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Napoleon (Mentor Ser.)
by Felix MarkhamNAPOLEON--SOLDIER, EMPEROR, LOVER...This magnificent reconstruction of Napoleon's life and legend is written by a distinguished Oxford scholar. It is based on newly discovered documents--including the personal letters of Marie-Louise and the decoded diaries of General Bertrand, who accompanied Napoleon to his final exile on St. Helena. It has been hailed as the most important single-volume work in Napoleonic literature."Mr. Markham's book is notable...a well-balanced study of a man vastly bigger than his 5 feet 6 inches, who has been for generations one of the most fascinating of subjects for biography."--Mark S. Watson, Baltimore Evening Sun"A surprisingly sympathetic biography of one of the most fascinating men who ever strutted across the stage of history."--Dolph Honicker, Nashville Tennesseean"A remarkable achievement. The story moves as fast as one of Bonaparte's campaigns and is told with the clarity of his dispatches."--The Economist"A definitive contribution to Napoleonic literature."--Jose Sanchez, St. Louis Globe Democrat"The university lecturer in History at Oxford has approached the impossible; he has written a new life of one of the most written-about figures in modern history with freshness, vivacity, fine scholarship and penetration."--James H. Powers, Boston Globe"Markham has achieved a startlingly vivid and coherent picture of Napoleon's career, of the social and intellectual influences that molded it, and of the men and forces that opposed it. The military events, the political movements, the personal intrigues--all appear, each in its proper place and perspective."--E. Nelson Hayes, Los Angeles Times"Markham's erudition is extensive; he makes full use of recent discoveries of manuscript material, and he writes with admirable judgment about a character who has been misjudged consistently by historians."--J. H. Plumb, The Saturday Review
Napoleon As A General. Vol. I (Napoleon As A General #1)
by Field Marshal Count Maximilian Yorck von Wartenburg Major Walter H. JamesA complete analysis of Napoleon Bonaparte as a general. Possibly the best analysis ever written, and the source book for many later works.There are many books about Napoleon, and some of them attempt to analyse his particular brand of military genius. Almost all these books owe a tremendous debt to Colonel Count Yorck von Wartenburg. His book was published at the end of the nineteenth Century and is still as important today; indeed, Dr David Chandler acknowledges that he used the book as one of the primary works when researching his momentous history of Napoleon. After a brief look at Napoleon's youth and early career Wartenburg sets out Napoleon's military exploits chronologically, beginning with the campaign in Italy, and the battles for Mantua. The first volume then describes the campaigns in Egypt and Syria before giving an account of the first of Napoleon's great battles: Marengo. Ulm, Austerlitz, Jena, Eylau and Friedland complete Volume I. Volume II covers Spain, Ratisbon, Wagram and the ill-fated invasion of Russia. After Moscow and the Beresina crossing came the armistice, and then Dresden and Leipzig. The book ends with the exile of Napoleon for the last time after his defeat at Waterloo. The writing is always clear and uncomplicated, suiting a description of twenty years in Europe which threw the political map into confusion, and had as legacy the mistrust between France and the remainder of the continent, and the growth of Prussian military might and British complacency in military matters.
Napoleon As A General. Vol. II (Napoleon As A General #2)
by Field Marshal Count Maximilian Yorck von Wartenburg Major Walter H. JamesA complete analysis of Napoleon Bonaparte as a general. Possibly the best analysis ever written, and the source book for many later works.There are many books about Napoleon, and some of them attempt to analyse his particular brand of military genius. Almost all these books owe a tremendous debt to Colonel Count Yorck von Wartenburg. His book was published at the end of the nineteenth Century and is still as important today; indeed, Dr David Chandler acknowledges that he used the book as one of the primary works when researching his momentous history of Napoleon. After a brief look at Napoleon's youth and early career Wartenburg sets out Napoleon's military exploits chronologically, beginning with the campaign in Italy, and the battles for Mantua. The first volume then describes the campaigns in Egypt and Syria before giving an account of the first of Napoleon's great battles: Marengo. Ulm, Austerlitz, Jena, Eylau and Friedland complete Volume I. Volume II covers Spain, Ratisbon, Wagram and the ill-fated invasion of Russia. After Moscow and the Beresina crossing came the armistice, and then Dresden and Leipzig. The book ends with the exile of Napoleon for the last time after his defeat at Waterloo. The writing is always clear and uncomplicated, suiting a description of twenty years in Europe which threw the political map into confusion, and had as legacy the mistrust between France and the remainder of the continent, and the growth of Prussian military might and British complacency in military matters.
