The Napoleonic Wars Podcast

In 1799 Napoleon Bonaparte abandoned an army, and abandoned a government, launching a coup which would cement his place as a pivotal figure in history. Dr Graeme Callister returns to talk us through the political chaos, key figures, and strategic planning behind the event. We also discuss the revolutionary context, the role of military and political players, and the implications for French history.Buy Graeme's books at: https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Dr-Graeme-Callister/a/4546Support the show at: https://www.patreon.com/thenapoleonicwarspodChapters00:00 The Rise of Napoleon: A Coup in 179903:01 Napoleon's Return from Egypt: A Savior or a Coward?06:10 The State of the Directory: A Failing Government08:58 The Impact of Personal Relationships on Political Decisions11:57 The Paranoia of French Politics: A Legacy of the Terror15:01 Key Figures in the Coup: Allies and Influencers17:49 The Role of the Military in Political Change21:14 The Future of France: Napoleon's Vision and Ambitions28:03 Key Figures in the Coup32:09 Political Dynamics and Military Influence35:10 Historical Parallels: The English Civil War39:00 Napoleon's Rise: From Second Choice to Leader50:14 The Coup Plan: Constitutional Manipulation54:32 Conclusion and Future DiscussionsKeywordsNapoleon Bonaparte, French Revolution, Brumaire Coup, French politics, military strategy, 1799, revolutionary France, political upheaval

Ever wanted to know what it takes to look like a redcoat? Join us as we explore the intricate world of historical military tailoring with expert James Graves. Discover the craftsmanship, research process, and challenges behind recreating authentic Napoleonic era uniforms, and get tips for reenactors and history enthusiasts alike. One of our 'Meet the...' range with leading historical experts which we usually save exclusively for our patrons. For more of these, join us on patreon.Graves' Historical Uniforms Facebook Page - https://facebook.com/GravesHistoricalUniformsSupport the show: https://www.patreon.com/c/thenapoleonicwarspodKeywordshistorical tailoring, military uniforms, Napoleonic Wars, reenactment, costume making, historical research, garment construction, museum collections, period textiles, reenactor tipsChapters00:00 Introduction to the Episode12:31 Meet the Tailor: James Graves15:55 The Journey into Historical Tailoring20:19 Researching Historical Uniforms24:25 Challenges in Historical Accuracy27:54 Navigating Historical Regulations and Contradictions28:31 Translating Research into Garments29:12 The Construction Process of Historical Uniforms32:40 Balancing Modern Techniques with Historical Authenticity37:15 Managing Customer Expectations in Historical Tailoring41:13 The Role of Living Historians in Tailoring Development49:28 The Future of Historical Tailoring and Personal Aspirations

The Napoleonic era was a transformative age in the development of Alchemy and Chemistry. Explore the fascinating history of alchemy from ancient Egypt to the Napoleonic era, uncovering how early science evolved and influenced modern chemistry. Join Dr. Kit Chapman as he debunks myths, highlights key discoveries, and reveals the surprising connections between alchemy, science, and history. We blow the dust off the test tubes, and pull back the curtain on turning lead into gold, to give you an insight into how much was changing in the modern understanding of science as war waged across Europe.The Age of Alchemy by Dr. Kit Chapman - https://profilebooks.com/work/the-age-of-alchemy/Super Heavy: Making and Breaking the Periodic Table by Dr. Kit Chapman - https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/superheavy-9781472953926/Racing Green: How Motorsport Science Can Save the World by Dr. Kit Chapman - https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/racing-green-9781472982186/Dr. Kit Chapman - Official Website - https://kitchapman.comSupport the show at patreon.com/thenapoleonicwarspodTime Stamps:00:00 The Intersection of Alchemy and Chemistry04:49 Historical Context of Alchemy09:59 The Evolution of Alchemy to Chemistry15:02 The Napoleonic Era and Scientific Inquiry20:13 War as a Catalyst for Scientific Advancement24:47 The Role of Antoine Lavoisier30:54 The Life and Legacy of Antoine Lavoisier39:27 The Birth of Modern Chemistry45:35 Humphry Davy and the Discovery of Laughing Gas48:44 Mary Shelley and the Birth of Science Fiction54:26 Alchemy's Resurgence in the 19th Century56:38 Celebrating Unsung Heroes in ScienceKeywordsalchemy, history of science, chemistry, Napoleonic era, Lavoisier, alchemy myths, scientific revolution, history of elements, Humphrey Davy, Marie Curie

Catriona Kennedy joins us to explore the history of Catholic emancipation in Britain, the slow shift towards toleration, scapegoating and the final Emancipation Act's social and political implications, along with the key figures involved, including the pivotal role of the Duke of Wellington, Robert Peel and Daniel O'Connell.Support the show at: https://www.patreon.com/c/thenapoleonicwarspodCatriona's Work:Narratives of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, Military and Civilian Experience in Britain and Ireland, 1793 to 1815 - https://www.palgrave.com/gp/book/9783030559274Women, Politics and the Irish Public Sphere in the Age of Revolution - https://www.oxford.com/academic/works/9780198807474University of York - Catriona Kennedy Profile - https://www.york.ac.uk/history/people/academic-staff/katrina-kennedy/University of Southampton Special Collections - Wellington Papers - https://www.southampton.ac.uk/archives/collections/wellington-papers.pageChapters00:00 Introduction to the episode and guest Katrina Kennedy01:00 Historical context: Catholic persecution from the Reformation to 182902:25 The legal status of Catholics in Britain in the late 18th century05:36 Reasons behind the relaxation of anti-Catholic laws in the 1790s08:55 Impact of the French Revolution on British attitudes towards Catholics11:03 The shifting concept of Britishness and Irish identity21:44 The rise of Daniel O'Connell and the Catholic campaign in Ireland24:19 Wellington's opposition and the political crisis of 182933:05 The relationship between King George IV and Wellington during emancipation37:53 Public opinion, prejudice, and the social impact of emancipation42:07 Modern parallels: anti-Catholic prejudice and othering49:43 Conclusion: The social and political legacy of Catholic emancipationKeywordsCatholic emancipation, British history, Irish history, Act of Union, Daniel O'Connell, Wellington, Irish immigrants, 19th century politics

In this Battle Series episode of the The Napoleonic Wars Podcast, we head to southern Italy to unpack the dramatic and sometimes misunderstood Battle of Maida with historian Richard Hopton author of 'The Battle of Maida, 1806: Fifteen Minutes of Glory'.We set the stage with the wider Mediterranean campaign before diving into the opposing commanders, John Stuart and Jean Reynier, and the bold decisions that brought both armies into open battle.From the geography of the Maida plain to the eerie “awful silence” before bayonets clash, we reconstruct the battle moment by moment. At its heart lies the famous “fifteen minutes” that shattered the French attack, was this a triumph of fire discipline, leadership, or something more complex?We also tackle one of Napoleonic history’s biggest debates: line versus column. What really happened on the day, and how did Maida become a textbook case albeit accurately or not?Finally, we explore the aftermath, its strategic impact, its place in British military memory, and whether Maida deserves its reputation as a pivotal moment.A fast paced, myth busting deep dive into one of the era’s most fascinating battles that may have set up some of Britain's most decorated commaders for sucess in future campaigns. For more on Richard’s published works and where to find them, please click here Richard Hopton - Author | Historian | Journalist - Richard Hopton