In this episode, we examine the Battle of Talavera (July 27–28, 1809), a hard-fought clash of the Peninsular War where Sir Arthur Wellesley, later the Duke of Wellington, won his first major battlefield victory over Napoleon’s marshals in Spain. Facing the French armies of Marshal Victor and King Joseph Bonaparte, British and Spanish forces held firm against repeated attacks under brutal summer conditions.

Special guest Josh Provan discusses the key phases of the battle, including the fighting on Cerro de Medellín, French night assaults, and Wellington’s disciplined defensive tactics. Learn why Talavera earned Wellesley his peerage, exposed the limits of Spanish cooperation, and revealed the challenges Britain would face in Iberia—despite tactical success.

Ideal for listeners interested in the Napoleonic Wars, Wellington, Spanish campaigns, and 19th-century warfare.

X/Twitter: @LandOfHistory, @andnapoleon

In this episode, we break down Napoleon’s military strategies and the battlefield principles that made him the most feared commander of the Napoleonic Wars. From the corps system and rapid maneuver to central position, decisive battle, and relentless pursuit, Napoleon reshaped how wars were fought across Europe.

Special guest & podcaster Jonathan Abel explores how Napoleon used speed, deception, and concentration of force to defeat larger coalitions at battles like Austerlitz, Ulm, and Jena–Auerstedt, while also examining the limits of his system in Spain and Russia. Learn how logistics, artillery, and flexible command allowed the Grande Armée to dominate—and why these same strategies eventually failed against adaptive enemies.

Perfect for fans of military history, strategy and tactics, and operational-level warfare.

X/Twitter: @HistorianAbel, @andnapoleon

In this episode, we compare and contrast 2 minds of war: Clausewitz vs. Jomini. Special guest and professor Joshua Meeks joins the show to give us an overview on their respective biographies and their military theories. We will discuss all of the following:

🔍 1. Philosophy of War

🎯 Theory vs. Application

🧠 View of the Commander

⚔️ Tactical and Strategic Emphasis

🌍 Legacy and Influence

Thanks for watching/listening!

X/Twitter: @andnapoleon

In this episode, we examine the Battle of Lützen (May 2, 1813), Napoleon’s first major battle after the disaster in Russia and the opening clash of the War of the Sixth Coalition. Facing the combined Russian and Prussian armies under Wittgenstein and Blücher, Napoleon’s rebuilt Grande Armée fought a brutal struggle across the villages of Grossgörschen, Kaja, and Rahna.

Special guest & blogger Jonas de Neef breaks down the battlefield tactics and Napoleon’s reliance on mass artillery to secure victory—despite the absence of his experienced cavalry. Learn why Lützen was a tactical success but strategic warning, revealing the strengths and weaknesses of Napoleon’s new army and setting the stage for the campaigns of Bautzen, Dresden, and ultimately Leipzig.

Ideal for listeners interested in the Napoleonic Wars, 1813 campaign, Prussian–Russian resistance, and the decline of Napoleon’s military system.

X/Twitter: @andnapoleon

In this episode, we examine General Loison, one of Napoleon’s most notorious generals during the Peninsular War. Nicknamed “Maneta” or "One-Hand" by his opponents, Loison earned a brutal reputation for his harsh counter-insurgency operations, scorched-earth tactics, and ruthless discipline—methods that fueled resistance rather than crushed it.

Special guest Charles Mackay traces Loison’s rise during the French Revolutionary Wars, his service under Napoleon, and his key role in campaigns across Portugal and Spain, including the aftermath of Évora and the retreat toward Torres Vedras. Learn how Loison’s aggression contrasted with Napoleon’s expectations, why his conduct damaged French political goals in Iberia, and how his career reflects the wider failures of French strategy in Spain.

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

In this episode, we examine the Battle of Albuera (May 16, 1811), the bloodiest battles of the Peninsular War. British, Portuguese, and Spanish forces under Marshal Beresford faced the French Army led by Marshal Soult in a savage struggle marked by relentless infantry combat and catastrophic casualties.

Special guest Marcus Beresford breaks down Soult’s bold flanking attack, the desperate stand of British infantry under crushing fire, and the role of Spanish and Portuguese troops in holding the line. Learn why Albuera was a tactical stalemate but strategic Allied success, how it exposed both the strength and fragility of coalition warfare, and why veterans remembered it as one of the most brutal fights of the Napoleonic era.

X/Twitter: @andnapoleon

One of more striking figures in Napoleon's cavalry squadrons was the imposing General Montbrun. Special guest and blogger Jonas de Neef joins the show to discuss this intrepid commander of the Grande Armee who died on the battlefield of Borodino.

X/Twitter: @andnapoleon

The 1807 Battle of Eylau was a bloody stalemate that inflicted horrendous casualties on both sides. It may have also provided a blueprint on how to defeat Napoleon. Special guest & author Alexander Mikaberidze discusses the monumental clash between Napoleon's Grande Armee and the Russian army.

X/Twitter: @AMikaberidze, @andnapoleon

In this episode, we explore General Charles Antoine Morand, one of Napoleon’s most capable battlefield commanders and a key figure in Marshal Davout’s III Corps. As a commander of division, Morand helped make Davout’s corps the most disciplined and feared formation in the Grande Armée.

Special guest Charles Mackay follows Morand’s career through the great battles of the Napoleonic Wars, including Auerstedt and the 1812 Russian Campaign, highlighting his skill in defensive fighting, rapid maneuver, and iron discipline. Learn how Morand’s steady leadership under fire embodied Davout’s command philosophy and why he remains less famous—but no less important—than many of Napoleon’s marshals.

Perfect for listeners interested in Napoleonic generals, elite French units, Davout, and operational-level warfare during the early 19th century.

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

One of Nelson's masterpieces was also one of the most lopsided defeats suffered by the French Navy and Napoleon's military. Special guest & author John Kuehn discusses the background, strategy, outcome, and legacy of the battle.

Step back into 1798 and witness one of the most dramatic naval battles in history — explore how Admiral Horatio Nelson outmaneuvered the French fleet at Aboukir Bay, delivering a crushing blow to Napoleon’s ambitions in the East. Learn about the bold tactics, intense ship-to-ship combat, and the lasting impact this victory had on the Napoleonic Wars and British naval supremacy.

X/Twitter: @jkuehn50, @andnapoleon