I like how in-character everyone is in this erb. Ivan's not here to be the best rapper, he's here to cheat with murder. Pompey doesn't get to participate. Alexander's high-speed verse laden with wordplay gives the impression that he's simply more talented at battle than the rest and he could probably keep going fore- oops he died. Also you missed the bar that Frederick gave about paying a guy to tear out his eyes. That was a shot at the time Ivan tore out that one architects eyes after he built a cathedral for Ivan to prevent him from ever building anything as impressive again.
Asia is the correct description for the area Alexander conquered in his time. Asia wasn't referred to as Asia until recently. With Asia being the Middle East and India and the Orient being what we refer to as East Asia or Asia today.
I was about to make this comment, 'Asia' was the Greek name for Anatolia, Persia, exactly the territories Alexander conquered. He sent helmets back from his battles inscribed 'won from the barbarians who live in Asia', paraphrased. Why Asia refers to the far east China-dominated world in modern U.S parlance I don't know, but even in modern U.K an 'Asian' denotes someone like a Pakistani, not Chinese.
@@chingizzhylkybayev8575 historically in classical/hellenistic times, Asia refers to Persia, Anatolia, that part of the world. At some point it became the name of the continent (which geographically speaking, includes Europe - Europe is only a continent by convention, not by geography it's a big peninsula of Asia) which includes China, well done for pointing that out, we could all do with reminding
@@helvete_ingres4717 Not sure I would agree with the line about modern U.K. I can confirm that at least as an individual if someone says Asian my first thought is likely to be Indian/Pakistani, but I certainly include the Chinese, Koreans, Japanese etc etc within my concept of 'Asian'.
This was one of the best-crafted ERBs. Ivan was never supposed to "win", but kept winning due to really underhanded tactics, which is true to his character in real life.
The horse story was put about by her enemies after her death. She was fairly promiscuous, but certainly no more than most kings of her age. People were just extra offended because she was a woman. Because Peter III didn't seem interested in consumating their marriage there's a good chance her heir wasn't fathered by him, but by one of her many lovers. She actually had someone who's job it was to inspect how well endowed potential lovers were. On Frederick, the first time I watched this video I knew exactly who the referred to when they said "flute busting Prussian." He's always has been one of my favorites. There's some pretty good evidence that he preferred men, but of course we'll never know for sure.
Since paige doesn’t really EXPLAIN what the horse story was, her enemies spread rumors that she died while “hoo-haahing” a horse, when i’m pretty sure she actually died of a stroke in the bath.
13:23 this is a reference to Fredrick's best known technique, which he called the “oblique order,” he explained it as follows: a commander should strengthen one wing of his army and employ it to attack the enemy flank, while holding back another, smaller wing to threaten the enemy's main force and keep it from changing position. Basically, the stronger wing of the army would attack from a single flank while the weaker one would pose a threat of direct frontal attack (but not actually attack) with the goal of breaking the enemy on that flank and rolling up the enemy army.
Catherine the Great actually died of a stroke. The "horse story" was circulated by British and French satirical newspapers and magazines some time later.
So MANY Easter eggs in this one. They really brought the research putting this together. "I weep, it's all too easy" is probably a reference to the saying "Alexander wept, for he had no more worlds to conquer." I have heard that the shot at 12:47 with Ivan's shadow looming in the background is taken from an early 20th-Century Russian film about Ivan. The pose Fredrick strikes at the start on one foot with the flute is from a Jethro Tull album cover. It is said that Ivan gouged out the eyes of the architect of St. Basil's Cathedral, so that the poor guy would never make anything as great again. Look closely at the handles of the garrote Catherine used. She liked to use a certain... motif in decor to upset the more prudish Russians. Great battle. One of my faves.
I love this one, I don't believe I didn't notice earlier that you didn't do it. One part you didn't mention that I find very interesting is Frederick's "I would pay a guy to tear out my eyes if I had to look at your troll face every night" which is a reference to a legend in which Ivan gouged the eyes of Postnik Yakovlev, the builder of Saint Basil's Cathedral , so that he can never build anything so beautiful again. I actually think I like Frederick's verse here the most, short but full of references and a great upbeat melody driving it.
