Ben
Season Three, Episode Nine: The Spanish March
The Song of Roland tells of Charlemagne's ill-fated return from Spain. Besides this central theme, was anything else in the Song accurate?
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Ben
- Mar 6
- 20 min
Season Three, Episode Eight: Baptism or Death
We’re going to take a look at Widukind, a great medieval resistance leader. Because, news flash, lots of people did not like Charlemagne...
Ben
- Feb 13
- 20 min
Season Three, Episode Seven: The Fire of Paganism
The Franks and Saxons were no strangers to battle. However, this struggle went into high gear for 30 years during the reign of Charlemagne.
Ben
- Jan 27
- 24 min
Season Three, Episode Six: The Iron Crown
This week we’re going to take a look at how, for the third time in less than two decades, the Franks and the Lombards came to blows...
Ben
- Jan 22
- 21 min
Season Three, Episode Five: Little Brother
Take a look at what exactly happened between Charles and his brother Carloman from 768-771, and find out how one ended up dead...
Ben
- Jan 11
- 18 min
Season Three, Episode Four: The Best Laid Plans
Take a look at the first few years of Charles and Carloman’s reign as seen through the eyes of their mother, Queen Bertrada...
Ben
- Jan 1
- 20 min
Season Three, Episode Three: Pépin the Underrated
Gaining power is difficult, but holding everything together once you’ve arrived... well, therein lies the real challenge.
Ben
- Dec 21, 2021
- 19 min
Season Three, Episode Two: The Donation
Frankish Kings emulated Constantine... was this used against them? Find out how the Donation of Pépin may have been based on a fraud!
Ben
- Dec 11, 2021
- 22 min
Season Three, Episode One: The New King of the Mountain
Pépin le Bref is now King Pépin I, having just overthrown the last Merovingian. The Pope is on the run from the Lombards. Worlds collide...
Ben
- Aug 17, 2021
- 3 min
Chatterbug Streams
How many language learning apps have you tried? For me, I think I’m up to about 10. Seriously! Duolingo, Kwiziq, Memrise, French in...
Ben
- Jun 6, 2021
- 18 min
Season Two, Episode 17: The Hammer
A year in prison. A broken army. And now caught between two tribes. No problem, Charles Martel thought. I've got them right where I want...
Ben
- May 24, 2021
- 14 min
Season Two, Episode 16: Echoes of the Past
A powerful man, a young woman and an upset, long-suffering wife from the 7th century prove that midlife crises are timeless...
Ben
- May 21, 2021
- 9 min
Sources, Sources, Sources: A Running List
The T+M source list for... everything. The goal at Thugs and Miracles is to be as transparent as possible, so here's our ingredients list!
Ben
- May 17, 2021
- 16 min
Season Two, Episode 15: The Prince Who Was Promised
How do you justify the notion that certain people were chosen, either by God or by fate, to sit in judgement over all other people?
Ben
- May 9, 2021
- 14 min
Season Two, Episode 14: Knife's Edge
Victory rides on a knife’s edge. Oftentimes what appears to be a loss is actually the access point to a path not hitherto contemplated...
Ben
- Apr 30, 2021
- 4 min
Floating Along...
Welcome to the April edition of the T+M newsletter (Volume #3) Eight Kings, the coup d'état goes full circle, and the Mayors finally...
Ben
- Apr 25, 2021
- 21 min
Season Two, Episode 13: The Return of the King
Twenty years. A lot can change in the world in 20 years. A lot can change in a person. And that’s how long Dagobert II was locked away...
Ben
- Apr 11, 2021
- 23 min
Season Two, Episode 12: Four Kings
Leodegar knew he had been bested as he looked out of his window and saw the army below waiting for his capitulation...
Ben
- Mar 28, 2021
- 25 min
Season Two, Episode 11: Coup d’État, Part Three
This week we’re finishing the trilogy that began with a coup... and then kept getting worse. Meet Ebroin, the new Mayor of the Palace...
Ben
- Mar 14, 2021
- 22 min
Season Two, Episode 10: Coup d’État, Part Two
"The King may let you go to a monastery, or he may choose to end your life quickly. Those are your only real options..."