- Table View
- List View
Napoleon's Polish Lancers of the Imperial Guard
by Patrice Courcelle Ronald PawlyNapoleon's Polish Lancers of the Guard were unique in their appearance and in their loyalty. This book reveals their varied and colorful uniforms as well as their long and loyal service for the Bonaparte cause during the Napoleonic Wars (1799-1815). The Poles were the only foreign contingent never to defect from Napoleon's cause, staying faithful to the end - a squadron even accompanied Napoleon into exile on Elba, and the Guard reformed in 1815 to charge at Waterloo. In 1808, when Napoleon was smashing his way through the Spanish armies to get at British forces in the Peninsular, the Poles astounded observers with their extreme acts of courage and military daring. In one memorable instance the Poles captured a defended mountain pass at Somosierra, overrunning four batteries of cannons in the process. It was they who introduced the use of the lance to the French army, adding a new tactical dimension to the use of the cavalry on the battlefield and demonstrated its deadly effects in all of Napoleon's most famous victories - particularly Wagram in 1809. Brave and ruthless in equal measures, this is a fascinating insight into the fighting lives of the legendary Polish Lancers.
Napoleon's Red Lancers
by Patrice Courcelle Ronald PawlyThe legendary Dutch 'Red' Lancers - the 2nd Light Horse Lancers of Napoleon's Imperial Guard - were formed in 1810, during the Napoleonic Wars (1799-1815), after the emperor annexed Holland and its army to France. The former hussars of the Dutch Royal Guard got a handsome new uniform, a new weapon, and a hard-driving new colonel in Baron Edouard Colbert. His lancers distinguished themselves in Russia in 1812, at huge cost; in Germany in 1813, and in the Low Countries in 1814. When Napoleon returned from exile in 1815 the Red Lancers were with him until night fell over Waterloo. Ronald Pawly is the world's leading expert on the archival and pictorial record left by this regiment; his detailed text is illustrated with rare portraits and photographs, and eight glowing colour plates of a surprisingly wide variety of uniforms.
Napoleon's Scouts of the Imperial Guard
by Patrice Courcelle Ronald PawlyDriven out of Germany after his defeat at Leipzig in 1813, Napoleon seemed to face disaster. Some 345,000 Allied troops were converging on France from the east; and Napoleon had only about 80,000 men. Most of his veterans had been killed in Russia and Germany, and he was short of cavalry to counter the swarms of Cossacks. For his last and possibly most brilliant campaign, Napoleon raised three regiments of mounted Scouts for his Imperial Guard. Through the story of these units the reader can follow Napoleon's dazzling manoeuvres in the campaign of 1814; and their widely varied uniforms are reconstructed in meticulously researched colour plates.
Napoleon's Specialist Troops
by Bryan Fosten Philip HaythornthwaiteThough less celebrated than the infantry and cavalry, Napoleon's 'specialist' troops - artillery, engineers and supporting services - were indispensable elements without which no army could have operated, and frequently assumed greater significance than the line regiments. Indeed, having suffered least from the emigration of Royalist officers, the artillery was the best element of the early Republican armies, the nucleus of the old Royal artillery serving with distinction in the early campaigns such as Valmy. The organisation and uniform of Napoleon's specialist troops are here examined by Philip Haythornwaite in a engaging volume complemented by a wealth of illustrations including eight full page colour plates by Bryan Fosten.
Napoleon's Spy: The brand new epic historical adventure from Sunday Times bestseller Ben Kane
by Ben Kane'Napoleon's Spy is a tour de force on an epic scale' Douglas Jackson 'Exciting, immersive, well researched and great fun.' Giles KristianRussia, 1812. Has France finally met its match?On the eve of the invasion of Russia, half-French, half-English Matthieu Carrey finds himself in the ranks of Napoleon's five hundred thousand strong army. With Tsar Alexander seemingly ill-prepared, a French victory seems certain. The Grande Armée will obliterate everything in its path. Carrey's purpose is less clear. Blackmailed into becoming a spy in the emperor's army, he hopes to follow his lover, a French actress who has gone to work in the Moscow theatre. As supplies grow scarce and temperatures plummet, the Grande Armée begins to crumble. Caught up in the maelstrom of war, Carrey embarks on an epic journey, while the Russians circle like hungry wolves. Hundreds of miles lie between Carrey and safety. To reach it seems utterly impossible.
