Napoleon (2023) is a historical epic biopic that despite its many failures, surely does not fail to provoke a reasonably strong reaction for even the casual observer or student of history. Ridley Scott - Napoleon's director and producer - is no stranger to this genre of film throughout the stretch of his legendary career. Napoleon may well be Scott's most controversial, and for those who desire a modicum of historical accuracy in their historical films, Scott's most disappointing. Indeed,...

Oppenheimer (2023) is one of the few exceptions of Hollywood getting the history right in a major blockbuster. How did Christopher Nolan do it, and what did he miss? We sit down to break down this mammoth cinematic experience, and the historical ground breaking events it seeks to depict. **Join the A.D. History Podcast on Patreon!: patreon.com/adhistorypodcast/

Attila the Hun, as infamous and mysterious as the Huns themselves, is now coming onto the historical scene. Though Attila certainly did not emerge out of nowhere. His youth and initial rearing playing a significant role for the figure history has come to know. Attila the Hun Formative Years & Emperor Honorius We also take a look at someone who went down as Rome’s worst emperor, one Emperor Honorius. Was Honorius truly deserving of this historical stigma? When you consider some of...

Alaric I – the first king of the Visigoths – is maneuvering for what is his impending sacking of Rome – the first time in over eight centuries! While Sub-Roman Britain is experiencing the chaos that the newest power vacuum creates with the Roman Empire no longer present to administer order. Alaric I & The Sacking of Rome In the apogee of Alaric I’s story, he is awaiting his moment to strike. For years now, this Roman trained Goth warrior has awaited what is long overdue to him,...

After nearly four centuries of Roman rule, the Roman Empire decides to abandon Britain in circa 410AD, initiating the near century long chaos of "Sub-Roman Britain." Sub-Roman Britain is known best for the vacuum of power it created, as well as the rise of the Anglo-Saxsons in Britain. We also meet a most singular figure, the notoriously charismatic Alaric I: The Scourge of Rome, that would go on to sacking the city of Rome itself! **JOIN ODO'S ADOPHYTE ARMY ON PATREON!:...

What are the realities of teaching Dutch history on the ground in The Netherlands today? What modern challenges does that include? Stefan from the fantastic history focused YouTube channel History Hustle is a seasoned Dutch history teacher that sat down with us earlier this year, and laid down the challenges in his experience when it comes to teaching history in his home nation of The Netherlands today. **JOIN Odo's ADophyte Army on Patreon!: https://patreon.com/adhistorypodcast/

With the death of Queen Elizabeth II this past September, we ask: Should Elizabeth II be remembered to history as "Elizabeth the Great"or "Elizabeth the Wise"? Given the late Brittish Queen's length of reign and tremendous esteem, Elizabeth II is one of the very few where anyone can seriously ask this question.  **JOIN FIELD MARSHAL ODO'S ADOPHYTE ARMY ON PATREON!: https://patreon.com/adhistorypodcast/

The Great Tsunami of 365AD was a pivotal natural disaster in the ancient world you've never heard of, and Marcellinus' account is harrowing... **Join Odo's ADophyte Army on Patreon!: https://patreon.com/adhistorypodcast/ **Make a one-time donation to A.D. History on PayPal!: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=HTNM7DAVYB478

The Imitation Game, a 2014 biopic starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley about Alan Turing's life and codebreaking work at Bletchley Park during the Second World War gives historians no shortage of headaches. While the film strives to depict the deeper thematic truths of Turing's ilife regarding his immense genius and the absolute tragedy that ensues, in doing so the writers sacrifice every critical historical fact along the way. *Join Odo's ADophyte Army on Patreon!:...

The Library of Alexandria evokes powerful images for the destruction of the greatest institution of higher learning and research in the ancient world. Many assume the Library of Alexandria's demise occurred in a single sweeping inferno. In reality, the Library's destruction occurred in several major episodes over the span of centuries. We not only explore the history of the celebrated Library and how it actually met its fate, but focus on the events of 391 AD; with the Library enduring one of...

The infamous Battle of Adrianople - the pitched battle between the ad hoc Thervingi Goths under the banner of Fritigern - against the hasty Roman Emperor Valens. As a battle and greater war nobody wanted or ever thought they would have to fight; for the Romans Adrianople goes down in the annals of Roman history along with Cannae and the Teutoburg Forest. It was a war that could have been resolved with a bloodless victory for both. It speaks heavily to the rapidly declining abilities - and...

