Best Seljuk Podcasts (2024)

1
48 - Merzifon 1:04:11

11h ago1:04:11

1:04:11

The Sultanate of Rum lies in ruins following the destruction of the First Crusade and the loss of Western Anatolia to the Byzantine Empire. The Danishmend Beylik led by Gümüştegin Ghazi takes up the mantle of the leading Turkish state in Anatolia, and scores a key victory against the Norman Crusaders in Outremer. And yet more crusaders arrive from …

1
Quickfire: 4 Petty Letters Of The Ancient World 22:02

12d ago22:02

22:02

Join us for a lively journey into the ancient world as co-host Alexander Gates and I delve into the most scandalous and petty letters of antiquity. From expletive-laden tirades to guilt-tripping manipulations, we uncover the outrageous communications of everyday people. Listen in as we explore the fiery exchanges between an Ottoman Sultan and his i…

1
47 - The White City 43:01

23d ago43:01

43:01

In the aftermath of the catastrophic Crusader invasion of Anatolia, while the Turks are in crisis, Emperor Alexios Komnenos launches a reconquest. An army led by John Doukas retakes the Aegean coast and Western Anatolia, an army led by Theodore Gabras retakes the Black Sea coast, and the Emperor himself marches out of Pelakanon and into the center …

1
The Battle of Manzikert 1071 | Part Three: Emperor's Folly 50:40

1M ago50:40

50:40

“The most decisive disaster in Byzantine history” - Steven Runciman In the epic conclusion to our series, we delve into the monumental Battle of Manzikert in 1071. Through the perspectives of Alp Arslan and Emperor Romanos IV Diogenes, we explore the motivations and strategies of these two pivotal leaders leading up to this climactic confrontation.…

1
The Battle of Manzikert 1071 | Part Two: Alp Arslan and The Seljuk Onslaught 55:15

2M ago55:15

55:15

In this episode we'll explore the rise of the Seljuk Turks and the crises within the Byzantine Empire leading up to the pivotal Battle of Manzikert in 1071. We delve into the transformation of the Seljuk Turks from a steppe horde into a powerful empire under the leadership of Alp Arslan. His strategic brilliance and conquests have cemented his stat…

1
46 - Dorylaeum 46:22

2M ago46:22

46:22

Following the fall of İznik, Kılıç Arslan regroups his forces, belatedly calling for aid from across Turkish Anatolia. The Crusaders depart from İznik and begin their march to the Holy Land. Kılıç Arslan springs an ambush near Eskişehir on the Plains of Dorylaeum, leading to disaster yet again. In the aftermath of the great defeat, the Sword Lion i…

1
The Battle of Manzikert 1071 | Part One: Wolves At The Door 50:31

2M ago50:31

50:31

“Our Empire is withering!” - Empress Eudokia Today, we'll explore the events leading up to the 1071 Battle of Manzikert through the reign of Byzantine Emperor Constantine IX. During Constantine IX's reign, the Byzantine Empire faces threats from all sides. We meet the Seljuk Turks, whose ambitions and determination set the stage for future conquest…

1
45 - The Fall of İznik 51:46

2M ago51:46

51:46

The crusading army marches into a completely undefended Anatolia and right up to the walls of İznik, the capital of the Sultanate of Rum. Finally waking up to the danger, Kılıç Arslan makes a deal with the Danishmends and begins racing back West. Kılıç Arslan fights the Crusaders in front of the walls of İznik and the Turks resist. Meanwhile, as on…

1
Guest Episode: General Sherman's March to the Sea (History Daily) 18:58

2M ago18:58

18:58

Bonus episode from the podcast 'History Daily'. November 15, 1864. During the American Civil War, Union General William T. Sherman begins his devastating March to the Sea. History Daily can be found on all podcasting platforms, with more information on their website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

1
GET A FREE BOOK ON BYZANTIUM & THE CRUSADES 1:27

2M ago1:27

1:27

Just a quick update to let you know if you like this podcast you can get the book on which it’s based for free on my website nickholmesauthor.com. It’s called The Byzantine World War, and it's about the origins of the First Crusade and suggests that it really began as the result of the defeat of the Byzantines at the Battle of Manzikert in 1071. Th…

1
Akhenaten The Heretic Pharaoh | Part 2: Wrath Of The Aten 34:35

3M ago34:35

34:35

"The Gods had turned their backs on this land" - Tutankhamun's Restoration Edict In part two of our series, we delve into the downfall of Akhenaten, The Heretic King. As Akhenaten's religious reforms shake the very foundations of his kingdom, the Pharaoh lashes out at his citizens, closing temples and destroying statues of traditional Gods. Isolate…