Peter III. was not only Tsar of Russia but also a duke or something in the northern part of Germany (Holstein) which he greatly preferred over being in Russia if I remember correctly and he spent a lot of time there also didn't want to be on the bad side with Prussia, while Catherine the Great was much more interested in making Russia a strong power in Europe or expanding the power. I like how everyone dies the way they died in history (or are supposed to) except for Catherine basically saying "nah that was just lies from the men who didn't like a powerful woman to do what they do" :D
When Alexander said the line with "Expansion Pack", that is a refference to the expansion pack for the game Rome Total War, named Alexander, bringing us the campaign for the game where you play as Alexander and conquer all of those lands
Love these breakdowns, and how you skip back a few seconds after you commentary to make sure nothing is missed. Most reaction RU-vidrs do not do that, so I really appreciate it.
I'm obsessed- also, congratulations on hitting both goals I've seen on your videos! The last one I watched you had the road to 20K and you were already there! I love EBR, and hearing about these wordplay choices and themes from a historical context- well, I'm learning things! Thank you for such an awesome source of edutainment!
I really appreciate how they just made Ivan Terrible, nothing more than terrible. In the way he raps to the gifts he offers and especially the horse bit
Bro I just discovered you and I really like your channel especially how you’re breaking down every bar with prior knowledge it’s very insightful and it makes me geek out
I have to say, of all the ESRB reaction videos, yours is the best. I was specifically looking for videos that break down the history facts of and you do it perfectly with rewinds, break down of lines and your personal interpretations of the bars based on history facts.
didn´t know, that you have that much knowledge about history. glad to learn from you sir. i would enjoy watching more history related breakdowns from you
I SWEAR I remember when Pompey popped up him going NO SIR, and saying something similar to "What do you have to offer but it was a more intense response... But Its not there...
Ivan is known for poisoning his enemies. I’ve heard a story that he had a special cup made that turned any liquid into poison (possibly made of hemlock). He would offer a drink from it to anyone who displeased him. The people knew of the cup but refusing the tsar was unthinkable, so they’d usually say goodbye to their loved ones first
Yes, I loved these on late night TV. A history buff as well, I get the jokes. Smart comedy. May I add that i someday hope to live next door to someone like you. An analytical, funny, history buff who enjoys thinking, pondering. And likes lots of kinds of music. Family game night would be EPIC. Love you, and your channel!
10:18 I think there’s a funny setup with the birds to pots reference: not only the helmet Alexander wears having feathers/the destruction of vases and monuments/art, (both historic/mythos related works depicting imagery of a person/legacy/fame), but also the destruction of common household tradition at that time of leaving pots/pottery outside one’s house to attract birds which would then nest inside the household item. (Signifying someone had a nice home by having wild birds choosing it as a good nest sight/ liking the pots/pottery saying you have good items/ the ability to get free eggs/meat if times get rough.) This line leads right into the next verse of destroying city’s/homes and I felt like it was a subtle nod to understanding myths/common practices of those eras both war myths and daily myths/life (and history of pottery uses) the warrior uses vs common people. while also referencing historical vases/works not only common peoples items (usually hand produced pottery or sculptures so breaking it was a rude gesture of vandalism/conquest)
Copulating with a stallion and the harness breaking loose is the best description I have heard of the story about Catherine. Well played, sir. Well played. 👍
That's kinda the thing, the "official" documentation describes she had a stroke on the toilet. But, that's just a little too far fetched considering who she was and the kind of power she held. My theory is that she was poisoned by people tired of a woman leading the country. They managed to convince the physician to say it was just a stroke so that they save face, and nobody would know because history is written by the survivors. She didn't likely die from a horse though. That's mostly from anti-Russian satire from England and France (who were getting scrubbed up and down by Russia during Catherine's reign).
I usually see people who are so-called history buffs react to things and they barely even know very much or even react to things but you are very good at reacting to the video and very knowledgeable in the history
I liked how much of the history you fleshed out in this video. I've seen a few of other historians covering this ERB. Although they explained those pretty well, I thought you did a kinda better job. A little disappointed you didn't catch some of the things in Frederick's verse, or his epic flute solo, but otherwise great vid.
