Bernard of Septimania is no more, and so in 844 Sunifred takes over the countyship of Barcelona! Come hear about intrigue, feudalism, and the return of the Room of Knives and Poison in Count Sunifred I's episode! Note: there are no recommendations this week because I thought this episode was going to be shorter than it ended up being.   Tracks used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4n).wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk) of Freesound.org "acoustic_flamenco_imitation.wav" by Noise Collector of Freesound.org

It has been a minute, hasn't it? Let's do a quick recap of where we are on the Iberian Peninsula before we forge ahead! Tracks used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4n).wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk) of Freesound.org "acoustic_flamenco_imitation.wav" by Noise Collector of Freesound.org

Back to the south we go, where Muhammed is now emir! Come learn about the perils of suggestion boxes, the joys of accounting, and the okayest of kings in Muhammed I's episode!   Tracks used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4n).wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk) of Freesound.org "acoustic_flamenco_imitation.wav" by Noise Collector of Freesound.org  Recommendations The Irishman (audiobook version) Firefox browser with language translation

Ramiro has died after a short reign, and his son Ordoño has taken the throne! Come hear about the downfall of Musa ibn Musa, a surfeit of something tasty, and God's perfect C student in Ordoño I's episode!   Tracks used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4n).wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk) of Freesound.org "acoustic_flamenco_imitation.wav" by Noise Collector of Freesound.org  Recommendations Baldur's Gate 3 (but this time talk to animals) If Books Could Kill

Back to the North with Ramiro I! He's the son of the guy who forgot he was a deacon, and he is willing to fight for his throne. Come hear about taking the weapons for a walk through the woods, Vikings, and a disturbing penchant for poking people's eyes out in this episode on King Ramiro I!   Tracks used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4n).wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk) of Freesound.org "acoustic_flamenco_imitation.wav" by Noise Collector of Freesound.org  Recommendations Baldur's Gate 3 Wordle Global

After Rampó is removed as Count of Barcelona, Louis the Pious installs Bernard of Septimania. Come hear about instruction manuals for a 4-year-old, being bad at court politics, and the luckiest guy alive when we review Count Bernard!   Tracks used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4n).wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk) of Freesound.org "acoustic_flamenco_imitation.wav" by Noise Collector of Freesound.org  Recommendations Hartwall Long Drink The Botanist Gin

Let's catch up with the Spanish Marches and see how the new Count of Barcelona is getting on: it's Rampó! Come hear about monasteries, a battle that got swept under the rug, and... well, not much else. (Note: our next episode will be released on Thursday).   Tracks used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4n).wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk) of Freesound.org "acoustic_flamenco_imitation.wav" by Noise Collector of Freesound.org

It's our first Basque king: Iñigo Arista! Come hear about monasteries, half-brothers, and a dude called García the Bad as we rate and review King Iñigo Arista.   Tracks used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4n).wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk) of Freesound.org "acoustic_flamenco_imitation.wav" by Noise Collector of Freesound.org  Recommendations The Drops app Joe Abercrombie's The First Law trilogy

It's time to learn about the Basques - who are they, where did they come from, and how will they shape the development of Modern Spain? Come hear about an engraved hand, the interaction between highland and lowland, and the rise of Iñigo Arista in our introduction to the Basques!   Tracks used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4n).wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk) of Freesound.org "acoustic_flamenco_imitation.wav" by Noise Collector of Freesound.org

Back to the south we go with King Abd al-Rahman II! Come hear about a naval fleet, more children than you can shake a stick at, and the sad lack of Viking cheesemakers in Seville in his episode!   Tracks used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4n).wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk) of Freesound.org "acoustic_flamenco_imitation.wav" by Noise Collector of Freesound.org  Recommendations Tarte Tatin and Poire Williams The Scholomance Series, by Naomi Novik

Baby Alfonso is finally on the throne, and boy is his reign a doozy! Come hear about the creation of the Camino de Santiago, lots of Scrabble games, and Peter not knowing where the Pacific Ocean is in King Alfonso II's episode!   Tracks used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4n).wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk) of Freesound.org "acoustic_flamenco_imitation.wav" by Noise Collector of Freesound.org    Recommendations The Eurovision Song Contest 2023 A Perfect Manhattan

Psst, new kingdom just dropped! Welcome to the Spanish Marches, where you'll hear about sieges, peace treaties, and a trial by combat in the first count of Barcelona's episode: it's Count Bera!   Tracks used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4n).wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk) of Freesound.org "acoustic_flamenco_imitation.wav" by Noise Collector of Freesound.org    Recommendations Lucky Hank, on AMC Babel, by R. F. Kuang

The succession carries on mostly peacefully in the south, with Al Hakam I taking over from his father Hisham I. Come hear about vampire rules, eye twitches, and the many layers of King Al Hakam I in his episode!   Tracks used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4n).wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk) of Freesound.org "acoustic_flamenco_imitation.wav" by Noise Collector of Freesound.org    Recommendations The Good Lord Bird, by James McBride The Murderbot Diaries, by Martha Wells

After the chaos of the Asturians, we return to the south where Al-Andalus has an orderly succession to Hisham I. Come hear about rainy mosque attendance, personal piety, and literally moving the earth in our second emir episode: King Hisham I!   Tracks used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4n).wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk) of Freesound.org "acoustic_flamenco_imitation.wav" by Noise Collector of Freesound.org    Recommendations Dorfromantik Poker Face

And so we come to the last of the 3rd generation of Asturian kings: Bermudo I. Come hear about a horrific battle, something that's just nagging at you in the back of your head, and a very sad puppy in King Bermudo I's episode! Tracks used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4n).wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk) of Freesound.org "acoustic_flamenco_imitation.wav" by Noise Collector of Freesound.org    Recommendations The Habitat for Humanity Restore "Knighty Knight, Bugs"

Mauregato the Usurper takes the throne! Unfortunately, it's like a carjacking followed by putting around the neighborhood very lawfully. But come listen anyway, won't you?   Tracks used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4n).wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk) of Freesound.org "acoustic_flamenco_imitation.wav" by Noise Collector of Freesound.org

Baby Alfonso still isn't old enough yet, so we have yet another in-between king: Silo! Come hear about cool word puzzles, a Galician uprising, and the succession plan that (almost) everyone agrees on in Silo's episode!   Tracks used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4n).wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk) of Freesound.org "acoustic_flamenco_imitation.wav" by Noise Collector of Freesound.org    Recommendations Lake Michigan Monster, available on Amazon A VERY COLD martini

The sleeve of saltines himself, it's King Aurelio! Come hear about... well, not much. But he did have a good set of paintings!   Tracks used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4n).wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk) of Freesound.org "acoustic_flamenco_imitation.wav" by Noise Collector of Freesound.org

Alfonso I passes the Asturian throne to his son, Fruela. Come hear about beheadings, the emergence of the Banu Qasi, and just how crazy you can get when you become a new parent in King Fruela I's episode!   Tracks used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4n).wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk) of Freesound.org "acoustic_flamenco_imitation.wav" by Noise Collector of Freesound.org    Recommendations The Midnight Society, on Twitter Glass Onion, directed by Rian Johnson, on Netflix

New Year, New Emirate! Welcome to Abd al-Rahman I's episode, where we learn how many hero narratives can fit into one man's life, the Franks show up again, and Peter finally gets his mosque. It's King Abd al-Rahman I!   Tracks used "Castanets, Multi, A (H4n).wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk) of Freesound.org "acoustic_flamenco_imitation.wav" by Noise Collector of Freesound.org    Recommendations Las Crónicas del Taco, on Netflix Welcome to Chippendales, on Hulu