French Revolution & Napoleon (Grey History)

The new national legislature descends into factional chaos. Fears of tyranny dominate the Convention, and a schism in the Jacobin Club rocks the revolution across the entire nation. Amongst the quarrels, the deputies make history, abolishing the monarchy and establishing the French Republic. Exclusive Bonus Content (Episode Extras) 1.45.1 The Girondin Attacks - Unscripted thoughts on the Girondin...

Catherine the Great is one of the most intriguing and consequential monarchs of the 18th century. Mark Schauss from the Russian Rulers History Podcast joins me for a wide-ranging interview on Catherine's reign. In this episode, we discuss Catherine's influential policies, politics, and wars, as well as her surprising ascent to the Russian throne. We also discuss Catherine's relationship with the E...

In this crossover episode we examine another great history podcast called History Daily. Every weekday, host Lindsay Graham takes you back in time to explore a momentous event that happened ‘on this day’ in history. Whether it’s to remember the tragedy of December 7th, 1941, the day “that will live in infamy,” or to celebrate that 20th day in July, 1969, when mankind reached the moon, History Dail...

The National Convention meets in Paris. Who were the deputies who led France? What divided them? How accurate are the common perceptions of their politics? This episode explores the new national legislature and the factions that would dominate it. Exclusive Bonus Content (Episode Extras) 1.44.1 The Legalisation of Divorce -Explore the ground-breaking legalisation of divorce in September 1792. Its...

On the eve of the Invasion of France in August 1792, the courts of the First Coalition were maintaining an uneasy alliance. Events in Poland had reinforced the long-standing distrust between the courts of Berlin, Vienna, and St. Petersburg, and developments in the east would fundamentally alter the trajectory of the allies' advance. This episode examines how events in Poland impacted the Prussian...

Steve Guerra from the History of the Papacy joins me for a fantastic chat about all things Papacy, Church, and the French Revolution. We would love to do another discussion in the future, so please send through ideas for possible conversations on topics relating to the Papacy or the Catholic Church in either France or the Revolutionary era! A huge thank you to the Patreon supporters of Grey Histor...

In this wide-ranging episode, we examine two thousand years of Corsican history! After covering the basics, we’ll explore how various empires and kingdoms left their mark on the island, and discuss how democratic and republican traditions were first established more than a thousand years ago. We'll also unpack the origins of the bitter relationship between Corsica and Genoa, setting us up for an a...

How did the September Massacres change the character of the French Revolution? How did they alter the course and trajectory of the revolutionary project? How did average Parisians react to the gruesome events? These are the questions explored by the third and final part on the dark days of September 1792. Exclusive Bonus Content (Episode Extras) A behind-the-scenes video on the September Massacres...

Who was to blame for the September Massacres of 1792? Were the deaths planned or spontaneous? How did various individuals, factions, and institutions respond to the killings, and did they seek to use the bloodshed for their own advantage? Before we examine how the massacres changed the revolution, we must understand who is accountable for the carnage in Paris. Exclusive Bonus Content (Episode Extr...

The two Episode Extras for Episode 39 cover the astonishing trial of an aristocratic prisoner and the disbelief of a Scottish eyewitness. These accounts offer a fantastic insight into the turbulent, unpredictable, and chaotic nature of the September Massacres. Episode Extras like these, along with other great bonus content, are available to all the community supporters of Grey History. Support Gre...

Slaughter erupts in Paris as the Prussian Army advances on the capital. Fuelled by a deadly mixture of panic and rumours, the people of Paris seek to eliminate the enemy within by murdering the city's prisoners. The September Massacres of 1792 were a turning point of the French Revolution. Exclusive Bonus Content (Episode Extras) 1.39.1 The Survival of Saint-Méard - Witness the fascinating trial o...

In the aftermath of the fall of the monarchy, the ‘First Terror’ is unleashed. The new Paris Commune seeks to protect the revolution by relentlessly pursuing its enemies. Most famously, a new revolutionary tribunal is established, although its results produce unintended consequences. As Paris is consumed by conspiracies, the institutional and factional rivalries of the revolution escalate from feu...

