64: The Great Heathen Army

Two holy sites claim ownership of Mary Magdalene's remains. Only one skull can be the genuine bone belonging to Mary Magdalene. What follows is an epic tale of faith, fraud and the remaking of the European mind. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 

Dr. Aliza Luft discusses how high-ranking leaders in the French Catholic Church abandoned Jews during their hour of need during World War 2. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 

We're talking all about one of France's greatest cities: Toulouse. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 

On 864 or 865, a great Scandinavian fleet of Dragon ships, or Drakkars, beached themselves at Thanet in Kent. For the people of the south, this would have been terrifying It had been scarcely more than a decade since the last fleet of Drakkars landed in Thanet, and the army explo ... Show More

This is a big event for Medieval Western Europe, and it doesn’t come out of nowhere. The surge of Northmen, and in particular the Danish attacks against Frankia, had a starting point. This wasn’t a simple matter of pagans picking a random point on the map and charging… the Viking ... Show More

We’re at a massive turning point for Britain. The Great Heathen Army is arriving on the Northern shores. I have been racking my brain for weeks trying to figure out how best to tell you this story deal with the Great Heathen Army, because it has all the elements that make a story ... Show More

Odin the Wanderer continues his journey across Midgard. His giant and human companions surprise him with their complexity, and their heist meets with a few surprises. Finally, Odin must make the ultimate sacrifice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoi ... Show More

After beginning his proconsulship of Cisalpine Gaul in 58 BC Caesar was asked to halt the advance of a migrating Celtic tribe. He managed to turn them around, but was immediately called to face an even deadlier threat at the banks of the Rhine River. 

The alliance formed against Loki’s invading forces now races to find the Allfather. Vithar proves himself against a deadly foe. And in the realm of fire, with the fate of the World Tree hanging in the balance, the gods face a primordial enemy of unimaginable strength. Learn more ... Show More

The Army of the Orient sets sail. They make a brief stop in Malta, where Napoleon clashes with an ancient organization of religious pirates. The French landing in Egypt turns into a debacle. Bonaparte seizes Alexandria in a messy, but one-sided battle and introduces himself to th ... Show More

Rome is racked by ‘Imperial Crisis’ while strong Germanic tribes gather along the Rhine and Danube. The Alamanni, Franks, Vandals and Goths rise to power and provide us with many words in modern English. The Goths translate the Bible into … Continue reading → 

The road to the French Revolution. The Bastille, the Tennis Court Oath, the Women's March on Versailles, the Great Fear, and Lafayette (yes, that Lafayette) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 

Philip the Fair is determined to take control of the kingdom of Flanders, in his dream of a united France. But when he attacks, the people of Flanders throw up an astonishing resistance, defeating the French army and slaying some of its finest knights. The Iron King vows revenge, ... Show More