Why Was Italy so Fragmented in the Middle Ages? - Medieval DOCUMENTARY

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Kings and Generals' animated historical documentary series on medieval history we will discuss why Italy was so fragmented in the Middle Ages.
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The video was made by Sebastiao Reis while the script was researched and written by Johan Melhus. Narration by Officially Devin ( / @offydgg & / @gameworldnarratives )
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#Documentary #Byzantium #Rome

[@KingsandGenerals]

Go to establishedtitles.com/Kings and help support the channel. They are now running a massive Black Friday Sale, plus 10% off on any purchase with code Kings. Thanks to Established Titles for sponsoring this video!

[@cc0767]

Oh look another established scam sponsorship.. They are based in Hong Kong by the way

[@moffoboffo]

Kings and Generals team, please stop promoting this scam. You are one of the best history channels and you are losing all credibility by not doing your research!

[@eccentricswedishofficer2633]

@@cc0767 You know it is you who have not done your research on the subject, my friend's child was given the title of Lord, papers on his land in Scotland and papers on the clan family tree from me. So just stop.

[@eccentricswedishofficer2633]

@@vilijamkil5937 You know it is you who have not done your research on the subject, my friend's child was given the title of Lord, papers on his land in Scotland and papers on the clan family tree from me. So just stop.

[@eccentricswedishofficer2633]

@@moffoboffo You know it is you who have not done your research on the subject, my friend's child was given the title of Lord, papers on his land in Scotland and papers on the clan family tree from me. So just stop.

[@HoiPolloiNtertains]

I’m not sure if you’ve been told but Established Titles is a scam. Not only is there no legal loophole where they can actually give anyone a title (they’re literally just printing you a certificate of their own making) they’re also not buying land or planting trees. They’re quite literally taking money and printing you a fancy receipt. They’re being rapidly exposed as a scam, and I hope this comment helps prevent future victims.

[@peterbu27]

Agreed. At best a large landowner in the highlands would be referred to as the "Laird". To be a Lord the title has to be given or recognized by the Sovereign. "Lord" is not a title: it is a courtesy form of address for a Peer.

[@daddyleon]

@@1337Skrjabinn Yes there is

[@badgerbrowncoat5433]

@@daddyleon he meant there is nothing wrong with killing thieves and liars, is how my ears heard it. the fool is whom volunteers to join my ear collection.

[@lprice5583]

Thanks for posting this. Keep spreading the word.

[@georgeprchal3924]

No duh, Scotland is part of the United Kingdom, pretty sure the King would have to sign off on such.

[@gagetolinwrites6845]

It is absolutely crazy how Venice managed to stay an independent state for nearly 1000 years

[@Triumph633]

I think its quiet logical actually, Venice was by far the richest city in the world and could therefore afford to buy any military aid they needed. A lot of conflicts Venice fought were all resolved by mercenaries (some of them very famous). Basically all trade that happened because of the crusades and Kingdom of Jerusalem/Trading with Arabia went through Venice and ever since they got their hands on Marzipan they become filthy rich (being the only supplier for a long time). This happend in part because they were not part of a big kingdom and could therefore be a moderator between christians and muslims.

[@yoeyyoey8937]

@@Triumph633 they had a monopoly on marzipan? Like the sweet, almond-based treat?

[@darioconti5053]

@@carkawalakhatulistiwa Istanbul? what are you talking about? maybe, you are referring to Costantinople...

[@xeon39688]

@@carkawalakhatulistiwa Constantinople?

[@jacopofolin6400]

@@carkawalakhatulistiwa nowdays no, and in middle ages was costantinople

[@mikev4135]

It always amazes me how powerful those Italian city-states were and how much influence they had despite their small size.

[@loods2215]

It's really a shame they're so underrepresented

[@ernstschmidt4725]

that's the power of money

[@loods2215]

@@ernstschmidt4725 It's not that simple

[@ernstschmidt4725]

@@loods2215 of course is not that simple, that's what money is for.

[@nikiindzhiev5369]

@@ernstschmidt4725 those are the places where the renaissance started and it wasn’t because of money only

[@climax050]

To me this era of Italian city states is one of the strangest parts of history, considering every other group of cities and towns in recorded history more or less started expanding into having a realm of its own, or were gobbled up by neighbors doing the same, its just so strange that all these cities created so much wealth and power but seemed to be locked in a perpetual stalemate of not being able to overcome one another, nor be subjugated by foreign powers without intervention from other foreign powers. It all just seems so unlikely but then again we all know truth is stranger than fiction.

