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.

1.49 - Go and take Kyiv

Apr 7th, 2024 44m 35s

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

1.48 - The Sons of Monomakh Part III

Mar 23rd, 2024 43m 27s

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

1.47 - The Sons of Monomakh Part II

Mar 10th, 2024 50m 25s

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

1.46 - The Sons of Monomakh Part I

Feb 25th, 2024 46m 13s

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.

1.45 - Vladimir II Monomakh

Feb 12th, 2024 54m 59s

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

1.44 - Svyatopolk II

Dec 22nd, 2023 37m

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

1.43 - The Yaroslavichi

Nov 27th, 2023 51m 21s

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

1.42 - The Testament of Yaroslav

Nov 12th, 2023 25m 54s

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

SE6 - Rus in Medieval Europe with Christian Raffensperger

Oct 28th, 2023 50m 5s

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 Ukrain

1.41 - Yaroslav the Wise

Oct 16th, 2023 55m 26s

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

1.40 - The Vladimirovichi

Sep 23rd, 2023 39m 15s

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

1.39 Vladimir the Great IV - Building Rus

Sep 10th, 2023 34m 59s

This episode looks at Vladimir’s reign from the baptism of Rus until his death. Did he manage to do anything else noteworthy?

1.38 Vladimir the Great III - The Baptism of Rus

Aug 26th, 2023 1h 23m

What happened at the baptism of Rus, and inventing St. Vladimir/Volodymyr from the Tale of Bygone Years to Vladimir Putin.

1.37 Vladimir the Great Part II - Sacrifices and Choices

Jul 29th, 2023 28m 39s

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

1.36 - Vladimir the Great Part I - the Rise to Power

Jul 8th, 2023 29m 49s

The death of Svyatoslav found Rus unprepared for the succession. The three sons he left in charge of Kyiv, the Drevlians, and Novgorod, soon turn to fighting among themselves.

1.35 - Imaginary Khazars Part III - New Khazaria

Jun 25th, 2023 51m 34s

In the late Soviet period and in post-Soviet Russia, Lev Gumilev’s passionary theory of ethnogenesis and pseudo-historical ideas of a Jewish-Khazar chimera gained enormous popularity, leading to elaborate conspiracy theories of shadowy forces b

1.34 Imaginary Khazars Part II: Gumilev’s Chimera

Jun 7th, 2023 1h 6m

Vladimir Putin says he believes in the “passionary theory”. What does he mean, and where do the Khazars come in?

1.33 Imaginary Khazars Part I: The Thirteenth Tribe

Jun 4th, 2023 41m 28s

Part I of a short series looking at the Khazars after the fall of Khazaria. Was there a connection between the Khazars and East European Jews?

1.32 - Svyatoslav “the Brave"

Apr 28th, 2023 41m 50s

In this episode, we look at the first Rus ruler with a Slavic name, but a not so Slavic personal style. If it wasn’t for those treacherous Byzantines, things could have turned out very differently...