Mantua – A History of Italy

Matilda of Tuscany, the iron countess of Canossa

The life and times of the most powerful woman in Italy between the 11th and 12th century who could have been Queen.

046 – Matilda of Tuscany, the iron countess of Canossa, part 2

We continue the story of Matilda of Canossa as war breaks out with Emperor Henry IV. We then see yet another failed attempt at marriage, the end of the fight against Henry IV and how things went with his son and successor, Henry V while alone she tan one of the largest areas in Italy.

Below is a map of the lands over which Matilda ruled

Podcast

039 – A sticky end and the humiliation of Canossa

We see how Godfrey the Hunchback of Lorain, husband of the countess Matilda of Canossa meets a rather nasty “end” and how the investiture controversy reaches a high point and slides towards war.

Podcast

031 – A rebellion in the south, a lion in the north and how Henry II got on

We take a look at a forgotten rebellion in the south of Italy headed by an apple tree, check in with the Canossa family to observe their growing power in the north and then see how Holy Roman emperor Henry II got on when he made his way across the Alps.