Marshal Emmanuel de Grouchy: Napoleon’s Most Controversial Marshal

Emmanuel de Grouchy is forever linked to one question: Could he have saved Napoleon at Waterloo? Appointed to marshal only weeks before the Hundred Days, Grouchy was a capable cavalry commander thrust into an impossible situation at the worst possible moment. Should he have marched to the sound of the guns?

Tasked with pursuing the Prussians after Ligny, Grouchy followed Napoleon’s orders literally—only to be blamed when his absence at Waterloo allowed Blücher to arrive and decide the battle. Long criticized as incompetent, modern historians increasingly question whether Grouchy was made a convenient scapegoat for Napoleon’s final defeat.

In this episode, we explore:

• Grouchy’s career before becoming a marshal

• His actions after Ligny and the march toward Wavre

• The orders, delays, and misunderstandings of June 1815

• Whether Grouchy truly failed—or was set up to fail

Support this podcast: patreon.com/generalsandnapoleon

X/Twitter: @andnapoleon

*If you like this episode, please consider supporting the podcast at patreon.com/generalsandnapoleon