Paul Vincent
Paul Vincent

About

A journey through the myths and history of Ancient Greece and Rome for all the family.

  • Chapter One Hundred and Forty Four: Travels and Calls
    Manuel II goes a-calling on the heads of state of the major European powers in order to find some support in saving his dying empire.
  • Chapter One Hundred and Forty Three: Back in the West - Part Three
    A lot has been going on in the former Western Roman Empire in the 300 years between 1100 and 1400!
  • Chapter One Hundred and Forty Two: A Family at War Part Two
    Introducing the Hokey Cokey Emperor. Is he in power or out? In, out, in, out!
  • Chapter One Hundred and Forty One: A Family at War Part One
    Fractious and incompetent behaviour from the ruling family plunge the Empire into crisis. It’s not going to get any better!
  • Chapter One Hundred and Forty: The Final Recovery
    A brilliant general becomes Emperor of Nicaea. It only takes him a few years to regain the great city of Constantinople. Unfortunately everyone is out to get him and it takes a lifetime of juggling to stabilise his empire.
  • Chapter One Hundred and Thirty Nine: One Empire, Two Empires, Three Empires, Four Empires.
    Welcome to nearly sixty years of total and utter chaos. Four empires and at least twenty emperors fight, make alliances, break alliances and generally fail to get on. Something has to give!
  • Chapter One Hundred and Thirty Eight: Capital, Crusades and Calamity
    The Angeli prove themselves to be so incompetent that the capital of the Empire cannot withstand the crusading armies. Calamity results.
  • Chapter One Hundred and Thirty Seven: Angels of Destruction
    Andronicus Comnenus could not, quite obviously, be allowed to continue as Basileus. If only his demise, like that of Domitian for example, had been planned. Then, perhaps, the chaos and incompetence that followed could have been avoided.
  • Chapter One Hundred and Thirty Six: The Great and the Terrible
    Manuel Comnenus thinks big but is a bit to pro-western. His cousin, though, is an entirely different kettle of fish!
  • Very Important Announcement
    Introducing the new mythandhistory website. www.mythandhistory.co.uk  
  • Chapter One Hundred and Thirty Five: Oh No, Not Again!
    John the Beautiful fails to achieve all his aims as he goes and dies at exactly the wrong moment. He is succeeded by his son: how will he do?
  • Chapter One Hundred and Thirty Four: John the Beautiful
    Alexius’s son proves himself to be the equal of his father!
  • Chapter One Hundred and Thirty Three: Urban's Unhelpful Help
    The Pope launches the first crusade with mixed results for Alexius and hie empire!
  • Chapter One Hundred and Thirty Two: Back in the West, Part Two
    A quick look at France, Germany and England in the 300 years up to the start of the First Crusade.
  • Chapter One Hundred and Thirty One: Norman Conquests
    Everyone knows about 1066 and all that. The Normans' other conquests are less famous but equally important. Just ask Alexius Comnenus!  
  • Chapter One Hundred and Thirty: Manzikert
    Disloyalty and bad planning lead to disaster.
  • Chapter One Hundred and Twenty Nine: Descent into Chaos
    The great Macedonian Dynasty comes to an end. The Empire begins its final spiral into nothingness.
  • Chapter One Hundred and Twenty Eight: Zoe takes a Husband, or Two, or Three!
    Basil's death begins a steep decline. If you want to be emperor then marry Zoe!
  • Chapter One Hundred and Twenty Seven: The Bulgar Slayer
    Basil II finally has time to give his full attention to the Bulgars. It's not pretty!
  • Chapter One Hundred and Twenty Six: Planning for Greatness
    Basil II takes control of his empire, finally dispatching the pesky Bardases! And then he plans... a lot.