[@Siegbert85]

There was a realm, or multiple ones and they got defeated by foreign powers (Odoacre, the Ostrogoths, the Lombards, the Franks under Charlemagne and Germans). But in order to effectively rule they'd needed to be there in person which simply wasn't possible for most.

[@mysticonthehill]

But doesn't that describe Europe itself just on a larger scale?

[@panzrok8701]

It's because they were still part of the empire even though they were mostly autonomous. But outside powers couldnt attack them without attacking the empire.

[@Meetmountain]

Sounds like a parallel to ancient greece Polis and their rivalries. With the difference that italians never had their Marathon or Salamis.

[@bonhommierr1501]

There actually are some parallels, but in very different contexts, different time frames and other continents : the Maya city-states and petty kingdoms, which were incredibly dynamic and produced magnificent works of art and (more or less) had the "same" culture, but never got into one single state for a thousand years, at least before the Spanish, which no one expected. There is also a parallel with Yoruba city-states in present-day Nigeria, but they eventually after 500 years did coalesce into the short-lived Oyo empire. And South-East Asia and the Eastern coast of Africa (Swahili coastal city-States) also have equivalents, but I don't know enough to tell you much about those.

[@vince_morano]

Well, as an Italian, I’m glad you made a video on this topic.

[@Kaiyanwang82]

Very well made. It would also be nice to see all the shenanigans with the Pope and the Emperor (Guelfi and Ghibellini, that link up with Dante Alighieri's life). Why the Rocca Paolina in Perugia exists. How Sicilian was this close to become the standard Italian instead of Tuscanian. Frederick II and how is remembered (quite fondly I would argue, his Castel del Monte in Apulia appears in the italian 1 euro cent).

[@sr2291]

I would love to see your DNA.

[@balabanasireti]

No one asked

[@wafes856]

@@balabanasireti I did

[@Kaiyanwang82]

"It is not impossible to rule Italians, but it would be useless." - Benito Mussolini

[@KingsandGenerals]

Seeing how Mussolini ended up, maybe he shouldn't have tried.

[@Kaiyanwang82]

@@KingsandGenerals Well deserved end, I feel compelled to clarify. But if the guy that invented fascism was this frustrated, you can have an idea how well authority works on Italians.

[@abcdef27669]

You can say almost the same about the Brazilians: Even during our worst dictatorships (1937-1945 and 1964-1985), the people never refrained from criticizing the ruling power.

[@italiastoria]

A stupid excuse from Mussolini to do a very bad job

[@gaiusjuliuscaesar9907]

You sure?

[@filippo2806]

I'm Italian, and in the city I live (it was a very powerful city state, a maritime empire almost) still to this day people are very proud of our identity and there are flags of our city everywhere, in institutional buildings, houses...

[@GlazeBattleBorn]

which city

[@keithprice4711]

Venice? Genoa?

[@filippo2806]

Pisa

[@wizardmongol4868]

@@filippo2806 lol piss-a Genoa 111111!!!!!!

[@freddieban]

Is there pizza in Pisa?

[@andersschmich8600]

Great to see Medieval Italy content. It would be cool if you covered the battle of Legnano in detail sometime.

[@markusskram4181]

True

[@nicolofrassine4970]

the battle of legnano is very beautiful to study and to see, because it was fought between two very rich and powerful "kingdoms"

[@Bolognabeef]

@@nicolofrassine4970 nah it was the biggest Germanic Empire of the time against a couple of fed up Italian cities

[@TheScroll]

It's fascinating to see this pop up. In CK3, I always try to unite the Italian peninsula. Good to see more historical background about it, it helps with the roleplay.

[@GFM_90]

It sucks when conquering Byzantine territories. It should be only the peninsula and main islands

[@TheScroll]

@@GFM_90 I usually become the ERE's vassal first then expand slowly, inside and outside, until I'm satisfied and declare independence. This makes it too easy since swearing allegiance to anyone is peanuts and vassal states are left with too much power. The incompetent AI doesn't help.