Napoleon As Gaoler: Personal Experiences And Adventures Of British Sailors And Soldiers During The Great Captivity
by Edward FraserThe lot of a prisoner of war is well documented in more recent conflicts such as the Second World War, Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf conflicts, however the British prisoners of war during the Napoleonic period have received scant attention as whole. Edward Fraser, a noted author on the period set out to redress this balance in the literature of the period, offering a view of the trials, mistreatment and hardships of the British POWSDuring Napoleon's campaigns, along with canon, and standards innumerable, he captured the soldiers of the opposing powers in vast numbers, according to best estimates around half a million men fell into his hands. Of this number only a small fraction were in fact British, some twelve to sixteen thousand, this for two main reasons; that Britain never put into the field the numbers of the conscript armies such as Austria, Prussia and Russia, secondly they were never involved in such disastrous campaigns on the scale of Austerlitz, Jena, or the initial campaigns in Spain. Of the prisoners that were captured, either as crews mainly via shipwreck or during the 1809 Coruña campaign, their lot was hard enough, but was much better than the lot that befall the prisoners of Napoleon's continental enemies.However the tales of the British prisoners recall shootings, extortion, maltreatment and arbitrary punishments and are a powerful counterweight to the proposition of the supreme enlightenment of the French system. From the high rank of general Lord Blayney, captured in an abortive sortie on Fuengirola to the lowly Midshipman Edward Boyes, the British prisoner tell tales of their incarceration and abuse at the hands of various French authorities. In fairness the treatment of the more than one hundred thousand French prisoners in English hands was not a great deal better, as they were imprisoned on floating hulks.An excellent addition to the collection of Fraser's books on the Napoleonic Wars.Illustrations - 12
Napoleon Bonaparte
by Peter Dennis Gregory BarnesNapoleon Bonaparte is renowned as one of the great military commanders in history, and the central figure in so many of the events of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars. Throughout the first decade of the 19th century he won battle after battle by wielding the Grande Arm�e decisively against the other powers of Europe - Prussia, Austria and Russia. Yet his fortunes changed in 1812 when the invasion of Russia wrecked his forces, and Napoleon suffered his final defeat at Waterloo in 1815.
Napoleon Bonaparte (SparkNotes Biography Guide)
by SparkNotesNapoleon Bonaparte (SparkNotes Biography Guide) Making the reading experience fun! SparkNotes Biography Guides examine the lives of historical luminaries, from Alexander the Great to Virginia Woolf. Each biography guide includes:An examination of the historical context in which the person lived A summary of the person&’s life and achievements A glossary of important terms, people, and events An in-depth look at the key epochs in the person&’s career Study questions and essay topics A review test Suggestions for further reading Whether you&’re a student of history or just a student cramming for a history exam, SparkNotes Biography guides are a reliable, thorough, and readable resource.
Napoleon Bonaparte: His Rise and Fall
by James Matthew ThompsonThe sum of Napoleonic literature is so immense that it might be wondered whether there is any need for a new Life of Napoleon. But there has been no important life in English since that by J. Holland Rose, first published in 1901, and last reprinted in 1934.It is hoped that there will be a welcome for a fresh attempt to summarize the history and access the importance of the period 1794-1815.J. M. Thompson’s book, Napoleon Bonaparte: His Rise and Fall, which was first published in 1951, is a sequel to his French Revolution, published in 1944. Its subject is the French people in its post-revolutionary mood, as interpreted and exploited by a foreigner who was at once a professional soldier and an administrative genius. The main source of information is Napoleon’s own correspondence, of which Mr. Thompson published a selection, translated as Letters of Napoleon, in 1934.In this present volume, J. M. Thompson has attempted to tell the story of the rise and fall of a dictator, whilst simplifying the historical background by dealing in turn with each of Napoleon’s main spheres of interest: Corsica, Italy, Egypt, Germany, Russia, England.