Frederick's bar "I've got creative talents and battle malice" is a reference to him being one of the poster examples of the 'Enlightened Absolutism", in which monarchs would take over some ideas from the Enlightenment movement and have more eye for what the common people wanted or needed, but still staying in their positions as absolute monarchs. A saying from that time referencing that movement is "Everything *for* the people, nothing *by* the people".
Great reaction and love the history lesson you bring with it. I would truly like to see you react to Gomer Pyle (Jim Neighbors) performing The Undreamable Dream. Please!
at 13:41 with Fredrick the Great playing flute and lifting his leg is a reference to Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull as he'd do that a lot on stage and prance around and stuff
If you think about it, the thing with Alexander is correct. The quote specifically said, if you can UNTIE this not, you will be master of all of Asia. He didn't untie it, he destroyed it by cutting it in half and the mutiny prevented him from conquering all of Asia and he died shortly after.
Well, that is not what that verse meant. During the times of Alexander the Great, the name "Asia" was used differently to how it used today. Today, it refers to the largest geopolitical region in the world, but back then, the name "Asia" was how they referred to Turkey, strictly speaking. What we call "Asia" today was referred to as the Far East back then. As such, it is not inaccurate for Alexander to suggest he conquered Asia: the region that went by that name at that time was indeed conquered by him.
I actually saw a show recently and THEY said the horse rumour was spread by a political rival of Catherine's AFTER her death to discredit her. Easy to spread such things when the person's not there to defend themselves.
Frederick's line referring to "tearing his own eyes out" relate to a story about Ivan the Terrible allegedly tearing out a famous architect's eyes after creating a beautiful structure over a Saint's grave. This was intended to prevent him from ever making anything more beuatiful than that. It was because he loved it so much, or something?
Ivan was also poisoning the cup before he gives it to Alexander, as he half turns away. Ivan's daughter-in-law was dressed too lightly for the weather.
Oblique attack tactics involves massing your troops on one flank to try to break through the enemy lines there and crush the enemy quickly. It can work well but it can also work terribly if the enemy breaks through the rest of your weakened battle line. Frederick was known for such tactics. But he was also losing to Russia when the old empress died and Peter III took the throne. He returned all the Russian territorial gains to Frederick and made peace, alienating the army. It’s one of the main things that led to his coup
Another thing from the "little Vasilyvich" line I think is a reference that his grandfather, Ivan III Vasilyvich, was known as Ivan the Great, so Ivan the Terrible would be "little" in comparison or something like that.
One of their best performances. Yeah, for some reason I thought you'd done this one already too. But hey, I'm not mad. Also, love the Jethro Tull (Ian Anderson) nod at 13:41!
Catherine the Great actually did die of a stroke, though she died at her desk. One of her ladies-in-waiting found her slumped on the floor surrounded by papers.
the vodka line is referencing how one of the markers of good 'standard' vodka is a neutral flavor. There are traditional vodkas styles whose process intentionally adds flavor, but the standard type should generally go down with very little flavor or burn. Smooth, flavorless, and with nuances that come out in the aftertaste. Didn't come across as shade toward vodka, since 'flavorless' is a compliment to vodka. Just a dig at Ivan's mic skills.
Love the content. It sounds like you recorded to the wrong microphone for this one. You sound a lot further away and more echoed than what that mic you have usually should, and does, pick up.
I have never seen a reaction video done better than by you. I can't stand those people who react to videos and they just go like eh that was good or that was bad. You actually dissected the video and gave quality review of the entirety bit by bit. Thank you good sir.
