29. People's Crusade, France and Germany, 1096

29. People's Crusade, France and Germany, 1096

Author: Anne Brannen and Michelle Butler November 18, 2020 Duration: 49:43
At the end of 1095, Pope Urban II called for the first of several crusades, wherein the Latin Christian Europeans were supposed to go take the Holy Land away from the Islamic rulers who held it at that time. So the nobility of Europe, mostly from France, started putting together forces and money, so as to travel and fight. That was the Prince's Crusade, the First Crusade, and it would leave Europe in the summer of 1096. It takes a while to gather the wherewithal needed...

Ever wonder if human nature has really changed all that much over the centuries? True Crime Medieval, hosted by historians Anne Brannen and Michelle Butler, digs into a thousand years of historical mischief, mayhem, and outright villainy. This isn't just a dry recounting of dates and battles; it's a deep dive into the dark alleyways of the past, where greed, passion, and power led to deeds that would feel right at home in a modern headline. Each episode focuses on a specific case, unraveling the motives, the methods, and the often-surprising social contexts that shaped crime and punishment from the fall of Rome to the dawn of the Renaissance. You'll hear about poisoned chalices, treacherous plots, shocking betrayals, and the long, messy struggle for justice in eras without forensic science. Brannen and Butler blend rigorous historical research with engaging storytelling, treating these ancient scandals with the detailed scrutiny of a true crime investigation. The result is a fascinating podcast that reveals how people have always been capable of astonishingly bad behavior, proving that the drive for wealth, revenge, or love is truly timeless. Tune in for stories where the stakes are life and death, the suspects wear crowns or cowls, and every mystery is a window into the complex world of our medieval ancestors.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

True Crime Medieval
Podcast Episodes
64. Jeanne de Clisson takes up piracy, Brittany 1343 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:00
In 1343, Olivier de Clisson, who had backed the wrong candidate for the then empty Duke of Brittany position, as far as the king of France was concerned, was invited to a tournament, and then seized and executed for trea…
63. The Children of Hamelin Disappear, Hamelin, Lower Saxony, 1284 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:58
In 1284, the children of Hamelin disappeared. Unless you translate the Latin differently, and they all died. Over the centuries, the story of what happened to them would get more and more intricate. Was there a Pied Pipe…
58. The Pazzi Conspiracy, Florence, Italy, Easter 1478 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:51
In 1478, in Florence, the banking family of the Medici was very powerful. Very powerful indeed. But another banking family, the Pazzi, were not happy with this. No, no! They wanted to be more powerful in Florence than th…
57. Stephen of Blois Breaks His Oath, London England, December 1135 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:48
In 1127, Stephen of Blois swore an oath that when Henry I, King of England, died, Stephen would support Henry's daughter (and Stephen's cousin), Empress Maud, as queen ruler of England. But in 1135, when Henry died, Step…
56. Special Episode: Darnley Murders Rizzio, Edinburgh, Scotland 1566 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:28
One evening in March of 1566, Mary, Queen of Scots, was sitting with one of her half-sisters and her secretary David Rizzio, eating supper. Suddenly, the door slammed open; Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, and his cohorts bur…
55. Winter Shenanigans (Lords of Misrule), Europe 500-1600 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:48
It's important, in the middle of the winter, to take part in raucous activities, and there were lots in medieval Europe. Boys being bishops, men and women switching clothes, parishioners gambling in the churches, and, un…