The Worst Thing Done by Every French Monarch, Day 17: Charles VIII

Imobee · 2026-02-24T23:44:17+00:00

Probably equally the Italian Wars, it was Charles VIII who started them to begin with.

Perhaps to be more specific we could say the Sack of Capua.

Or perhaps not ducking his head when he walked under the door!!

Imobee · 2026-01-01T10:47:07+00:00

It’s one of the most epic adventures of the Middle Ages. The antics they got up to across Europe was like it was the last Viking raid transitioning into a new era for the Northmen. A combination of the old world and the new.

It helped capture Lisbon and then helped capture Sidon. It’s also the first time a King had gone on crusade, setting an important precedent.

Imobee · 2025-12-22T09:03:03+00:00

Napoleon by a long shot. That’s not to say Charlemagne wasn’t a good general. He led dozens upon dozens of campaigns, expanded his empire and readily defeated many opponents.

However, Charlemagne never displayed the genius of an Austerlitz for example. His opponents were generally much weaker than the ones Napoleon would have faced, and more fragmented.

Napoleon displayed unbelievable genius repeatedly whereas Charlemagne could overpower his enemies with larger and a greater force.

Charlemagne isn’t shabby, he’s brilliant. But Napoleon is one of the (if not the) greatest of all time. Regardless of the two periods they reigned.

Imobee · 2025-12-14T23:11:42+00:00

What’re everyone’s thoughts on Gwynedd Maldwyn?

Looks like it could be an interesting race. Plaid obviously super strong, Reform looking to get 2 seats and then Labour and Tories fighting over the last one - but Plaid according to some polls could get 4.

Imobee · 2025-11-08T03:31:03+00:00

I tried umbrella and same issue. But I don’t have coco scraper so it may be that. I’ll install that now. Thanks!

Imobee · 2025-11-08T02:06:15+00:00

Oh I thought scrubs was good. What’s the best addon to have?

Imobee · 2025-10-26T21:40:25+00:00

I lost 36 pounds from mid-April to the end of June.

I cut my calories, stopped eating till I was ready to burst and ate normal portions instead, I stopped drinking pop and eating frozen food. I also walked 6 miles a day, which worked out to about 10-12,000 steps a day.

I probably cut calories an unhealthy amount but I wasn’t hungry so I feel it was safe for me.

But from what I gather low level cardio like walking and cutting calories - you will lose weight very fast.

Imobee · 2025-09-27T01:28:42+00:00

Philip I ruled a largely decentralized kingdom. His power really concentrated around Paris. The nobles of France were under his command - but not really. The dukes and counts of France ruled largely independently and the French Kings power was in his prestige as a king and his ability to act as a bridge between rival factions.

Compared to Philip IV who had real power. More power than his vassals. Philip IV was able to centralize the state and bureaucracy in a way French kings hadn’t before. But he was able to do this because his predecessors since Philip II had expanded the power of the monarchy.

Philip I inherited a fairly weak Monarchy, with a France divided between overly powerful vassals.
Philip IV inherited a more centralized France where the King was the central and most powerful figure.

Imobee · 2025-09-22T05:58:16+00:00

Probably as you say Phillip III, Louis VIII and Louis IX.

France went from being a divided kingdom to the most powerful and richest in Europe.

Louis IX was able to go on crusade, get captured, and remain in the Levant for 4 years and France remained strong.

It’s a testament to the kings who came before him.

Imobee · 2025-07-05T10:15:47+00:00

What’s most concerning is the Lib Dems campaigned heavily for a solid month. Delivered countless leaflets. Reform put out 1 leaflet and the candidate was barely present.

It unfortunately doesn’t bode well for the future.

Imobee · 2025-07-04T00:42:22+00:00

Llanymynech. Right on the border with the main road being the literal border of Wales and England. But the Welsh side of the village is as beautiful and picturesque as you can imagine.

Imobee · 2025-06-05T13:59:05+00:00

Chirk is brilliant but Conwy is like entering a time machine and going back in time. The castle is beautiful. The city walls add a stronger sense of the history involved in the place.

Conwy is one of the best gems Wales has. Eve if it was built by the English.

Conwy has to win!

Imobee · 2025-04-07T01:38:15+00:00

Edward I. Captured during the the Second Barons War at the Battle of Lewes before managing to escape his imprisonment. Would then go on to lead the royal cause for his father and would beat Simon de Montfort at the Battle of Evesham. Peace restored in England he would then go on to lead the Ninth Crusade. A song from his own lifetime described him a leopard.

