In this gripping episode, we’re joined by Dr. Graeme Callister of York St John University to explore one of Napoleon’s most harrowing and least decisive battles—Eylau. As winter tightened its grip on East Prussia in early 1807, Napoleon pursued the Russian army into a frozen hellscape, determined to finish what he started after crushing Prussia. But at the bleak town of Eylau, the French encountered fierce resistance, blizzards, and a battlefield soaked in blood.

Dr. Callister guides us through the chaotic fighting—beginning with skirmishes around a snow-covered cemetery and culminating in one of the largest cavalry charges in history, led by the flamboyant Marshal Murat. We unpack Marshal Davout’s flanking assault, the blunder of Augereau’s corps, and the dramatic arrival of Prussian reinforcements under Lestocq.

What was it like for the common soldier, knee-deep in snow, under relentless cannon fire? Why was this horrific clash ultimately indecisive despite massive losses? And how did Eylau shake Napoleon’s aura of invincibility?

Join us as we relive a battle Ney would call “a massacre, and without result”—a haunting turning point in the War of the Fourth Coalition.

Graeme's work on D'Erlon's attack at Waterloo can be found here Pen and Sword Books: Waterloo: The Attack of I Corps - HardbackExclusive Napoleonic Wars Pod merchandise can be found here Discover Our Exclusive Range at Napoleonic Wars Podcast

Who was responsible for the British losing America?

George Washington? 'Gentleman Johnny' Burgoyne? Lord Howe? Clinton? Or someone else entirely?

We discuss Britain's failures during the American War of Independence, whether Washington counts as British in the context of this debate, why egos matter in war, and whether this was a war that could never have been won by the British.

https://linktr.ee/napwarspod

British history, Military history, American History, War of Independence, American Revolution, George Washington

In this episode, expert John H. Gill unpacks the story of Napoleon’s Confederation of the Rhine armies. Created in 1806 as a new pact of German client states, the Confederation fielded some 90,000 soldiers by 1813. Gill asks if these men were patriotic allies or grumbling conscripts? He reveals how heavy recruitment and French domination stoked national resentment and even tiny principalities like Liechtenstein managed to send dozens of troops.

Buckle up for frontline tales: from Württembergers charging at Bautzen to Westphalian infantry collapsing in routs. We also break down the fateful 1813 turn: many German battalions fought on for Napoleon up to Leipzig, while others (notably the Saxon corps) infamously switched sides. How are these underdog battalions remembered, or indeed forgotten today? Tune in to find out.

John H. Gill's work Pen and Sword Books: Titles by John H Gill

Who was Napoleon's Greatest Marshal? We move one step closer to settling this question as Ney, Davout, Marmont, Murat, Saint Cyr and Suchet battle it out for public acclaim.

Brace yourself for a shock as we delve into these titans of the French Army's greatest moments, their military record, and their wider legacy.

• Michel Ney, the “Bravest of the Brave,” and his heroic last stand.

• Louis-Nicolas Davout, the Iron Marshal—Napoleon’s most disciplined and undefeated commander.

• Joachim Murat, the flamboyant cavalry genius who rose from stable boy to King of Naples.

• Louis-Gabriel Suchet, the unsung strategist who mastered counterinsurgency in Spain.

• Saint-Cyr, the intellectual-turned-general with a mind for art as much as arms.

• Auguste de Marmont, the controversial figure whose betrayal still divides historians.

🎧 Perfect for fans of: military history, European wars, biography podcasts, strategic analysis, and anyone captivated by the epic saga of Napoleon Bonaparte and his generals.

📅 New episodes every week. Subscribe now and step into the smoke and steel of the Napoleonic era.

Only THREE made it to the final vote. Have a listen and then vote for the one you think should make it through to the grand final, by commenting below.

Don't complain if you didn't vote, and your favourite doesn't make it though!

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To mark the 210th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, we held a livestream of the crisis moment of the battle. We talk about Napoleon Bonaparte's last desperate role of the dice, the French forces involved, the Battle of Quatre Bras and Ligny, and the efforts of Dutch, Belgian, Hanoverian, Brunswick, Prussian and, yes, British troops involved.

In all we raised £600 for the Napoleonic & Revolutionary War Graves Charity. You too can support this great cause by going to www.nrwgc.com/donate.

Available as a video cast on Spotify.

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1797 was a moment of escalating international tensions and deepening domestic divisions. For eight years prior, Adams had served at the heart of George Washington’s administration, but nothing could fully prepare him for what would await him in his own presidency: the XYZ Affair, the Quasi War with France and the political firestorm unleashed by the Alien and Sedition Acts. As the young republic struggled to define itself, Adams faced enormous challenges in keeping the country out of full-scale war while also navigating the bitter rivalry between Federalists and Democratic-Republicans.

We explore how the Quasi War shaped American foreign policy and fed into the fiercely partisan atmosphere of the late 1790s. How did Adams’ decisions - including his support for peace over party - alienate allies within his own Federalist camp? Why did the Alien and Sedition Acts, intended as national security measures, backfire so dramatically and fuel accusations of authoritarianism? And what really caused the bruising election of 1800, often dubbed America’s first true test of peaceful political transition?

We’ll also reflect on the enduring impact of Adams’ presidency. How did his term shape the future of the American presidency? What can we learn from his failures and quiet victories? And how does his ambivalent performance as president stack up?

In this episode, Sara Georgini returns to deep dive into the presidency of John Adams, America’s often-overlooked second president.