In the aftermath of the revolution on 10 August 1792, multiple winners and losers emerged. This episode explores those individuals, factions, and institutions that rise to power, and those which lose everything. Exclusive Bonus Content (Episode Extras) 1.37.1 - Unfit for the Throne - Historian Bertha Gardiner explains her reasonings why Louis' position on the throne was untenable and why the Frenc...

Paris erupts and the second revolution commences. Amongst the chaos, a new power takes over the capital, and the monarchy falls in a bloody massacre. What compelled the revolutionaries to strike on the 10th of August 1792? How popular was the revolt? Was bloodshed avoidable and can it be justified? Exclusive Bonus Content (Episode Extras) 1. "Was A Defence Possible?" - The Queen demanded a defence...

It's been a rough few weeks but I'm on the mend (hopefully)! My health has been quite poor, and combined with work and regularly moving accommodation the production of Grey History has suffered. I'm unsure when Episode 36, "The Fall of the Monarchy", will be released, but at the latest it will be before the end of January! Believe me when I say that I'll be producing it as soon as I can be! In the...

Ever wondered what French scientists, elephants, and a creature known as the 'Ohio animal' have to do with extinction? What role did French chemists play in discovering the composition of air and water? How were ancient theories concerning combustion replaced with the foundations of modern chemistry? All these questions are answered in the new bonus episode for Patreon supporters of the show! Epis...

The Duke of Brunswick proclaims a manifesto with disastrous (or negligible) consequences. Paris lurches closer to insurrection, and the sections of Paris demand a republic in all but name. Radical revolutionaries set a deadline for dethronement, but support for a second revolution among certain factions is surprisingly lacking. Exclusive Bonus Content (Episode Extras) 1. The Origins of the Brunswi...

This bonus episode is a recording of my presentation at the Intelligent Speech Conference earlier this year. It covers the key events of the Flight to Varennes, some minor (and key) details that foiled the escape, as well as lessons that can be taken from the event. The Grey History Community Help keep Grey History on the air! Every revolution needs its supporters, and we need you! With an ad-free...

In the aftermath of 20 June, the nation's factions immediately resumed their bitter disputes. As foreign armies prepare to invade France, the Legislative Assembly is compelled to declare the nation to be in danger. The arrival of the fédérés changes the power dynamics in Paris, empowering agitators who are calling for a second revolution. The King's dethronement, the Assembly's replacement, and th...

A new ministerial crisis erupts thanks to the bold actions of the Interior Minister Jean-Marie Roland. The people of Paris conducted a large demonstration on the 20th of June 1792. Lafayette attempts to stem the revolution’s growing radicalism, and new leaders emerge from the city's sections and clubs. The Grey History Community Help keep Grey History on the air! Every revolution needs its support...

As the nation faced a multitude of threats, a particular cohort of Parisians emerged as a powerful revolutionary force. This episode explores the famous Sans-culottes of the French Revolution. The Grey History Community Help keep Grey History on the air! Every revolution needs its supporters, and we need you! With an ad-free feed, a community discord, a reading club, and tonnes of exclusive bonus...

Despite claims of an easy war, setbacks cripple the French armies. Seeking to reverse the deteriorating situation, the Brissotins adopt radical remedies. The Grey History Community Help keep Grey History on the air! Every revolution needs its supporters, and we need you! With an ad-free feed, a community discord, a reading club, and tonnes of exclusive bonus content, you're missing out! Do your pa...

An interview with Historian Christopher Tozzi on the experience of foreign soldiers in the French Revolutionary Army. Focusing initially on the experience of foreign troops during the Old Regime, this episode also covers the hostile treatment of non-citizen soldiers during the Revolutionary Era. In addition to discussing Swiss, German, and Irish soldiers, the interview also explores the experience...

Civil war erupts within the Jacobin Club as Brissot and Robespierre denounce each other's solutions to the nation's woes. Diplomatic and ministerial crises finally triggered conflict between France and Austria in April 1792. The Grey History Community Help keep Grey History on the air! Every revolution needs its supporters, and we need you! With an ad-free feed, a community discord, a reading club...

European monarchs threatened war and Jacobin deputies embraced the challenge. A strange alliance is forged between the Brissotins and the Court as the nation prepares for conflict, while the official justifications for war hide more sinister motivations. Additional Resources Maps of the Holy Roman Empire The Grey History Community Help keep Grey History on the air! Every revolution needs its suppo...