The Napoleonic Quarterly

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Dr Ciarán McDonnell is an Irish historian with a tremendous breadth of interests and areas of research – from prehistory to, very nearly, the present day. In this interview, however, he focuses on the enormously varied experiences of Irish soldiers during the 1792-1815 period and reflects on some of the challenges and opportunities posed in researching and telling their many stories.

This interview was recorded in January 2022. 

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Professor Emeritus Biancamaria Fontana of the University of Lausanne has written about French politics and political thought for many years and is a formidable thinker on the merits of federalism,  and, in particular, the work of figures like Montaigne and Constant. She is writing a book about the Directory, which triggered this conversation - but we also touched on Napoleon Bonaparte's government and the way contemporary politicians - especially Emmanuel Macron - address this period of French history. 

'Germaine de Stael: A Political Portrait' is available here. 

This interview was recorded in late 2021. 

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Frederick Schneid, Herman and Louise Smith Professor of History at High Point University, discusses Napoleon Bonaparte's remarkable campaign against the Austrians in north Italy in 1796 and 1797, his growing ambitions and the soldiers he commanded and fought against.

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1796. October… November… December… Three months in which Bonaparte sees off another Austrian offensive – but only through some desperate fighting at Arcola… The Royal Navy, withdrawing from the Mediterranean, misses an opportunity to attack the Spanish fleet… And further north an attempted invasion of Ireland is underway. This is episode 20 of the Napoleonic Quarterly – covering three months in which the Royal Navy begins to wonder whether France’s successes on land will prevent the Royal Navy from doing its job of protecting Britain at sea.

Including a discussion from [05:11] by Alexander Mikaberidze and from [1:22:50] by Charles Esdaile of the significance of Catherine the Great's death and her replacement by her son Paul I - a momentous event of  great significance for this period.

Plus the usual three segments:

[22:15] - Rick Schneid on Napoleon Bonaparte's struggles with Austrian forces in north Italy

[37:20] - Rachel Blackman-Rogers on the Royal Navy's withdrawal from the Mediterranean

[55:55] - Ciarán McDonnell on Ireland in the 1790s and the attempted French landing at Bantry Bay

This episode's main sections were recorded in January 2022.

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1796. July… August… September… Three months in which Napoleon Bonaparte’s north Italian army runs rings around the Austrians… On the Rhine the French commanders simply can’t get their act together… And in Paris the Directory looks on, uncertainly, as their young general’s star continues to rise. This is episode   19 of the Napoleonic Quarterly – covering three months in which Bonaparte proves that the best form of defence, strategic or otherwise, is attack.

[12:45] - Rick Schneid on Bonaparte's escape from the trap set by the Austrian general Wurmser

[28:53] - Jordan Hayworth on Moreau and Jourdan's clashes with Archduke Charles on the Rhine

[52:31] - Biancamaria Fontana on the worries, insecurities and general wobbliness of the Directory government in Paris

Plus Charles Esdaile and Alexander Mikaberidze offer their analysis of the political situation throughout, including in north Italy, south Germany and Spain.

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[12:34] - Rick Schneid on Bonaparte's campaign against the Austrians and Piedmontese

[42:08] - Mary Robinson on the Papal States' humiliation at the hands of the French

[57:08] - Jordan Hayworth on the French offensive on the Rhine against the Austrians

Plus Charles Esdaile and Alexander Mikaberidze provide their usual analysis throughout, including an assessment of the political after-effects of the north Italian tumult.

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1796. January. February. March. Three months in which the British take Ceylon thanks to some daring – or perhaps that should be dairy-ing – exploits… Napoleon Bonaparte takes command of the Army of Italy… And the new French government, the Directory, struggles to find its way. This is episode 17 of the Napoleonic Quarterly – covering three months in which it feels like the (E)dam is about to break over this conflict.

[15:54] - Military historian and author Philip Ball describes the British capture of Ceylon's Trincomalee and Colombo, which is unexpectedly aided by the unorthodox use of dairy products. 

[36:01] - Professor Biancamaria Fontana of the University of Lausanne in Switzerland discusses and deliberates on the dynamics and dilemmas of the Directory, the five-man executive now taking over the reins of the Revolution.

[53:04] - Rafe Blaufarb, Professor of History at Florida State University, sizes up the state of the French military machine as Napoleon Bonaparte takes command of the Army of Italy.

Plus Professor Emeritus Charles Esdaile of the University of Liverpool and Professor Alexander Mikaberidze of Louisiana State University-Shreveport lock horns over British imperialism and the merits of "all this liberty, equality and stupidity nonsense", providing their expert analysis and opinions throughout.

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Here's what to expect in the next batch of episodes from the Napoleonic Quarterly, beginning with episode 17 in the new year of 2022, including...

- A whirlwind of energy and dynamism transforms the course of the war in north Italy

- Britain's Royal Navy notches up two more big fleet action victories

- The ruling Directory faces another struggle for the political future of France

- The Austrians on the Rhine and the Pope in Italy find themselves dealing with the fallout from Bonaparte's Italian victories

... and much more. In addition to the main eight episodes you can expect six more interview episodes with some of the military historians and academics interviewed for this series - three in a row after episode 20 and three more after episode 24.

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Historian and author Adam Zamoyski discusses the fate of Poland, power politics during the 1792-1815 period and why all decent biographers should seek to empathise with their subjects as human beings, just like the rest of us. This interview was recorded in spring 2020, shortly after the publication of Adam's Napoleon: The Man Behind The Myth. The Intelligence Squared discussion referred to is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxQ4TcTcPbI

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Military historian and wargamer Garry Wills discusses his interest in the smaller battles of the 1792-1815 period - and why looking at the records of a regiment or battalion provide just as much interest and insight as looking at the bigger-picture progress of an entire campaign. Garry is on Twitter @CaseshotPublish and is the author of Wellington's First Battle - Combat at Boxtel, on the 1794 action, and Wellington at Bay: The Battle of Villamuriel on the 1812 battle on the retreat from Burgos.