Napoleon & His Marshals

In 1804 Napoleon Bonaparte created a top team of France's greatest military minds to push his empire to ever greater feats of conflict. However the marshals were anything but a unified top team. From astronomical egos to catastrophic rivalries, betrayal and conceit, as well a villainy and bravery we common traits across Napoleon's marshals.Andrew Roberts's new book looks at the story of the Napoleonic Wars viewed through the prism of Napoleon's relationship with his marshals, exploring their actions, their friendships, and their rivalries. He sat down with us to discuss some of the most exalted commanders in all of Napoleonic history, and why Napoleon wasn't able to defuse the tension between these military leaders.Buy Andrew's Book: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/9780241711354?gC=5a105e8b&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23601462866&gbraid=0AAAAADsTpAQWypvm4UpeMSnVlXJBANcIw&gclid=CjwKCAjwl4HXBhAjEiwAHlpWhA6vPyutOuR7LThsfkEFmfvIhuQynKxTX5Ad6XU4B7n7vmTydWNpixoCnSEQAvD_BwESupport the show: https://www.patreon.com/c/thenapoleonicwarspod

The Battle of New Orleans is a battle that the British love to forget. It is also the battle that forged a future president in the form of Andrew Jackson. Dr Joseph Stoltz joins us to talk about the battle, its commanders, why Pakenham decided the attack where he did, the myths that have sprung up around the battle, and whether this expedition was doomed from the start.Buy Joseph's book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DFP454Q?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallbackSupport the show: https://www.patreon.com/c/thenapoleonicwarspodChapters00:00 Introduction to the Battle of New Orleans01:02 Historical context and British strategic goals02:53 Dr. Joseph Stultz's expertise and background04:38 Geography and terrain of New Orleans11:13 British plans and logistical challenges23:24 Commanders and leadership of Jackson and Pakenham36:35 American and British troop composition and morale42:54 Pre-battle preparations and reconnaissance45:18 Night attack and initial engagements48:38 Artillery duel and battlefield tactics53:27 The main battle and its aftermath01:00:55 Leadership, morale, and the legacy of the battle

On the 21st October 1805, British Admiral Horatio Nelson famously defeated a combined French and Spanish navy under the command of Admiral Villeneuve. The French admiral's reputation has withered under the long shadow of his defeat at Trafalgar, but what was the bigger picture of his life, service, success and failure in the French navy during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Paul Chamberlain joins us to shed light on Admiral Villeneuve, his character, life and his death, offering insights on misconceptions and myths about one of the significant figures in the French Navy.Buy Paul's book: https://www.waterstones.com/book/hell-upon-water/paul-chamberlain/9781862274662Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/c/thenapoleonicwarspod

Dr Graeme Callister joins us to discuss how Napoleon conscripted the soldiers who would be so integral to his success on the battlefields of Europe, exploring how people were conscripted, how they evaded conscription, the political dangers of conscription, and the impact on both France and the men themselves.Buy Graeme's books: https://www.helion.co.uk/military-history-books/napoleons-conscripts-conscription-and-the-french-army-1798-1815.phphttps://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Dr-Graeme-Callister/a/4546Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/c/thenapoleonicwarspodTime Stamps00:00 Introduction to French Conscription and Napoleon's Army04:32 Origins of Conscription: From Levy to Formal System12:40 Transition from Levy to Conscription System16:24 Selling Conscription: Propaganda and Public Sentiment20:55 Administrative Framework of Conscription26:26 Evasion, Corruption, and Enforcement Challenges35:46 Community Involvement and Resistance Tactics43:12 The Conscription Process for Young Men50:57 Resistance, Riots, and Policing of Drafts56:26 Corruption and Abuse in the System01:00:53 Summary and Future Episodes

On the 27th September 1810, British and Portuguese forces under the command of the Duke of Wellington defeated a French army under Marshal Massena. Dr Graeme Callister joins us for this latest instalment of our Peninsular War saga to talk through how Wellington's men fended off French attacks, discuss whether this was a battle that Wellington couldn't lose, and what this meant for the wider context of the Peninsular War.Buy Graeme's books:https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Dr-Graeme-Callister/a/4546https://www.helion.co.uk/people/graeme-callister.phpSupport the show: https://www.patreon.com/c/thenapoleonicwarspod

