Generals and Napoleon

Generals and Napoleon

By John W. ViscardoHistory
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Generals and Napoleon episodes

  • Napoleon's Rise to Power: From Artillery Officer to Emperor of France (with Rafe Blaufarb) | Ep 145

    🌍 From an unknown Corsican artillery lieutenant to Emperor — Napoleon Bonaparte’s rise is one of history’s most dramatic stories. Special guest Rafe Blaufarb joins the show to discuss how Napoleon climbed the ranks during the French Revolution, won stunning victories, and seized power to reshape Europe forever.


    ⚔️ In this video, we’ll cover:

    • Napoleon’s early military career as a young officer

    • His breakthrough at Toulon and rise to general

    • How he became a national hero

    • The 1799 coup that made him First Consul


    📖 Perfect for history buffs, students, and anyone fascinated by leadership, ambition, and the Napoleonic era.

    🔔 Subscribe for more Napoleonic history, great battles, and “on this date” events from the life of Napoleon and his marshals!


    X/Twitter: @andnapoleon


    #Napoleon #History #NapoleonicWars #FrenchRevolution #RiseOfNapoleon #floridastateuniversity

    48 min
  • The Battles of Ligny and Quatre-Bras: The Road to Waterloo (with Gareth Glover) | Ep 144

    🔴 The Battles of Ligny & Quatre-Bras | Napoleon’s Final Gamble Begins 🔴
    In this episode, we dive deep into the critical twin battles that set the stage for Waterloo: Ligny and Quatre-Bras, both fought on June 16, 1815. Special guest & author Gareth Glover discusses how Napoleon's last great victory at Ligny was undercut by missed opportunities, and how the Duke of Wellington's stubborn stand at Quatre-Bras helped shape the epic showdown to come.

    👑 Featuring key figures like Marshal Ney, General D'Erlon, and Field Marshal Blücher we examine the strategies, blunders, and heroism that unfolded over one fateful day in Belgium.

    ⚔️ Learn how coordination failures, fog of war, and bold decision-making altered the course of European history in just 24 hours.

    🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more Napoleonic history every week!


    #Napoleon #BattleOfLigny #QuatreBras #NapoleonicWars #Wellington #Waterloo #MilitaryHistory #HistoryPodcast #PrussianArmy #MarshalNey

    41 min
  • Napoleon's Return to France: The Emperor's Funeral and Final Resting Place (with Charles Mackay) | Ep 143

    Discover the dramatic story of Napoleon Bonaparte’s state funeral and the return of his remains to France in 1840, nearly two decades after his death on Saint Helena. Special guest Charles Mackay joins us to explores the political symbolism, the public reaction, and the elaborate procession that accompanied the Emperor’s final journey through Paris to Les Invalides.


    Learn why King Louis-Philippe agreed to bring Napoleon home, how French citizens responded, and what the funeral meant for Napoleon's legacy.


    🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and follow more Napoleonic history!
    👇 Comment below: Should Napoleon have been buried in France or left on Saint Helena?


    Bluesky: @andnapoleon.bsky.social‬, @bubblesvampire.bsky.social‬


    #napoleon #napoleonfuneral #lesinvalides #history #podcast

    34 min
  • Charles X: The Bourbon Restoration, Napoleon's Legacy, and the July Revolution (with David Montgomery) | Ep 142

    👑 Charles X of France – The Last Bourbon King 👑

    Charles X (1757–1836) was the final reigning monarch of the Bourbon line in France. Brother of Louis XVI and Louis XVIII, Charles inherited the throne in 1824 during the Bourbon Restoration. Special guest & podcaster David Montgomery joins the show to discuss his reign, which was marked by attempts to roll back the French Revolution.


    Deeply conservative, Charles X pushed policies favoring the Catholic Church and the old aristocracy—earning him fierce opposition from liberals and the middle class. His controversial July Ordinances of 1830, which dissolved Parliament, censored the press, and restricted voting rights, triggered the July Revolution. Charles was overthrown and forced to abdicate, ending Bourbon rule in France.


