December 25th, 1066: William the Conqueror's coronation erupted in chaos as Norman soldiers set fire to London, thinking their duke was being assassinated. Merry Christmas.

Medieval Christmas wasn't about peace on earth. It was about power, strategy, and violence barely contained by sacred tradition. Discover why Christmas was the most dangerous time of the medieval year.

Discover Medieval Christmas Warfare:

• How the Church's Truce of God tried and failed to stop Christmas warfare
• Why kings chose Christmas Day for coronations and sieges
• When Christmas became the perfect time for assassination
• How William the Conqueror's Christmas coronation sparked riots
• Why Count Joselin lost Edessa by leaving for Christmas celebration
• What happened when Puritans banned Christmas in 1644
• How Christmas truces were honored and betrayed throughout medieval Europe

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Through the eyes of kings, knights, and soldiers, witness how Christmas became a strategic chess game where sacred peace and brutal warfare collided. From Charlemagne's imperial coronation to the murder of Thomas Becket, discover the tension between Christmas as holy day and Christmas as opportunity.

Episode Duration: 60 minutes
Host: Monte Schumacher - Medieval historian & castle restoration expert

More Medieval Content:

• Website: SavingCastles.com
• YouTube: @SavingCastles
• Instagram: @saving_castles

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About Saving History: Epic medieval tales revealing Europe's hidden past. 50,000+ monthly listeners. New episodes monthly.

#MedievalChristmas #ChristmasHistory #MedievalWarfare #ChristmasTruce #MedievalHistory #Crusades #HistoryPodcast #SavingHistory #MedievalEurope #ChristmasBattles

Rhodes to Malta: The Knights' 42-Year Quest for Impossible Revenge

The Ultimate Medieval Revenge Epic

From devastating defeat to impossible victory - the complete story of how 600 Knights defied the Ottoman Empire across four decades. In 1522, the Knights Hospitaller lost Rhodes to Suleiman the Magnificent. In 1565, they faced him again at Malta and achieved the ultimate vindication.

Experience the Complete Epic:

- Part 1 - Rhodes 1522: How 600 Knights held off 80,000 Ottoman troops in an impossible siege- The noble surrender that preserved honor and taught strategic lessons- 42 years of exile, preparation, and burning desire for revenge

- Part 2 - Malta 1565: Revolutionary fortress engineering meets tactical genius- The siege that broke the Ottoman Empire and ended their Mediterranean expansion- How defeat became the foundation for history's greatest military comeback

Through detailed analysis of siege warfare, leadership under pressure, and tactical innovation, witness how the Knights transformed humiliation into ultimate triumph. This is medieval military history at its most epic.

More Medieval Epics:- Newsletter: SavingCastles.com - YouTube: @SavingCastles- Instagram: @saving_castles

Episode Duration: 68 minutes of immersive medieval warfareHost: Monte Schumacher - Medieval military historian

The Hammer of God: Charles Martel's Battle That Saved Christian Europe

⚔️ The Battle That Determined Europe's Faith

In October 732, two worlds collided on the fields near Tours. From the south came the greatest Muslim army ever assembled in Western Europe—80,000 veteran warriors who had conquered Spain and now threatened to sweep toward Rome itself. Standing in their path was Charles "The Hammer" Martel and his revolutionary Frankish infantry.

🏰 Discover How One Battle Changed Everything:

• How Charles Martel forged the first professional European army since Rome
• The Islamic conquest that swept from Spain to threaten Paris
• Revolutionary infantry tactics that defeated "invincible" cavalry
• Seven days of tense standoff before the decisive clash
• Abd al-Rahman's strategic gamble to conquer Christian Europe
• Why this battle determined the religious future of an entire continent

Through detailed analysis of primary sources and battlefield archaeology, witness the clash that stopped Islamic expansion into Europe and established the foundation for medieval Christendom. Charles Martel's tactical genius and strategic vision didn't just win a battle—they preserved a civilization.

From the sophisticated siege of Córdoba to the development of heavy infantry formations, this episode reveals how military innovation and determined leadership can alter the course of history when everything hangs in the balance.

🎙️ About Saving History: Monte Schumacher explores medieval warfare and political strategy monthly. 50,000+ listeners. Living the château dream in France's Loire Valley.

🏰 More Medieval Content:

• Newsletter: SavingCastles.com
• YouTube: @SavingCastles
• Instagram: @saving_castles

Episode Duration: 33:12 minutes

Host: Monte Schumacher - Medieval historian & military strategy expert