[@admontblanc]

@@GFM_90 only if you try from the very start. The best starting point for Italy is from the islands, mainly in Sardinia, from the 867 bookmark where 1 county lets you build the silver mine. You can swiftly unify the island, then add Corsica. From there you can try to conquer the Baleares islands (Mayorca and Minorca) on the eastern coast of Spain and form the Kingdom of the Baleares, which grants you some very good bonuses. After that you can snipe out the divided counties and dukedoms on the mainland, starting from the South. After you consolidate a solid position you can either try to conquer the Papal States (if you are not catholic), or start targetting the North which may have splintered into various realms, or changed hands from the Carolingians, making it go for weaker alliances. The important part is to steadily invest in economic buildings to fuel your expansion, and slowly add professional army units without bankrupting yourself, focusing mostly on steward education for your rulers helps keeping your coffers full. If you opt for the 1060 bookmark, the best position to unify Italy is to start as Duchess Matilda of Tuscany. You get access to a marriage with a minor Serbian noble who has the genius trait and accepts matrilineal marriage (necessary for playing Matilda from the start to continue your dynasty), and you're protected as liege of the HRE, Matilda starts out stronger as a diplomat so you should bet on that path until she dies and your heir takes on. You will be able to exploit the fact that the HRE starts out with internal wars allowed to seize the smaller counties around you. Most people like to break away from the HRE early on, but I had a playthrough where I stayed in for a very long time as I was trying to acquire all the lands from Byzantium to take the Unify Italy decision, which requires you to control all of it, plus the Illyrian lands. I ended up throwing it away by mistake when I clicked on the button to play as a new Crusader Kingdom I created (in Ironman mode). Either way, starting in Italy without being one of the great powers' rulers is more challenging then the average CK3 game, and lots of fun, especially if you are going for a full unification, and possible restoration of the Roman Empire, it's much harder than playing Byzantium (even as a liege) and much more fun because it puts you at odds with those great empires at some point.

[@GFM_90]

@@admontblanc thanks

[@rfkwouldvebeenaok1008]

@@GFM_90 do it as Byzantium. It's only right that the Romans should have full control of their home.

[@loods2215]

I'd like to remind some of the people in this comments section that, contrary to popular belief, Medieval Italy was one of the world's most prosperous and advanced regions. According to all experts, Italy led the way in fields ranging from banking to state building, and from philosophy to warfare. I don't mean to criticize anyone who simply lacks the knowledge to be aware of these admittedly underrepresented aspects, but I would strongly advise against taking 8-minute basic history videos as gospel. Let alone random memes.

[@mh-tw4kx]

Prosperous yes but so disunited

[@mysticonthehill]

@@mh-tw4kx Perhaps interdependence and competition fuelled those success? Unification isn't everything

[@loods2215]

@@mysticonthehill precisely

[@shakya00]

"contrary to popular belief, Medieval Italy was one of the world's most prosperous and advanced regions" I don't think there is a popular belief that medieval Italy was poor....We think more of powerful city-states like Venice, Genoa, Rome, Milan, etc.

[@loods2215]

@@shakya00 You'd be surprised by how many people online think of Medieval Italy as just the next fragmented region whose only purpose was to get conquered by France or Spain. Nice to see that you know better than that though 👍

[@theicepickthatkilledtrotsk658]

The pornocracy, the rivalry between the Guelphs and Ghibellines, the Sicilian Vespers, and the Avignon papacy are the most fascinating and convoluted things ever.

[@boid9761]

Oh yes, it's definitely a pornocracy with Tifa Lockhart as Senator

[@theicepickthatkilledtrotsk658]

@@boid9761 Pornocracy is a very creative way of saying corrupt government, it was a period in the history of the Papacy during the first two-thirds of the 10th century. A lot of it is probably sectionalized though.

[@blacklion8208]

Pornocracy=Saeculum obscurum

[@staC-wh6ik]

That would make good stuff for intriguing historical dramas, heck, there's even an opera by Giuseppe Verdi called "I vespri siciliani". p.s.: Cool avatar (Asuka best waifu) but curious name. Stalin should've received that treatment. Millions would'nt have been lost in futile purges and Operation Barbarossa would have collapsed within weeks.

[@sidbid1590]

I hate how immature I am

[@gabrielemontalbano2675]

Fun fact: due to the fact that there were fewer important centers in piedmont the feudal lords usually stayed on the land they owned instead of transferring into a larger city, this meant that the peasants could protest against any type of power abuse easily by simply going directly to the lord and "knocking on his door", this in the long run meant two things, the peasants were far freer compared to the rest of Italy (and a side effect of this is that piedmontese surnames are ususally older than other italian surnames) and this meant also that if in most of Italy by the time of unification the most used type of agricolture was sharecropping, in piedmont many farmers already had their own properties. This is also why piedmont is the region with the most comuni, if in other regions the average comune has 10000 inhabitants piedmontese comuni have areound 2000-5000 inhabitants with some going as low as 500 inabitants, this is all due to the peasants organizing their own councils far before every other region

[@expressinghate3819]

I’m not sure you’ll see this but established titles has some suspicion stuff going on with there advertising. Apparently the whole lord thing isn’t real and they aren’t even located in Scotland. The people who run is have a history of shady business practices.