    📜 In this video, we’ll explore:

    • Charles X’s rise to power

    • His political struggles during the Restoration

    • How his policies sparked the 1830 Revolution

    • The legacy of the last Bourbon king of France

    🔔 Subscribe for more history on French kings, Napoleon, and the dramatic revolutions that shaped Europe!


    X/Twitter: @TheSiecle, @andnapoleon


    #charlesX #kings #kingoffrance #bourbons #napoleon

    46 min
  • Bailén 1808: The Spanish Victory That Shocked Napoleon (with Joshua Provan) | Ep 141

    The Battle of Bailén (July 16–19, 1808) was a shocking defeat for Napoleon’s forces during the Peninsular War—and the first time a French field army surrendered in open battle. Special guest and author Josh Provan discusses how Spanish General Castaños surrounded and crushed General Dupont’s troops, forcing over 17,000 French soldiers to lay down their arms.


    This stunning Spanish victory electrified Europe, shattered the myth of French invincibility, and inspired resistance against Napoleon across the continent.


    ⚔️ Learn about:

    • How Spanish forces outmaneuvered Napoleon’s troops

    • The leadership of General Castaños

    • The surrender of General Dupont

    • Why Bailén changed the course of the Peninsular War


    X/Twitter: @landofhistory, @andnapoleon


    #bailen #battles #battlefields #spain #napoleon

    43 min
  • General Sebastiani: Napoleon's General, Diplomat, and Survivor (with Jonathan North) | Ep 140

    General Horace Sébastiani was more than just a cavalry officer—he was a battlefield commander, imperial diplomat, and political survivor in one of the most turbulent eras in French history. From the thunder of hooves in Spain and Russia to the quiet halls of diplomacy, Sébastiani’s career spanned empires, revolutions, and restorations.


    Special guest and author Jonathan North joins the show to explore the remarkable journey of a man who wore many hats:
    ✅ His cavalry commands in the Peninsular War and Russian Campaign
    ✅ Service under Murat and participation in key engagements like Talavera and Borodino
    ✅ His diplomatic missions to Constantinople and role in shaping French-Ottoman policy
    ✅ How he navigated the fall of Napoleon, the Bourbon Restoration, and the July 1830 Revolution
    ✅ Why Sébastiani remains one of the most adaptable figures of the era


    Whether on horseback or in the halls of power, Sébastiani was always at the center of history.

    📌 Like, comment, and subscribe for more deep dives into the overlooked generals of the Napoleonic Wars!


    X/Twitter: @andnapoleon

    30 min
  • The 15 Greatest Generals of the Napoleonic Wars, Part 2 | Ep 139

    Part II of our Ultimate ranking of the Top 15 Generals of the Napoleonic Era!


    Step into the boots of the greatest military minds of the Napoleonic Wars. In this episode of Generals and Napoleon, we count down the Top 15 generals of the Napoleonic Era—the brilliant, bold, and often controversial commanders who shaped European history between 1796 and 1815.


    Join our brilliant panel of guests - Rachael Stark, Graeme Callister, Nick Kramer, Michael Hamel, and Jonas de Neef - who discuss everything from Marshal Davout’s iron discipline to Wellington’s defensive genius. We break down the tactics, triumphs, and legacies of iconic leaders from France, Britain, Russia, Austria, Prussia, and beyond.


    🔍 Whether you're a history buff, military strategist, or Napoleon enthusiast, this episode is packed with insights, surprises, and debates on what made these men legendary.


    👉 We Include:

    • Forgotten geniuses and battlefield legends

    • Key campaigns that defined each general

    • How Napoleon influenced—and was influenced by—his marshals and enemies


    💬 Tell us in the comments: Who would make YOUR Top 15 list?


    🎧 Subscribe for more on the Napoleonic Wars, epic battles, leadership lessons, and the fascinating lives of history’s greatest generals.


    *Note: "The opinions expressed herein are those of the individuals and do reflect the official policy or position of the US Army, the United States Military Academy, the Department of Defense, or the US Government.”