Napoleon Bonaparte: Leadership, Strategy, Conflict
by Gregory BarnesA short biography of Napoleon, who stands unrivaled in his position as history's foremost commander, a reputation justly earned in the course of nearly 20 years' campaigning in such diverse theatres of operation as Italy, Egypt, Spain, Germany, Poland, Russia and France. Taken together, his nearly 60 battles - some of them of far-reaching military and political significance - profoundly shaped the course of modern Europe, fundamentally changed the methodology of war and influenced the character and ambitions of a man whose mind and method continue to fascinate students and scholars today. This is a military account of Napoleon's martial career, examining the tactics and leadership skills he displayed and including in-depth assessments of his role at Austerlitz, Borodino and Waterloo, the three battles that were to shape his destiny.
Napoleon For Dummies
by J. David MarkhamExplains his influence on the military, law, politics, and religionGet the real story of Napoleon BonaparteNot sure what's true about Napoleon? This easy-to-follow guide gets past the stereotypes and introduces you to this extraordinary man's beginnings, accomplishments, and famous romances. It traces Napoleon's rise from Corsican military cadet to Emperor of the French, chronicles his military campaigns, explains the mistakes that led to his removal from power, and explores his lasting impact on Europe and the world.Discover* How Napoleon built -- and lost -- an empire* The forces that influenced him* Why he created the Napoleonic Code* The inside story on Josephine* How he helped shape modern-day Europe
Napoleon From The Tuileries to St. Helena: Personal Recollections Of The Emperor’s Second Mameluke and Valet
by Etienne Louis Saint-Denis Prof. G Michaut Frank Hunter PotterThis ebook is purpose built and is proof-read and re-type set from the original to provide an outstanding experience of reflowing text for an ebook reader. Following the abortive campaign in Egypt, Napoleon collected a number of men from the Mamelukes to serve in his household and a further number in his Imperial Guard. They held positions of great esteem and closeness to the Emperor's person, and as time went on the title of Mameluke denoted the position in the household, rather than the origin of the person. The man known as Ali the Mameluke was actually a Frenchman born at Versailles, son of a member of the Bourbon household staff. He was attached to the household of the Emperor on the recommendation of the Master of Horse, Armand de Caulaincourt. The memoirs that he left behind him are a close and balanced portrait of Napoleon during the last years of his reign, the Hundred Days, and finally his imprisonment on St. Helena. Ali's memoirs are free from the overly gossipy tone of those left by Constant and are more accurate and penetrating than those of Roustam. He studiously avoids entering into the details that he did not personally view. Although he is a staunch Bonapartist, overall, there is not too much bias. He freely shows the stresses and strains of Napoleon carrying out his plans in grandeur, and then in ignominious surroundings at Longwood. All of the luminaries of the last days of the Empire pass before Ali's eyes and therefore his pen, and he is not always flattering about them. An important memoir of an intimate member of Napoleon's household. Author - Etienne Louis Saint-Denis (known as Ali) (1788-1856) Foreword - Professor G Michaut of the Sorbonne (????-????) Translator - Frank Hunter Potter (1851-1932) Text taken, whole and complete, from the edition published in 1922, New York, by Harper & brothers Original - 360 pages. Illustrations- 7 Illustrations, and three maps, all included Linked TOC
Napoleon In Italy, 1796-1797
by Lt.-Col. Elijah AdlowIncludes 26 maps.The story of Napoleon's brilliant first campaign in Italy is here expertly recounted by Elijah Adlow, former Lieutenant Colonel in the US 26th Infantry Division."Of the many campaigns in which Napoleon participated, that in which he first exercised independent command is rich in example. In the Italian Campaign of 1796 we discover in amazing sequence those basic combinations upon which rests the structure of the art of war. What is more, the contrasting talents of the opposing commanders enable us to discover the part which spiritual as well as physical factors play in the process of war.Aside from the brilliant successes which gave him fame, Napoleon must always appeal to students of warfare because of the distinct quality of simplicity which marked all his operations. He had the talent for making himself strategically and tactically articulate. To the young soldier who seeks to discover the secret of an art whose mysteries have been revealed to but few, there is some compensation in being able to identify objectively those elements which determine the outcome of military events. If this presentation has aided in the process, its purpose will have been fulfilled."-Author's Preface.
