The Russian Empire History Podcast

The Russian Empire History Podcast

By JP Bristow

The history of all the peoples of the Russian Empire. New episode twice a month.

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1.64 Mindaugas the One and Only

The Russian Empire History PodcastDec 16, 2024
00:00
41:42
1.70 - Daniil of Galicia I - The Galician Succession

1.70 - Daniil of Galicia I - The Galician Succession

Roman Mstislavich had united Volhynia and Galicia, but his early death leaves his kingdom open to Rus and foreign pretenders. It will take his son, Daniil, years to recover.
Apr 07, 202554:54
ME21 - The Caucasus VI - Georgia Ascendant

ME21 - The Caucasus VI - Georgia Ascendant

Georgia struggles to keep its independence, until a new king unifies the country and takes it to new heights.

Mar 31, 202502:06:46
1.69 - Batu Consolidates

1.69 - Batu Consolidates

Batu continues his campaign westwards. Despite winning his battles, circumstances force him to return to the Volga to consolidate his rule.
Mar 24, 202538:17
1.68 - A ‘Mongol Yoke’?

1.68 - A ‘Mongol Yoke’?

From the chroniclers seeing them as God’s punishment, to Tsarist historians trying to push them out of Russian history altogther, to Stalinists banning any mention of them other than as predatory parasites, this episode looks at some of the ways Russian historians have struggled to come to grips with the Mongols.
Mar 10, 202545:07
1.67 - The Mongol Western Campaigns II - The Fall of Rus

1.67 - The Mongol Western Campaigns II - The Fall of Rus

Batu continues his western campaigns and brings about the end of Rus.

Feb 24, 202548:50
1.66 - - The Mongol Western Campaigns Part I - The Fall of Bulgaria

1.66 - - The Mongol Western Campaigns Part I - The Fall of Bulgaria

The Mongol Empire continues its campaigns of expansion. Chingis Khan has given his son Jochi the west, but first he must conquer it.
Feb 10, 202530:13
1.65 - Enter the Mongols

1.65 - Enter the Mongols

Word comes from the Polovtsi that there is a new force on the steppe. The Rus join them to fight them off.

Jan 27, 202548:45
ME20 - The Caucasus Part V - Islam Comes to the Caucasus

ME20 - The Caucasus Part V - Islam Comes to the Caucasus

The Arabs conquer the Caucasus. Holding on to it will be a different matter.

Jan 25, 202501:18:51
ME19 - The Caucasus Part IV - Georgia Between Byzantium and Persia

ME19 - The Caucasus Part IV - Georgia Between Byzantium and Persia

Transcaucasia becomes a major battleground in the superpower rivalry between the Romans and Persians.

Dec 22, 202447:07
1.64 Mindaugas the One and Only

1.64 Mindaugas the One and Only

Under pressure from Teutonic knights, Rus, and Poland, a new kingdom emerges from the Lithuanian tribes.

Dec 16, 202441:42
1.63 - The Baltic Crusades Part II - The Teutonic Order

1.63 - The Baltic Crusades Part II - The Teutonic Order

In this episode, we look at how the Teutonic Knights went from hospitals in the Holy Land to conquering Prussia.

Dec 02, 202434:42
ME18 - The Caucasus Part III - Christianity Comes to the Caucasus

ME18 - The Caucasus Part III - Christianity Comes to the Caucasus

In this member’s episode, we continue the story of the Caucasus with a look at the arrival of Christianity. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Patreon, or Supercast to listen.
Nov 24, 202447:29
1.62 - The Baltic Crusades Part I

1.62 - The Baltic Crusades Part I

Through the second half of the 12th century, the pieces start to fall into place for the conquests of the 13th century.

Nov 04, 202423:26
1.61 - The Hanseatic League

1.61 - The Hanseatic League

The Baltic crusades were not the only force driving German colonisation in the Baltic. In this episode we look at the rise of the Hanseatic League, a new commercial network across Northern Europe.
Oct 21, 202441:54
ME17 - The Caucasus Part II - Early Iberia, Colchis and Armenia

ME17 - The Caucasus Part II - Early Iberia, Colchis and Armenia

We continue looking at the Caucasus with the emergence of the kingdoms of the region.

Oct 13, 202455:03
1.60 - Rus and the Baltic Crusades

1.60 - Rus and the Baltic Crusades

Big claims have been made for the impact of the Baltic Crusades on Russia’s relationship with the West. This episode looks at whether they stand up to scrutiny.
Oct 07, 202437:07
SE7 - Who Are the Mongols?