[@roberttucker1527]

Agreed lol

[@nathaniel1069]

This is true

[@AKAZA-kq8jd]

The Norman kingdom in Sicily has an awesome history.

[@DiexAye]

All the subject around Norman kingdom of sicily introduced me into reading books

[@ahorsewithnoname773]

Sicilian Normans were the best Normans! Much more interesting politically than their cousins who went to Britain, with their close interaction (and sometimes conflicts with) the Eastern Roman Empire, the Almohad Caliphate, Lombard counts/dukes, the Papal States, and the Holy Roman Empire. They are also major players in the First Crusade. They were also fascinating in that for a time they arguably had the most tolerant state in all of Christendom and in many respects there was a fusion of Norman, Arab, and Byzantine culture. My favorite faction to play as in Crusader Kings.

[@mikemodugno5879]

I'm so excited to see more Italian content. I would love to see you guys cover the Lombard Invasion in more detail. I've heard that a tribe of Bulgars lead by Alcek actually joined them and settled in Southern Italy.

[@Peaceful_World130]

We Indian like Italy even our leader sonia is from Italy

[@DanMcLeodNeptuneUK]

I've always been fascinated as to how and why late medieval Italian city state militia were so well equipped and professional compared to their contemporaries! Even in the total war games, the Italian militia units rival professional soldiers of the rest of Europe!

[@steelshanks1265]

Most Italian Militia Units WERE professional soldiers. Many would stay on as a police force for their city state. They didn't have the long resting periods of other militia units. Fighting each other, and the Germans helped too...

[@DanMcLeodNeptuneUK]

@@steelshanks1265 That's a good point! The lines between temporary militia and professional soldiery were certainly blurred.

[@Baktrianos]

@@steelshanks1265 professional armies are another thing compared to the Italian militias. The first one in Europe, the French one, was tested in, and completely destroyed, Italy. They also had cannons. What I can say is that Italians had a LOT of money, and I mean every citizen in a city did… compared to the average European of the age. So a shoe maker would probably have a shortsword and a crossbow and some kind of leather armour. Which is like a US marine kit compared to what other “normal” people (not knights) could get back in the days… a pitch fork if they where lucky. In fact, Italian knights would always be outnumbered by French or German ones, but the Italian infantry and crossbows could bring the victory home anyway. Something that almost never happened in the rest of Europe. In fact, Italians where so rich that many could buy a horse and a long sword. Once this was done, any European could have mistaken them for knights. There was a German proverb (can’t recall it correctly) that criticised the Italian knights for being “merchants with armour” and not born in the aristocracy. There was an Italian aristocracy, but the statement sounds correct nevertheless.. especially if you think that many Italian nobles started as merchants or mercenaries (Medici in Florence or Sforza in Milan). So yeah. They could basically buy knighthood. Which is something unthinkable and wrong for any aristocrat back in the days.

[@steelshanks1265]

@@Baktrianos Italian standing militia's before gunpowder could stand up to professional armies... In fact they did, against the Germans, French, etc. Yer talking 1400's, I'm talking 1000-1300ish. Italian militia's were better equipped yes, but also better trained than any other militias in Europe. Italian Militia Cavalry, which you mention, was something unheard of in other parts of Europe, true, they were far from Knights though. Also... NO ONE can BUY Knighthood lol... Sure ye can get the armor, weapons, etc. that doesn't make ye a Knight. Knights trained from toddlers up in warfare, tactics, heraldry, etc. Maybe yer understanding of Medieval Militia's and the Professional soldiery are mixed up with what the Knights were...

[@ShodaiGojira-xn3xk]

Roman heritage..

[@bowenc24]

Uniting Northern Italy in Eu4 is always enjoyable, you always become so rich! Great video, makes me enjoy the game more.

