The Napoleonic Wars Podcast

On the 18th June 1815, three fires broke out in central Belgium, that would go down in the annals of military history.The first, and perhaps least well known, would actually prove to be pivotal in the scale of Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo, delaying the arrival of Bulow’s IV Prussian corps to the point that it would take them 12 hours to march from Wavre to Plancenoit on Napoleon’s right flank, arriving at a time when the Emperor was hopelessly over committed to the fight against Wellington’s Anglo-Dutch troops. The second is often sidelined to a passing comment in the story of the defence of La Haye Sainte, as the Kings German Legion defenders of the farm, one of Wellington’s three forward positions at Waterloo, scrambled to douse the flames with their camp kettles whilst coming under fire from the French.The third holds an almost mythological status – Hougoumont. The siege within a battle that saw a multination force of Coldstream, and Scots Guards, alongside Hanoverian and Nassau troops. As they did so, the chateau famously bruned around them.There are few things more disconcerting than trying to defend a burning building from a few thousand angry French, whilst also trying to not die as a result of the flames. But what was it actually like for the defenders for hougoumont? What were their bodies going? How did the fire spread? And what could they actually do to try and deal with the literal conflagration around them?In the latest instalment of the Napoleonic Wars Podcast, firefighter, veteran and historian Liam Telfer joins us to discuss how you fight a fire while under fire.Join our mailing list at: ⁠https://linktr.ee/napwarspod⁠Support the show and get episodes early at: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/thenapoleonicwarspod#Hougoumont #HougoumontFarm #BattleOfWaterloo #Waterloo1815 #NapoleonicWars #Wellington #DukeOfWellington #ColdstreamGuards #HistoricalBattlefields #MilitaryHistory #NapoleonicHistory #HistoryPodcast #BritishArmyHistory #HoldTheGates #Fire #Firefighter

In this episode, we dive into the fierce two-day struggle that became one of the defining moments of the Peninsular War: the Battle of Talavera. From the blazing July heat to the confusion of night assaults, we examine how Sir Arthur Wellesley—soon to become the Duke of Wellington—held his fragile Anglo-Spanish line against repeated French attacks.We explore the drama behind the battlefield: the strained coordination with General Cuesta, the bold French offensive under Victor and Jourdan, and the tactical decisions that turned Talavera into a brutal contest of discipline, firepower, and sheer endurance. Through narrative storytelling and clear military analysis, this episode brings you into the smoke, the volleys, and the human cost of one of Wellesley’s earliest—and hardest-won—victories.Find out more about Josh's work at: ⁠https://www.helion.co.uk/people/joshua-provan.php⁠Join our mailing list at: ⁠https://linktr.ee/napwarspodSupport out work at: https://www.patreon.com/c/thenapoleonicwarspod#BattleOfTalavera #Talavera1809 #PeninsularWar #NapoleonicWars #Wellesley #DukeOfWellington #SpanishWarOfIndependence #MilitaryHistory #HistoryPodcast #NapoleonicBattles

In this episode, historian Josh Provan joins us to trace the tense, twisting campaign that led to the Battle of Talavera—a confrontation born not just of French ambition, but of uneasy alliances, political blunders, and the grinding realities of Peninsular warfare.We explore how Sir Arthur Wellesley set himself and his men on a collision course with both Joseph Bonaparte’s French army and his own Spanish allies. From logistical nightmares to clashing personalities, from the chaotic advance toward Madrid to the stubborn stand on the banks of the Tormes, this is the story of how a campaign fraught with mistrust and miscalculation forged one of Wellesley’s most hard-fought victories.Expect deep context, sharp analysis, and the human side of the campaign—the commanders, the soldiers, and the decisions that shaped the battlefield even before a single shot was fired at Talavera.Find out more about Josh's work at: https://www.helion.co.uk/people/joshua-provan.phpJoin our mailing list at: https://linktr.ee/napwarspodSupport the show and get episodes early at: https://www.patreon.com/c/thenapoleonicwarspod#NapoleonicWars #PeninsularWar #BattleOfTalavera #Wellesley #ArthurWellesley #SpanishWarOfIndependence #MilitaryHistory #HistoryPodcast #NapoleonicWarsPodcast #Talavera1809

Following the lively debate that sprang up around our episode on 'Who was better: Wellington or Napoleon', we took the time to sit down and carefully consider some of the interesting questions and counter arguments made by our listeners. Who was Wellington's Berthier? Is criticising Wellington anti-British? Was Wellington's political career really that bad? Was Napoleon really better than Caesar? Support our work on patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/thenapoleonicwarspodJoin our mailing list: https://linktr.ee/napwarspod