Napoleon's Spy: The brand new epic historical adventure from Sunday Times bestseller Ben Kane
by Ben Kane'Napoleon's Spy is a tour de force on an epic scale' Douglas Jackson 'Exciting, immersive, well researched and great fun.' Giles KristianRussia, 1812. Has France finally met its match?On the eve of the invasion of Russia, half-French, half-English Matthieu Carrey finds himself in the ranks of Napoleon's five hundred thousand strong army. With Tsar Alexander seemingly ill-prepared, a French victory seems certain. The Grande Armée will obliterate everything in its path. Carrey's purpose is less clear. Blackmailed into becoming a spy in the emperor's army, he hopes to follow his lover, a French actress who has gone to work in the Moscow theatre. As supplies grow scarce and temperatures plummet, the Grande Armée begins to crumble. Caught up in the maelstrom of war, Carrey embarks on an epic journey, while the Russians circle like hungry wolves. Hundreds of miles lie between Carrey and safety. To reach it seems utterly impossible.
Napoleon's Swiss Troops
by Gerry Embleton David GreentreeEver since the 15th century Switzerland had been exporting professional soldiers to serve as mercenaries for foreign monarchies. Napoleon, therefore, was not the first to make full use of the martial qualities of the Swiss and obtained Swiss agreement to expand the recruitment of regiments for service in the French Army. Napoleon would use Swiss troops on the battlefields of Italy and Spain, and in 1812 re-organize the four original regiments into a single division for the invasion of Russia, with each regiment having three full-strength battalions. In all theatres where they were engaged, Swiss contingents would often be relied upon to act as rearguards so other forces caught in a tight situation could escape. Time and again they would be asked to save the day for the French soldiers with whom they fought, in Italy and Spain and most famously for Napoleon himself, in Russia. In November of 1812, meeting up with Napoleon's main force retreating from Moscow at the Berezina River, the Swiss on the west bank guarded the approaches to the pontoon bridges from the Russian attack to the south. 1,200 Swiss, out of approximately 8,000 that entered Russia, were left to face, along with 8,000 men from other units, the 30,000-strong Russian army. The Swiss held their ground and when their ammunition ran out they charged the Russians with bayonets. This book reveals the proud combat history of the Swiss troops of Napoleon's army as well as the colourful uniforms they wore.
Napoleon's Wars: An International History
by Charles EsdaileA glorious?and conclusive?chronicle of the wars waged by one of the most polarizing figures in military historyAcclaimed on both sides of the Atlantic as a new standard on the subject, this sweeping, boldly written history of the Napoleonic era reveals its central protagonist as a man driven by an insatiable desire for fame, and determined ?to push matters to extremes.? More than a myth-busting portrait of Napoleon, however, it offers a panoramic view of the armed conflicts that spread so quickly out of revolutionary France to countries as remote as Sweden and Egypt. As it expertly moves through conflicts from Russia to Spain, Napoleon?s Wars proves to be history writing equal to its subject?grand and ambitious?that will reframe the way this tumultuous era is understood.
