The Napoleonic Wars Podcast

Zack White
  • 4.8 (156)
  • HISTORY
  • UPDATED FORTNIGHTLY

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, Liam Telfer and Josh Redden 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 deepen their understanding of the period.

  1. 6 DAYS AGO

    Beyond Marriage: Sex, Desire, and Deviancy in the Napoleonic era

    CONTENT WARNING: There is very strong language, and discussion of topics of a sexual nature from the very start and throughout this podcast. Listener discretion is advised. Why is the idea of 'normal' sex a bit of a myth? What does it mean to be 'sexually deviant', and who gets to make that call? What happens if you are found to be 'sexually deviant'? And why did the powers that be care more about some forms of deviancy than others? Eleanor Janega and Seth Le Jacq return to the show to discuss what deviancy was and wasn't, where 'deviant' and more general sexual acts took place during the Napoleonic era, and how understanding people's attitudes to sex during this period helps us to understand society, both in the 19th century, and today. This episode is not for the faint-hearted - you have been warned! Support the show on patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/thenapoleonicwarspod Join our mailing list: https://linktr.ee/napwarspod

    1h 18m

  2. 5 OCT

    The Battle of Austerlitz: Napoleon's Masterpiece?

    On 2nd December 1805 Napoleon achieved what was perhaps his greatest victory. Over the course of the short winter's day he shattered the coalition force arrayed against him on the Pratzen heights, in a victory that would help him to usher in a new order in Europe. But what actually happened on that bitterly cold day? Who was responsible for this crushing victory? And how the has the battle been mythologised over the last 220 years? Alex Mikaberidze returns for the blistering conclusion to this double-bill on Napoleon's finest hour. We discuss combatants, missed opportunities, blunders, bravery, legacies and much more as we finally deliver the episode that you've all been waiting for.

    1h 12m

  3. 28 SEPT

    The Eve of Austerlitz

    In this episode of The Napoleonic Wars Podcast, we’re joined by world renowned historian Dr. Alexander Mikaberidze, acclaimed author of The Napoleonic Wars: A Global History, for the first of a two part deep dive into one of Napoleon’s greatest triumphs: the Battle of Austerlitz. Part One, The Eve of Austerlitz, sets the stage for the clash that would reshape Europe. How did we get here? Dr. Mikaberidze unpacks the wider geopolitical currents of 1805, why Napoleon’s meteoric rise forced old enemies into uneasy alliances, and how the French and Allied armies maneuvered across central Europe to converge on a small town in Moravia that would soon be etched into history. We then explore one of the most remarkable aspects of Austerlitz: Napoleon’s mastery of deception. Far from stumbling into mistakes, the French Emperor feigned weakness, carefully baiting the Allies into overconfidence and error. Dr. Mikaberidze explains the subtle bluffs and calculated “blunders” that set the trap. Finally, we turn to the battlefield itself. From rolling hills to frozen ponds, what did the geography around Austerlitz mean for 19th-century warfare? And how did the terrain shape the epic confrontation that followed? For more information on Dr Mikaberidze's published work and where to find them please go to Alexander Mikaberidze, PhD

    1h 4m

  4. 21 SEPT

    The Battle of Assaye

    The Battle of Assaye has been called Arthur Wellesley’s first great victory, a clash that set the stage for his later fame as the Duke of Wellington. Outnumbered six to one by the mighty Maratha Confederacy, Wellesley’s 6,500 men faced a storm of cannon fire, disciplined infantry, and thousands of cavalry in a battle that could easily have ended in disaster. Instead, through bold gambles, ruthless determination, and sheer grit, Assaye became a defining moment in both the Second Anglo-Maratha War and in Wellesley’s own meteoric career. In this episode of the Napoleonic Wars Podcast, we sit down with historian and author Josh Provan to break down this bloody, high stakes showdown. We explore the political intrigue that led to war in India, the geography around the village of Assaye, and the snap decision that saw Wellesley launch his outnumbered army into one of the fiercest fights of his life. From desperate bayonet charges to Wellesley himself rallying troops in the thick of battle, Assaye has it all: courage, chaos, and consequences that reshaped British power in India. If you love epic battles, leadership under fire, and the origins of a legend, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. More of Josh Provan's work can be found here Joshua Provan - Biography | Helion & Company | Military History Books For all your exclusive podcast merchandise needs go to Napoleonic Wars Podcast | Discover Our Exclusive Range at Napoleonic Wars Podcast