By 1815, London had long considered itself the centre of Britain and the wider Empire, so how did it respond when “the greatest victory which History records” (The Chester Chronicle) occurred a mere 200 miles from it? By co-opting it, naturally. Moving away from previous work on the Waterloo Banquet and Vauxhall’s Waterloo fete, this talk explores some of the ways in which ordinary Londoners experienced Waterloo, including walking over a bridge named after it, seeing relics from it, and witnessing it recreated on stage and canvas.In October 2025, our very own 'Beau', Dr Luke 'Memory' Reynolds, gave a talk at York St John on 'Staging Waterloo: The Battle in the Capital'. Whilst you've heard him before on the show talking about the Waterloo Banquet, for this one he focused on other aspects from paintings to bridges and on to stage shows all trying to capture the battle.With the very kind permission of York St John University, we present for you listening pleasure a recording of that talk.For more events from York St John University, visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/york-st-john-university-1088934555

Who was the better battlefield general? Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of the French, or Arthur Wellesley, first Duke of Wellington, and darling (sort of) of the British army.Recently famed author of the Sharpe's series of novels Bernard Cornwell set the social media sphere ablaze by once again igniting this age old discussion. The response, predictably, divided social media, but what happens when some historians weigh in to try and settle this issue?Your favourite Napoleonic Wars Pod hosts, Napoleonic historians Dr Zack White, Dr Luke Reynolds, and Mr Liam Telfer take to the boxing ring in this one, as Liam makes the case for Wellington, Zack (unusually) makes the case for Napoleon, Luke can't decide whether he's a moderator or a debater, and ultimately we all end up agreeing.Logistics. Destruction of armies. Limited campaigns. Movement. Motivation. Skill. Success. Legacy. All come under the spotlight in a bruising assessment of the strengths and not inconsiderable weakness of both of these commanders, as we pop the usual myths, weigh in on some of the more partisan comments, and put the case to you to get involved in this debate.Support this content on patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/cw/thenapoleonicwarspodSign up to our newsletter here: https://linktr.ee/napwarspod

Step onto the blood-soaked fields of October 1813 as we revisit the Battle of Leipzig, the titanic clash that earned the title “Battle of the Nations.” In this episode of the Napoleonic Wars Podcast, we sit down with acclaimed historian John H. Gill to unravel the epic story of the largest battle in Europe before the First World War.Gill guides us through the dramatic build-up after Napoleon’s disastrous Russian campaign, the rise of the Sixth Coalition, and the meticulous Allied strategy that finally cornered the Emperor at Leipzig. Over four days of brutal fighting, Napoleon faced shifting fronts, wavering allies, and the relentless pressure of fresh enemy armies. From the opening clashes on October 16th to the disastrous retreat across the Elster River, we explore the critical decisions, battlefield genius, and costly mistakes that sealed Napoleon’s fate.But this isn’t just about tactics, we also uncover the staggering human cost: tens of thousands dead and wounded, civilian suffering on a massive scale, and the haunting aftermath left behind.Join us for a gripping deep dive into the turning point of the Napoleonic Wars, where the fall of an empire truly began.Click here for more on John H. Gill's work Pen and Sword Books: Titles by John H Gill

CONTENT WARNING: There is very strong language, and discussion of topics of a sexual nature from the very start and throughout this podcast. Listener discretion is advised.Why is the idea of 'normal' sex a bit of a myth? What does it mean to be 'sexually deviant', and who gets to make that call? What happens if you are found to be 'sexually deviant'? And why did the powers that be care more about some forms of deviancy than others?Eleanor Janega and Seth Le Jacq return to the show to discuss what deviancy was and wasn't, where 'deviant' and more general sexual acts took place during the Napoleonic era, and how understanding people's attitudes to sex during this period helps us to understand society, both in the 19th century, and today.This episode is not for the faint-hearted - you have been warned!Support the show on patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/thenapoleonicwarspodJoin our mailing list: https://linktr.ee/napwarspod

On 2nd December 1805 Napoleon achieved what was perhaps his greatest victory. Over the course of the short winter's day he shattered the coalition force arrayed against him on the Pratzen heights, in a victory that would help him to usher in a new order in Europe.But what actually happened on that bitterly cold day? Who was responsible for this crushing victory? And how the has the battle been mythologised over the last 220 years?Alex Mikaberidze returns for the blistering conclusion to this double-bill on Napoleon's finest hour. We discuss combatants, missed opportunities, blunders, bravery, legacies and much more as we finally deliver the episode that you've all been waiting for.