Napoleon Recaptures Paris: March 20, 1815 (Routledge Revivals)
by Claude ManceronParis, March 19, 1815; midnight. A line of heavy carriages draws up in the courtyard of the Tuilleries, while a crowd of despairing royalists watch the departure of Louis XVIII. Within 24 hours, amid indescribable enthusiasm, Napoleon was taken from his carriage and borne in triumph to his study. The vanquished man of Fontainebleau, the exile of Elba, had recaptured Paris at the head of the troops whom the King had sent to fight him. ‘Have you ever seen a man reconquer his throne merely by showing his hat? It’s the greatest of God’s miracles’, said Balzac’s grenadier. But how was this Revolution of March 20 achieved, and why? —a revolution which, but for Waterloo, might have given a new start to the European revolution? Hour by hour, in the Emperor’s army and at the Royal palace, on Napolean’s road and in the streets, we can through the pages of Napoleon Recaptures Paris (first published in English in 1968) relive and understand every moment of one of the strangest days in history and of the week that led up to it.Claude Manceron spent many years researching the documentation of the 100 days, and here produced a valuable book. It is a must read for students and researchers of French history. The book will also appeal to general readers.
Napoleon and British Song, 1797-1822 (War, Culture and Society, 1750 –1850)
by Oskar Cox JensenThis study offers a radical reassessment of a crucial period of political and cultural history. By looking at some 400 songs, many of which are made available to hear, and at their writers, singers, and audiences, it questions both our relationship with song, and ordinary Britons' relationship with Napoleon, the war, and the idea of Britain itself.
Napoleon and Doctor Verling on St Helena
by J. David MarkhamMany books have been written about St Helena and its most famous resident, the exiled Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. The episode has been so intensively researched that it is rare for a fresh, unpublished account to come to light. Yet Dr James Verling's St Helena journal is just such a source. Verling was based on St Helena during Napoleon's imprisonment and he was even appointed as Napoleon's official physician. Throughout his stay, this young doctor kept a vivid diary of his experiences. Through Verling's eyes we get a fresh view of daily life on the island and of the suspicion-filled society that grew up around Napoleon during his last years.
Napoleon and Grouchy: The Last Great Waterloo Mystery Unravelled
by Paul L. DawsonOne of the enduring controversies of the Waterloo campaign is the conduct of Marshal Grouchy. Given command of a third of Napoleons army and told to keep the Prussians from joining forces with Wellington, he failed to keep Wellington and Blcher apart with the result that Napoleon was overwhelmed at Waterloo. Grouchy, though, was not defeated. He kept his force together and retreated in good order back to France.Many have accused Grouchy of intentionally holding back his men and not marching to join Napoleon when the sound of the gunfire at Waterloo could clearly be heard, and he has been widely blamed for Napoleons defeat.Now, for the first time, Grouchys conduct during the Waterloo campaign is analyzed in fine detail, drawing principally on French sources not previously available in English. The author, for example, answers questions such as whether key orders did actually exist in 1815 or were they later fabrications to make Grouchy the scapegoat for Napoleons failures? Did General Grard really tell Grouchy to march to the sound of the guns? Why did Grouchy appear to move so slowly when speed was essential?This is a subject which is generally overlooked by British historians, who tend to concentrate on the actions of Wellington and Napoleon, and which French historians choose not to look at too closely for fear that it might reflect badly upon their hero Napoleon.Despite the mass of books written on Waterloo, this is a genuinely unique contribution to this most famous campaign. This book is certain to fuel debate and prompt historians to reconsider the events of June 1815.
