The Age of Napoleon Podcast

A conversation about debt and property in revolutionary and Napoleonic France, and what's it's like to research late 18th and early 19th century French history Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Relations between France and other great powers deteriorate. The Army of the Orient occupies Cairo, and the French immediately run into difficulties governing.  Napoleon makes a major decision that could have huge ramifications for the expedition, and for his own destiny. Minor correction: during the fourth minute, "dawn of the 18th century" should be "dawn of the 19th century." Learn more about y...

The British Mediterranean Fleet under Horatio Nelson spends months chasing the naval component of the Egypt Expedition. They finally catch the French at Aboukir Bay and fight the decisive Battle of the Nile, which would have major consequences for Napoleon and his army, and reverberate in geopolitics and culture for decades. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Army of the Orient pushes deeper into Egypt and learns painful lessons about life and death in the desert. Napoleon clamps down on discontent and rallies the army to win a skirmish at Shubra Khit and a major engagement at the so-called "Battle of the Pyramids," clearing the way to Cairo.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Army of the Orient sets sail. They make a brief stop in Malta, where Napoleon clashes with an ancient organization of religious pirates. The French landing in Egypt turns into a debacle. Bonaparte seizes Alexandria in a messy, but one-sided battle and introduces himself to the people of Egypt. We meet the Mameluke warlords who rule the country, and examine Napoleon's approach to usurping their...

An interview with the writer and historian Derek Davison, who helps us look past the myths and orientalist fantasies to see the Middle East as it actually was on the eve of Napoleon's arrival. Topics include: the unique and dysfunctional regime of the Mamelukes, religion, Ottoman decline, and the 18th-century Middle Eastern way of war. You can find Derek's foreign policy writing for LobeLog at: ht...

Napoleon cajoles the Austrians into signing a peace treaty... a treaty which practically guarantees another war in the future. He begins planning the expedition to Egypt, and we examine the rationales behind the campaign. A promising young republican general meets a tragic fate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A special interview with military historians Dr. Mark Gerges, Dr. Jonathan Abel, and Dr. John Kuehn, experts on the Napoleonic era from the US Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While Napoleon fought in Italy, French politics oscillated dangerously between left and right. Finally, a fraught election and divisions within the Directory tore the system apart. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We take a break from the narrative to answer listener questions on topics ranging from the organization of the revolutionary armies to pop culture to alternate history hypotheticals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bonaparte returns to Italy after Leoben, and is already coming into his own as a political figure. He is reunited with Josephine, and enjoys an opulent court life at Mombello. We trace Napoleon's development as a statesman as he defies the Directory and brings Venice and Genoa under French influence.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The First Italian Campaign reaches its less-than-dramatic conclusion with Napoleon's invasion of Austria. We take a look back on this remarkable period, and assess Napoleon as a strategist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the Mantua garrison on the brink of starvation, the Austrians under Alvinczy launch one last relief attempt. General Sérurier returns, and General Joubert is given command of a division. Napoleon fights another innovative battle at Rivoli, where the French cavalry devastates the enemy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Napoleon faces a new opponent, who gives the Army of Italy their toughest fight of the campaign so far. He suffers his first defeats as commander-in-chief. We examine an iconic moment of Napoleon's career: the assault on the bridge at Arcole. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/ageofnapoleon https://ko-fi.com/theageofnapoleonpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoi...

The Army of Italy pushes north to support a French offensive in Germany, but finds Wurmser already back on the march, leading to a major battle at Bassano and a frantic race down from the Alps. Conditions within Mantua worsen. We meet a young, capable Austrian commander: Archduke Charles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Army of Italy faces off against Field Marshal Wurmser, and finds itself in its toughest fight of the campaign so far. Bonaparte takes some calculated risks to even the odds. One of Napoleon's inner circle suffers a tragic, life-altering wound. Mantua stands as strong, but warfare is changing, and fortresses like Mantua are less relevant than ever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaph...

The Army of Italy beats Beaulieu one last time, then takes a lucrative detour south and confronts the Pope. Napoleon and Josephine are finally reunited. We also meet Napoleon's next opponent, discuss corruption within the army, and take an in-depth look at the campaign to strip Italy of its cultural and intellectual wealth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Napoleon finally enters Milan. The French conquest has divided Lombardy-- radicals are eager to follow the example of the revolution, but many others greet their conquerors with hostility and suspicion. Napoleon continues his requisitions and demands for tribute, angering an old friend as well as the locals. The officers of the still-ragged Army of Italy invest in jewel-encrusted watches. Learn mo...

The First Italian Campaign continues. Napoleon outfoxes the Austrians and takes Milan. The Army of Italy fights a famous battle at Lodi, which probably does not deserve its legendary reputation. We also take a look at Napoleon's propaganda machine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We meet some of the leaders of the Army of Italy. The First Italian Campaign begins in dramatic fashion, with two weeks of lightning battles at Montenotte, Millesimo, Dego, Ceva, and Mondovì. Napoleon negotiates with Piedmont, and worries about looting, and about his wife. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We meet the Army of Italy, which Napoleon finds in a "state of destitution." Paris provides little support, but Bonaparte attempts to get his command into shape for the offensive. We discuss more of the military reforms of the revolution. Napoleon gives the first famous speech of his career. The First Italian Campaign gets off to an inauspicious start. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megap...

For better and for worse, a new government takes over in Paris: the Directory. Napoleon and Josephine are married, and we examine her unhappy early life. Napoleon leaves Paris to meet his destiny. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An update from the armies at the front: French success continues in the Netherlands, and the long-suffering Dutch radicals finally have their day. In the South, the republicans push into Catalonia, knocking Spain out of the war, but at the cost of a general's life. Prussia finally wakes up and leaves the Coalition.  In Paris, Napoleon's meteoric rise has officially begun. He shares the fruits of h...

With the defeat of the French left, the right begins a violent resurgence, culminating in a rebellion that nearly conquers Paris. Napoleon saves the Convention (and his career with it). We meet two memorable characters: Paul Barras and Joachim Murat Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With so many of his political patrons dead, Napoleon's career stalls. He spends some aimless months in the capital trying to improve his situation. He finds high society transformed along with politics. Also discussed: Napoleon's love life, republican victories in the Vendée, and the surprising importance of the Army Topographical Bureau. Contains some (very tame) sexual content Learn more about y...