1
44 - The Pyramid of Bones 36:00

3M ago36:00

36:00

The People's Crusade invades Anatolia, and the chaotic army of undisciplined peasants is easily destroyed by the forces of the Sultanate of Rum under Ilhan Bey as Kılıç Arslan besieges Malatya. But the chaos and ineptitude of the People's Crusade proves to be a boon to both the Byzantine Emperor and even the now-assembling First Crusade. In Constan…

1
43 - Deus Vult 46:16

3M ago46:16

46:16

As Turkish power is entrenched across Anatolia and Kılıç Arslan consolidates the power of the Sultanate of Rum, in Constantinople Emperor Alexios Komnenos calls for aid from the West. The Emperor envisions a relatively large, but still manageable, army of experienced Latin knights of the type that have fought for Byzantium in the past in order to r…

1
Akhenaten The Heretic Pharaoh | Part 1: Like Father, Like Son 46:18

3M ago46:18

46:18

"The Pharaoh's sinister smile seemed to whisper love me… but fear me.." Embark on a journey into ancient Egypt's shadows with our latest episode, as we delve deep into the enigmatic life of Akhenaten, the heretic pharaoh whose legacy was damned by his own people. We uncover the intriguing tale of Akhenaten's formative years, shaped under the toweri…

1
42 - The Red Wedding 1:02:07

4M ago1:02:07

1:02:07

As Kılıç Arslan sits in prison in Esfahan, Emperor Alexios Komnenos attempts to restore imperial authority on the coasts of Anatolia, even if the plateau itself remains lost to him. Constantinople tangles with the Black Sea beylik of Karategin and the Marmara beylik of İlhan. In İzmir, the rebel Turkish Roman General Çaka Bey creates the first Turk…

1
41 - The Sword Lion 48:04

5M ago48:04

48:04

After the death of Sulayman, his sons Kılıç Arslan and Daud are imprisoned in Esfahan by Melik Shah. In their absence, the Sultanate of Rum is ruled under a quasi-regency by the man Sulayman left in charge of İznik - Ebu'l Kasım. Ebu'l Kasım fights and negotiates with the Roman Emperor and the Great Seljuk Sultan, maintaining the independence of th…

1
Zoroastrianism: Ancient Persia's Lost Religion (with Professor Almut Hintze) 48:01

5M ago48:01

48:01

In this episode, Professor Almut Hintze sheds light on the ancient and mysterious religion of Zoroastrianism. For over two millennia, it was one of the world's most practiced religions until the arrival of Islam in the seventh century led to its rapid decline. Today, just 120,000 adherents remain worldwide. Come with us as we dive into Zoroastriani…

1
40 - On a Mule's Back 1:00:00

5M ago1:00:00

1:00:00

In 1081, Sulayman reigns in İznik as the Sultan of Rum. But his sultanate is aspirational - really, he is a mere border lord. A bey among beys. And so Sulayman begins to lay the foundations for the Sultanate of Rum, expanding his power across Western Anatolia. Burning with ambition and desire to reclaim the birthright of the line of Kutalmish, Sula…

1
Guest Episode: The Rise of Llywelyn the Great (Welsh History Podcast) 23:35

6M ago23:35

23:35

Bonus episode from the podcast 'Welsh History Podcast' sharing the story of influential Welsh figure: Llywelyn the Great He is young, angry and looking for revenge. Welsh History Podcast is a proud member of the Evergreen Podcast Network. You can support the podcast at patreon.com/WelshHistory Celtic Impulse Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed…

1
BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT - 'Rome and Attila' 1:30

5M ago1:30

1:30

I wanted to let you know my latest book, Rome and Attila, is now available on Amazon in ebook and paperback, links in the episode notes. It’s about one of the most infamous figures in history—Attila the Hun. He’s a household name, but remarkably little is known about him and his popular legend as a brutal tyrant is not necessarily correct. I delve …

1
39 - The First Roman Sultan 1:00:11

6M ago1:00:11

1:00:11

Following Manzikert, the civil war in Byzantium and the failure of the Roman Empire to retake Anatolia, the first Turkish beyliks emerge in Anatolia. In the anarchy caused by the collapse of the Roman military apparatus, bands of Turks begin making alliances with the settled elites of Anatolia, offering them protection for a price. Soon the Turks a…

1
38 - Welcome to Anatolia 54:30

6M ago54:30

54:30

We resume the narrative, and begin by introducing the land that will come to be the homeland of the Turks. In the aftermath of the Battle of Manzikert, the Roman state falls into chaos. As a result of civil war, invasion and rebellion, Imperial authority collapses over much of Anatolia. And the Turks begin to enter Anatolia, and the seeds of the co…

1
Hitler's 1941 Invasion of Russia | Part 5: Christmas In The Cauldron 51:19

6M ago51:19

51:19

"Capitulation is impossible! The 6th Army will do its historic duty." - Adolf Hitler. In the conclusion of our series, we unravel the final months of the Battle of Stalingrad, exploring the consequences of Adolf Hitler's decision to forbid the the Sixth Army to retreat. We witness the long-awaited breakthrough for The Red Army, as Joseph Stalin and…

