Zack White

The Napoleonic Wars Podcast

History EN ↓ 382 episodes

Who was Napoleon Bonaparte? What was his legacy on history? And why, more than 200 years later, does the conflict which he gave his name to still matter? Join award-winning Napoleonic historians Dr Zack White, Dr Luke Reynolds, and Liam Telfer as they host Europe's leading show devoted to the American War of Independence, French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars. From interviews with leading researchers, to deep dive debates on some of the big questions, this show is ideal for those who want to start building their knowledge or deepen their understanding of the period.

Author

Zack White

Category

History

Podcast website

www.thenapoleonicwars.net

Latest episode

Jul 5, 2026

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Episodes

Napoleon's 100 Days 14.06.2024

What actually happened in Napoleonic France in the 100 days? Professor Kate Astbury and Dr Michael Rowe join me to a deep dive into the politics and impact of Napoleon's return to France - the key part of the history that gets overshadowed by Waterloo. This conversation is an extension of the discussion that we began on BBC's In Our Time - You can catch that episode here: https://www.bbc.c...

Battle of the Marshals - Heat 2 - Davout, Jourdan, Saint Cyr, Bessieres 10.06.2024

Heat 2 of the Battle of the Marshals arrives, with Rachael Stark championing Davout, Hans-Karl Weiss making the case for Jourdan, Alan Morehouse fighting for Bessieres, and Saint Cyr being exalted by Noah Fink. Vote for you favourite below.

State of the Union - The Second Coalition 07.06.2024

Reflections on latest research, novels, and the nuts and bolts of the research processes abound as Dr Luke Reynolds takes over hosting duties in a follow up to the 'State of the Union' session.

General D'Armee 2 04.06.2024

Dave Brown, author of General D'Armee 2, joins me, the co-host of Little Wars TV, and Dr Andrew Dorman to discuss the Art of the War game, the tricks to creating a successful wargaming experience, how to get started in the hobby, and how the value they bring to history. Buy the rulesets: https://toofatlardies.co.uk/product-category/reisswitz-press/general-darmee/ Little Wars TV: https://www.yo...

Battle of the Glorious First of June 01.06.2024

Naval historian Kate Jamieson joins me to talk about the Battle of the Glorious First of June - Britain's first major naval engagement of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, in which Britain sought to deprive France of a vital grain and food convoy which saved the French nation from starvation, propping up the revolutionary government in the process. Get episodes early and exclusive...

The End of the Podcast? Emergency Broadcast 25.05.2024

Now, Napoleonicists! Now is your time! Spotify have gutted the show disconnecting me from as much as 50% of listeners. This is how you can help the show try and rise again from the ashes.

Waterloo by Air: New Documentary 24.05.2024

How do we separate Napoleonic myth from reality? Why were some written out of the story? Over 200 years later, why does Waterloo still matter? Join me this summer on the Napoleonic Wars Youtube Channel for a documentary on the battle, like you've never seen before

Battle of the Marshals: Berthier, Ney & Soult 18.05.2024

Who was Napoleon's greatest marshal? It's a question that has dogged fans of the period for 200 years, and will do for 200 more. On the 220th anniversary of Napoleon creating the marshals of France, and marking the 200th instalment of the Napoleonic Wars pod, fans of the show fire the opening salvo in the epic journey that will be the Battle of the Marshals. In this first heat, Ed Coss makes the c...

Greatest What If - Part 2 11.05.2024

Sam Jolley, Geraint Thatcher and Josh Provan join me for the second instalment of the 'Greatest What if of the Napoleonic era' series - a fun run through of scenarios that might have changed the course of Napoleonic history Twitter: @s_jolley @ThatchGer1 @Landofhistory Buy Josh's books at https://www.helion.co.uk/people/joshua-provan.php Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tombfinders: Searchers of our Napoleonic Past 04.05.2024

The stars of a recent collaborative project involving the Napoleonic & Revolutionary War Graves Charity, and students from the University of Portsmouth, Izzy Turtle, Emily Harris, Rebekah Money and Damiana Kun talk about their recent efforts to find the graves of Napoleonic veterans across Portsmouth, and their experiences of cleaning graves. To find out more about the efforts of the NRWGC, an...

Waterloo: The Battle as Big Business 27.04.2024

Why does Waterloo matter? How was it manipulated? And how did it become a business in its own right? Regular listeners of the show will know that these questions and much more have been covered by the Napoleonic Wars Podcast’s ‘Scholar in Residence’, Dr Luke ‘Memory’ Reynolds, in his critically acclaimed and award winning book  Who Owned Waterloo . That book is now available in paperback, and...

Peninsular War Tourism: Part 2 20.04.2024

Professor Rosemary Sweet & Dr Richard Ansell join me to discuss why some people decided to travel in the Iberian Peninsular at the height of the Peninsular War, in a bid to see more of the 'action'. Rosemary's book Cities and the Grand Tour: The British in Italy, c. 1690-1820 is available here: https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/cities-and-the-grand-tour/1BC3B4C2211B31007B03AA0A39729038 Rich...

