General Jean-Baptiste Drouet, Comte d’Erlon was one of Napoleon’s most capable yet controversial corps commanders, remembered for being at the center of some of the most critical moments of the Napoleonic Wars. From early Revolutionary success to his fateful role at Waterloo, d’Erlon’s career shows how timing and command decisions could shape the fate of empires.

In this episode, special guest Graeme Callister will explore d’Erlon’s rise through the French Revolutionary armies, his service under Napoleon, and his important role in the Peninsular War, where he fought against Wellington in Spain and Portugal. We examine his leadership style, battlefield strengths, and the moments where hesitation—or conflicting orders—proved costly.

The story culminates at Waterloo, where d’Erlon’s corps launched one of the largest infantry attacks of the battle, only to be shattered by Allied fire and British heavy cavalry. We also revisit the dramatic confusion at Quatre Bras and Ligny, when d’Erlon’s corps marched back and forth between two battles—potentially altering the entire campaign.

Was d’Erlon unlucky, indecisive, or simply a victim of Napoleon’s increasingly complex command structure? This episode reassesses his reputation and explains why his career remains one of the great debates of Napoleonic military history.

If you’re interested in Napoleonic battles, French corps commanders, and the fine margins that decided Waterloo, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

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General Levin August von Bennigsen was one of Napoleon’s most persistent—and frustrating—adversaries, a Russian commander who repeatedly stood in the Emperor’s path during the War of the Fourth Coalition. Best known for commanding Russian forces at Eylau and Friedland, Bennigsen’s career highlights both the strengths and limits of coalition warfare against Napoleon.

In this episode, special guest & author Alexander Mikaberidze explores Bennigsen’s rise through the Russian Imperial Army, his experience fighting across Europe, and his role as commander of Russian forces in Poland and East Prussia. We break down the brutal Battle of Eylau (1807)—one of the bloodiest and most indecisive battles of the Napoleonic Wars—where Bennigsen came closest to halting Napoleon in open battle.

We also examine his defeat at Friedland, the strategic miscalculations that followed, and how these events led directly to the Treaty of Tilsit. Beyond the battlefield, the episode looks at Bennigsen’s difficult relationships with Tsar Alexander I, rival generals, and later commanders like Kutuzov during the 1812 campaign.

Was Bennigsen an able commander constrained by politics, or a general who failed at decisive moments? This episode reassesses his leadership and explains why his clashes with Napoleon mattered far beyond their immediate outcomes.

If you’re interested in Napoleonic coalition generals, Russian military history, and the campaigns that tested Napoleon at his peak, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

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King Louis XVIII of France was the Bourbon who outlasted the Revolution, Napoleon, and exile to reclaim the French throne—twice. Often overshadowed by his brother Louis XVI and his enemy Napoleon, Louis XVIII was a shrewd political survivor who helped shape post-Napoleonic Europe.

In this episode, we explore Louis XVIII’s early life, his years in exile during the French Revolution, and his careful positioning as the legitimate Bourbon alternative while Napoleon ruled France. We examine his return to power in 1814, his attempt to balance monarchy with revolutionary change, and his dramatic flight during Napoleon’s return in the Hundred Days.

The story continues with Louis XVIII’s second restoration after Waterloo, as he navigated political revenge, royalist extremism, and a war-weary nation desperate for stability. This episode looks at how Louis XVIII ruled differently from the old absolute monarchs—and why his cautious pragmatism helped the Bourbon monarchy survive longer than many expected.

Was Louis XVIII a weak placeholder king, or a skilled political realist who understood that France had permanently changed? This episode reassesses his reign and his role in rebuilding France after years of revolution and war.

If you’re interested in French Restoration history, post-Napoleonic Europe, and the rulers who inherited Napoleon’s world, this is an essential watch.

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⚔️👑Napoleon Bonaparte was one of the most influential—and controversial—figures in world history. From obscure Corsican artillery officer to Emperor of the French, Napoleon reshaped Europe through war, law, and ambition on a scale never seen before.