SE7 - Who Are the Mongols?

In this special episode I am joined by Jack Wilson, AKA The Jackmeister: Mongol History to talk about who the Mongols were, where they came from, why they set out to conquer the west, and more.
Sep 23, 202401:28:51
1.59 - Big Nest and the Rest

1.59 - Big Nest and the Rest

Vsevolod Big Nest continues to try to impose his will on the Rostislavichi and Olgovichi as Rus enters the thirteenth century.
Sep 09, 202446:53
ME16 - The Caucasus Part I

ME16 - The Caucasus Part I

This episode begins a new series looking at the Caucasus from early human settlement through to the Mongols.

Sep 06, 202443:17
1.58 - The Downward Spiral

1.58 - The Downward Spiral

Svyatoslav’s death leaves Ryurik as sole ruler in Kyiv, but he soon finds that Vsevolod Big Nest thinks he’s really the guy in charge.
Aug 26, 202435:00
1.57 - Svyatoslav III

1.57 - Svyatoslav III

As the twelfth century draws to a close, Svyatoslav of the Olgovichi makes another play for Kyiv, but finds himself forced to share power with Rurik Rostislavich.
Aug 12, 202444:37
1.56 - Andrey Bogolyubsky Asserts Himself

1.56 - Andrey Bogolyubsky Asserts Himself

His troops have sacked Kyiv and his brother sits on the throne. What next?

Jul 29, 202432:01
ME15 - Central Asia Part VII - Turks and Tajiks

ME15 - Central Asia Part VII - Turks and Tajiks

In the final part of this Central Asia series, Turkic peoples build new empires in Central Asia.

Jul 25, 202455:46
1.55 - Volga Bulgaria before the Mongols

1.55 - Volga Bulgaria before the Mongols

By the twelfth century, Bulgaria had become the regional power on the Volga. Conflict with the emerging and ambitious Suzdalia was inevitable, but the Bulgars proved quite capable of holding their own.
Jul 15, 202447:38
1.54 - Life in Medieval Volga Bulgaria

1.54 - Life in Medieval Volga Bulgaria

In this episode, we catch up on the Bulgars and see how life on the Volga compares to Rus.

Jul 01, 202437:06
1.53 - The Balts and the Origins of the Baltic Crusades

1.53 - The Balts and the Origins of the Baltic Crusades

Northwest of Rus live the Baltic peoples. After centuries of relative isolation, they are attracting unwanted attention from their neighbours.
Jun 17, 202442:41
ME14 - Central Asia Part VI - Muslim Central Asia

ME14 - Central Asia Part VI - Muslim Central Asia

Under the Samanids, Central Asians gather hadiths, write philosophical treatises, and enable the rebirth of Persian literature.
Jun 09, 202445:06
1.52 - The Qipchaks

1.52 - The Qipchaks

We have already met the Qipchaks as the Polovtsi, the steppe enemies of the Rus. But they are more than just that.

Jun 03, 202425:39
1.51 - Life in Rus

1.51 - Life in Rus

In this episode, we look at what we know about how the ordinary people of Rus lived.

May 20, 202435:54
1.50 - Q&A

1.50 - Q&A

A special fiftieth episode answering questions from listeners. What was the Rus army like, what languages were spoken in Rus, marriages and diplomacy, and more.
May 07, 202401:28:25
ME13 - Central Asia Part V - The Muslim Conquest of Central Asia

ME13 - Central Asia Part V - The Muslim Conquest of Central Asia

The Arabs burst out of Arabia, following the same path as Alexander the Great through Persia to Central Asia.

Apr 28, 202401:18:14
1.49 - Go and take Kyiv

1.49 - Go and take Kyiv

As the next generation of rulers begins to contest the throne of Kyiv, one of them has a different idea.

Apr 07, 202444:35
1.48 - The Sons of Monomakh Part III

1.48 - The Sons of Monomakh Part III

Concluding this series, the youngest of the sons of Vladimir Monomakh, Yuri Dolgoruky of Suzdalia, gets his time in Kyiv.

Mar 23, 202443:28
1.47 - The Sons of Monomakh Part II

1.47 - The Sons of Monomakh Part II

Vyacheslav, the man who never wishes to leave Turov, takes the throne in Kyiv. But for how long?

