Podcast Episodes

Breaking the Pendulum

While Napoleon fought in Italy, French politics oscillated dangerously between left and right. Finally, a fraught election and divisions within the Directory tore the system apart.

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Published on 7 years, 1 month ago

Questions and Answers

We take a break from the narrative to answer listener questions on topics ranging from the organization of the revolutionary armies to pop culture to alternate history hypotheticals.

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Published on 7 years, 2 months ago

King of Italy

Bonaparte returns to Italy after Leoben, and is already coming into his own as a political figure. He is reunited with Josephine, and enjoys an opulent court life at Mombello. We trace Napoleon's dev…

Published on 7 years, 3 months ago

The Road to Leoben

The First Italian Campaign reaches its less-than-dramatic conclusion with Napoleon's invasion of Austria. We take a look back on this remarkable period, and assess Napoleon as a strategist.

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Published on 7 years, 3 months ago

The Final Effort

With the Mantua garrison on the brink of starvation, the Austrians under Alvinczy launch one last relief attempt. General Sérurier returns, and General Joubert is given command of a division. Napoleo…

Published on 7 years, 4 months ago

The Fate of Italy

Napoleon faces a new opponent, who gives the Army of Italy their toughest fight of the campaign so far. He suffers his first defeats as commander-in-chief. We examine an iconic moment of Napoleon's c…

Published on 7 years, 4 months ago

The Walls of Mantua

The Army of Italy pushes north to support a French offensive in Germany, but finds Wurmser already back on the march, leading to a major battle at Bassano and a frantic race down from the Alps. Condi…

Published on 7 years, 5 months ago

Risk and Reward

The Army of Italy faces off against Field Marshal Wurmser, and finds itself in its toughest fight of the campaign so far. Bonaparte takes some calculated risks to even the odds. One of Napoleon's inn…

Published on 7 years, 5 months ago

To the Victor Go the Spoils

The Army of Italy beats Beaulieu one last time, then takes a lucrative detour south and confronts the Pope. Napoleon and Josephine are finally reunited. We also meet Napoleon's next opponent, discuss…

Published on 7 years, 5 months ago

The Liberation of Lombardy

Napoleon finally enters Milan. The French conquest has divided Lombardy-- radicals are eager to follow the example of the revolution, but many others greet their conquerors with hostility and suspici…

Published on 7 years, 6 months ago