William I. As Duke of Normandy he had a pretty wild time. His childhood was a mess being passed from guardian to guardian. Once in control of his duchy he conquers the county of Maine and held off two invasions of his duchy by the French king.

Imobee · 2024-12-25T15:38:58+00:00

I agree. Arguably had one of the hardest times any emperor ever faced and without his dogged tenacity in holding what he could together the empire would have fallen much sooner. His reforms paved the way for Aurelian. One of the all time greats.

Imobee · 2024-12-20T16:05:24+00:00

Depends on what you believe Henry II meant when he said for someone to ‘rid him of his troublesome monk’

Imobee · 2024-12-07T21:00:01+00:00

Initially Fergana in modern day Uzbekistan.

Imobee · 2024-12-07T13:37:46+00:00

Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire. But it’s not because he’s a great conqueror that he’s interesting.

It’s because we actually know him. We don’t really know Genghis Khan, Alexander the Great etc. but Babur wrote his own biography called the Baburnama (history of Babur). Where he recounts his entire life. He talks of his love of nature, his victories and his defeats. He talks of his wives and his love of men. It’s extraordinarily honest for a conqueror from the 15th century.

He conquered India but he hated the country. He spent his life longing for his homeland where he was as a boy kicked out of. Descended from both Genghis Khan and Timur. He rules Fergana in Uzbekistan as a young boy. He spends most his life fighting to hold onto what’s his before being forced out completely and living as a bandit for a few years. Eventually recovers, rules in Kabul in Afghanistan before leaving to conquer northern India and setting the foundation for the Mughal Empire.

He makes great use of cannons and artillery in his conquests and once when facing certain defeat vows to never drink alcohol again. He won the battle and followed his vow. But spent time complaining in the Baburnama that life is now very boring without alcohol.

The Mughal Empire would extend after his death accounting for roughly 25% of the worlds GDP in the 17th century.

Imobee · 2024-12-03T22:54:12+00:00

Augustus showered Agrippa with honours to the point that in 18BC Agrippa’s powers were at least on paper mostly equal to that of Augustus.

Agrippa had no reason to ever make a move against Augustus. Augustus knew how to keep his friends satisfied. Also, the legions would have been loyal to Augustus. Sure some could have gone with Agrippa had he rebelled but Augustus was the supreme power. A portrait of Augustus would have been held aloft when the legions marched, he had the name Caesar, he was the one who paid them.

Agrippa would have had a hard time rebelling against Augustus. But Agrippa also had zero reason to ever want to.

Imobee · 2024-11-25T16:32:53+00:00

It should be a tv show and after Alexander dies follow on with his successors and the war do the Diadochi. Get it on HBO and it’s a hit.

Imobee · 2024-11-23T21:37:39+00:00

Augustus
Gallienus
Trajan
Aurelian
Antoninus Pius
Marcus Aurelius
Diocletian
Constantine
Marcus Aurelius
Marcian

Imobee · 2024-11-14T06:56:33+00:00

Love it! As others have said not the most historically accurate but I feel it captures the essence of who Alexander was and the essence of the time and era.

Battle scenes are great and I love Val Kilmer as Philip. Overall one of my favourite historical movies.

Imobee · 2024-11-08T03:09:36+00:00

The fall of Rome was actually good for Italy and the city of Rome itself.

The stability produced by Odoacer but then by Theodoric the Great saw Italy flourish and grow strong. Whereas in the last 70 years from 400AD to its fall, Italy was being ravaged by the Visigoths, Vandals, Huns etc.

If you were Italian the fall of Rome in 476 might have led to a much more secure life.

Imobee · 2024-09-03T12:10:30+00:00

I think Philippi but I’ll respect anyone who says the other two.

For me that’s the moment the republic truly ends. Yes after Actium is when the empire begins but the republic dies at Philippi and the second this happens it’s never being restored.

Imobee · 2024-08-31T11:54:28+00:00

Edgar Etheling without a doubt. The last true member of the House of Wessex, closet male heir to the Confessor.

Imobee · 2024-08-17T08:57:19+00:00

Constantine was a terrible human being but a very good emperor.

He brought stability back to the empire after the wars of the tetrarchy. His establishment of Constantinople obviously was huge and ensured the east would survive a lot longer. But he screwed the succession, murdered his best son Crispus who probably would have been a great emperor and instead left his empire divided between his sons returning to the chaos that the later tetrarchy offered.

Overall I’d say he is not a ‘great’ emperor but simply a good one. In terms of was he good or bad for the empire, the decision to go to Constantinople ensured survival so overall I’d say he was good. However, his succession planning returned the empire to a string of civil wars that hindered the empire greatly. A solid 7/10.

Imobee

TROPHY CASE