Hougoumont: The fire at Waterloo

On the 18th June 1815, three fires broke out in central Belgium, that would go down in the annals of military history.The first, and perhaps least well known, would actually prove to be pivotal in the scale of Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo, delaying the arrival of Bulow’s IV Prussian corps to the point that it would take them 12 hours to march from Wavre to Plancenoit on Napoleon’s right flank, arriving at a time when the Emperor was hopelessly over committed to the fight against Wellington’s Anglo-Dutch troops. The second is often sidelined to a passing comment in the story of the defence of La Haye Sainte, as the Kings German Legion defenders of the farm, one of Wellington’s three forward positions at Waterloo, scrambled to douse the flames with their camp kettles whilst coming under fire from the French.The third holds an almost mythological status – Hougoumont. The siege within a battle that saw a multination force of Coldstream, and Scots Guards, alongside Hanoverian and Nassau troops. As they did so, the chateau famously bruned around them.There are few things more disconcerting than trying to defend a burning building from a few thousand angry French, whilst also trying to not die as a result of the flames. But what was it actually like for the defenders for hougoumont? What were their bodies going? How did the fire spread? And what could they actually do to try and deal with the literal conflagration around them?In the latest instalment of the Napoleonic Wars Podcast, firefighter, veteran and historian Liam Telfer joins us to discuss how you fight a fire while under fire.Join our mailing list at: ⁠https://linktr.ee/napwarspod⁠Support the show and get episodes early at: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/thenapoleonicwarspod#Hougoumont #HougoumontFarm #BattleOfWaterloo #Waterloo1815 #NapoleonicWars #Wellington #DukeOfWellington #ColdstreamGuards #HistoricalBattlefields #MilitaryHistory #NapoleonicHistory #HistoryPodcast #BritishArmyHistory #HoldTheGates #Fire #Firefighter

In this episode, we dive into the fierce two-day struggle that became one of the defining moments of the Peninsular War: the Battle of Talavera. From the blazing July heat to the confusion of night assaults, we examine how Sir Arthur Wellesley—soon to become the Duke of Wellington—held his fragile Anglo-Spanish line against repeated French attacks.We explore the drama behind the battlefield: the strained coordination with General Cuesta, the bold French offensive under Victor and Jourdan, and the tactical decisions that turned Talavera into a brutal contest of discipline, firepower, and sheer endurance. Through narrative storytelling and clear military analysis, this episode brings you into the smoke, the volleys, and the human cost of one of Wellesley’s earliest—and hardest-won—victories.Find out more about Josh's work at: ⁠https://www.helion.co.uk/people/joshua-provan.php⁠Join our mailing list at: ⁠https://linktr.ee/napwarspodSupport out work at: https://www.patreon.com/c/thenapoleonicwarspod#BattleOfTalavera #Talavera1809 #PeninsularWar #NapoleonicWars #Wellesley #DukeOfWellington #SpanishWarOfIndependence #MilitaryHistory #HistoryPodcast #NapoleonicBattles

In this episode, historian Josh Provan joins us to trace the tense, twisting campaign that led to the Battle of Talavera—a confrontation born not just of French ambition, but of uneasy alliances, political blunders, and the grinding realities of Peninsular warfare.We explore how Sir Arthur Wellesley set himself and his men on a collision course with both Joseph Bonaparte’s French army and his own Spanish allies. From logistical nightmares to clashing personalities, from the chaotic advance toward Madrid to the stubborn stand on the banks of the Tormes, this is the story of how a campaign fraught with mistrust and miscalculation forged one of Wellesley’s most hard-fought victories.Expect deep context, sharp analysis, and the human side of the campaign—the commanders, the soldiers, and the decisions that shaped the battlefield even before a single shot was fired at Talavera.Find out more about Josh's work at: https://www.helion.co.uk/people/joshua-provan.phpJoin our mailing list at: https://linktr.ee/napwarspodSupport the show and get episodes early at: https://www.patreon.com/c/thenapoleonicwarspod#NapoleonicWars #PeninsularWar #BattleOfTalavera #Wellesley #ArthurWellesley #SpanishWarOfIndependence #MilitaryHistory #HistoryPodcast #NapoleonicWarsPodcast #Talavera1809

Following the lively debate that sprang up around our episode on 'Who was better: Wellington or Napoleon', we took the time to sit down and carefully consider some of the interesting questions and counter arguments made by our listeners. Who was Wellington's Berthier? Is criticising Wellington anti-British? Was Wellington's political career really that bad? Was Napoleon really better than Caesar? Support our work on patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/thenapoleonicwarspodJoin our mailing list: https://linktr.ee/napwarspod

By 1815, London had long considered itself the centre of Britain and the wider Empire, so how did it respond when “the greatest victory which History records” (The Chester Chronicle) occurred a mere 200 miles from it? By co-opting it, naturally. Moving away from previous work on the Waterloo Banquet and Vauxhall’s Waterloo fete, this talk explores some of the ways in which ordinary Londoners experienced Waterloo, including walking over a bridge named after it, seeing relics from it, and witnessing it recreated on stage and canvas.In October 2025, our very own 'Beau', Dr Luke 'Memory' Reynolds, gave a talk at York St John on 'Staging Waterloo: The Battle in the Capital'. Whilst you've heard him before on the show talking about the Waterloo Banquet, for this one he focused on other aspects from paintings to bridges and on to stage shows all trying to capture the battle.With the very kind permission of York St John University, we present for you listening pleasure a recording of that talk.For more events from York St John University, visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/york-st-john-university-1088934555

