The Napoleonic Quarterly

1805. April... May... June... three months in which the British are hoping Russia's tsar will join them in the fight against France... in Vienna the Austrian war party is in the ascendancy... and in Egypt in the aftermath of so much fighting a new leader is emerging from the power vacuum. This is episode 54 of the Napoleonic Quarterly - covering three months in which backroom deals and factional infighting are once again bringing Europe back to the brink of war. [34:00] - John Gill on the Austrians thinking about going to war[14:20] - Michael Broers on the Russians thinking about going to war[1:38:20] - Michael Talbot on Mehmet Ali thinking about how to forge a new nation in EgyptHelp us produce more episodes by supporting the Napoleonic Quarterly on Patreon: patreon.com/napoleonicquarterly

To be honest this episode is just as much in praise of The Lubber's Hole, a brilliant project working its way through the Aubrey-Maturin novels of the unparallelled Patrick O'Brian. It's my favourite and most-listened-to podcast, and so the opportunity to talk to one half of the Lubber's Hole, Ian Bradley, naturally descended into fan enthusings within minutes. I shall not apologise for this; not least because there were tokenistic nods to the naval position in 1805 and the way the novels approach the bigger fleet actions. Ian described O'Brian's thoroughly flexible approach to the chronology of the 1792-1815 period, how his characters discussed and remembered Trafalgar, and the nature of the source material he used to so effectively get that early 19th century 'voice' just right. And we compared notes about absurdly lengthy podcast projects into the bargain.Help us produce more episodes by supporting the Napoleonic Quarterly on Patreon: patreon.com/napoleonicquarterly

Could Andrew Roberts' in-depth look at Napoleon's HR issues with those pesky marshals have prompted a bit of a rethink? With his new book Napoleon And His Marshals, Lord Roberts certainly has a fascinating new perspective moving things on from his 2014 biography Napoleon The Great. Whereas the emphasis had previously been on Napoleon's intellectual brilliance, administrative achievements and battlefield genius, this time we have a much more complicated, rounded, human picture. Those marshals were all-important, but they were treated rather roughly at times; and as Lord Roberts' delving into the latest correspondence shows, what he previously admired as effective compartmentalisation in the great Napoleonic brain now appears to be something closer to micromanagement of the most overdone kind.It was a great pleasure to welcome Andrew on to the podcast, not least to put Charles' 'rat with great PR' jibe to him directly. The answer shows that, while there is more nuance in his latest look at the Napoleonic period, Andrew Roberts will defend Napoleon's achievements in power to the last.Help us produce more episodes by supporting the Napoleonic Quarterly on Patreon: patreon.com/napoleonicquarterly

Bernie Campbell is joined by Alexander Mikaberidze and Rachel Blackman-Rogers to get their picks of the best books about one of the Napoleonic Wars' most consequential years. Covering all the angles of both the year's big campaign on the European continent, and the year's big campaign on the high seas: what book will change how you think about Trafalgar? Which are the best biographies of the main players? Are there any military histories missing from your bookshelf? One could get rather worked up about this sort of thing.Help us produce more episodes by supporting the Napoleonic Quarterly on Patreon: patreon.com/napoleonicquarterly

1805. January... February... March... three months in which British telescopes looking out across the English Channel are trained on the north French coast... the Royal Navy waits in suspense for Frace's emperor to make his move... and the Italian republic is getting a new king - guess who. This is episode 52 of the Napoleonic Quarterly - covering three months of invasion tension.[07:40] - headline developments[12:20] - Ambrogio Caiani on Napoleon becoming King of Italy[43:00] - Rachel Blackman-Rogers on naval strategy eyeing a cross-Channel invasion[1:08:10] - John Gill on the Camp de Boulogne and the emerging Grande ArmeeHelp us produce more episodes by supporting the Napoleonic Quarterly on Patreon: patreon.com/napoleonicquarterly

With the relaunch period drawing to a close the time is now upon us, finally, when this podcast about the Napoleonic period actually gets to talk actually properly about the actual Napoleonic Wars. In one final build-up episode before episode 53 dives into Q1-1805, here's a last chance for Charles Esdaile and Alex Mikaberidze to consider the entirety of the 1805-15 period as a whole to answer the question: what should listeners expect will be different about what's to come, compared to what we've covered so far?Help us produce more episodes by supporting the Napoleonic Quarterly on Patreon: patreon.com/napoleonicquarterly

