Empires of History Podcast
Started back in 2018. Back then I still hand't gotten my research/writing/recording and distribution skills down pat (and still don't for that matter). In those days the Conquest (ok ok I should be calling it "Fall" in this blogpost about the redoubtable Constantine) seemed sooo far away.
My labors led to listeners supporting me with encouraging reviews on Apple Podcast and (really cool) emails.
These days the best way to support Empires of History Podcast is by jumping on my Patreon and joining one of the Tiers.
- Early access to main show episodes
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Please join my Patreon here: CLICK HERE Empires Podcast the Ottomans PATREON
Which Brings us to Emperor Constantine XI
Empires Podcast the Ottomans encountered the last great leader of the Romans in Episode 25, which you can find by clicking the "episodes" tab on this website.
When researching, primarily using the source from "The Siege and the Fall of Constantinople in 1543" I was, again and again, struck by what a brave, virtuous, and damnit MASCULINE man Constantine was.
At any point before, during, and even close to the 11th hour, he could have fled the city. Holed up in one of the Eastern Roman Empire wannabe hangouts with his brothers, or even been treated and hosted in the courts of Western Europe.
Instead... he died like a good Greek, defending his honor and trying to take out as many of his enemy as he could.
Theirs NOT a whole lot of non-Ottoman personalities I've encountered in this Podcast whom I respect... but Constantine is at the top.
It seems like in our cultural over-saturation of conflicting notions of gender roles (think toxic shitheads like Andrew Tate **BARF**) all we need do is open a history book and you'll find men and women 100x more impressive that our Sions of capitalism (Buffett, Gates, etc..) instead you find people fighting for WHAT'S right. Simple things we take for granted like home, liberty, life, and the primal instinct to fight off the nomadic warrior showing up just over the horizon to steal away our women and children.
Constantine was just what the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire needed at the moment. He wasn't about that talk he was about that walk as we say in the American South.
As I am recording Episode 25, Part 5, can't help but feel like the Ottomans and indeed Europe, are entering a time warp. One in which for the first time in thousands of years, the Romans will no longer be with them.
To the masculine drive to protect, fight, and sacrifice one's self... I salute His Imperial Highness Emperor of the Romans, Constantine XI
-Frank