Napoleon's Waterloo Army: Uniforms and Equipment
by Paul L. DawsonThe author of Waterloo: The Truth at Last &“sheds new light on the campaign of 1815 and surely will satisfy all with an interest in the Napoleonic Era&” (The Napoleonic Historical Society Newsletter). When Napoleon returned to Paris after exile on the Island of Elba, he appealed to the European heads of state to be allowed to rule France in peace. His appeal was rejected and the Emperor of the French knew he would have to fight to keep his throne. In just eight weeks, Napoleon assembled 128,000 soldiers in the French Army of the North and on 15 June moved into Belgium (then a part of the kingdom of the Netherlands). Before the large Russian and Austrian armies could invade France, Napoleon hoped to defeat two coalition armies, an Anglo-Dutch-Belgian-German force under the Duke of Wellington, and a Prussian army led by Prince von Blücher. He nearly succeeded. Paul Dawson&’s examination of the troops who fought at Ligny, Quatre-Bras and Waterloo, is based on thousands of pages of French archival documents and translations. With hundreds of photographs of original artifacts, supplemented with scores of lavish color illustrations, and dozens of paintings by the renowned military artist Keith Rocco, Napoleon&’s Waterloo Army is the most comprehensive, and extensive, study ever made of the French field army of 1815, and its uniforms, arms and equipment. &“Contains many rare and previously unpublished images in the form of full color drawings and photographs of surviving relics. As with the earlier volumes, this book will appeal to and be enjoyed by a wide readership with special interest for historians, military history enthusiasts, Napoleonic War enthusiasts and re-enactors.&” —Firetrench
Napoleon's invasion of Russia [Illustrated Edition]
by Hereford B. GeorgeNapoleon's invasion of Russia remains the benchmark for military disaster, even some two hundred year after he and his 600,000 men crossed the Niemen into the interior of Russia. The story of these men and their stolid, valiant opponents, the Russians, is recounted in admirable detail by the Author: from the killing fields of Smolensk and Borodino to the great fire of Moscow and the retreat through the snows of the Russian winter. Illustrated with 8 plans, the action of the great struggle is brought into full life, even through the passage of so much time.Author -- George, Hereford B. 1838-1910.Text taken, whole and complete, from the edition published in London, T.F. Unwin, 1899.Original Page Count - xv, 451 p.Illustrations -- 8 maps and plans.
Napoleon, France and Waterloo: The Eagle Rejected
by Charles EsdaileSo great is the weight of reading on the subject of the Waterloo campaign that it might be thought there is nothing left to say about it, and from the military viewpoint, this is very much the case. But one critical aspect of the story has gone all but untold the French home front. Little has been written about the topic in English, and few works on Napoleon or Revolutionary and Napoleonic France pay it much attention. It is this conspicuous gap in the literature that Charles Esdaile explores in this erudite and absorbing study. Drawing on the vivid, revealing material that is available in the French archives, in the writings of soldiers who fought in France in 1814 and 1815 and in the memoirs of civilians who witnessed the fall of Napoleon or the Hundred Days, he gives us a fascinating new insight into the military and domestic context of the Waterloo campaign, the Napoleonic legend and the wider situation across Europe.
Napoleon: A Doctor's Biography
by Boris SokoloffExplore the life of one of history’s most enigmatic and influential figures through a unique medical lens with Boris Sokoloff's "Napoleon: A Doctor's Biography." This captivating biography offers a fresh perspective on Napoleon Bonaparte, blending historical analysis with medical insights to provide a comprehensive and nuanced portrait of the legendary leader.Boris Sokoloff, a distinguished physician and historian, meticulously examines Napoleon’s life from a medical standpoint, shedding light on how health issues influenced his decisions, behavior, and ultimately, his destiny. Sokoloff’s dual expertise allows him to delve into the physical and psychological aspects of Napoleon's character, offering readers a deeper understanding of the man behind the myth."Napoleon: A Doctor's Biography" covers the entirety of Napoleon’s life, from his early years in Corsica and his rapid rise to power to his military campaigns and eventual exile. Sokoloff explores how Napoleon’s health—affected by conditions such as epilepsy, stomach ailments, and mental stress—shaped key moments in his career. He also discusses the medical treatments available during Napoleon's time and how they were applied to the Emperor’s ailments.Through detailed analysis and compelling narrative, Sokoloff provides insights into Napoleon’s personal and professional life, including his relationships, leadership style, and the relentless drive that defined his legacy. The book also examines the historical context of Napoleon’s era, giving readers a well-rounded view of the political and social factors that intertwined with his medical history.Rich with historical anecdotes, medical case studies, and vivid descriptions, "Napoleon: A Doctor's Biography" is an essential read for history enthusiasts, medical professionals, and anyone intrigued by the complex interplay between health and historical events. Sokoloff’s engaging writing style makes this scholarly work accessible and intriguing, bringing to life the multifaceted nature of one of history’s most compelling figures. Discover the hidden dimensions of Napoleon Bonaparte’s life and leadership through the eyes of a doctor, and gain a new appreciation for the intricate factors that influenced his remarkable journey.