[@manuelapollo7988]

I have never seen such a detailed history about Italy, not even in Italy. Very good italian pronounciation by the way🙂 Keep up with the great job, looking for other videos about medieval Italy (Frederik II, Manfred, the regime of the roman senators, the Angevin in Italy, the sicilian Vespers and so on)

[@aptspire]

In any case, you should look up the controversy Established Titles finds itself in, and then make an educated decision on whether you should keep the sponsor

[@Atipaj]

Finally an explanation if why and how Italy became fragmented. Thank you King and General! Been subscribed to you since the beginning

[@morriganmhor5078]

Kings, I have some doubts concerning Estalished Titles: how, in the right mind, can you plant saplings every feet? Or is there some 10 feet at least in between two saplings? Or do they plant them and then only wait, which would die and which would dominate?

[@gurigura4457]

Because it's a scam. You don't even own the land they sell you, let alone get a title out of it.

[@iexist3919]

Plus per Scottish law, it is impossible to be granted the title of “lord” from owning 1 sq foot of land. What makes this more shady is that ET is based in Hong Kong, not Scotland

[@nicholasm7822]

@@iexist3919 I would like to announce here that I am selling titles of "Duke of Hong Kong" for $100 a piece, including all the fictional saplings you can handle.

[@Kilgzzz]

It’s a big scam

[@oktoberregeln]

It's definitely a scam

[@jcwisemusic2020]

Fascinating! This is a question that has eluded me and, as usual, your explanation was thorough, entertaining, and thoroughly entertaining!

[@kostijnpoggio6793]

I love your channel and was specifically waiting on Italian focussed content since it’s so rich in history. Thank you, looks great!!

[@viperking6573]

The quality of the drawings and audios in this video is astounding

[@davidec.4021]

So happy to see the early communal era represented on mainstream channels ❤️ it truly shaped Italian culture and minds up until today

[@HeroHoundoom]

The establishment of the more or less independent Italian communes led to economic and cultural flourishing throughout Northern Italy. Adding to that the legendary rivalry between the diverse communes always made for interesting politics.

[@claysecora8734]

This was great. I'd be interested to see more videos on the rapidly changing maps of the middle ages!

[@ahmedef211]

Great episode as always! Thank you!

[@Drvol1]

Glad you mentioned the Treaty of Lodi. A few months later the Italic League was created which brought in Naples and the Papal States. A time of relative peace on the peninsula which lasted until 1494.

[@anthonyseta4566]

That was an amazing video. Thanks to the production staff and particularly the geography section. The transitions of the various boundaries over the decades/centuries of the many competing powers on the peninsula were always the most confusing things for me to follow, in those ancient books in my high school library that still somehow populated the bookshelves in those day.... The authors of the time period really did try to convey the complexities of the maps, but were hampered by the technology of the time period to convey the shifting boundaries over duration of time. I'm really impressed with this production, and that's saying a lot since I'm always impressed with everything produced by Kings and Generals. Just wonderful!

[@Uzair_Of_Babylon465]

Fantastic video keep it up your doing amazing job

[@noryd]

I really enjoy listening to these videos while playing games like crusader kings and mount and blade. really sets the mood for me and im learning at the same time!

[@UraidTariq]

The history videos you make are amazing. So so much better than any detailed long documentaries that are not even available for free.

[@williamyoung9401]

You know, we fought a Revolution so no one would have lordship titles, lol.

[@albertodezotti762]

I want a K&G series on the history of Venice and the other maritime republics.

[@Deridus]

Thasalocracy is a very interesting way to rule a realm. Why rule lands when you can hire them?

[@-RONNIE]

As always thank you for the information

[@jozzieokes3422]

Absolutely fascinating as always

[@andyst1903]

Great video! I’d love to see a video describing all the different city states and duchies in the German speaking lands of the Holy Roman Empire during Middle Ages if ever possible. Thanks for another great video.

[@logangustavson]

Same, that is an area of European history I am woefully uneducated about

[@eccentricswedishofficer2633]

I wonder if you Kings and Generals can do an episode about the small countries of Europe such as Listcenstian, Monaco, Andora and San Marino and how they came to be.

[@celestebredin6213]

Lichtenstein ‼️

[@eccentricswedishofficer2633]

@@celestebredin6213 Spelled wrong my friend.

[@kleinenfuchse5365]

@@eccentricswedishofficer2633 yes, but with 2 massive red exclamation points to make up for it 🤣

[@jonbaxter2254]

I am afriad you guys pump out vids so often I am behind! I am still on your 3D tour of Egypt cities!

