Greetings for all the time travellers, as always terrific to have you with me as we travel together through space and time in search of understanding.

Before we get started, I have to say thanks. I don't have to say thanks. I willingly offer up my gratitude to all the people who show

their support for this podcast series by subscribing to my patreon.com site because it's the

financial support from there that enables Paul and I to do everything else

that we do on here. So thank you to all of those who've already done. So if you're not a member

and you'd like to join, please do go to patreon.com, search for me by name, fill in the form, tick the box, part with some

cash and become part of the family. And it is a family, it's a community of people who are in

touch with one another.

We're all like-minded, inquiring, curious types fascinated by history and archaeology and current affairs.

There's weekly question and answer, there's weekly vaudcasts, there's all access to the podcasts,

it'd be great to have you alone.

So that's enough of the advert now it's time to strap ourselves into the time machine as we set off on the next stop on my love letter to the world.

Recorder microphone. Action. power, propaganda and purgatory, barefoot and fasting, a blizzard raging all around him. For three days and three nights

wearing only a penitent's hair shirt, the Emperor stands outside the castle gates.

The crown and the church go head to head, excommunication, submission and absolution. A bitter clash

for control of the strings of power and a wound is opened that won't heal for centuries.

Endeavoring to understand history and hopes of illuminating the future.

I'm Neil Oliver and this is my love letter to the world.

Hi Neil, in the last episode we saw the battle lines being drawn up for what would fuel the coming

crusades. Which moment in history are we at this week? Well Paul this week our focus

shifts somewhat and instead of looking at the battle between different religions

were examining an eternal fight within one of them. We're heading to the castle of Canosa in

...