Podcast Episodes

The Sacrifice

Josephine was the great love of Napoleon's life, but in late 1809, he had their marriage annulled -- how had it come to this?

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Published on 1 day, 1 hour ago

The Heart of the Empire

We examine Napoleon's private life, with a special focus on the most important person in it: the charming and controversial Empress of the French, Josephine.

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Published on 1 month ago

I Am Charlemagne

In the summer of 1809, General Sir Arthur Wellesley led a small British army into Spain. While the war raged on, Napoleon was also picking a political fight with a powerful enemy: the Roman Catholic …

Published on 2 months ago

To Conquer a Throne

Iberia, 1809: the Aragonese capital of Zaragoza was under siege once again. To the west, the French prepared another invasion of Portugal. Meanwhile, in London, the British leadership debated a renew…

Published on 3 months ago

The Liberators

Throughout 1809, small groups of brave (or foolish) German patriots tried to stir up nationalist uprisings against France. Meanwhile, in Iberia, a very ugly war dragged on with no end in sight.

Lea…

Published on 4 months ago

Martyrs and Scapegoats

Late 1809: Napoleon negotiated a punitive peace treaty with Austria and survived a strange assassination attempt. Meanwhile, the British launched a surprise invasion of the continent and dealt with p…

Published on 5 months ago

An Age Forlorn

After his victory at Wagram, Napoleon pursued the Austrians. Peace was in the air, but the war would end on an almost unbelievably dramatic note in the middle of a Bohemian thunderstorm.

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Published on 6 months ago

My Blood for the Emperor

In the summer of 1809, Napoleon crossed the Danube again to confront Archduke Charles and the Habsburg field army and avenge his defeat at Aspern-Essling.

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Published on 7 months ago

Heroes and Rebels

As the War of the Fifth Coalition raged on, anti-French rebels rose up in the Alps and a remarkable Royal Navy captain fought one of the era's strangest battles on the Atlantic.

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Published on 8 months ago

The Emperor Alone

Austria, 1809: Napoleon was stunned after the first defeat of his career at Aspern-Essling and the death of his best friend and closest confidant, Marshal Lannes. But all across the continent, the wa…

Published on 9 months ago