Napoleon and Waterloo: The Emperor’s Campaign with the Armée Du Nord, 1815 [Revised Edition]
by Major A. F. BeckeThis is the 1936 revised edition of the 1914 two-volume account of Napoleon's last campaign by Britain's pre-eminent military historian of the early 20th century, now combined in one handy single volume.This first part takes the story of the Hundred Days from the Emperor s return from exile in Elba up to his despatch of the incompetent Marshal Grouchy to head off the Prussians while he faced Wellington at Waterloo. The book looks at Napoleon's strategy and tactics as well as his disposition of his Armée du Nord and the battles of Quatre Bras and Ligny.The second part looks at the climactic confrontation between Napoleon and Wellington at Waterloo itself and has a number of appendices relating to the great battle, including orders of battle of the French, British, Dutch and Prussian forces engaged and correspondence between Napoleon and Marshals Soult, Davout, Ney and Grouchy.Contains 11 maps (including 6 new maps).A must for anyone interested in the Napoleonic wars, and the single volume should make it easier for both the general reader and the student to follow the campaign in its entirety.
Napoleon and Wellington - The Battle of Waterloo and the Great Commanders Who Fought It
by Andrew RobertsThe battle of Waterloo is examined via a study of the relationship and interactions between the opposing commanders, Napoleon Bonaparte and the Duke of Wellington.
Napoleon and de Gaulle: Heroes and History
by Patrice GueniffeyOne of France’s most famous historians compares two exemplars of political and military leadership to make the unfashionable case that individuals, for better and worse, matter in history. Historians have taught us that the past is not just a tale of heroes and wars. The anonymous millions matter and are active agents of change. But in democratizing history, we have lost track of the outsized role that individual will and charisma can play in shaping the world, especially in moments of extreme tumult. Patrice Gueniffey provides a compelling reminder in this powerful dual biography of two transformative leaders, Napoleon Bonaparte and Charles de Gaulle. Both became national figures at times of crisis and war. They were hailed as saviors and were eager to embrace the label. They were also animated by quests for personal and national greatness, by the desire to raise France above itself and lead it on a mission to enlighten the world. Both united an embattled nation, returned it to dignity, and left a permanent political legacy—in Napoleon’s case, a form of administration and a body of civil law; in de Gaulle’s case, new political institutions. Gueniffey compares Napoleon’s and de Gaulle’s journeys to power; their methods; their ideas and writings, notably about war; and their postmortem reputations. He also contrasts their weaknesses: Napoleon’s limitless ambitions and appetite for war and de Gaulle’s capacity for cruelty, manifested most clearly in Algeria. They were men of genuine talent and achievement, with flaws almost as pronounced as their strengths. As many nations, not least France, struggle to find their soul in a rapidly changing world, Gueniffey shows us what a difference an extraordinary leader can make.
Napoleon and his Family: The Story of a Corsican Clan, Vol I (Napoleon and his Family: The Story of a Corsican Clan #1)
by Walter GeerFirst published in 1927, this book represents Volume I in a series of three volumes. It covers the Napoleonic period of 1769 through to 1809: from his beginnings in Corsica to battle in Spain.“It is impossible to understand fully the drama of the life of Napoleon without taking into consideration two factors, practically ignored by historians, which had a decisive bearing upon his career: his physical heritage, and the influence of his family.“The fame of Napoleon has so overshadowed that of his brothers and sisters that their influence on his career has generally been overlooked. Without disregarding the other cause, which was largely beyond his control, it may be said that the downfall of Napoleon was mainly due to the members of his family, whom he had raised so high, who by their shortcomings and their transgressions became the agents of his decline.“We propose to set forth in these pages the part for which the Family was responsible in the events which brought about the crumbling of the highest fortune that the world has ever seen upraised.“In this drama of Napoleon and His Family there are over twenty persons who take the subordinate roles, and occupy the stage beside the principal actor, but the character of Napoleon dominates the entire play.This, then, is not a life of Napoleon: not a history of his campaigns: not a record of his civil administration—it is only the story of the Family, as it influenced his designs, his acts, and his destiny.”