    1h 4m

  5. 15 SEPT

    Siege Warfare - An Unavoidable Evil

    Ready to blast through the walls of Napoleonic history? In this pounding episode of the Napoleonic Wars Podcast, we talk to Dr Zack White about his edited collection An Unavoidable Evil - Siege Warfare in the Age of Napoleon. Discover how the era of Napoleon wasn't all about Austerlitz and Waterloo; from the fortresses of Izmail and Braila to Wellington’s Peninsular sieges, we uncover the dramatic and gritty stories of sieges that shaped empires. We'll explore how siege warfare evolved during this period and why modern historians are turning their sights back on these crucial events. Dr White shares fresh insights from a team of top historians, bridging scholarly depth with battlefield excitement. Tune in as we delve into the strategies commanders used to crack fortress defenses, the challenges soldiers and civilians faced under relentless bombardment, and the lessons these epic sieges teach us about war and society. This is a must listen for military history enthusiasts craving a new perspective on the Napoleonic era's most explosive episodes! Zack's edited collection can be found here An Unavoidable Evil | From Reason to Revolution 1721-1815 | Helion & Company

    57 min

  6. 7 SEPT

    Bread, Boots and Bullets - Logistics of the British Army

    Have you ever wondered how Britain’s redcoats marched across Europe with full bellies, coin in their pockets, and plenty of ammunition? In this episode, award winning historian Professor Kevin Linch returns to our British Army series to help us break down the gritty reality of military logistics behind the lines. We explore what was in a soldier's daily ration and how it was cooked up on campaign. We dig into how the army kept its soldiers paid, clothed, and armed in the heat of battle. From supply-line nightmares and busted boots to cunning contractors and a dash of black-market intrigue, nothing is off the table. It's a punchy, behind-the-scenes ride through the unglamorous but crucial "sinews of war" that kept the army fighting fit from the 1790s to Waterloo. Find more on Kevin's work here Pen and Sword Books: Titles by Kevin Linch For all your exclusive NapWarsPod merchandise look no further than napoleonic-wars-podcast.printify.me

    1h 11m

  7. 31 AUG

    Waterloo Medals

    Why did Britain break its mould with the Waterloo medal? Were medals really that rare? And why do they matter? Expert auctioneer Robert Wilde-Evans joins Luke and Zack to discuss how you tell the real ones from the fakes, and what a Waterloo medal really represents. We discuss how they highlight a shift in attitudes to how the British soldier is viewed during the time, what the Holy Grail is when it comes to Waterloo medals, and much more, as we discuss possibly the most famous medal of the entire Napoleonic Wars. Support out work on patron: https://www.patreon.com/c/thenapoleonicwarspod

    1h 15m

  8. 24 AUG

    Wars of Revolution and Empire: The People's Perspective

    What did ordinary Britons really think about the American and the French Revolutions as war erupted across the globe? In this lively episode of The Napoleonic Wars Podcast, we’re joined by Professor Emma Macleod of the University of Stirling to dig into the fascinating world of 18th Century Britain through the letters of two remarkable men: Rev. James Wodrow, a Scottish minister in Ayrshire, and Samuel Kenrick, an English merchant and banker from Worcestershire. Drawing on her brilliant work editing The Wodrow-Kenrick Correspondence, 1750–1810, Emma helps us unpack the fierce debates that divided Britain: Tory loyalists versus reformers, pro-war voices versus critics accused of radicalism, and the contrasts between urban and rural opinion. We explore how Britain viewed war with Revolutionary France compared to the American colonies, how politics, religion, and everyday anxieties shaped public opinion, and what these letters reveal about life on the home front during an age of revolution. This is a fresh, human perspective on the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, one that goes beyond Kings, Generals, and battles to show how ordinary people wrestled with extraordinary times. Professor Macleod's puplished works The Wodrow-Kenrick Correspondence, 1750–1810 can be found here The Wodrow-Kenrick Correspondence 1750-1810 - Martin Fitzpatrick, Emma Macleod, Anthony Page - Oxford University Press Exclusive 'NapWarsPod' merchandise can be found here Discover Our Exclusive Range at Napoleonic Wars Podcast

    1h 1m
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4.8
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About

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, Liam Telfer and Josh Redden 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 deepen their understanding of the period.

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