The Napoleonic Quarterly Quartermaster Productions

Professor Emeritus Michael Broers of the University of Oxford, biography of Napoleon and historical adviser to 'Napoleon' (2023), sat down virtually with his old chum and sparring partner Charles Esdaile. In this conversation they covered:

[02:00] - their shared outsider perspective on the French Revolution

[06:00] - the usefulness of the Napoleonic period in terms of boosting the power of the state

[13:00] - Different ways of looking at Napoleon - including as the greatest of the Enlightened absolutists

[25:00] - Writing about Napoleon Bonaparte, whether you're Andrew Roberts or not

[35:00] - The Hundred Days

[43:00] - 'Napoleon' (2023), the epic spectacle-filled movie blockbuster for which Prof Broers served as historical adviser

A Napoleonic professor is despatched to the field hospital, delaying our next main episode by a month. But we have lots of bonus episodes in the meantime.

Dr Rachel Blackman-Rogers is joined by King's College London colleague Professor Andrew Lambert to discuss the current conflict in Ukraine and how lessons from history can be applied to contemporary challenges in containing Russian aggression.

Bernie Campbell takes us on a whistlestop tour of the world as it was at the turn of the 19th century, in the company of Professor Alexander Mikaberidze of Louisiana State University-Shreveport and the NQ's intrepid Quartermaster-Patreons.

Here's a deep dive into the Battle of Hohenlinden, in which Moreau decisively beats the Austrians under Archduke John.

Thanks to David Hollins and Hans-Karl Weiß for talking us through it!

1800. January… February… March… Three months in which Jean-Victor Moreau’s snowy victory at Hohenlinden takes the Austrians out of the war… Napoleon Bonaparte survives the world’s first car bombing attempt in Paris… And across the Atlantic those huge swathes of land west of the Appalachians change hands between the European powers once again, causing disquiet in Washington DC. This is episode 36 of the Napoleonic Quarterly - covering three months in which French military prowess once again proves decisive.

[09:32] - Headline developments

[24:32] - Alan Forrest on the 'Infernal Machine' assassination attempt on Bonaparte's life

[49:06] - Hans-Karl Weiss on the Battle of Hohenlinden

[1:08:44] - Preliminary discussion on the Treaty of San Il Defonso

[1:15:55] - Kathy Burk on the Treaty of San Il Defonso