Our recap episodes, which offer a synthesis of our 1792-1804 coverage one year at a time, have reached 1804 - the year in which France gets an emperor once again, and Europe gets an imperial-sized problem. Chris Sloan talks presenter Alex Stevenson through specific key clips he's picked out from our old episodes grouped around four themes which, we argue, help frame the period and shape our understanding of it in a whole new way. We hope this will provide a helpful refresh for longstanding listeners - whilst at the same time offering an 'entry ramp' to the podcast for those who want to get up to speed relatively easily (just) before we crash full-speed into the intensity of the Napoleonic Wars.This episode covers a 12-month period in which there is plenty of change - and lots of slowly developing tension. As well as Napoleon Bonaparte's coronation as Emperor following the uncovering of the Cadoudal-Pichegru plot earlier in the year, we see these themes mirrored in Britain becoming jumpy over intensifying French invasion threat, leading to William Pitt's return as prime minister. Russia breaks relations with France as a result of the deeply controversial kidnapping of the Duc D'Enghien, apparently on Napoleon's orders, whilst Britain moves against Spain by seizing its treasure ships. Old regimes like Austria are reshaping themselves with Francis becoming a new kind of emperor, whilst the United States is moving into new territory - literally - with the Lewis and Clark Expedition setting off.Help us produce more episodes by supporting the Napoleonic Quarterly on Patreon: patreon.com/napoleonicquarterly

It is with a mixture of great embarrassment at my own over-acting and guilt at such outrageous self-indulgence that I, Alex Stevenson, presenter of the Napoleonic Quarterly, provide you, the poor suffering listeners, with an outpouring of thespian histrionics: the concluding episode of our screenplay-concocting relaunch side-project, the Napoleon Movie Quarter-Hourly. In this episode Ben Deery, who thankfully knows a thing or two about acting, works his way alongside my own miserable efforts through the most excitable scenes from the pen of James Topham, who knows a thing or two about screenwriting. Napoleon: One Last Job may never actually get made, but at least you get to hear a grown man pretend to be both Napoleon and Josephine in the same scene.Or, perhaps more wisely, there is the opportunity to listen to the whole screenplay read by a surprisingly effective AI American lady on Patreon...Please send through any comments or questions to the usual places - the hope is that we will be able to do a listener feedback episode, as well as putting this to the professors for their verdict.Help us produce more episodes by supporting the Napoleonic Quarterly on Patreon: patreon.com/napoleonicquarterly

This mini-episode unveils the end product from our Napoleon movie discussions: an actual first draft of a screenplay which tells the story of Bonaparte's rise to power. It's now available on Patreon, for the consideration of our esteemed Quartermasters. In the meantime, first James Topham and then Alex Stevenson offer their own versions of what the treatment actually looks like. With Ben Deery doing French accents in the background.Help us produce more episodes by joining the Napoleonic Quarterly community on Patreon: patreon.com/napoleonicquarterly

Our recap episodes, which offer a synthesis of our 1792-1804 coverage one year at a time, have reached 1803 - a year in which peace between France and Britain collapses, and the cause of Haitian independence is finally realised. Chris Sloan talks presenter Alex Stevenson through specific key clips he's picked out from our old episodes grouped around four themes which, we argue, help frame the period and shape our understanding of it in a whole new way. We hope this will provide a helpful refresh for longstanding listeners - whilst at the same time offering an 'entry ramp' to the podcast for those who want to get up to speed relatively easily before we crash full-speed into the intensity of the Napoleonic Wars.This episode covers a 12-month period in which, despite attack dogs and the death of Toussaint Louverture, the French are defeated on Saint-Domingue and Dessalines emerges as the leader to achieve independence for Haiti. This is the year which sees the Louisiana Purchase, an astonishing moment which turns the United States into a continental power overnight. And in Europe Britain declares war once again on France, setting up endless debates about whose fault the demise of the Peace of Amiens really was. Meanwhile the Swiss Confederation is created thanks to the signature of Napoleon Bonaparte - and in India an up and coming general called Arthur Wellesley achieves a striking victory at the Battle of Assaye which effectively ends the Second Anglo-Maratha War.Help us produce more episodes by supporting the Napoleonic Quarterly on Patreon: patreon.com/napoleonicquarterly