Who was the better battlefield general? Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of the French, or Arthur Wellesley, first Duke of Wellington, and darling (sort of) of the British army.Recently famed author of the Sharpe's series of novels Bernard Cornwell set the social media sphere ablaze by once again igniting this age old discussion. The response, predictably, divided social media, but what happens when some historians weigh in to try and settle this issue?Your favourite Napoleonic Wars Pod hosts, Napoleonic historians Dr Zack White, Dr Luke Reynolds, and Mr Liam Telfer take to the boxing ring in this one, as Liam makes the case for Wellington, Zack (unusually) makes the case for Napoleon, Luke can't decide whether he's a moderator or a debater, and ultimately we all end up agreeing.Logistics. Destruction of armies. Limited campaigns. Movement. Motivation. Skill. Success. Legacy. All come under the spotlight in a bruising assessment of the strengths and not inconsiderable weakness of both of these commanders, as we pop the usual myths, weigh in on some of the more partisan comments, and put the case to you to get involved in this debate.Support this content on patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/cw/thenapoleonicwarspodSign up to our newsletter here: https://linktr.ee/napwarspod

Step onto the blood-soaked fields of October 1813 as we revisit the Battle of Leipzig, the titanic clash that earned the title “Battle of the Nations.” In this episode of the Napoleonic Wars Podcast, we sit down with acclaimed historian John H. Gill to unravel the epic story of the largest battle in Europe before the First World War.Gill guides us through the dramatic build-up after Napoleon’s disastrous Russian campaign, the rise of the Sixth Coalition, and the meticulous Allied strategy that finally cornered the Emperor at Leipzig. Over four days of brutal fighting, Napoleon faced shifting fronts, wavering allies, and the relentless pressure of fresh enemy armies. From the opening clashes on October 16th to the disastrous retreat across the Elster River, we explore the critical decisions, battlefield genius, and costly mistakes that sealed Napoleon’s fate.But this isn’t just about tactics, we also uncover the staggering human cost: tens of thousands dead and wounded, civilian suffering on a massive scale, and the haunting aftermath left behind.Join us for a gripping deep dive into the turning point of the Napoleonic Wars, where the fall of an empire truly began.Click here for more on John H. Gill's work Pen and Sword Books: Titles by John H Gill

CONTENT WARNING: There is very strong language, and discussion of topics of a sexual nature from the very start and throughout this podcast. Listener discretion is advised.Why is the idea of 'normal' sex a bit of a myth? What does it mean to be 'sexually deviant', and who gets to make that call? What happens if you are found to be 'sexually deviant'? And why did the powers that be care more about some forms of deviancy than others?Eleanor Janega and Seth Le Jacq return to the show to discuss what deviancy was and wasn't, where 'deviant' and more general sexual acts took place during the Napoleonic era, and how understanding people's attitudes to sex during this period helps us to understand society, both in the 19th century, and today.This episode is not for the faint-hearted - you have been warned!Support the show on patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/thenapoleonicwarspodJoin our mailing list: https://linktr.ee/napwarspod

On 2nd December 1805 Napoleon achieved what was perhaps his greatest victory. Over the course of the short winter's day he shattered the coalition force arrayed against him on the Pratzen heights, in a victory that would help him to usher in a new order in Europe.But what actually happened on that bitterly cold day? Who was responsible for this crushing victory? And how the has the battle been mythologised over the last 220 years?Alex Mikaberidze returns for the blistering conclusion to this double-bill on Napoleon's finest hour. We discuss combatants, missed opportunities, blunders, bravery, legacies and much more as we finally deliver the episode that you've all been waiting for.

In this episode of The Napoleonic Wars Podcast, we’re joined by world renowned historian Dr. Alexander Mikaberidze, acclaimed author of The Napoleonic Wars: A Global History, for the first of a two part deep dive into one of Napoleon’s greatest triumphs: the Battle of Austerlitz.Part One, The Eve of Austerlitz, sets the stage for the clash that would reshape Europe. How did we get here? Dr. Mikaberidze unpacks the wider geopolitical currents of 1805, why Napoleon’s meteoric rise forced old enemies into uneasy alliances, and how the French and Allied armies maneuvered across central Europe to converge on a small town in Moravia that would soon be etched into history.We then explore one of the most remarkable aspects of Austerlitz: Napoleon’s mastery of deception. Far from stumbling into mistakes, the French Emperor feigned weakness, carefully baiting the Allies into overconfidence and error. Dr. Mikaberidze explains the subtle bluffs and calculated “blunders” that set the trap.Finally, we turn to the battlefield itself. From rolling hills to frozen ponds, what did the geography around Austerlitz mean for 19th-century warfare? And how did the terrain shape the epic confrontation that followed?For more information on Dr Mikaberidze's published work and where to find them please go to Alexander Mikaberidze, PhD