In this episode of The Napoleonic Wars Podcast, we’re joined by world renowned historian Dr. Alexander Mikaberidze, acclaimed author of The Napoleonic Wars: A Global History, for the first of a two part deep dive into one of Napoleon’s greatest triumphs: the Battle of Austerlitz.Part One, The Eve of Austerlitz, sets the stage for the clash that would reshape Europe. How did we get here? Dr. Mikaberidze unpacks the wider geopolitical currents of 1805, why Napoleon’s meteoric rise forced old enemies into uneasy alliances, and how the French and Allied armies maneuvered across central Europe to converge on a small town in Moravia that would soon be etched into history.We then explore one of the most remarkable aspects of Austerlitz: Napoleon’s mastery of deception. Far from stumbling into mistakes, the French Emperor feigned weakness, carefully baiting the Allies into overconfidence and error. Dr. Mikaberidze explains the subtle bluffs and calculated “blunders” that set the trap.Finally, we turn to the battlefield itself. From rolling hills to frozen ponds, what did the geography around Austerlitz mean for 19th-century warfare? And how did the terrain shape the epic confrontation that followed?For more information on Dr Mikaberidze's published work and where to find them please go to Alexander Mikaberidze, PhD

The Battle of Assaye has been called Arthur Wellesley’s first great victory, a clash that set the stage for his later fame as the Duke of Wellington. Outnumbered six to one by the mighty Maratha Confederacy, Wellesley’s 6,500 men faced a storm of cannon fire, disciplined infantry, and thousands of cavalry in a battle that could easily have ended in disaster. Instead, through bold gambles, ruthless determination, and sheer grit, Assaye became a defining moment in both the Second Anglo-Maratha War and in Wellesley’s own meteoric career.In this episode of the Napoleonic Wars Podcast, we sit down with historian and author Josh Provan to break down this bloody, high stakes showdown. We explore the political intrigue that led to war in India, the geography around the village of Assaye, and the snap decision that saw Wellesley launch his outnumbered army into one of the fiercest fights of his life. From desperate bayonet charges to Wellesley himself rallying troops in the thick of battle, Assaye has it all: courage, chaos, and consequences that reshaped British power in India.If you love epic battles, leadership under fire, and the origins of a legend, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.More of Josh Provan's work can be found here Joshua Provan - Biography | Helion & Company | Military History BooksFor all your exclusive podcast merchandise needs go to Napoleonic Wars Podcast | Discover Our Exclusive Range at Napoleonic Wars Podcast

Ready to blast through the walls of Napoleonic history? In this pounding episode of the Napoleonic Wars Podcast, we talk to Dr Zack White about his edited collection An Unavoidable Evil - Siege Warfare in the Age of Napoleon. Discover how the era of Napoleon wasn't all about Austerlitz and Waterloo; from the fortresses of Izmail and Braila to Wellington’s Peninsular sieges, we uncover the dramatic and gritty stories of sieges that shaped empires.We'll explore how siege warfare evolved during this period and why modern historians are turning their sights back on these crucial events. Dr White shares fresh insights from a team of top historians, bridging scholarly depth with battlefield excitement. Tune in as we delve into the strategies commanders used to crack fortress defenses, the challenges soldiers and civilians faced under relentless bombardment, and the lessons these epic sieges teach us about war and society. This is a must listen for military history enthusiasts craving a new perspective on the Napoleonic era's most explosive episodes!Zack's edited collection can be found here An Unavoidable Evil | From Reason to Revolution 1721-1815 | Helion & Company

Have you ever wondered how Britain’s redcoats marched across Europe with full bellies, coin in their pockets, and plenty of ammunition? In this episode, award winning historian Professor Kevin Linch returns to our British Army series to help us break down the gritty reality of military logistics behind the lines.We explore what was in a soldier's daily ration and how it was cooked up on campaign. We dig into how the army kept its soldiers paid, clothed, and armed in the heat of battle. From supply-line nightmares and busted boots to cunning contractors and a dash of black-market intrigue, nothing is off the table. It's a punchy, behind-the-scenes ride through the unglamorous but crucial "sinews of war" that kept the army fighting fit from the 1790s to Waterloo.Find more on Kevin's work here Pen and Sword Books: Titles by Kevin LinchFor all your exclusive NapWarsPod merchandise look no further than napoleonic-wars-podcast.printify.me

Why did Britain break its mould with the Waterloo medal? Were medals really that rare? And why do they matter?Expert auctioneer Robert Wilde-Evans joins Luke and Zack to discuss how you tell the real ones from the fakes, and what a Waterloo medal really represents. We discuss how they highlight a shift in attitudes to how the British soldier is viewed during the time, what the Holy Grail is when it comes to Waterloo medals, and much more, as we discuss possibly the most famous medal of the entire Napoleonic Wars.Support out work on patron: https://www.patreon.com/c/thenapoleonicwarspod