The Great Migration beginning in the late 4th century is one of the major factors that lead to the eventual collapse of the Western Roman Empire. As the waves of various Germanic tribes were fleeing the incoming Huns entering the European steppes, it was more than Rome could handle. We look at a particularly heinous episode when the Thervingi Goths were granted permission to resettle in Thrace (modern day Bulgaria), and utter disaster ensued. Could this disaster have been avoided? What really...

Julian the Apostate was the last pagan emperor of Rome, but that is only part of his legacy. In truth through a series of clever moves, Julian sought to both end Christianity in the empire by having Christianity do the dirty work for him. While simultaneously, seeking to bring back the Roman pagan religion, as triumphant as ever. In our second segment, we explore a site you may never heard of: The Mogao Caves. Located in Gansu Province in modern northwest China, the Mogao Caves is one of the...

With the recent invasion of Ukraine by Russia, and the course of those recent events, A.D. History is breaking from our scheduled programming to provide a historical guide to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We are discussing the history of Ukraine, Russia, their shared history and the relevant history of NATO in this situation. **JOIN ODO'S ADOPHYTE ARMY BY CONTRIBUTING ON PATREON!: https://patreon.com/adhistorypodcast/

The Huns, despite their incredible impact on history, are still a mystery. Where they originated or how they lived are largely lost to time. **Join Odo's ADophyte Army By Contributing to A.D. History on Patreon!: https://patreon.com/adhistorypodcast/

Did the U.S. HAVE to use the atomic bombs during the Second World War? How could they have used the atomic bombs differently? As weapons of a potential revolutionary nature - strategically speaking - much was still not understood about the atomic bombs by those who created them. Nor was there initial consensus on how to best use them during the war itself. So what alternatives did they consider, and what factors weighed heaviest in the decision for how, when and where the atomic bombs were...

Ridley Scott's epic Gladiator (2000) starring Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix is an era defining film, but as history goes it is totally off the rails. Is it historical fiction? Speculative history? Alternate History? Total bullocks? Does it even matter? As a popcorn epic, Gladiator is only concerned with one question: "Are you not entertained?!" *Join Field Marshal Odo's ADophyte Army by Contributing to A.D. History on Patreon!: https://patreon.com/adhistorypodcast/

Saint Nicholas is the main, real life individual upon which the figure of Santa Claus is based - who dies in 343AD. But who was he? What made Nicholas so special that we live with his legacy to this day within the fictional character of Santa Claus? Did he even exist? The real life Nicholas knew the beaches of the Eastern Mediterranean far better than the North Pole. He is credited with what we might call modern miracles, and was second to none when it came to his beard. We look to find the...

Emperor Constantine has long been called “The Great,” but why? How is it that a Roman Emperor who died 1,700 years ago still has his fingerprints all over our modern world? **DONATE to the A.D. History Podcast on Patreon!: https://patreon.com/adhistorypodcast/

The First Council of Nicaea in 325AD is perhaps the ecumenical council many people know best, however due to the work of Dan Brown many have strong misconceptions of what actually happened there. The First Council of Nicaea was a three month show down formally called by the newly converted Emperor Constantine. The most important question wrangled with during that meeting was determining the exact divine nature of Jesus. Was Jesus God? Or was he separate from God? It is a point not all of...

How Roman Emperor Constantine became Christian, and his experience at the Battle of Milvian Bridge is a historical enigma we seek to solve. *DONATE to A.D. History on Patreon!: https://patreon.com/adhistorypodcast/

In this first episode of season four of the A.D. History Podcast, we begin laying the foundations for the monumental leap forward Christianity is about to experience under the rule of Constantine. However, Constantine is not in power yet... Indeed before Christianity is to enjoy the fruits of it's most powerful benefactor thus far in our show, much darker times are ahead. Namely in the form of an individual we have become very familiar with in our show, one Emperor Diocletian who undertakes...

Now wrapping our third season and the Third Century, we dive into some items that we have missed along the way! These items include the founding of the Gupta Empire (circa 240AD-280AD) on the Indian subcontinent, a few of the grittier details regarding the Plague of Cyprian, the rise of the Mayan Civilization's Classical Period, and a few other bits as well. In addition to an excellent and timeless Patreon submitted question, and catching you up on the history titles we have been enjoying...