Tom Smith
Historian specializing in the Crusades and author of The Fifth Crusade, offering expert analysis on 13th-century crusading campaigns, strategy, and personalities in this episode.
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Mar 10, 2026 • 1h 21min
Crusaders in Crisis: The Rebel Emperor & the Siege of Constantinople
Dr. Tom Smith, historian of the Crusades and author of The Fifth Crusade, brings concise expertise on 13th-century crusading chaos. He traces the diversion of crusades from Egypt to Constantinople, the shocking sack of the city, and the ambitious sieges at Damietta and Mansoura. He also explores Frederick II’s unconventional diplomacy and the fracturing of crusading authority.
