Welcome to the world of Late Antiquity, where the two superpowers of the age prepare for their final showdown. The Byzantine and Sasanian Empires - also known as the Romans and Persians - face off in a world war, an apocalyptic struggle saturated with divine power and visions of doom. But neither side sees the true danger coming from the desert. Sources & Maps: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/episode-53-world-war-622-ad Audible Recommendation: https://www.audible.com/pd/Byzantium-Audiobook/B0BR6791XN?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp Music: The Only Easy Day ..read more

The age of European imperialism is in full swing, and they have overrun every kingdom in Africa…except one: the ancient nation of Ethiopia, which faces a massive Italian invasion. At a place called Adwa, Emperor Menelik II - the last king of Africa - will fight one of history’s decisive battles. Sources & Maps: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/episode-52-the-last-king-of-africa Audible Recommendation: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Gates-of-Europe-Audiobook/B0B25STPTT?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp Music: Umoja by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | https ..read more

Pedro II, the second and last ruler of the Brazilian Empire, was an oddity in the 19th Century: a monarch who actually did a half-decent job and worked in the best interests of his people. So of course, he was overthrown in a military coup. Let's dive into the life, legacy and tragedy of Dom Pedro the Magnanimous, one of the most fascinating men of the modern age. Sources: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/unknown-soldiers-podcast-episodes-47-51-the-paraguayan-war-series-sources Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/unknownsoldierspodcast https://twitter.com/unksoldierspod ..read more

Just a barely scripted episode talking about the historiography and my key sources for the Paraguayan War. Then I rattle off a bunch of random thoughts about the conflict and my opinions on it. Hey, I'm on vacation and content is content. Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays and so forth! See you next year! Sources: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/unknown-soldiers-podcast-episodes-47-51-the-paraguayan-war-series-sources Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/unknownsoldierspodcast https://twitter.com/unksoldierspod ..read more

Eliza Lynch, Francisco Solano Lopez's mistress and the virtual First Lady of Paraguay is one of the most famous - and infamous - figures in the history of South America. And she played a starring role in the Paraguayan War. Was she a national icon, a greedy prostitute, a wicked queen, a tragic heroine or something else? Will the real Eliza Lynch please stand up? Sources: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/unknown-soldiers-podcast-episodes-47-51-the-paraguayan-war-series-sources Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/unknownsoldierspodcast https://twitter.com/unksoldierspod ..read more

As the main action of the Paraguayan War took place far to the south, the Brazilian government sent an expedition overland to recapture the occupied province of Mato Grosso. This disastrous campaign was a roadshow of human misery that somehow became a legendary Brazilian epic, and also a great demonstration of why you should never ignore the Iron Hand of Logistics. Sources: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/unknown-soldiers-podcast-episodes-47-51-the-paraguayan-war-series-sources Map: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/the-paraguayan-war-part-3-5-the-retreat-from-laguna-a-br ..read more

In 1866, Paraguay stood on the defensive as the Triple Alliance prepared to invade. The great battles of that year, bloodbaths like Tuyutí, Boquerón, and Curupayty, accomplished very little in military terms. But the largest and bloodiest battles in South American history etched themselves into national memories, and set the war on the road to Armageddon.Sources: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/unknown-soldiers-podcast-episodes-47-51-the-paraguayan-war-series-sourcesMaps: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/paraguayan-war-part-3-the-funnel-of-death-mapsAudible Recommendatio ..read more

In 1865, Francisco Solano Lopez's armies and navies were on the offensive. Three nations joined the war against Paraguay: Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay, a combination that came to be known as the Triple Alliance. Alliances have their problems, but Paraguay was fighting all alone...and as it turned out, that was worse.Especially when they had to fight naval battles with canoes.Sources: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/unknown-soldiers-podcast-episodes-47-51-the-paraguayan-war-series-sourcesMaps: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/paraguayan-war-part-2-the-triple-alliance-ma ..read more

19th-Century South America was a dangerous place for new nations. One of these was a small, landlocked, deeply weird country called Paraguay. And in 1864, Paraguay's dictator made some of the worst foreign policy decisions in modern history, kicking off South America's longest and most terrible war. And you thought your political leaders were bad. Sources: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/unknown-soldiers-podcast-episodes-47-51-the-paraguayan-war-series-sources Maps: COMING SOON Audible Recommendation: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Pursuit-of-Power-Audiobook/B01MRK05KY?action_code ..read more

Today’s story spans thousands of years across the globe. Our protagonists make decisions that determine the lives of thousands, wield unimaginable powers of destruction, decide the fate of nations, even as they are blind, paralyzed, shackled…by the chains of command. Let’s look through the eyes of four generals from the ancient world to the modern day.Sources:Social Media:https://www.facebook.com/unknownsoldierspodcasthttps://twitter.com/unksoldierspodAudible Recommendation:https://www.audible.com/pd/Napoleon-Audiobook/B00OSJZ7BQ?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdpMusic:Blood ..read more