The Peninsular War series meets our battle series as we deep dive the Battle of Bussaco in the first of a two-parter on Wellington and Massena's duel in the Portuguese mountains. Graeme Callister joins us to talk about the French plan of operations, why their reconnaissance was so poor, and why Massena was so desperate to attack Wellington on his mountaintop position.Get Graeme's books: https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Dr-Graeme-Callister/a/4546https://www.helion.co.uk/people/graeme-callister.phpSupport the show at: https://www.patreon.com/thenapoleonicwarspodTimestamps00:00 Introduction to the Battle of Basarco01:47 Strategic context of the Peninsular War in 181003:50 French and Allied army conditions and morale06:49 Terrain features and geographic challenges11:12 French plans and reconnaissance errors15:06 Wellington's defensive strategy and troop deployment20:11 French misconceptions and attack plans25:00 Terrain's impact on the battle's outcome29:56 French troop conditions and leadership issues34:59 The importance of terrain in 1810 warfare39:54 French tactical errors and missed opportunities45:07 The aftermath and significance of Basarco

Josh Provan returns for another instalment of our blow by blow retelling of the Peninsular War, which this episode being the first in a triple bill of Peninsular-focused episodes. We cover the Combat at the Coa, the combobulation of Black Bob Craufurd, and 'the big bang' that ended the siege of Almeida.Buy Josh's books: https://www.helion.co.uk/people/joshua-provan.phpSupport the show at: https://www.patreon.com/c/thenapoleonicwarspod

Wellington famously dismissed his rank and file as a band of criminals, rogues and reprobates who were hammered into a fine fighting force by the British military establishment. His infamous 'scum of the earth' comment has cast a long shadow over the reputation of the British soldiers who fought during the Napoleonic Wars. In this wide-ranging discussion, Liam Telfer and Dr Luke Reynolds dissect the reputation of soldiers during this period, separating myth and reality.Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/cw/thenapoleonicwarspod

We all love to hate the Napoleon Movie - high hopes left dashed by a lacklustre storytelling, sloppy editing and a disdain for the historical. Now meet the man who wants to right that wrong! Connor O'Brien is a producer who wants to create a short film about a soldier in the Battle of Lundy's Lane, fought in Canada in 1814. His vision is for this project to be a stepping stone to a much larger production about set at the Battle of Waterloo.I sat down with him to talk about his vision behind 'The Coward' (the short film he's creating), why he is putting historical accuracy front and centre of his film making, and how, in his words, he's bringing a 'Saving Private Ryan' approach to the Napoleonic Wars.This is a fantastic project which we're very keen to support. If you would like to chip in to the fundraiser, check out the link below - you will not be charged unless the project reaches its funding goal.Support 'The Coward': https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/exorbito/the-coward-short-war-film-2026Find out more about the project: https://thecoward1812.com

Napoleon III was in equal parts implausible, hapless and ambitious. But in 1848 he finally succeeded in achieving his long-held ambition of taking power in France. In the second instalment of our exploration of Napoleon III's life, we explore how he bounced back from his second failed coup, seized the initiative in the course of the 1848 revolution, and honed his populist style of politics to appeal to all sides of the political divides. How did he reverse his fortunes as an escaped political prisoner to become President of France, and why as President did he decide to carry out yet another coup? Edward Shawcross returns to take us through this rollercoaster of French politics and intrigue.Get Edward's books: https://www.faber.co.uk/product/9780571361304-the-peoples-emperor/?srsltid=AfmBOoomYEkfA0l83B2WxSnkmV7WFm30bUTqFFdkdxD7UlFQs7ltCPIfhttps://www.faber.co.uk/product/9780571360581-the-last-emperor-of-mexico/Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/thenapoleonicwarspodChapters00:00 Introduction to Louis Napoleon and his coups02:12 Exile in London and social life in the demi-monde03:49 Louis Napoleon's political ambitions and 1848 revolution07:08 The rise of the Second Republic and the new electoral landscape11:52 Louis Napoleon's electoral strategy and populist appeal15:49 The 1848 presidential election and his surprising victory21:05 The use of plebiscites and propaganda to legitimize power25:02 The 1851 coup d'etat and the path to empire29:57 Challenges faced by Louis Napoleon as president35:00 The expedition to Rome and foreign policy missteps40:05 Consolidation of power and the 1852 referendum44:49 The legacy of Louis Napoleon and lessons on populismkeywordsLouis Napoleon, Napoleon III, French history, populism, coup d'etat, 19th-century France, political strategy, democracy, revolution, empire