Alexander taming Bucephalus was a widely repeated story because Philip II had the best trainers and none could break the horse. Bu wasn't just wild, he was considered feral. Alexander approached him and understood that he was afraid and all these people trying to saddle him and whip him and all this ridiculousness... he was spooked by his shadow. It was one of the key moments in his diefication as son of Zeus. Philip II was terrified of Alexander at the end of his life. He and Bucephalus were legendary, when Bu died, all the horses in the empire (well, capital) were to be shaved in mourning. Alexander was amazing at joining peoples but he wasn't building a lasting empire, they followed him and his inner circle were serpents - that's why it's believed Hephaestus and then Alexander, in the resulting fit of depression, were poisoned, Alex most likely by his own medicine given to him to try and rouse him from his "sickness." Yea, serpents the lot of them. Imagine what he could have done with 40, 60 years. Philip couldn't even conquer the Hellenes (the grouping of similarly cultured independent city states that we retroactively call Greece but was not united until Alexander campaigned in his father's war), meanwhile the Egyptians basically worshipped him when he arrived and went to the temple of Zeus Amon, declared son of... well, the Sun, basically. (Depending if we're talking Amon Ra or not). He was the greatest conqueror in history, not because of an empire he built, but because most of his people willingly bent the knee, so to say. He conquered more through discussions and respect, through being viewed as a demigod, through charm and intelligence, than he did by the sword. His tale is one of the most interesting tales when it comes to history's leaders because he didn't have ridiculous machinations behind his actions. He sought knowledge and culture, sharing ways to improve life and learning from his new subjects when they had better ways. Arrian wrote hundreds of pages of a romance between Alexander and his peoples, his Patrocolus (because he also took on the helm of Achilles), his horse even, and the great comedy was strung together and then cut like that Gordian Knot, fraying into tragedy suddenly and completely.
"He conquered more through discussions and respect, through being viewed as a demigod, through charm and intelligence, than he did by the sword." No! No, he didn't! What on earth would possess you to believe that?!
@@johnirby8847 having read the histories? The numerous accountings of his campaigns? The vivid descriptions of some battles, seemingly as far as historians can determine, cooberated from not just multiple written sources in various languages but simple household arts such as amphora - which, let's be clear, these weren't pretty pots that sat on pedestals, they were the Tupperware of the Hellenes and do we not prefer decorated Tupperware?- to mosaics, minted coins showing him in battle, proclaiming his divinity, and often enough bearing a mark of locality instead of a united empirical crest. Don't get me wrong, he was in my and many opinions the greatest, most effective General ever. From age 16, stewarding his father's throne, he proved that even with a small contingent, he could win the battle - in this case against the Meadi, a people of Thrace. He, in fact, never lost. Part of what made him effective, however, was knowing when to stay his hand. Allowing the chance, when he knew it best course, to grant him permission to walk right in an be given victory instead of wresting it from enemy hands. He had many battles but battles are just that, singular episodes. He won more land through the open palm than the closed fist. He won many battles with the closed fist, often ahead of his very weary troops - at least, the Macedonian ones. His constant struggle with his men from Macedon were some of his hardest battles and they were of the will. Especially when Persian forces rose through the ranks so swiftly. When one of his greatest advisors was a Persian eunuch, Bagoas. Especially when years grew closer to a decade, then surpassed. His territory was expansive and much of that is because smaller empires, early countries, places that can't be accused of being singular city states, bowed to him. Conquering the capital doesn't mean you've won the people, the lands and cities removed from the seat of power. It destabilizes, it fractures, but Alexander didn't need to fight ever city. That's what on earth possesses me to know that. Not believe. As I say to everyone who tries to quote history at me from lectures and textbooks, primary sources. No historian knows more than any other unless through knowledge of primary sources. Read opinions, retelling, summations, interpretations of historical accounts all you want. Bring the primaries as well and understand those better. They're what tells you the truth of history. And reveals the propagated lies. Also: this is almost all I studied as far as my history