Napoleon: A Life
by Adam ZamoyskiThe definitive biography of Napoleon, revealing the true man behind the legend"What a novel my life has been!" Napoleon once said of himself. Born into a poor family, the callow young man was, by twenty-six, an army general. Seduced by an older woman, his marriage transformed him into a galvanizing military commander. The Pope crowned him as Emperor of the French when he was only thirty-five. Within a few years, he became the effective master of Europe, his power unparalleled in modern history. His downfall was no less dramatic.The story of Napoleon has been written many times. In some versions, he is a military genius, in others a war-obsessed tyrant. Here, historian Adam Zamoyski cuts through the mythology and explains Napoleon against the background of the European Enlightenment, and what he was himself seeking to achieve. This most famous of men is also the most hidden of men, and Zamoyski dives deeper than any previous biographer to find him. Beautifully written, Napoleon brilliantly sets the man in his European context.
Napoleon: A Life
by Andrew RobertsThe definitive biography of the great soldier-statesman by the New York Times bestselling author of The Storm of War--winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Biography and the Grand Prix of the Fondation Napoleon Austerlitz, Borodino, Waterloo: his battles are among the greatest in history, but Napoleon Bonaparte was far more than a military genius and astute leader of men. Like George Washington and his own hero Julius Caesar, he was one of the greatest soldier-statesmen of all times. Andrew Roberts's Napoleon is the first one-volume biography to take advantage of the recent publication of Napoleon's thirty-three thousand letters, which radically transform our understanding of his character and motivation. At last we see him as he was: protean multitasker, decisive, surprisingly willing to forgive his enemies and his errant wife Josephine. Like Churchill, he understood the strategic importance of telling his own story, and his memoirs, dictated from exile on St. Helena, became the single bestselling book of the nineteenth century. An award-winning historian, Roberts traveled to fifty-three of Napoleon's sixty battle sites, discovered crucial new documents in archives, and even made the long trip by boat to St. Helena. He is as acute in his understanding of politics as he is of military history. Here at last is a biography worthy of its subject: magisterial, insightful, beautifully written, by one of our foremost historians.From the Hardcover edition.
Napoleon: A Life
by Paul JohnsonFrom New York Times bestselling author Paul Johnson, "a very readable and entertaining biography" (The Washington Post) about one of the most important figures in modern European history: Napoleon Bonaparte In an ideal pairing of author and subject, the magisterial historian Paul Johnson offers a vivid look at the life of the strategist, general, and dictator who conquered much of Europe. Following Napoleon from the barren island of Corsica to his early training in Paris, from his meteoric victories and military dictatorship to his exile and death, Johnson examines the origins of his ferocious ambition. In Napoleon's quest for power, Johnson sees a realist unfettered by patriotism or ideology. And he recognizes Bonaparte's violent legacy in the totalitarian regimes of the twentieth century. Napoleon is a magnificent work that bears witness to one individual's ability to work his will on history.
Napoleon: A Life Told In Gardens And Shadows
by Ruth ScurrMarking the 200th anniversary of his death, Napoleon is an unprecedented portrait of the emperor told through his engagement with the natural world. “How should one envisage this subject? With a great pomp of words, or with simplicity?” —Charlotte Brontë, “The Death of Napoleon” The most celebrated general in history, Napoleon Bonaparte (1769–1821) has for centuries attracted eminent male writers. Since Thomas Carlyle first christened him “our last Great Man,” regiments of biographers have marched across the same territory, weighing campaigns and conflicts, military tactics and power politics. Yet in all this time, no definitive portrait of Napoleon has endured, and a mere handful of women have written his biography—a fact that surely would have pleased him. With Napoleon, Ruth Scurr, one of our most eloquent and original historians, emphatically rejects the shibboleth of the “Great Man” theory of history, instead following the dramatic trajectory of Napoleon’s life through gardens, parks, and forests. As Scurr reveals, gardening was the first and last love of Napoleon, offering him a retreat from the manifold frustrations of war and politics. Gardens were, at the same time, a mirror image to the battlefields on which he fought, discrete settings in which terrain and weather were as important as they were in combat, but for creative rather than destructive purposes. Drawing on a wealth of contemporary and historical scholarship, and taking us from his early days at the military school in Brienne-le-Château through his canny seizure of power and eventual exile, Napoleon frames the general’s story through the green spaces he cultivated. Amid Corsican olive groves, ornate menageries in Paris, and lone garden plots on the island of Saint Helena, Scurr introduces a diverse cast of scientists, architects, family members, and gardeners, all of whom stood in the shadows of Napoleon’s meteoric rise and fall. Building a cumulative panorama, she offers indelible portraits of Augustin Bon Joseph de Robespierre, the younger brother of Maximilien Robespierre, who used his position to advance Napoleon’s career; Marianne Peusol, the fourteen-year-old girl manipulated into a Christmas-Eve assassination attempt on Napoleon that resulted in her death; and Emmanuel, comte de Las Cases, the atlas maker to whom Napoleon dictated his memoirs. As Scurr contends, Napoleon’s dealings with these people offer unusual and unguarded opportunities to see how he grafted a new empire onto the remnants of the ancien régime and the French Revolution. Epic in scale and novelistic in its detail, Napoleon, with stunning illustrations, is a work of revelatory range and depth, revealing the contours of the general’s personality and power as no conventional biography can.