    X/Twitter: @bookish_rachael, @nkramer5812, @graemecallister, @andnapoleon


    #Napoleon #NapoleonicWars #MilitaryHistory #Wellington #Davout #NapoleonicGenerals #HistoryPodcast #GeneralsAndNapoleon

    1 hr 2 min
  • The 15 Greatest Generals of the Napoleonic Wars, Part 1 | Ep 138

    🎖️ Who Were the Top 15 Generals of the Napoleonic Era?


    Step into the greatest military minds of the Napoleonic Wars. In this episode of Generals and Napoleon, we count down the Top 15 generals of the Napoleonic Era—the brilliant, bold, and often controversial commanders who shaped European history between 1796 and 1815.


    Join our brilliant panel of guests - Rachael Stark, Graeme Callister, Nick Kramer, Michael Hamel, and Jonas de Neef - who discuss everything from Marshal Davout’s iron discipline to Wellington’s defensive genius. We break down the tactics, triumphs, and legacies of iconic leaders from France, Britain, Russia, Austria, Prussia, and beyond.


    🔍 Whether you're a history buff, military strategist, or Napoleon enthusiast, this episode is packed with insights, surprises, and debates on what made these men legendary.


    👉 We Include:

    • Forgotten geniuses and battlefield legends

    • Key campaigns that defined each general

    • How Napoleon influenced—and was influenced by—his marshals and enemies


    💬 Tell us in the comments: Who would make YOUR Top 15 list?

    🎧 Subscribe for more on the Napoleonic Wars, epic battles, leadership lessons, and the fascinating lives of history’s greatest generals.


    *Note: "The opinions expressed herein are those of the individuals and do reflect the official policy or position of the US Army, the United States Military Academy, the Department of Defense, or the US Government.”


    X/Twitter: @bookish_rachael, @nkramer5812, @graemecallister, @andnapoleon


    #Napoleon #NapoleonicWars #MilitaryHistory #Wellington #Davout #NapoleonicGenerals #HistoryPodcast #GeneralsAndNapoleon

    1 hr 9 min
  • Napoleon's Parents: Carlo and Letizia Bonaparte (with John Kuehn) | Ep 137

    Discover the untold story of Napoleon Bonaparte’s parents — Carlo Buonaparte and Letizia Ramolino — and how their influence shaped the future Emperor of France. 🏛️

    Special guest John Kuehn joins the show to help us dive into the lives of this Corsican couple:

    • Carlo Buonaparte, a lawyer and political opportunist, who navigated the turbulent politics of 18th-century Corsica.

    • Letizia Ramolino, Napoleon’s strong-willed mother, known for her resilience and discipline, who raised one of history’s most iconic military leaders.

    From their noble Corsican roots to their roles during the French Revolution and Napoleonic Empire, learn how their ambitions, struggles, and values molded young Napoleon’s character, drive, and identity.

    💡 Perfect for fans of history, Napoleonics, and those curious about the family behind the legend.


    X/Twitter: @jkuehn50, @andnapoleon


    40 min
  • The Battle of Trafalgar: How Nelson Defeated Napoleon at Sea (with Joshua Meeks) | Ep 136

    In this episode, we explore the Battle of Trafalgar, the decisive naval clash of October 21, 1805, where Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson and the Royal Navy shattered Napoleon Bonaparte’s hopes of invading Britain. Learn how Nelson’s bold tactics, including the famous two-column attack, defeated the combined French and Spanish fleets under Admiral Villeneuve, securing British naval supremacy for more than a century.


    Special guest Joshua Meeks will break down the strategy, key commanders, ships of the line, and turning points, from HMS Victory to Nelson’s legendary signal — “England expects that every man will do his duty.” Discover why Trafalgar mattered beyond the battlefield, how it shaped the Napoleonic Wars, and why Nelson’s death turned him into a national hero.


    Perfect for fans of military history, naval warfare, Napoleon, and British history



    X/Twitter: @andnapoleon

    Patreon: patreon.com/generalsandnapoleon

    52 min

About Generals and Napoleon

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Generals and Napoleon, presented by John Viscardo, a history podcast exploring the Napoleonic Wars, iconic commanders, battlefield strategy, and leadership lessons.

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