[@jdstocco84]

That was a good one, I've always wondered why Italy was a patchwork of city-states. Thanks for answering.

[@williamromine5715]

Thank you. I have always wondered how all of these city states came about. This explains the situation clearly.

[@ignaciotaborda6538]

Would be great to see a video regarding the battle of Legnano

[@LichsuhoathinhDrabattle]

Great video as always! I'd be really interested in countries history ✨😎‼

[@edwardjohnson7996]

Great work!

[@mikets42]

May I ask you to produce more videos like this one? The history of medieval Europe is in city-states. The metric system was introduced in France to replace > 1,000 local systems. Each town had its own. That means, once upon a time each such town was an independent city-state, with high walls and self-governance. Hanseatic League, Netherlands, etc. The improvements in firearms, in muskets and cannons, allowed the bandits to grow in numbers (no long learning period) and take over walled cities and became barons and kings. BTW, the "school textbook history" was invented in the 18th century in Prussia, it was politically motivated and profoundly false.

[@tamara_diamonds422]

Did you go through his channel. There’s many

[@apostalote]

Wouldn’t an improvement in firearms cause city states to more easily raise armies and not ‘bandits’. If by bandits you mean mercenaries, then I would see what you mean, but how would ‘bandits’ even get access to these firearms and ammunition that were probably produced in factories within cities?

[@mikets42]

@@apostalote 1) No. Taking a city without cannons was nearly impossible. Cannons allowed making a breach in the weakest section of the town walls and get inside. 2) I agree with your note about using firearms produced in one city to conquer other cities. Alas, that was the case. 3) there were no two sities alike. Some awarded citizenship to anyone who spend a night within the walls, others required to be born in the city, etc. Any generaliztion is wrong, there was no such a thing as "typical" mediveal city. The West-European city history is incredibly rich and multifaceted, and imho well worth diving into.

[@apostalote]

@@mikets42 I guess I’m just curious as to what you mean by ‘bandits’. No doubt cities were conquered, but I’m not sure how effective narrating groups of bandits were in taking the cities. But there certainly were agents that functioned like bandits at times

[@mikets42]

@@apostalote afaik, before firearms' spread, it was taking several/many years of training to become a functional worrier worthy of hiring as a mercenary. After you learn the craft, you become not usable for anything else. The contracts were not long and continuous. After an end of a campaign, a group of mercenaries talking the same dialect usually/often remained together till the next contract comes, and then were hired as a cohesive unit. Meanwhile, they had to last somehow, and more than often it was pirating and banditism on roads, bridges and smaller less defended towns and villages, terrorising trade and anyone who was insufficiently protected. afaik - please correct me if i am wrong.

[@davidfiorini2565]

You have to talk in the video about the two Italian regions, now lost, but Italian in the Middle Ages. Istria and Corsica. Only in the modern age did they not follow the fate of the rest of the peninsula. They must necessarily be cited. It would be like talking about the history of medieval Germany without mentioning Prussia

[@becalee33]

Great vid! 😊

[@brokenbridge6316]

Nicely informative video

[@MrMaximille]

A fascinating video! It would be very interesting to see a similar video about how and why German states were fragmented

[@hoonshiming99]

Simply put, when the last Hohenstaufen ruler died, there was an interregnum in the empire where several ruling nobles fought for the title of emperor. After that, they decided to elect counts to become emperors since they’re too weak to enforce imperial authority while demanding that the emperor bestow them privileges, and autonomy.

[@matthewf6465]

Average feudalism fan🤢🤮 vs average communal rule enjoyer😎

[@alessandroioannone2113]

Padanian shitposter?

[@robbabcock_]

Good stuff!

[@sourabhmayekar3354]

Great production

[@Nonamearisto]

Forgot to mention the Apennines and Alps, which made conquest or unification of the peninsula much, much harder than it would be without it.

[@brednbudder]

Just a heads up, established titles is a scam. awesome video though, always wondered about the fractured peninsula when playing ck3

[@mikemodugno5879]

Also would be cool to see a video about the Magyars. Happy Thanksgiving.

[@praetorianguard5696]

Italy was a land Cities, the rest of europe was a land countryside. That's basically it. The very reason why Italy was so fragmented was because of the Roman Empire, that left so many powerful and important cities in Italy that during the middleages they became indipendent states.

[@nicholasp9239]

Actually, no. Only to think, Venice and Florence were post-roman cities and many roman settling were abandoned and many others grew from Lombards migration.