Napoleon: Ascent to Power
by Charles EsdaileA panoramic chronicle of Napoleon Bonaparte's rise to power--excerpted from celebrated historian Charles Esdaile's masterwork Napoleon's Wars Napoleon's Wars offers a definitive account of the violent conflicts that seethed within Europe from the end of the Peace of Amiens in 1803 to the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, recognizing not only the role of Napoleon himself, but also of the larger forces at play during this tumultuous era. In this excerpt, acclaimed historian Charles Esdaile chronicles the shifting European alliances and simmering enmities in the closing years of the 18th century and follows the rise of young Napoleon from misfit schoolboy to the conquering hero of France. Stripping away myth and fabrication to lay bare the future ruler of the French Empire's vainglorious nature and obsessive lust for power, Esdaile reveals the young Corsican as a master manipulator, who time and again bends political tensions, cultural conflict, and military strategy toward his own aims. A selection from the work the Economist has called "explanatory history of high order," Napoleon: Ascent to Power offers a wide-ranging explanation of the circumstances that led the countries of Europe to fight each other so ferociously for so long, and a portrait of the man who pushed the conflict to new heights of devastation.
Napoleon: His Life, His Battles, His Empire
by David Chanteranne Emmanuelle PapotExplore the rise and fall of a legend.Napoleon: His Life, His Battles, His Empire offers an unprecedented insight into the life of a man labelled conqueror, emperor, lover and tyrant. Thoroughly researched by expert authors, it examines Napoleon's story from humble beginnings to leader of a vast empire, including detailed studies of the battles that made him a legend - Marengo, Austerlitz, Jena and Wagram.Illustrated with vivid artworks, photographs and incredible historical documents, including love letters to Josephine and treaties signed by Napoleon himself, this is a comprehensive and compelling account of the man who came from nothing and conquered everything.
Napoleon: His Life, His Battles, His Empire
by David Chanteranne Emmanuelle PapotExplore the rise and fall of a legend.Napoleon: His Life, His Battles, His Empire offers an unprecedented insight into the life of a man labelled conqueror, emperor, lover and tyrant. Thoroughly researched by expert authors, it examines Napoleon's story from humble beginnings to leader of a vast empire, including detailed studies of the battles that made him a legend - Marengo, Austerlitz, Jena and Wagram.Illustrated with vivid artworks, photographs and incredible historical documents, including love letters to Josephine and treaties signed by Napoleon himself, this is a comprehensive and compelling account of the man who came from nothing and conquered everything.
Napoleon: Life, Legacy, And Image - A Biography
by Alan ForrestOn a cold December day in 1840 Parisians turned out in force to watch as Napoleon's coffin was solemnly borne down the Champs-Elysées on its final journey to the Invalides. The return of the Emperor's body from the island of St Helena, nearly twenty years after his death, was a moment they had eagerly awaited, though there were many who feared that the memories stirred would only further destabilize a country that had struggled for order and direction since 'the little corporal' was sent into exile after Waterloo.Alan Forrest tells the remarkable story of how the son of a Corsican attorney became the most powerful man in Europe, a man whose political legacy endured long after his lonely death many thousands of miles from France. Along the way, he cuts away the layers of myth and counter-myth that have grown up around Napoleon, a man who mixed history and legend promiscuously, and shows how he was as much a product of his times as he was their creator.The convulsive effect of the Revolution on French society, and the new meritocracy it ushered in, afforded men of this generation opportunities that were unimaginable under the Ancien Régime. Napoleon seized every chance that was offered him, making full use of his undoubted abilities and charismatic presence. But the Empire he created, stretching across most of the European continent, was not the work of one man. It was a collective enterprise that depended on the work and vision of thousands of administrators, army officers, jurists and educators, and The Age of Napoleon is as much their story as his.In a book that takes in everything from Napoleon's ill-fated expedition to Egypt to the festivals that punctuated the Imperial calendar, Alan Forrest draws on original research and recent scholarship to draw a fresh and compelling picture of one of the most dramatic periods in the history of Europe.
