Month: February 2016

Episode 7!

On this program, we begin discussing the what we know about Luther’s early days.  As before, there are some facts we know, a fair amount conjecture, and frankly a whole lot of myth.  This early life has been the debate of various biographers through the centuries.  There have been quite a bit of early missteps, which have gotten replicated over and over again, and as such, it is sort of like the “phone game” with bad facts.  Essentially, the data was wrong to begin with, and this bad fact got repeated over and over again, until some wrong facts became the staple of some of these earnest biographers.  Then there is a trend in the 20^th century to psychoanalyze Luther on the therapists’ couch from 400+ years away and without being able to interview the patient.

At first, some of the errant stories are strung together to generate an alternative history.  Then we rewind, and discuss what is known about the real history, and then discuss the viability of the psychoanalysis so far from the time and without a great deal of the actual facts.

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Episode 6: Saxony

This time we turn to Saxony, the place of Martin Luther’s birth.  This episode delves into an understanding of the who, the where and the what of Saxons and Saxony.  We meet Saxon leaders: Widukind, Henry the Fowler and Frederick  the Wise.

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On this episode, we’ll finish our survey of the Holy Roman Empire, taking us to the time of Luther. This will include the formalization of the Prince Electors, and then the rise of the final dynasty of the Empire, and the dynasty with the most longevity, the Habsburgs.   The episode ends with the death of Maximilian I in 1519.

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This week we meet Holy Roman Emperors Otto the Great & Henry IV.

Otto the Great                                              Henry IV

and Pope, Gregory VII

Gregory VII in wax effigy in Salerno

EPISODE 4 IS HERE!!

This time we’ll pick up with the sunset of Charlemagne’s reign, the demise of Carolingian dynasty and the rise of several other dynastic families, including Otto “The Great” who is crowned Holy Roman Emperor.  Later, there is increasing tension between  civil authority and the papacy,  which sets off the “Investiture Controversy” between Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV and Pope Gregory VII.

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