In this episode, special guest & author Andrew Roberts will trace Napoleon’s extraordinary rise during the French Revolution, his early victories in Italy and Egypt, and the political gamble that brought him to power in the Coup of 18 Brumaire. We examine how Napoleon transformed France through sweeping reforms, including the Napoleonic Code, while simultaneously building a military empire that dominated Europe for over a decade.

The story follows Napoleon through his greatest triumphs—Austerlitz, Jena, Wagram—and his growing challenges, from the Peninsular War to the catastrophic invasion of Russia in 1812. We then chart his fall, exile to Elba, dramatic return during the Hundred Days, and final defeat at Waterloo, ending with his last years on Saint Helena.

Was Napoleon a military genius, a revolutionary hero, or a tyrant driven by endless war? This episode explores the man behind the myth and explains why Napoleon’s legacy still shapes modern Europe, warfare, and politics.

If you’re fascinated by Napoleonic battles, military strategy, and the personalities that changed history, this is essential viewing.

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🩺⚔️Dr. Dominique Jean Larrey was Napoleon’s greatest surgeon and the father of modern battlefield medicine. Serving as Surgeon-in-Chief of the Grande Armée, Larrey revolutionized how wounded soldiers were treated, saving countless lives across the brutal campaigns of the Napoleonic Wars.

In this episode, special guest Mick Crumplin will explore Larrey’s groundbreaking innovations, including the creation of the “flying ambulance”, rapid triage, and the idea of treating wounded soldiers regardless of rank or nationality. From Egypt to Austerlitz, Borodino, and Waterloo, Larrey worked under fire, performing surgeries at incredible speed and with compassion rarely seen in 19th-century warfare.

We also examine Larrey’s close relationship with Napoleon, who deeply admired and protected him, as well as the extraordinary respect Larrey earned from friend and enemy alike. Even Wellington ordered his troops to spare Larrey on the battlefield of Waterloo—an honor almost unheard of during the era.

Was Larrey merely a brilliant surgeon, or one of the most important humanitarian figures in military history? This episode explains why his legacy extends far beyond Napoleon and why modern combat medicine still traces its roots back to his work.

If you’re interested in Napoleonic history, military medicine, and the unsung heroes who saved lives amid empire and war, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

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Joseph Bonaparte, 👑⚔️Napoleon’s eldest brother, became a king twice—but was never meant to be one. Appointed King of Naples and later King of Spain, Joseph’s reigns showcase the limits of Napoleonic power and the challenges of ruling conquered nations during the age of empire.

In this episode, special guest Graeme Callister will trace Joseph Bonaparte’s early life as a lawyer and diplomat, his role in supporting Napoleon’s rise, and his reluctant acceptance of crowns placed on his head by the Emperor. We examine his rule in Naples, where he attempted moderate reforms, and his far more troubled reign in Spain, where popular resistance and the Peninsular War turned his kingship into a constant struggle for survival.

The story follows Joseph through key moments such as the Spanish uprising of 1808, the intervention of Wellington’s army, and defeats at battles like Vitoria, which effectively ended French rule in Spain. We also look at Joseph’s uneasy relationship with Napoleon, his preference for diplomacy over war, and his life in exile after the fall of the Empire.

Was Joseph Bonaparte an incapable ruler, or a man placed in an impossible position by his brother’s ambitions? This episode reassesses his career and explains why his failures mattered to the fate of Napoleon’s empire.

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Ridley Scott’s Napoleon promised epic battles, historical depth, and the definitive portrayal of one of history’s greatest figures—but delivered a film that left many viewers frustrated, confused, and disappointed.

In this movie review of Napoleon, special guest Marcus Cribb will discuss what went wrong: shallow characterization, questionable historical choices, uneven pacing, and a portrayal of Napoleon that strips away the political genius, military brilliance, and complexity that made him fascinating in the first place. From awkward dialogue and tonal whiplash to battles that feel visually impressive but emotionally hollow, this review pulls no punches.