Napoleon and his Family: The Story of a Corsican Clan, Vol II (Napoleon and his Family: The Story of a Corsican Clan #2)
by Walter GeerFirst published in 1928, this book represents Volume II in a series of three volumes. It covers the Napoleonic period of 1809-1813, following on from Napoleon’s return from Spain and ending with the French Army’s offensive on Russia.“It is impossible to understand fully the drama of the life of Napoleon without taking into consideration two factors, practically ignored by historians, which had a decisive bearing upon his career: his physical heritage, and the influence of his family.“The fame of Napoleon has so overshadowed that of his brothers and sisters that their influence on his career has generally been overlooked. Without disregarding the other cause, which was largely beyond his control, it may be said that the downfall of Napoleon was mainly due to the members of his family, whom he had raised so high, who by their shortcomings and their transgressions became the agents of his decline.“We propose to set forth in these pages the part for which the Family was responsible in the events which brought about the crumbling of the highest fortune that the world has ever seen upraised.“In this drama of Napoleon and His Family there are over twenty persons who take the subordinate roles, and occupy the stage beside the principal actor, but the character of Napoleon dominates the entire play.This, then, is not a life of Napoleon: not a history of his campaigns: not a record of his civil administration—it is only the story of the Family, as it influenced his designs, his acts, and his destiny.”
Napoleon and his Family: The Story of a Corsican Clan, Vol III (Napoleon and his Family: The Story of a Corsican Clan #3)
by Walter GeerFirst published in 1929, this book represents Volume III in a series of three volumes. It covers the Napoleonic period of 1813-1821, following on from Napoleon’s return from the Campaign of Russia and ending with his exile in St. Helena.“It is impossible to understand fully the drama of the life of Napoleon without taking into consideration two factors, practically ignored by historians, which had a decisive bearing upon his career: his physical heritage, and the influence of his family.“The fame of Napoleon has so overshadowed that of his brothers and sisters that their influence on his career has generally been overlooked. Without disregarding the other cause, which was largely beyond his control, it may be said that the downfall of Napoleon was mainly due to the members of his family, whom he had raised so high, who by their shortcomings and their transgressions became the agents of his decline.“We propose to set forth in these pages the part for which the Family was responsible in the events which brought about the crumbling of the highest fortune that the world has ever seen upraised.“In this drama of Napoleon and His Family there are over twenty persons who take the subordinate roles, and occupy the stage beside the principal actor, but the character of Napoleon dominates the entire play.This, then, is not a life of Napoleon: not a history of his campaigns: not a record of his civil administration—it is only the story of the Family, as it influenced his designs, his acts, and his destiny.”
Napoleon and his Marshals - Vol I (Napoleon and his Marshals #1)
by Pickle Partners Publishing Joel Tyler HeadleyThis ebook is purpose built and is proof-read and re-type set from the original to provide an outstanding experience of reflowing text for an ebook reader. J. T. Headley was born at the very end of the convulsive period of the French revolution and Napoleonic Wars that followed, and wrote a number of volumes on the French army and its leadership of the period. An admirer of the equality and liberty that Napoleon and the Napoleonic Myth expounded, Headley takes an interesting and entertaining view of Napoleon and his Marshals. The glittering array of military talent available to Napoleon, was formed by the upsurge in manpower revolutionary levée en masse and the egalitarian principals. Whilst not an absolute meritocracy, a great number of Generals and indeed Marshals came from humble backgrounds. In this volume, the author charts the careers of Napoleon, Marshals Murat, Lefebvre, Massena, Marmont, Victor, Brune, Oudinot, Bessières, Jourdan, Bernadotte, Suchet, Poniatowski, Grouchy and Ney Text taken, whole and complete, from the 1846 edition published in New York by Baker and Scribner. Original 316 pages.
Napoleon and his Marshals - Vol II (Napoleon and his Marshals #2)
by Pickle Partners Publishing Joel Tyler HeadleyThis ebook is purpose built and is proof-read and re-type set from the original to provide an outstanding experience of reflowing text for an ebook reader. J. T. Headley was born at the very end of the convulsive period of the French revolution and Napoleonic Wars that followed, and wrote a number of volumes on the French army and its leadership of the period. An admirer of the equality and liberty that Napoleon and the Napoleonic Myth expounded, Headley takes an interesting and entertaining view of Napoleon and his Marshals. The glittering array of military talent available to Napoleon, was formed by the upsurge in manpower revolutionary levée en masse and the egalitarian principals. Whilst not an absolute meritocracy, a great number of Generals and indeed Marshals came from humble backgrounds. In this volume, the author charts the careers of Napoleon, Marshals Murat, Lefebvre, Massena, Marmont, Victor, Brune, Oudinot, Bessières, Jourdan, Bernadotte, Suchet, Poniatowski, Grouchy and Ney. Text taken, whole and complete, from the 1846 edition published in New York by Baker and Scribner. Original 316 pages.
