishes in a filthy prison cell, the once invincible Korean navy he had built lay in ruins at the bottom of the harbour. Outmanoeuvred and outplayed by his rival, the War Hero had been stripped of all his command and convicted of treason. But with the…
“Of all the sea tales told down the ages, none has held its mystique so long as the mutiny on board HMS Bounty” In the year of 1789, in the vast Pacific Ocean; the mutinous crew of the HMS Bounty turn on their loathed Captain. Jeering and laughing the men…
The Sword Of Allah, Khalid ibn al-Walid (Part 1) Khalid was a member of the aristocracy in the Arabian trading city of Mecca. When a local named Muhammad began claiming he was the Prophet of God, Khalid and his family fought tooth and nail to stamp out his movement. Less…
'You cry like a woman, for what you couldn't defend as a man' Boabdil was heir to a dying kingdom. In the 15th century, Granada was the last Muslim state in Spain. For 250 years it survived, living in the shadow of the Christian kingdoms. But that all changed after…
The Sword Of Allah, Khalid ibn al-Walid (Part 2) Khalid ibn al-Walid's life had taken a full 360 turn. Throwing family tradition aside he'd embraced Islam and helped Muhammad smash the old idols he had once worshipped. He was quickly becoming The Prophet's favoured general, who gave him the title…
The Deadliest Sniper In History, Simo Hayha Simo Häyhä was a Finnish farmer born in the 1900's, known around his village for his wickedly sharp aim with a hunting rifle. In 1939, his life was turned upside down when Stalin and The Red Army invaded Finland. Rushed to the front,…
The crew of the HMS Bounty were free from their hated captain, but what now? Their old lives were over. And the ferocious Polynesians weren't interested in sharing their islands with British sailors. As the crewmembers couple up with the few women aboard, resentment simmers when there aren't enough companions…
'In Spain's rich history, El Cid is remembered above all others' El Cid was a knight in 11th century Spain. Growing up in the borderlands between two religions, he gained a reputation for military skill and bravery. This led to his nickname Campeador, 'Master Of The Battlefield'. Today's he's remembered…
Who Was Skanderbeg? Gjergj Kastrioti, known as Skanderbeg was an Albanian who lived in the 15th century. As the Ottoman Empire pushed into his tiny homeland he made the decision to stand and fight. Venetians, Ottomans and even fellow Albanian's would try their luck, but through tactical brilliance and his…
Valette and The Great Siege of Malta (Part 2) The enormous Ottoman fleet has just been sighted on the horizon of Malta, 'The Greatest Siege Of All Time' has begun! As Dragut, 'The Drawn Sword Of Islam' wrestles command from his underlings, the isolated Fort St Elmo endures one of…
Abu Tahir Al-Jannabi, The Muslim Who Sacked Mecca Abu Tahir was the leader of a mystical offshoot of mainstream Islam known as 'The Qarmatians'. He created a kind of 'proto-communist' enclave on the Arabian peninsula, and successfully defended it from the Abbasid Caliphate. But soon his hatred of Orthodox Islam…
After a heroic final stand, Fort St Elmo has finally fallen. With the Ottoman navy now streaming into the harbour, the Knights prepare for an assault on three fronts as both sides are pushed past their breaking point. Meanwhile, Valette receives the soul-crushing news that reinforcements from Spain will not…