Titans of History: Napoleon Bonaparte

The often overlooked Haitian Revolution became a major pain for Napoleon's ambitions in the Americas and, in response, he sent his brother-in-law to put down a troublesome rebellion that just wouldn't go away until they achieved their ultimate goal: independence.

Britain attacks Copenhagen to assert her dominance over the Baltic Sea trade while she and France finally achieve something that Europe had pleaded for ten years: peace

One final blow takes Austria out of the War of the Second Coalition while Napoleon comes about as close to death as he ever would on Parisian soil. Join us as we discuss the Battle of Hohenlinden and the Plot of the Rue Saint Nicaise!

In one of Napoleon's most important domestic policy decisions, France finally reconciles with the Catholic Church while Bonaparte also navigates the complex and seldom spoken about relationship between France and the newly formed United States of America.

In a decisive battle, Napoleon gave further credence to his supposed aura of invincibility, while the Austrians miss a golden chance to take out the French Consulate before it could even get off the ground. Join us as we discuss the battle that solidified Napoleon's place as the leader of France--and setting the stage for the next fifteen years of war in Europe.

Faced with a renewed Austrian offensive in Northern Italy at the French frontier, Napoleon made the decision to cross the Alps to help retake what was lost in 1799. In one of history's most famous mountain crossings, Napoleon would bring his Army of the Reserve to teeth of the Austrians at Marengo.

After the Brumaire Coup, Napoleon embarked on his quest to consolidate his place as head of the newly founded French Consulate. Join us as we go through some of the reforms that the young Bonaparte implemented in securing his place as the quintessential Enlightened Despot.

The climatic moment that ended the 18th Century: after four years at the helm, the French Directory comes crashing down at the hands of a small group of conspirators in one history's most famous coups: the Coup of 18 Brumaire.

As the failed Siege of Acre prevents Napoleon's Alexandrian dreams, he begins the long trek back to Cairo with the chaos in France setting the stage for one of history's momentous events.

In the turning point of Napoleon's quest to conquer the Middle East, fierce Ottoman resistance (with some help from the British) proved that Napoleon was not the invincible general he thought himself to be

As Napoleon dealt with the loss of his fleet at the Battle of the Nile and rising Egyptian resistance, he looked to find new purpose for his mission in Egypt as he shifted his expedition eastward with a looming Ottoman threat just over the horizon.

In one of the most decisive naval engagements in the history of warfare, the British Royal Navy hand the French Republic one of their most crushing losses. Join us this week as we break down a battle for the ages.

Happy Holidays! This week, we're taking a break from Napoleon and diving into the man that mastered the oceans and prevented Napoleon from ever gaining naval supremacy: Britain's great military hero--Horatio Nelson

From Malta to Alexandria, Napoleon entered Egypt with a mission to expel seven centuries of Ottoman rule and dent British influence in the Middle East.

After returning to Paris a hero following the Italian Campaign, Napoleon and the Directory began to turn their attention across the Channel as they could not shake off her long time ulcer, the British Empire

After seizing Mantua and forcing the Austrians to the negotiating table, Napoleon manages a delicate peace in Europe, while the situation in Paris becomes tenuous and new major player to our story comes onto the scene.

The Austrians launch two final attempts to relieve Mantua from the French, as Napoleon eyes their final capitulation and a shot at earning France's glory.

As Napoleon launched his assault on the critical fortress city, the Austrians attempt two major relief efforts to keep a foothold in Italy and drive the French back from whence they came.

Now focusing his attention to the Austrians, Napoleon begins his push to total victory in Italy, while preparing for the longest protracted struggle of his military career to date.

As Napoleon begins his first campaign into Italy, he splits the Coalitions forces in two, showing his enemies the new battle tactics he has in store to take the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia out of the war and put Austria on the run.

France, l’armée, tête d’armée, Joséphine. France, the army, the head of the army, Joséphine. --Napoleon's last words, 1821

Toulon put Napoleon on the map. Vendémiaire put Napoleon on the path to immortality.

Not as celebrated as what's to come, the transition from Thermidor to the Directory proved critical to helping forge who Napoleon would become in his later military conquests. We also dive into his social life and peel back the mask to see not a legend, but a young man.

In the words of the famous general himself, “It was in Toulon where my reputation began.” -- Napoleon Bonaparte

Join us this week as Napoleon navigates the perilous geopolitical landscape in Revolutionary France, coming face to face with the three-way struggle between his Corsican countrymen, his French military career, and his personal ambitions. Enjoy!