[@praetorianguard5696]

@@nicholasp9239 I'm sorry, it's completely wrong. Florence was funded by the romans in 59 BC as we can find in the "Liber Coloniarum". There are also ongoing excavation of the roman walls in the city. Venice was funded in 421 AD but the area was already transformed by the Romans that built harbors and drained much of the swamps, making the area accessible, giving the romans the possibility to move there and fund their new settlement.

[@nicholasp9239]

@@praetorianguard5696 Florence as settlement has a villanovian/etrurian origin as satellite of nearby Faesule/Visul. In 59 BC Rome put a military colony after the social war as retirment for veterans as Faesule changed its status. The city is true grow up during the Tetrachy but its history as prominent city is Medieval. Venice was a settlement that develpment after the razing of Aquileia. Of course it had already inhabitanta, there were venetian fishermen, but it is different to be a city. If we look to the same thing, Lutetia Parisorum, modern day Paris, born as Celtic settlement and had a time as Roman City but its history is post-roman after the Franks created a new economic arteria and area in north europe. To be inhabitated by Romans doesn't mean it was created. Constantinople was created by Romans with a total different history from the other. Create a difference City-Country between Italy and European Regions has no sense. In Medieval Age Cities emerged if a Monarchy Failed. Germany, Low Lands and Northren Italy saw the deafet of the Imperial Power on ideological level (only Germans as Emperors meaned no true loyalty) and pratical. In Southern Italy, France and England where a single dynasty was triumphant (Altavilla, Capetians and Plantagenets) no city emerged. Paris, the strongest city at north of the Alpes, was under control of its king til 1789.

[@morenauer]

Because people were more worried about who had the best recipe for risotto than seeing what united them.

[@carolinaalberdingi]

What?

[@sirottovonbismarck6776]

Sir, I advise to watch Scott Shafer's video on Established Titles. I trust that after watching the video you would make the right decision. Have good day.

[@ltcinsane]

Part of me was always amused the way Charlamagne's empire went down hill when his heirs took over after his death. XD

[@celestebredin6213]

Amused by the destruction of so much accumulated learning🤬🙄

[@loofms9167]

It would be interesting if you talk about the Venetian Empire. At some point they ruled 1/4 of the Empire.

[@paulcateiii]

Happy Thanksgiving everyone - love this channel

[@davidnicholassarmiento9195]

Friendly Reminder that Gian Galeazzo Visconti wanted to unite Italy earlier, this was before Risorgimento uniting Italy. But sadly Gian Galeazzo Visconti died due to fever in 1402.

[@radec5166]

Sad,

[@erikskoog8415]

Good show sir

[@Numba003]

Thank you for this video! I would very much enjoy more videos on post-Roman Italy given my great lack of knowledge in that area. I would be particularly interested in learning more about how the Papal States interacted with the other governments of the time. God be with you out there everybody. ✝️ :)

[@Oskarelu]

Romulus Augustulus after the fall of Italy: "You fools! The byzantines will destroy you once they know of my fall! ROMANS ALWAYS AVENGE THEIR BROTHERS" Odoacer: "Speaking of your "brothers", they told us through messengers that they will allow the establishment of our government" Romulus Augustulus: "They are adopted"

[@Deridus]

In my own personal opinion, the last Caesar, Augustulus, probably lived a quiet life as a scholar... or ended up as fish food eight minutes after Odoacre went "Empire-Be-Gone."

[@lucasgoncalves7331]

What are the sources used to make this video? It's great to watch videos like this about medieval history and it would be great too if the sources used for each video were mentioned in the description. This is an important issue, because we need to know where all those informations came from.

[@apoptosine1598]

I'm a visual thinker and have been putting together a geographic timeline for the last few years-in my head. It's like you're psychic, or rather there really is a sort of blank history for the region in that time that could really have used what you made-- a commentary on the region itself. Too many little holdings around the main ancient City Centers and too little power/regional amalgamation or centralization. It's been a blank in my mind until now, thanks!