Mar 10, 202450:26
ME12 - Central Asia Part IV - Sogdians and Turks

ME12 - Central Asia Part IV - Sogdians and Turks

Sogdians continue to grow their colonies and trade networks under the Turks, expanding their contacts into China and Byzantium.
Mar 05, 202454:13
1.46 - The Sons of Monomakh Part I

1.46 - The Sons of Monomakh Part I

Vladimir Monomakh’s long and eventful life has ended. As he intended, the throne of Kyiv passes to his son Mstislav, but that does not mean that the path of succession is settled.
Feb 25, 202446:14
1.45 - Vladimir II Monomakh

1.45 - Vladimir II Monomakh

Vsevolod’s son, Vladimir Monomakh, finally accepts the people of Kyiv’s call to take the throne.

Feb 12, 202454:60
ME11 - Central Asia Part III - The Rise of the Sogdians

ME11 - Central Asia Part III - The Rise of the Sogdians

Chinese missions to the West lay the foundations for what would become the Silk Road trade network, which the Sogdians will come to dominate.
Jan 28, 202401:05:01
1.44 - Svyatopolk II

1.44 - Svyatopolk II

As the ruling family expands, Rus faces another succession. Will there be war? Or a new agreement?

Dec 22, 202337:01
ME10 - Central Asia II - The Greeks

ME10 - Central Asia II - The Greeks

Alexander of Macedon conquers the Achaemenid Empire and the Greeks colonize Central Asia.

Dec 16, 202352:14
1.43 - The Yaroslavichi

1.43 - The Yaroslavichi

The sons of Yaroslav divide Rus among themselves. How long will they live in peace?

Nov 27, 202351:21
1.42 - The Testament of Yaroslav

1.42 - The Testament of Yaroslav

As Yaroslav reaches the end of his life, an attempt is made to set the rules of succession in Rus.

Nov 12, 202325:54
SE6 - Rus in Medieval Europe with Christian Raffensperger

SE6 - Rus in Medieval Europe with Christian Raffensperger

Christian Raffensperger is Professor of History and Chair of the Department, Kenneth E. Wray Chair in the Humanities, and Director, Emarth Institute for the Public Humanities at Wittenberg University covering Medieval Europe, Russia, and Ukraine. His works include ‘Reimagining Europe: Kievan Rus in the Medieval World, 988-1146’, ’Ties of Kinship: Russian Genealogy and Dynastic Marriage’, ‘The Kingdom of Rus’ and more. Christian joins me to discuss why Medieval Europe is much more than just France and England, Rus royal marriages, and why using the right titles is important. Christian’s book recommendation for listeners is Russia in the Early Modern World: The Continuity of Change by Donald Ostrowski. Find it on Amazon at https://amzn.to/46FXMMp a purchase through this link helps support this podcast.
Oct 28, 202350:06
ME9 - Central Asia Part I

ME9 - Central Asia Part I

This episode begins a look at Central Asia and the Caucasus from prehistory through to the Mongol conquests.

Oct 22, 202346:02
1.41 - Yaroslav the Wise

1.41 - Yaroslav the Wise

As the last brother standing, Yaroslav has finally become the sole ruler of Rus. What will he do now?

Oct 16, 202355:26
1.40 - The Vladimirovichi

1.40 - The Vladimirovichi

Vladimir’s death plunges Rus into chaos as his sons fight over the succession.

Sep 23, 202339:15
1.39 Vladimir the Great IV - Building Rus

1.39 Vladimir the Great IV - Building Rus

This episode looks at Vladimir’s reign from the baptism of Rus until his death. Did he manage to do anything else noteworthy?
Sep 10, 202334:60
1.38 Vladimir the Great III - The Baptism of Rus

1.38 Vladimir the Great III - The Baptism of Rus

What happened at the baptism of Rus, and inventing St. Vladimir/Volodymyr from the Tale of Bygone Years to Vladimir Putin.
Aug 26, 202301:23:40
1.37 Vladimir the Great Part II - Sacrifices and Choices

1.37 Vladimir the Great Part II - Sacrifices and Choices

Vladimir continues to expand his territory and to consider the role of religion in his kingdom.

Jul 29, 202328:40
ME8 - Christianity in the Steppe and Central Asia

ME8 - Christianity in the Steppe and Central Asia

In this member episode, we delve into the fascinating history of Christianity in the steppe and Central Asia. Sign up on Patreon, or subscribe through Spotify or Apple Podcasts or the PayPal subscription button on the podcast website to listen to this and other member episodes.
Jul 22, 202347:09