major went as I effectively triple majored as university for 7 years - 7 because I commuted from 50 miles away, and because the effective 3rd major was Teacher's Education, which is actually a certification rather than a major itself, we were told we had to treat it as such because it demanded more time than any other undergrad major. Literally, there are timesheets involved. But for history, I exclusively studied Antiquity. For much of English, I studied the ancients as well. So I've read Plutarch, Arrian, Aristotle, Plato, the Tragedians, Aristophanes - who incidentally created what I believe to be a historical lie propagated by lazy historians parroting a throw away line in a play without ever sourcing anything else - Herodotus, Thucydides, both Plenys, Sappho, letters from countless figures, the very everyday art itself - did you know there's special databases made for and by historians just to examine pieces that they have no physical proximity to? An online museum of sorts, or more accurately, catalog. It gives descriptions in the plainest form, dimensions, even transcription of letters or several possibilities of a glyph (from all known source languages) that is too broad and not in context (as well as dig site, original location, current location, intermediaries, full provinence basically, and those who unearthed it, restores it, etc). No analysis or thoughts, because it acts as an intermediary to real primary sources. A 1½st hand account, if you will. Alexander was one of my favorite figures to study prior to falling in love with Antiquity. Gaugamela was a huge victory. So was the liberation of Egypt, which was welcome, and the Oracle of Siwa, which lead to his (demi)deification. He did not besiege or attack in Egypt. He walked into the gates and was welcome first as the guest who promised to scare the bully (Persia) away. Then as a leader and god. He rebuilt temples, reorganized tax code, performed sacred rites of Egyptian culture to show his reverence. In return, he was basically pledged all of Egypt. He conquered more, territory wise, with oration, promises of self governance or renewal, and spirited philosophical discussions had with local leaders, than he did by putting a sword through flesh. He never lost a battle. He also didn't need to always battle.
@@johnirby8847 yes Philip created the League of Corinth, one of the numerous uses of the term Hellenic League. League of Corinth =/= the Hellenes. Important city states were not part of this League (Sparta comes to mind, Thessaly, Crete, large poleis that had no part of the League of Corinth but were very much part of the Hellenes). Alexander was able to bring in Thessaly, but, being neutral parties who didn't threaten his territory, he forwent battling Sparta and Crete. Also his controlling of revolts started long before he succeeded Philip. See: Thrace and the Maedi.
@palpablenotion I'm not saying what most of what you are saying isn't right, I'm saying that he was much more violent than you give him credit. And as far as conquering with words or gestures or anything else... Alexander used violence or the threat of violence in nearly every instance and those that failed to bend the knee would often times incur the worst forms of violence. Tyre comes to mind. The thousands crucified on the most popular road from Greece to Jerusalem is an example of using violence as a method of controlling dissent
Zach Sherwin is the name of the guy who plays Alexander the Great, and he’s a very talented rapper who has done several ERBs and writes his own lyrics. You may be enjoy a song he did with Watsky called “No E” wherein they write a whole track without using words containing the letter “e.” ~_~
I LOVE this video, first time seeing your content. I'm not subscribing as of yet if I'm honest because I find that you break a little too frequently during your breakdowns? It's just my personal flavor of course, but you might consider doing your breakdowns in slightly longer chunks so you can hear more at a time.
lyrics: Look alive Crème de la Kremlin's arriving Try to serve Ivan No surviving You're a land rover, I'm a land expander Here to hand you your first loss, Alexander I'll school you like Aristotle Smack you harder than you hit that bottle You're nothing but an overrated lush, I'll crush ya I'm the first Tsar of all of Russia You're an asshole with an anastole I'm heaven sent, divine and holy So don't even try to approach the God Or you'll get a huge sack like Novgorod Hey fella, swell diss But now you got the Panhellenist from Pella hella pissed Stepping up's foolish as well as useless Little Vasilyevich, let me spell out the list I brought foes to their knees in Phoenicia Breezed through Gaza to Giza Had the Balkans, Persia, Syria, Iraq and Pakistan In my expansion pack While you died in the middle of a game of chess You got vodka bars, flavorless And what I'm about to spit will be the craziest So go fix me a drink so I can stay refreshed Kudos! Greek