1
37 - The Great Seljuk Empire: Culture 59:04

7M ago59:04

59:04

This is the fifth and last episode in a short series of non-narrative episodes. In this episode we cover the court culture of the Great Seljuk Empire and the greatest cultural achievements of the Empire. How the Sultan and his court lived, and the life and times of two of the most important cultural figures of the Great Seljuk Empire: Al-Ghazali an…

1
Hitler's 1941 Invasion of Russia | Part 4: Fortress Stalingrad 54:36

7M ago54:36

54:36

"In the blazing city, we do not suffer cowards..." - Vasily Chuikov. This episode marks the penultimate episode of our series tracing Operation Barbarossa, Hitler's 1941 invasion of the USSR. Join us as we follow Marshal Friedrich Paulus and the Wehrmacht 6th Army to their fateful end at Stalingrad. Through poignant handwritten letters, we'll delve…

1
Hitler's 1941 Invasion of Russia | Part 3: The Motherland Calls! 55:14

7M ago55:14

55:14

"It is time to finish retreating. Not one step back!" - Joseph Stalin. In part three of our series on Operation Barbarossa: The Wehrmacht, desperately needing fuel after Operation Barbarossa, surprises everyone by heading south to the Caucasus, targeting rich oil fields in modern Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. Stalin's Red Army, still recovering…

1
36 - The Assassins' Creed 56:09

7M ago56:09

56:09

This a standalone episode on the history of the Ismaili Nizaris and their Order of Assassins. The minority sect of Ismailism first arises as the Abbasid Caliphs keep the Shi'a Imams in confinement in Samarra - a hidden religion, secretive and rigidly hierarchical, and professing a unique system of beliefs drawing heavily from Greek philosophy and G…

1
Hitler's 1941 Invasion of Russia | Part 2: Rage Of The Reich 39:34

8M ago39:34

39:34

"If the Germans want a war of extermination, they will get it!" - Joseph Stalin. In this gripping continuation of our Operation Barbarossa series, The Red Army rallies as the Wehrmacht's relentless march towards Moscow accelerates. With the Wehrmacht closing in on the Soviet capital, the USSR faces its last chance for survival. In the midst of the …

1
35 - The Great Seljuk Empire: Religion 48:11

8M ago48:11

48:11

This is the fourth episode in a short series of non-narrative episodes. In this episode we cover religion in the Seljuk Empire. How reality differed from the picture of strident Sunnism presented by pro-Seljuk propaganda, and the relationship between the Seljuk and Abbasid dynasties, the treatment of the Shia, the conflict among the Sunni Madhhabs,…

1
Hitler's 1941 Invasion of Russia | Part 1: A Great Gamble 47:55

8M ago47:55

47:55

"The world will hold its breath!" - Adolf Hitler. In this episode we delve into Operation Barbarossa, Hitler's audacious invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941. The morning of June 22nd, 1941, witnessed four million men surging across the borders between the USSR and the German Reich, beginning the largest land invasion in world history. We explore t…

1
34 - The Great Seljuk Empire: the Economy 40:55

8M ago40:55

40:55

This is the third episode in a short series of non-narrative episodes. In this episode we cover the economy of the Great Seljuk Empire. The collision of two different economic systems - that of the nomads and that of the settled world - and how this led to an economic transformation.By The Turkish History Podcast

1
33 - The Great Seljuk Empire: the Military 43:20

9M ago43:20

43:20

This is the second in a short series of non-narrative episodes. In this episode, we cover the Seljuk Military. The composition of the armies, how the armies fought, and the armies relationship to the broader political world.

1
32 - The Great Seljuk Empire: the State 54:17

9M ago54:17

54:17

This is the first in a short series of non-narrative episodes on the nature of the Great Seljuk Empire. In this episode, we cover the structures of state in the empire - the various power centers, the role of the Seljuk Dynasty, the bureaucrats, the tribes, the Emirs and the ways in which all of these power centers interacted to govern the truly ma…

1
Season 5 Wrapup 6:01

10M ago6:01

6:01

A quick update on what's coming in season 6, our release schedule, and a few audience Q&A Questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Elliot Gates

1
31 - Collapse 1:10:01

10M ago1:10:01

1:10:01

Under the rule of Nizam ul-Mulk and Melik Shah, the Great Seljuk Empire reaches the zenith of its power. But as Al-Dawla Al-Nizamiyya unfolds, tensions roil under the surface. Tensions between the Seljuk and Abbasid dynasties, between the court and the tribes, between the court and the Emirs and between the state and its vassals. And when the partn…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Seljuk Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

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