What did ordinary Britons really think about the American and the French Revolutions as war erupted across the globe? In this lively episode of The Napoleonic Wars Podcast, we’re joined by Professor Emma Macleod of the University of Stirling to dig into the fascinating world of 18th Century Britain through the letters of two remarkable men: Rev. James Wodrow, a Scottish minister in Ayrshire, and Samuel Kenrick, an English merchant and banker from Worcestershire.Drawing on her brilliant work editing The Wodrow-Kenrick Correspondence, 1750–1810, Emma helps us unpack the fierce debates that divided Britain: Tory loyalists versus reformers, pro-war voices versus critics accused of radicalism, and the contrasts between urban and rural opinion. We explore how Britain viewed war with Revolutionary France compared to the American colonies, how politics, religion, and everyday anxieties shaped public opinion, and what these letters reveal about life on the home front during an age of revolution.This is a fresh, human perspective on the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, one that goes beyond Kings, Generals, and battles to show how ordinary people wrestled with extraordinary times.Professor Macleod's puplished works The Wodrow-Kenrick Correspondence, 1750–1810 can be found here The Wodrow-Kenrick Correspondence 1750-1810 - Martin Fitzpatrick, Emma Macleod, Anthony Page - Oxford University PressExclusive 'NapWarsPod' merchandise can be found here Discover Our Exclusive Range at Napoleonic Wars Podcast

Following the disaster of the Corunna campaign, we again turn our attention to Portugal for the next phase of our Peninsular War saga. We talk about Napoleon's unrealistic ambitions for the second French invasion of Portugal, Britain's uncertainty about committing more troops to the defence of Spain and Portugal, and the challenges that both French Marshal Soult, and British General Arthur Wellesley faced in trying to execute a successful campaign.We also discuss the geography of the city, how Wellesley picked his audacious crossing point, and the way in which the macro and micro came into play with the planning of this campaign.Support the show on patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/c/thenapoleonicwarspod

How do you celebrate a war hero? Both during and in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars, Britain had to find an answer to this complex question. The answer took many forms, one of which was monuments to the fallen 'heroes'. Abercrombie, Moore, Nelson and many others became the focus of a multi-million pound national project to instal monuments to their memory in St Paul's Cathedral. All of it came under the oversize of the 'Committee of Taste'. Today these beautifully sculpted pieces of marble remind us of the service and sacrifice of some of the key figures of the Napoleonic era. But if you scratch the surface, you find layers of meaning, rivalries, coded messages, and monumental clashes of egos underpinning these relics of history.PhD Researcher Gemma Shearwood helps us unpack what on earth was going on in the 'Committee of Taste', why it matters, and what these memorials were meant to mean to us all........Support our work on patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/thenapoleonicwarspodSocial media, merch & mailing list: https://linktr.ee/napwarspod

Professor Kevin Linch joins us again for what is Act 2 covering all things rank and file careers, join us as we uncover the truth behind how a British soldiers career prgressed through pay, promotion and punishment.Professor Linch is a Professor of Modern History at the University of Leeds. He specialises in the history of Britain in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, focusing on the history of Britain's armed forces and their relationship to wider political, social, and cultural trends. He is the author of the recently published, Templar Prize winning ⁠Pen and Sword Books: The British Army, 1783–1815 - Hardback⁠ and ⁠Britain and Wellington's Army: Recruitment, Society and Tradition, 1807-15 | SpringerLink⁠.Working with Dr Simon Quinn, he has also recently launched an online database of British Army Officers, available at ⁠georgianarmyofficers.org⁠.We discuss the men behind the thin red line and how they came to be one of the greatest fighting forces that Britain has ever deployed. We'll be covering combat, past times, pay, and of course with Dr Zack White in the house, punishment. For our exclusive merchandise collection please go to Discover Our Exclusive Range at Napoleonic Wars Podcast

EXPLICIT CONTENT WARNING: Fan flirting, dangerous liaisons, 'self-gratification', false modesty and sexual health are all under the microscope as sex historian Eleanor Janega joins us to talk about sex in the Napoleonic era. We also discuss the status of women during the period, why there really isn't a 'Lady Chatterley's Lover' effect, and why philosopher Voltaire really isn't 'all that'.Eleanor's Book: https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393867817Support our work on patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/thenapoleonicwarspodEXPLICIT CONTENT WARNING. Sex history, gender history, Napoleon, society, relationships, red flags, STIs, contraception, women's history,

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