Napoleon: Master of Europe
by Sir Alistair Horne CBEThe definitve account of Napoleon's rise to power by one of our greatest historians.On June 25, 1807, Napoleon met and embraced his recent foe, Tsar Alexander I of Russia, on a raft in the middle of the River Niemen near Tilsit. This theatrical but historic occasion represented the pinnacle of Napoleon's glory. The Tsar was forced to accept an alliance dividing Europe into two spheres of influence, and Napoleon became supreme ruler of the continent of Europe west of Russia.Alistair Horne traces Napoleon's ascent to power in the years preceding this climax to his political and military career: the success of the "peace machine," the formation of the impressive Grande Armee and the abortive plan to invade England. The author examines in detail the strategic success of the Ulm-Austerlitz campaign in 1805 - "the first great battle of modern history" - in which Napoleon decisively defeated the Austro-Russian army. With the ensuing double victory of Jena-Auerstadt in 1806 and the defeat of the Prussians, Napoleon became undisputed master of Central Europe. In 1807, the Battle of Eylau, resulting in a draw - after which he admitted that his "soul was oppressed to see so many victims" - led to his crushing victory at Friedland which set the seal on the campaigns begun two years previously.
Napoleon: The Decline and Fall of an Empire: 1811-1821
by Michael BroersAn accomplished Oxford scholar delivers a dynamic new history covering the last chapter of the emperor's life—from his defeat in Russia and the drama of Waterloo to his final exile—as the world Napoleon has created begins to crumble around him.In 1811, Napoleon stood at his zenith. He had defeated all his continental rivals, come to an entente with Russia, and his blockade of Britain seemed, at long last, to be a success. The emperor had an heir on the way with his new wife, Marie-Louise, the young daughter of the Emperor of Austria. His personal life, too, was calm and secure for the first time in many years. It was a moment of unprecedented peace and hope, built on the foundations of emphatic military victories. But in less than two years, all of this was in peril. In four years, it was gone, swept away by the tides of war against the most powerful alliance in European history. The rest of his life was passed on a barren island. This is not a story any novelist could create; it is reality as epic. Napoleon: The Decline and Fall of an Empire traces this story through the dramatic narrative of the years 1811-1821 and explores the ever-bloodier conflicts, the disintegration and reforging of the bonds among the Bonaparte family, and the serpentine diplomacy that shaped the fate of Europe. At the heart of the story is Napoleon&’s own sense of history, the tensions in his own character, and the shared vision of a family dynasty to rule Europe. Drawing on the remarkable resource of the new edition of Napoleon&’s personal correspondence produced by the Fondation Napoleon in Paris, Michael Broers dynamic new history follows Napoleon&’s thoughts and feelings, his hopes and ambitions, as he fought to preserve the world he had created. Much of this turns on his relationship with Tsar Alexander of Russia, in so many respects his alter ego, and eventual nemesis. His inability to understand this complex man, the only person with the power to destroy him, is key to tracing the roots of his disastrous decision to invade Russia—and his inability to face diplomatic and military reality thereafter. Even his defeat in Russia was not the end. The last years of the Napoleonic Empire reveal its innate strength, but it now faced hopeless odds. The last phase of the Napoleonic Wars saw the convergence of the most powerful of forces in European history to date: Russian manpower and British money. The sheer determination of Tsar Alexander and the British to bring Napoleon down is a story of compromise and sacrifice. The horrors and heroism of war are omnipresent in these years, from Lisbon to Moscow, in the life of the common solider. The core of this new book reveals how these men pushed Napoleon back from Moscow to St Helena. Among this generation, there was no more remarkable persona than Napoleon. His defeat forged his myth—as well as his living tomb on St Helena. The audacious enterprise of the 100 Days, reaching its crescendo at the Battle of Waterloo, marked the spectacular end of an unprecedented public life. From the ruins of a life—and an empire—came a new continent and a legend that haunts Europe still.