We examine how the film handles major events like Austerlitz, the Russian Campaign, and Waterloo, why the storytelling feels rushed despite the long runtime, and how Joaquin Phoenix’s performance—while committed—often clashes with the script’s vision of Napoleon as little more than a bitter caricature.

Is Napoleon a misunderstood epic, or a missed opportunity that sacrifices history for spectacle? This review explains why the film fails both as historical drama and as entertainment, especially for fans of the Napoleonic Era.

If you’re wondering whether Napoleon is worth watching—or just want to vent about what could have been—this review is for you.

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The final years of Napoleon’s Marshals tell a story very different from the glory days of Austerlitz and Jena. After the fall of the Empire, the men who once commanded Europe’s greatest armies faced exile, execution, obscurity, and uneasy reconciliation with the restored monarchies.

In this episode, special guest Rachael Start explores what happened to Napoleon’s Marshals after 1814 and Waterloo, following their fates through the Bourbon Restoration and beyond. From Marshal Ney’s execution, Murat’s tragic attempt to reclaim his throne and Berthier’s mysterious death. We also review others who navigated the political winds—such as Soult, Davout, and Oudinot—this episode examines how loyalty, survival, and regret shaped their final chapters.

We look at marshals who successfully reinvented themselves, those who lived quietly in retirement, and those haunted by the collapse of the world Napoleon built. Some remained loyal to the Emperor’s memory; others sought redemption or relevance under new regimes.

Were Napoleon’s Marshals victims of their loyalty, opportunists who adapted, or soldiers lost in a political world they no longer understood? This episode reveals how the end of empire affected the men who had risen with it—and why their postwar lives are just as revealing as their battlefield careers.

If you’re fascinated by Napoleonic history, fallen empires, and the human cost of political collapse, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

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Toussaint Louverture was one of the most remarkable leaders of the Age of Revolution—a former enslaved man who rose to become the architect of the Haitian Revolution and the most successful slave revolt in history. His life reshaped the Atlantic world and directly challenged the ambitions of Napoleon Bonaparte.

In this episode, special guest Everett Rummage explore Toussaint Louverture’s rise from enslavement in Haiti to revolutionary general, statesman, and governor. We examine how Toussaint combined military brilliance, political pragmatism, and Enlightenment ideals to defeat Spanish, British, and French forces, while navigating the chaos of revolution and empire.

The story follows Toussaint’s uneasy alliance with France, his role in abolishing slavery, and his growing autonomy—culminating in Napoleon’s decision to send a massive expedition to reassert control. We trace Toussaint’s capture, deportation to France, and death in a cold prison cell, as well as how his struggle paved the way for Haiti’s independence.

Was Toussaint Louverture a revolutionary idealist, a pragmatic ruler, or a threat Napoleon could not tolerate? This episode explains why his legacy endures as a symbol of freedom, resistance, and revolutionary leadership.

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Jean-Louis-Ébénézer Reynier was one of Napoleon’s most capable yet least remembered generals—a seasoned battlefield commander who fought across Egypt, Italy, Germany, and Spain, often in the most difficult theaters of the Napoleonic Wars.

In this episode, special guest Charles Mackay will explore Reynier’s long military career, beginning with his service in the French Revolutionary Wars and his role in Napoleon’s Egyptian campaign, where he gained a reputation for discipline and tactical skill. We follow his command in Italy, his clashes with British and Spanish forces in the Peninsular War, and his controversial defeat at Maida, a battle that shaped British confidence against Napoleonic armies.

Despite setbacks, this Swiss officer remained a trusted field commander, serving under Masséna and Napoleon himself. His career reflects the reality faced by many Napoleonic generals—competent, experienced officers whose reputations were defined as much by politics and circumstance as by battlefield success.

Was Reynier an unlucky general, a capable professional soldier, or a cautionary tale of command in Napoleon’s empire? This episode reexamines his service and legacy within the wider story of the Napoleonic Wars.

If you enjoy deep dives into Napoleon’s generals, lesser-known commanders, and the campaigns that shaped Europe, this episode is for you.

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