Crusades O'Clock Episode 25: Fatimid Egypt: Innovation and Failure - 1099-1110

Crusades O'Clock Episode 27 - Chaos, Council, Conquest: The Real Forging of the County of Tripoli

This is a time of tension, of rifts between old rivals breaking into open conflict. Both in Muslim held Tripoli and on the Crusader dominated fields beyond the city's walls, relationships are strained to breaking point. Who will triumph? Will Fakhr al Mulk get the support of the Seljuk Sultan Muhammad Tapar? Will the Fatimids finally get their hands on the city they have coveted? Will Bertrand of Toulouse, William-Jordan of Cerdagne, or their powerful backers Tancred of Antioch or Baldwin of Jerusalem get their hands on the city? Tune in to find out! #Crusaders #Tripoli #Egypt #Damascus

Crusades O'Clock Episode 26 - The County of Tripoli Takes Shape

Raymond of Toulouse is dead... But his dream lives on... Join us for the first in two episodes looking at the nominal County of Tripoli's efforts to seize its eponymous city. #Crusades #Tripoli #Raymond #Byzantine

Crusades O'Clock Episode 25: Fatimid Egypt: Innovation and Failure - 1099-1110

This episode is the second detour into the Crusaders' neighbours - mainly focussing on Fatimid Egypt (with a soupcon of Burid Damascus!) A question that has oft troubled me (and my pupils) is why the Fatimid Caliphate, given its wealth and abundant reserves of manpower, proved quite so ineffective against the Crusader States. I hope this episode goes some way towards resolving the mystery, whilst providing some entertaining and insightful anecdotes about Fatimid commanders and their performance. The Fatimid "General Disastrous" and an exciting cast of characters await you... #Crusades #Egypt #Disaster

Crusades O'Clock Episode 24 - The Seljuks are sidetracked! Why were they so ineffective in challenging the Crusaders 1095-1105?

A lengthy, and hopefully long awaited, episode. We have obviously looked at the Crusaders' victories over the Seljuks and their tributaries, but haven't yet addressed why their Sultans were so ineffective at combatting the Crusader threat... ... until now! Buckle up for a story of great escapes, assassinations and executions, family grudges and feisty Turkish princesses. It promises to be a corker... except for Berkiyaruq and his haemorrhoids... Enjoy! #crusades #Seljuks #greatescape #princesses

Crusades O'Clock Episode 23 - The Tragedy of Raymond of Toulouse 1102-5

Raymond, Raymond, we have missed you. Herein lies a summary of Raymond's work and deeds, and especially his efforts to besiege the port city of Tripoli. You have to respect his audacity - appointing himself Count of Tripoli before he had even taken the city from the Muslims! He also fights some pretty awesome battles, builds a massive castle with a seriously cool name, and then falls through a burning roof. What's not to love about this guy? But does he take Tripoli in the end? All will be revealed... #Crusades #Toulouse #suspense #castles