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POLL: Pick the Next Extra History Series! "Eastern European"
🕑 Added 2021-01-29 22:51:33 +0000 UTCIvan the Terrible: The First Tsar
In 1547, things were bad enough in Russia that a group of nobles decided to rally around the 16-year-old Grand Prince of Moscow and declare him Tsar of all Russians. At first, no one doubted this was a good idea. Ivan IV's reign was peaceful... until his wife died from poison. Before his chief lieutenant defected. Before he started to descend into paranoia. Join us for a parade of bizarre incidents as Ivan drags Russia out of the Middle Ages, from poisoned queens (three of Ivan's six—or is it eight?), to fake royal resignations, to creating Russia's autocratic state and murdering his own son and heir, Ivan both creates the Russia we know while ushering in The Time of Troubles...and the False Dmitrys.
Vlad the Impaler: Beyond Dracula
Vlad's family were not exactly the touchy-feely types. Consider, for instance, that his dad left the teenaged Vlad as an Ottoman hostage to secure his own release from captivity, then immediately broke his agreement with the sultan, assuming his boy would be killed. It was a fitting beginning for a life filled with brutality, double-crosses, massacres and broken agreements—with Vlad having to invade Wallachia twice, once with Ottoman support, once with Hungarian, even to lead Wallachia. This series goes beyond the salacious violence (though there's a lot of that) to look at the cutthroat politics of a region sitting at a crossroads of rival nations, religions, and on the verge of political transformation. We'll also look at the rise of Vlad as an infamous media figure even in his own time.
The False Dmitrys: The Madcap Time of Troubles
Take a journey with me. First off, here's the problem: Ivan the Terrible killed his son and heir, leaving the crown to an ineffectual and possibly intellectually disabled younger son. Too bad his only other heir, Dmitry Ivonovich, was assassinated at the age of eight... except, WHAT IF HE WASN'T? That was the story False Dmitry I told when he showed up in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth asking that they invade and put him on the throne of Russia—which they did. A homecoming welcomed by his "mother" until, well... until the annoyed boyars had him killed. But wait... what if he DIDN'T DIE? That was the premise of False Dmitry II, who popped up claiming to be a miraculously still alive False Dmitry I (and who was accepted by False Dmitry I's politically pragmatic wife). Rallying an army behind him, his conquests were unfortunately cut short by getting shot and decapitated. But what if neither of those were the REAL DMITRY? That was the proposal of False Dmitry III, who arose out of obscurity with an army of Cossacks when everyone was already well and truly tired of this nonsense. Join us for what is easily one of the weirdest episodes in world history, as multiple con men try to seize the Russian crown.
The Rise of Stalin: State Funerals and Power Grabs
It's 1922, and Josef Stalin has just been given the unglamorous office of General Secretary of the Bolshevik party's Central Committee. But what first appears to be a thankless job son reveals itself to be an almost unlimited opportunity to expand power—particularly after the death of Vladamir Lenin. But to become the head of this new Soviet Union, Stalin will have to ruthlessly outplay other claimants, including the much more intelligent and powerful head of the Red Army, Leon Trotsky. In a time when millions are dying from famine and civil war, but the Bolshevik leadership remains relatively untouched, Stalin will play left against right and bring the bloodletting within the walls of the Kremlin—and to his own bedroom—and emerge the sole autocrat of his new state
What series would you like us to air on Extra History? Cast your vote(s) below and let us know!
Friendly reminder: You can vote for as many choices as you want! This style of voting helps us see what people are most interested in without having to make tough decisions between a couple of close favorites. The poll will end at 11:59 PM PT on Sunday, January 31st.
Current Schedule: Teddy Rosevelt --> Jewish Pirate --> Thirty Years War --> Your Vote
Comments
Joshua Evans-Lowell
Jack Rackham did a good video on them recently. It's some wild stuff!
Colin
Y'all should do preferential voting on these. It would be interesting to see how that shakes out.
Martin Verran
Hopefuilly, tovarich, you and I will be safe. *cringes at the thought of KGB interrogation techniques*
General Luigi
Not if the Oprichniki kill them first.
Martin Verran
Of 682 total voters, roughly 530 are now destined for the gulag.
The Rogue Chief
Vlad Dracul “the Impaler”... giving whole new meaning to the term shishka-Bob (too dark...?)
Martin Verran
Comrade, you are runner up for Hero of Socialist Labour. Me, I'll content myself with herding sheep here, there and everywhere.
Nimrod
Same here, I was not invited to participate, unlike the previous ones. I do see there was a suggestion survey, and for some reason is locked to me. At least, the topic of either Ivan or Vlad is to my liking :-).
Ryan Wojciechowski
Come on false Dmitrys! We’re so close!
Frank Mitchell
While I'd watch any of these, I'm really hoping for a history of Vlad Tepes with as little sensationalism and Bram Stoker as possible. (Which is admittedly difficult, since propaganda and myth-making were the norm back then.)
Calvin McClory
I've been waiting for too long for an episode on this. So I'll just research it on my own. Anyone got a recommendation(s) for the 7 years war and war of Spanish succession. Every time we talk about enlightenment Europe both those wars come up, and I know nothing about them.
Calvin McClory
Can we get the writer who for the death of Stalin to help write this? Try and find the humor in the insanity of the soviet union. Or the revolutions podcast host! He's still going. I still got to read (listen) to David Cotcins trilogy. If Stalin Wins that is.
Novena
I'm voting for the topic I know the least about every time. The False Dmitrys I have never heard of so I'm going with that.
Maria Cygan
Oh, I voted Stalin too. But he's still Literally the Worst.
Martin Verran
Me, I voted for Stalin [if he wins he can finally claim a democratic mandate!] but, mind you, I yearn for Vlad the Impaler if just as an excuse for vampire references.
Martin Verran
Those are dreary ~ Stalin's a lot more fun to discuss. We've already had Catherine the Great on Extra History, and even she could be tyrannical when the mood took her.
Maria Cygan
That's a lot of rulers who are Literally the Worst. Have you considered a series about Eastern Europe that is not Literally the Worst Guy in Charge? :P
General Luigi
Either my memory's faulty or you didn't have a suggestion survey with an Eastern European theme. My votes go to Vanya and the various people pretending to be Mitya, though I'll admit that I was hoping for a more general Time of Troubles series than a focus on just the pretenders.
Texas Gent
oh man, all such good choices!
Dr.V
oh, nice to know, thanks!
Joshua Evans-Lowell
Jack Rackham covered it recently, which was nice to see
Dr.V
The False Dmitrys is a story that is just not told much, so that would be wonderful to see.
Thomas Alfred Weaver
Long Live Stalin He Loves You Sings These Words *OR YOU KNOW WHAT HE'LL DO*
Ryan Wojciechowski
I want the Fake Dmitrys so badly! I can already hear the song!
Francis DiStefano
Wonder what apologetics for the Ottomans will come in the Vlad video like siege of Vienna and the series about post WWI near east.
Pierre Le Mouel
The four fake Dimitry story is probably my favourite historical story to tell ! I’d move to see your take on it !
John L
These are all great topics, but I have to mention the theme is "Eastern European" yet 3/4 topics are about Russia.
Nehemiah Lucas
I haven't been voting because I like everything they cover but I would like some back story on Vlad since I only really hear about the impaling and dracula stuff.
Stollkoloss
Did not expect Vlad in that list. Have long waited for that pole, but he just completely missed my gaze. But i would love to see a series about him. He has something... intriguing about him...
Foxdoc
THIS IS HARD
Nathan Ingvalson
I’m a little sad my idea isn’t here but these are pretty good