[@davidadams4770]

What a marvelous bacground music in the opening of this series. mesmerizing. K&G does helluva job, thumbs up👍 p.s. if anybody knows where to find this music, please tell me

[@Mansa_Musa_al_Malik]

To understand this you need to see the Médicis serie

[@giovannicecchinato8217]

i don't understand why in English they use the word Lombards referring to the Germanic tribe of longoboards it is just wrong the Lombards are the people of Lombardy which formed as cultural country in the IX century after the end of the caroligian dynasty

[@daithi6826]

Could you do a video on the battle of aughrim, the largest battle on the island of ireland. Would be very cool. Thanks

[@ShaqPlaque]

I would never have thought to pronounce Controversy in this manner

[@pasqualedelprete6426]

Why was Italy so cool in the middle ages? That's the real title 😁 Jokes aside, great video! Something on the southern Italy kingdom would be so cool, from its heights to the decine brought by foreign dominations.

[@HUNVilly]

damn, that sponsorship didn't age well

[@benitokiri]

Animosity between Italians of different regions is still alive and well even now!

[@Kyle-qd2sy]

It occurred to me at the end of the video, but could you do a video on San Marino?

[@yannickluecker3983]

Long answer short: It was part of the Unholy German Feudal Chaos - Oh, sorry, I meant Holy Roman Empire

[@Siegbert85]

But it got that way by defying the emperors.

[@yannickluecker3983]

@@Siegbert85 Yeah, like everyone kinda did at one point or another in the German Feudal Chaos. It was just what you did back then (provided you were a noble or city mayor): Your Sunday starts with breakfast, then church, and then you go defy the Unholy German Figurehead for the rest of the day.

[@davidabonyi4556]

While I understand the map in these videos is not the point, I have to say you really should do something about the shown borders of Hungary. Not only does it not follow the Carpathians (which are visible on the map) but the Banate of Oltenia is also completely in the wrong place.

[@dimitrijejovanovic5939]

I love this

[@guilhermesstrueb881]

A video about the Ludolfingers/Ottonians would be perfect.

[@marwanmusa9368]

I guess playing tall was the meta in Italy

[@David-yw5fg]

Very interesting, however, I am still left wondering about the question that was put forward, why was the peninsula so frangmented. I get that external interference was a major contribution, but the complete answer is still not clear

[@markusskram4181]

Cool vid

[@beanonfire5323]

Happy thanksgiving

[@kylecomstock644]

I'm curious to see a video about the fragmentation of the German states. Is it similar to that of Italy's history?

[@nicolofrassine4970]

yes they are very similar

[@SnoGamer1]

Unacceptable that established titles is still a sponsor for this video. It shows that kings and generals either supports or doesn’t care about fraudulent sponsors. Many other creators have removed the sponsor from their videos. Very disappointed.

[@jueljohnson41]

Politically, for the same reason that Germany was so fragmented. The more fragmented parts to the north were part of the HRE, which originally actually was a unified empire, but fragmented as real centralized authority slowly collapsed from the 1200s onward. Geographically, the Appennine mountains that ran through most of the peninsula, could certainly have played a big part.

[@ThalesGMota]

Thanks To Vídeo.

[@kayagurcu2814]

I assume you stopped at a point which is fall of constantinople in 1453. After eastern roman empire (it had shrinked to a city state at that time, ruling over modern day borders of Istanbul, Turkey) collapsed, finest of empire's scholars and artisans migrated to Italian city states and i think those immigrations had a decent value in the beginning of reforms and renaissance in Italy.

[@georgeprchal3924]

Malory: The Prime Minister of Italy? Archer: Don't they use a King?

[@willhowson6627]

You should find out more about your sponsor.

[@beachboy0505]

Excellent video 📹 The city states of Italy were more advanced than the rest of Europe.

[@treebush]

PSA: Established Title has been discovered as a Scam and false marketing

[@nicolaslacombe1979]

Smart af tho

[@silvershadchan4085]

@Kings and Generals could you please make a documentary about the Holy Roman Empire.

[@elladrinn4318]

This video was great! Didnt know that north italy had been part of Holy Roman Empire for so long, i thought it was Frederick Barbarossa that conquered them. Anyway, would you do a video about the rise of Venice? I know they were surprisingly influential during its hay-day with a strong navy, but nothing else besides that, would be good to learn more

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

It’s ripe time for an EU4 Roman Empire run.

[@balabanasireti]

Stop mentioning the game already

[@plebestrian9323]

@@balabanasireti No

[@notlucas6859]

@@balabanasireti eu4

[@quadcannon]

K&G, might want to recheck Established Titles.

[@danyalmohammady1421]

Hello You have a very good channel and you present very informative clips on the channel (Please add Persian subtitles 🇮🇷 to your videos) Thank you

[@Neversa]

It's not about the notification bell, my heart called me