Peninsular War Tourism 13.04.2024

Professor Rosemary Sweet & Dr Richard Ansell join me to discuss why some people decided to travel in the Iberian Peninsular at the height of the Peninsular War, in a bid to see more of the 'action'. Rosemary's book Cities and the Grand Tour: The British in Italy, c. 1690-1820 is available here: https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/cities-and-the-grand-tour/1BC3B4C2211B31007B03AA0A39729038 Rich...

George Washington: Officer & Founding Father 06.04.2024

Eddie Zimmerman returns for a chat about the iconic American. A man whose sheer tenacity kept the fledgling USA in the war despite repeated military setbacks in the early stages of the war. We discuss the myths and controversies as well as the man's character, and why he may have been fundamental to helping America define itself. Twitter: @zwhitehistory | @EdwardZimm1778 Register to vote in the UK...

The State of the Union (of Napoleonic History) 01.04.2024

A less-than-Presidential, two hour broadcast, in which Zack has multiple aneurysms, Luke self proclaims to be a 'Scholar in Residence', and then refers to military history as 'Guns and balls and pointy things'. We also do some serious historianing at some point in the broadcast. This is a new style of content, in which we look at the state of Napoleonic history, new book releases, new historical d...

A Soldier's Life: Re-enacting Napoleonic Infantrymen 10.03.2024

Rory Butcher and Liam Telfer join me to talk about how what make the world of re-enactment 'tick'. We discuss the realism debate, the unique insights and benefits that re-enactment offers, whether or not horses are terrifying, and the contentious subject of whether or not women should be allowed in the fighting line. Twitter: @zwhitehistory | @RMB_History | @liamtelfer Hosted on Acast. See acast.c...

Waterloo Around the World 18.02.2024

Dr Luke Reynolds talks about how Waterloo celebrations were spread across the British Empire, and how Waterloo Day became an excuse for a boozing session. Get 30% off Who Owned Waterloo at Oxford University Press by using code AAFLYG6 Twitter: @lureynol | @zwhitehistory Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Napoleon: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly 01.01.2024

Professor Beatrice de Graaf, and Professor Alexander Mikaberidze join Dr Zack White to discuss the life, legacy and complexities of remembering Napoleon Bonaparte.

Waterloo: The Battle on the Big Screen 10.12.2023

Trenches on the battlefield and the Prussians arriving from the wrong direction are nothing new... Professor Tony Pollard joins me to talk about more than a century of the Battle of Waterloo being depicted on the big screen. We talk about common tropes, the way in which portrayals of the battle have developed, and some of the challenges to production. Extended version with clips from the various f...

Napoleon Movie: Ridley Scott Reviewed 03.12.2023

*SPOILER, STRONG LANGUAGE & EXPLICIT CONTENT WARNING* Sam Jolley, Charlotte White, Josh Provan and Kit Chapman (University of Falmouth) join me to dissect the movie as a piece of film making. We largely park the historical inaccuracies to explore the real reasons why this film has proven such a disappointment with fans of the period. Twitter: @s_jolley | @restorationcake | @landofhistory Web:...

The Siege of Pensacola 28.11.2023

One of the largest sieges of the American War of Independence is far from common knowledge. Josh Provan explains all following the release of his new book on the Siege of Pensacola. Buy the book: https://www.helion.co.uk/military-history-books/every-hazard-and-fatigue-the-siege-of-pensacola-1781.php Twitter: @zwhitehistory | @landofhistory Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informatio...

Josephine: Empress of the French 23.11.2023

Who was Josephine, the women so often sidelined as simply being 'Napoleon's one true love'? Rachael Stark offers a multi-dimensional perspective on the complexities of Marie Josephe Rose de Beauharnias. Twitter: @zwhitehistory | @bookish_rachael Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To Firebomb a city - The Siege of Copenhagen Part 2 21.11.2023

Gareth Glover returns with the second instalment on the British siege of Copenhagen. Buy the book: https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-Two-Battles-of-Copenhagen-1801-and-1807-Paperback/p/23363 Twitter: @zwhitehistory | @GloverGareth Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Waterloo Banquets: A feast fit for a Duke 18.11.2023

What were the Waterloo banquets, and why did they matter? Luke Reynolds returns to explain why there was much more to these annual celebrations of the allied victory than an aristocratic booze-up. Buy the book. Discount code: AAFLYG6 for 33% off https://global.oup.com/academic/product/who-owned-waterloo-9780192865281?q=Reynolds&lang=en&cc=gb Twitter: @zwhitehistory | @lureynol Hosted on Ac...

The Siege of Copenhagen - Part 1 16.11.2023

Gareth Glover drops by for the first instalment of a two part on one of the most shameful, if strategically understandable, acts by the British in the entire Napoleonic Wars. Buy the book: https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-Two-Battles-of-Copenhagen-1801-and-1807-Paperback/p/23363 Twitter: @zwhitehistory | @GloverGareth Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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