Napoleon and the Archduke Charles
by Pickle Partners Publishing Francis Loraine Petre O.B.EThis ebook is purpose built and is proof-read and re-type set from the original to provide an outstanding experience of reflowing text for an ebook reader. "The campaign which forms the subject of this volume is one which has received scant notice in England, and has been a good deal misunderstood. The misunderstanding has been mainly due to Napoleon's successful misrepresentation of the earlier part as one of his greatest and most successful efforts." So begins Petre's excellent study of the 1809 campaign in Germany, the most concise study of one of the most interesting of Napoleon's campaigns. The peace of Tilsit in 1807 was the Apogee of Napoleon's reign, he had subdued all of his continental enemies; Prussia a broken wreck after Jena-Auerstädt, Austria smashed at Austerlitz, Russia humbled after Friedland. However the new allies of the French smarted from the reduction of territory, prestige and glory, they were also being squeezed by the constraints of commerce embodied by the Continental system whereby Britain and her products were meant to be kept out of mainland Europe. They looked only for a sufficient time to re-gather their forces, bide their time and strike to take back what was formerly theirs, as the peace creaked and groaned under the pressure, Napoleon decided to dethrone the Spanish Bourbons in 1808. The Peninsular war would grow into a painful "ulcer" for the French and after set backs such as the disaster of Baylen, where an entire French army corps surrendered to the Spanish, and Vimiero where the French were kicked out of Portugal, the continent took heart and prepared to strike at Napoleon. The Austrians were to take up the challenge in 1809, under the leadership of the Archduke Charles, the Emperor's younger brother. He had spent some time modernising the army after the defeats of 1805, and although advising against the timing of the war he stood ready to take charge. Napoleon gathered his forces quickly, boosted in numbers by German allies, and advised his lieutenants in the theatre what to prepare. However his orders were misinterpreted and when put into action the French forces were scattered and in danger of being overwhelmed piece-meal. However Napoleon managed to salvage the situation, and despite a growing number of mistakes, and some sterling fighting on the part of Davout, pushed the advancing Austrians from Bavaria. The road to Vienna was thus opened for him, but he would have to first cross the Danube and pass to the Marchfeld to take on his most able continental opponent. The battles of Aspern-Essling and Wagram were to follow, leaving Napoleon beaten off the field of battle for the first time in a major engagement, as the decline in his "star" starts. A great read, by a master historian. Author - Francis Loraine Petre OBE - (1852-1925)
Napoleon and the Archduke Charles: A History of the Franco-Austrian Campaign in the Valley of the Danube 1809 (The Napoleonic Library)
by F. Lorraine PetreThe Archduke Charles was the most formidable of Napoleons continental foes but only once came into direct conflict with him: this was in the 1809 Franco-Austrian campaign in the Danube Valley.Smarting from Austrias humiliations in 1805, the Archduke launched a surprise attack upon the French whilst Napoleon was occupied in distant Spain. Outnumbered, the French faced disaster but, with typical energy and decisiveness Napoleon arrived just in time. In five days of marching and fighting he repulsed the Austrians at Abensburg and Eckmhl. The road to Vienna was now oPen & he pushed on but he underestimated his enemy, being thrown back by the Archduke Charles as he tried to cross the Danube.Failing to follow up his success, the Archduke hesitated too long and when Napoleon attempted to cross the river a second time, at the Battle of Wagram, he succeeded.F. Loraine Petres penetrating analysis of this pivotal campaign was first published in 1909 on the centenary of the great conflict, to become one of his celebrated series of works on Napoleons wars.