This is Robin Pearson from the History of Byzantium podcast. My show covers an empire forever under attack,

and needing to find ways to bribe, cajole, or ally with their neighbours in order to survive.

The Byzantines have quite the reputation for shadowy diplomatic dealings which I intend to explore.

But if you want to know more about the history of diplomacy, then you've come to the right place.

Thanks to Zach, we can now learn what happens when diplomacy fails.

Thank you. One single vision fills all minds, that of our independence endangered.

One single duty imposes itself upon our wills. The duty of stubborn resistance.

King Albert II.

Hello and welcome to When Diplomacy Fails, Episode 22, The Dutch Revolt.

History friends, believe me when I say that I wish I could release this podcast on a weekly

basis.

In fact, I wish I had no other

responsibilities or things to do other than this podcast. And drinking coffee and running,

of course. My point is, having recently acquired something of a summer job, my life has been

quite stressful and busy recently. And, even though my brain was in no way academically involved during that time,

the sheer exhaustion from the job meant that this podcast suffered. Hopefully you understand,

and are not as annoyed at me for the erratic schedule as I am at myself, because I never wanted

this podcast to be as ad hoc in its release dates. Just like I never want this podcast to undergo any

kind of subscription service or release any paid for premium content. What you see in here is what you get,

and it will always be free, so those rumors I've been hearing about me starting up some

sponsor me for this episode program are just that. Rumors. And you have my word that when diplomacy fails will be available to everyone with any kind of device

and an internet connection.

...