Napoleon: The Final Verdict (Praeger Illustrated Military History Ser. #20)
by David ChandlerThe acclaimed historian and author of The Campaigns of Napoleon presents his classic biography of the 19th century French Emperor and military leader. Born on the island of Corsica in 1769, Napoleon Bonaparte entered L&’Ecole Militaire in Paris at the age of fifteen. He supported the French Revolution and began to distinguish himself as a soldier at the Siege of Toulon. After a phenomenal rise to power through the military machine, Napoleon became the de facto ruler of France by the age of thirty. A widely celebrated historian of the Napoleonic Era, David Chandler chronicles the life of Napoleon Bonaparte, capturing one of history&’s greatest military minds in a lively and dramatic narrative. Chandler traces Napoleon&’s development as a military commander through the hard-fought battles at Marengo, Austerlitz, Jeana-Auerstadt, Friedland, the Peninsular War, the Russian campaign, and his final defeat at Waterloo.
Napoleon; A History Of The Art Of War,: from the Beginning of the French Revolution to the End of the 18th Century [Ill. Edition] (Napoleon: a History of the Art of War [Ill. Edition] #1)
by Lt.-Col. Theodore Ayrault DodgeIncludes over 200 maps, plans, diagrams and uniform printsLt.-Col. Theodore Ayrault Dodge was a soldier of long and bloody experience, having served with the Union Army of the Potomac during the American Civil War losing one of his legs during the battle of Gettysburg. After the end of the war he settled down in retirement to write, he produced a number of excellent works on the recently ended Civil War and his magnum opus "A History of the Art of War", tracing the advances, changes and major engagements of Western Europe. His work was split into twelve volumes, richly illustrated with cuts of uniforms, portraits and maps, each focussing on periods of history headed by the most prominent military figure; Alexander, Hannibal, Caesar, Gustavus Adolphus, Frederick the Great and finally Napoleon. Napoleon and the period which he dominated received such care and attention that Dodge wrote four excellent, authoritative and detailed volumes on him.This first volume focuses on the initial wars of the French Revolution until the 1799 Allied campaign in Switzerland under the great Suwarov. Napoleon's Italian campaign in Italy in 1796-1797 fully displays his emerging genius, the battles of Montenotte, Dego, Castiglione, Arcola and Rivoli are explained with expert attention to detail.A well written, expansive and excellent classic.
Napoleon; A History Of The Art Of War,: from the Beginning of the French Revolution to the End of the 18th Century [Ill. Edition] (Napoleon: a History of the Art of War [Ill. Edition] #2)
by Lt.-Col. Theodore Ayrault DodgeIncludes over 200 maps, plans, diagrams and uniform printsLt.-Col. Theodore Ayrault Dodge was a soldier of long and bloody experience, having served with the Union Army of the Potomac during the American Civil War losing one of his legs during the battle of Gettysburg. After the end of the war he settled down in retirement to write, he produced a number of excellent works on the recently ended Civil War and his magnum opus "A History of the Art of War", tracing the advances, changes and major engagements of Western Europe. His work was split into twelve volumes, richly illustrated with cuts of uniforms, portraits and maps, each focussing on periods of history headed by the most prominent military figure; Alexander, Hannibal, Caesar, Gustavus Adolphus, Frederick the Great and finally Napoleon. Napoleon and the period which he dominated received such care and attention that Dodge wrote four excellent, authoritative and detailed volumes on him.This second volume explores the beginning of Napoleon's ascension to the title of Emperor of the French and his defeat of all of the powers of Europe to his apogee of power in 1807. Napoleon's thunderous campaign in Italy in 1800, his lightning campaign that culminated at Austerlitz in 1805 see the Emperor in his full pomp scattering his Austrian and Russian foes. Concluding this volume are his campaigns against the Prussians and Russians in 1806 and 1807, despite defeating his enemies roundly in battle his own finely trained Grande Armée was starting to be bled to death.A well written, expansive and excellent classic.