Find Sara on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/sarageorgini.bsky.social

Check out Sara's book: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/household-gods-9780197647219?cc=gb&lang=en&

Explore the Adams Papers Digital Edition: https://www.masshist.org/publications/adams-papers/

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In this episode, we dive into four lesser-known but decisive moments that shaped the outcome of the 1815 Waterloo Campaign — moments that didn’t make headlines like the final charge of the Imperial Guard, but without which Napoleon’s defeat may never have happened.

We begin on 15 June, as Prince Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar takes the initiative to defend the crossroads at Quatre Bras, halting the French advance and giving Wellington the breathing room he needs to concentrate his army.

Next, we move to the heart of the battlefield itself, where Wellington’s decision to make a stand on the Mont-Saint-Jean ridge — a modest rise just south of Waterloo — gave the Anglo-Allied army a defensible position that would prove critical in weathering repeated French assaults.

We also explore the strange fate of D’Erlon’s I Corps on 16 June — a force that marched back and forth between two battles without firing a shot. Its absence from both Quatre Bras and Ligny robbed the French of the decisive blow Napoleon so desperately needed.

And finally, we look at Napoleon’s uncharacteristic inaction on 17 June, when the French failed to press their advantage after Ligny. This lull allowed Wellington and Blücher to regroup — and ultimately, to reunite.

Each of these moments may seem small in isolation, but together, they tipped the scales. On the anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, tune in as we unpack how timing, initiative, and a few fateful decisions changed the course of European history at Waterloo.

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In this pivotal episode, we explore the pivotal episode that is the often-overlooked day between the battles of Ligny and Waterloo—17 June 1815—a day of dramatic retreats, strategic decisions, and torrential rain.

After their narrow escape from Napoleon’s forces at Quatre Bras, Wellington’s Anglo-Allied army began a calculated retreat north to a defensive ridge near the village of Waterloo. As storms broke over Belgium, Wellington’s rearguard skirmished with French cavalry, buying precious time while soldiers trudged through deepening mud. Despite the chaos, the Duke maintained discipline and prepared for what he hoped would be a decisive stand.

Meanwhile, the Prussian army, reeling from defeat at Ligny, faced a critical crossroads. Instead of falling back east toward safety, Blücher and his chief of staff Gneisenau made a bold choice: to retreat north to Wavre, keeping their promise to support Wellington. Despite battered ranks, exhaustion, and worsening weather, the Prussians rallied and moved into position to rejoin the fight.

Napoleon, hindered by rain and uncertain about the Prussians' next move, delayed his pursuit. He sent Marshal Grouchy to chase the Prussians—but Grouchy's march would be too slow, and too late (or were they just sent despatched too late to do the task they were assigned?).

The stage was now set: two allied armies regrouping under impossible conditions, united by determination and strategy. The storm would pass—but the storm of battle was only a day away.

Liam Telfer and Zack White sit down to talk you through the pivotal developments, as we count down to W-Day...

What happened at Waterloo? The story of the battle is well known, so in this episode we are focusing on the when and the how. How did these events overlap? On the 210th anniversary of the Waterloo campaign, we are retelling the story with the vital timestamps front and centre - we look at how these events interlink, and allow you to follow along, so that you can reflect on these events, knows exactly what happened, when 210 years ago.

June 15th – Napoleon strikes first. His army crosses into Belgium, catching the Allied forces off guard. His goal? Drive a wedge between the two main Coalition armies: Wellington’s Anglo-allied force and Blücher’s Prussians. The campaign begins with rapid marches and surprise engagements as French forces push north.

🗓️ June 16th – Two crucial battles unfold. At Ligny, Napoleon personally leads an attack against the Prussians and secures a tactical victory, forcing Blücher’s forces to retreat—but crucially, they’re not broken. Meanwhile, Marshal Ney clashes with Wellington’s troops at Quatre Bras. Though the French gain ground, Ney fails to prevent Wellington from later falling back to a stronger defensive position.

🗓️ June 17th – The Allies regroup. Wellington pulls his army back to the ridge near the village of Waterloo, where he prepares for a stand. Heavy rain lashes the fields. Napoleon, delayed by mud and logistics, follows—but hesitates to attack in poor conditions.

🗓️ June 18th – The Battle of Waterloo begins. Napoleon throws wave after wave at Wellington’s lines—infantry columns, cavalry charges, and artillery bombardments. The fighting is fierce: key positions like Hougoumont and La Haye Sainte become scenes of desperate defense. By late afternoon, just as Wellington's lines are wavering, the Prussians arrive on the battlefield. Their assault on Napoleon’s flank breaks the French resolve. Wellington orders a general advance. Napoleon’s army collapses.

By the end of the day, the dream of a restored Napoleonic Empire is crushed. These four days sealed Napoleon’s fate—and the future of Europe.

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Military historian John H. Gill leads us through the titanic Battle of Wagram in July of 1809. In the wake of Napoleon Bonaparte’s defeat at Aspern-Essling, Napoleon and Austria’s Archduke Charles race to rebuild and prepare. Gill vividly describes Napoleon’s massive fortification of Lobau Island and daring Danube crossing that thrust the Grande Armée onto Austrian soil.

The episode delves into Charles’s ambitious offensive action and Napoleon’s fierce counterattacks. Gill also unpacks the famous “Macdonald’s Square” counterattack, an 11,000-man column. We examine how Napoleon’s Italian and German allies performed under fire and discuss the strategic fallout: Napoleon’s hard-won victory forced Austria into armistice and reshaped the 1809.

This deep dive into Napoleonic military strategy and battlefield tactics is accessible to casual history buffs and packed with rich detail for serious enthusiasts. Don’t miss this energetic recounting of Wagram’s thunderous drama tune in and subscribe to The Napoleonic Wars Podcast now!

John's work can be found here Pen and Sword Books: Titles by John H Gill

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