After Palermo, the Hauteville brothers begin to part ways. And it’s doubtful that they were even aware of the time’s historic legacies, much like Christendom at-large wasn’t fully aware of the East-West Schism that occurred in 1054. Members-Only Series on Patreon: For only a dollar per month, you can join the many listeners who believe in what this show is doing! Every dime donated will be put directly back into the show, so I hope you consider becoming a Patreon member today!  Just follow this link to our Patreon page to peruse the right “subscription” for you: https://www.patreon.com/Fo ..read more

Palermo once again is in Duke Robert’s crosshairs. Members-Only Series on Patreon: For only a dollar per month, you can hear multiple varying stories and storylines so far through the 11th century. Every dime donated will be put directly back into the show, so I hope you consider becoming a Patreon member!  Just follow this link to our Patreon page to peruse the right “subscription” for you: https://www.patreon.com/FortunesWheelPodcast.  Social Media: YouTube Page: Fortune’s Wheel Podcast Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/fortunes.wheel.3  Twitter Page: https://twitter.c ..read more

The Siege of Bari begins and ends in this episode, but it’s not a simple, open-and-shut story. There’s intrigue and emperors and naval battles and trash-talk. This one has it all! Most importantly, though, it has the cunning Duke Robert Guiscard establishing firm control over his long-held but pain in the neck duchy. Members-Only Series on Patreon: For only a dollar per month, you can hear multiple varying stories and storylines so far through the 11th century. Every dime donated will be put directly back into the show, so I hope you consider becoming a Patreon member!  Just follow this l ..read more

Having rewritten this one and broken it up into two episodes (Episodes 116 and 117), including re-recording them both…I really feel like this one works! I’m proud of the revisions (and extremely grateful I never posted the first version) and I hope you enjoy the new-and-improved Episodes 116 and 117! I’d love to hear your thoughts on them. Robert Guiscard joins his brother, Count Roger, once again on a venture into Sicily. This time, they’re going for the crown jewel of the Emirate of Sicily: Palermo.  Members-Only Series on Patreon: For only a dollar per month, you can hear multiple va ..read more

We break from our history narrative for this episode (which I have purposely not numbered so as to keep the flow of the narrative), and I hope you all make it to the end. I use this time to go off-script and share with you all some of my thoughts about the podcast so far -- where it's been, where it currently is, and where it might go in the future. I feel like we have hit a level of listenership that needs to be acknowledged and celebrated...and, honestly, I don't know what to do next. And I'm all ears. So, if you have a few extra minutes, please listen. And please reach out with your though ..read more

This is one of those episodes that creates a benchmark for all the military leaders to come after it. And Roger sets a high benchmark in what amounts to the Thermopylae of the Norman Conquest of Sicily. However, we remember such battles not only for their brilliant military acumen or displays of courage and daring, but for their enduring impacts on the places they occur in, as well as — and arguably most importantly — the people and events they leave in their wake. The Battle of Cerami is one of those battles that show that battles are about far more than merely the fighting. Members-Only Ser ..read more

1063 was a make-or-break year for Roger’s aspirations in Sicily. On this episode, we will look at how he saved his wife from revolt, survived a devastating siege, and even managed to push further into Sicily than he’d ever done before.  Members-Only Series on Patreon: For only a few bucks per month, you can hear multiple varying stories and storylines so far through the 11th century. Every dime donated will be put directly back into the show, so I hope you consider becoming a Patreon member!  Just follow this link to our Patreon page to peruse the right “subscription” for you: https ..read more

An entire civil war…over a girl? What was this, ancient Troy? Nope, this is what happens when two Hauteville brothers have a disagreement. Just another day in Norman Italy! Members-Only Series on Patreon: For only a few bucks per month, you can hear multiple varying stories and storylines so far through the 11th century. Every dime donated will be put directly back into the show, so I hope you consider becoming a Patreon member!  Just follow this link to our Patreon page to peruse the right “subscription” for you: https://www.patreon.com/FortunesWheelPodcast.  Social Media: YouTube ..read more

It’s all about moving forward when it comes to conquests and life, so that’s what both Robert and Roger do. They move further and further along one of the more important valleys on the mountainous island, a valley that would serve as the Normans’ first proving ground in the larger land-based conquest of Sicily. Roger, needless to say, would learn quite a bit on this foray as he watched his older brother Robert Guiscard do what Robert Guiscard does best. Members-Only Series on Patreon: For only a few bucks per month, you can hear multiple varying stories and storylines so far through the 11th ..read more

Roger learned a lot in the last episode and it was now time to put those lessons to work. Securing Messina was the key to establishing a foothold in Sicily; however, Muslim powers in Sicily flew to Messina’s aid as the Norman threat became real. How did Roger overcome the Muslim challenge to his invasion? Members-Only Series on Patreon: For only a few bucks per month, you can hear multiple varying stories and storylines so far through the 11th century. Every dime donated will be put directly back into the show, so I hope you consider becoming a Patreon member!  Just follow this link to o ..read more