for the glory I got From winning every single war that I fought So this will be straight forward, I'll take up this sword that I brought And slice you in half like the Gordian knot And I'll soar to the top like the eagle whose feather I would sport in the helmet that I wore As I swatted my many enemies, shattered 'em like a porcelain pot And they'd be praying for the torture to stop But I would leave 'em contorted and they'd be screaming and roaring Until their vocal chords were torn up and shot And I would holler Bucephalus! Hop on my horsey and trot I win Ivan, I vanquish I'm an immortal, you're not Enough! I don't stand a chance against your skills на здоровье A drink to your victory Yes, I will It seems no one can defeat me I weep, it's all so easy Oh! What's wrong? I feel a bit queasy Ha! You've been poisoned! Oh, the pain is unbearable! My stomach's riddled with holes! Ugh, I'm terrible There's no great who could defeat this Russian Psst, what about a flute busting Prussian? (Old Fritz, old fritz! Old Fritz, old fritz! Old Fritz, old fritz! Old Fritz, old fritz!) I'm Frederick the Great, out the gatefirst servant of state Oblique attack tactics ain't exactly straight I've got creative talents and battle malice Hard as steel on the field, genteel in the palace Russia's fucked up but no wonder why With your tundras and taigas and bears, oh my! I would pay a guy to tear out my eyes If I had to look at your troll face every night Now bring me my chair I'm weary from tearing you a new derrière from here to Red square Fought a Seven Years' War, I ain't scared of a Tsar Cause beating you only took me twelve bars Oh, what a humiliating defeat! I know when I am beat So of course, take a seat I'd keep ripping you to shreds But I'll take a break instead And just rest my little head Why don't you drop dead, Fred?! Hmm, my expectations were a lot higher But at least I saved the rubles on the garrote wire It's another great day and another great victory Cause no great can beat me What about me? Pompey! Yeah! Macedonians, Prussians and Romans Those aren't worthy opponents It takes a Russian to take down a Russian I'm Cath, I'm a cat, you're a rodent How are you the head of our state When the state of your head was such a crazy one? Such sick shit going through your brain That you stuck a spike through your own son (Oooh) You're unbalanced like I unbalanced the European powers with the wars I waged I brought the Russian empire straight out of the olden days and right into the golden age I'm the boss bitch that you just can't meddle with This whole battle's like Alaska cause I settled it Hmmm, what a beautiful Queen to beat me in a battle Accept this gift, Your Highness: I hear you enjoy the saddle That horse story is a pile of shit Though I do keep 'em chomping at the bit But you're never gonna get it, nyet Couldn't spin in my chamber if this were Russian roulette I'm picking up where Peter the Great left off Bringing sexy back to House Romanov So don't call me Queen, I'm far more great Empress to Tsar 8, bitch Checkmate
I've known for awhile that PewDiePie was in the background dancing to part of Ivan's battle. But I think I just pieced together why. The other people you see with Pewds are dictators or great rulers who dominated a vast expanse. Pewds dominated in subscriber count on this platform for a good while.
Great thorough reaction! You might enjoy Dis Raps for Hire, made by one of the ERB rappers, EpicLLOYD. He solicits people's bully stories and writes a diss rap about said bully. He only did a few videos, but they're really entertaining!
Frederick The Great, if I remember correctly, was also the first King of Prussia. He inherited the title of King in Prussia from his father and conquered enough territory to become King of Prussia. That might be the meaning of the phrase First Servant of State.
panhellenism was actually the spread of greek culture and mythology to all corners of the former Persian empire after Alexanders conquests. It was primarily driven by his successors, the Diadochi, who split his empire into Egypt, Persia, Turkey/Syria, Thrace and Macedon. Also at this time, Asia was everything east of Greece, as Anatolia was also known as Asia Minor. India and everything east was barely in their knowledge, and Asia referred much more to things that are not Africa or Greece.
I believe the line "Greek for the glory I got, for winning every single war that I fought." Is a reference to the fact Alexander was ofcourse in fact not actually 'Greek' but Macedonian, but after his success and victories they basically adopted him as one of their own.
I feel like the 'Vodka bars, flavourless' line is a reference to how good Vodka doesn't have any taste, and goes down with ease. A creative way of calling Ivan's bars lame,
also saying Empress to Tsar 8 is a very old way of saying your chess move think the ending of a game of shadows, instead of saying queen takes pawn, moriati says queen takes knights pawn same logic
