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.

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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.

.......

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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.

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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/9780393867817

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EXPLICIT 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

Who was responsible for the British losing America?

George Washington? 'Gentleman Johnny' Burgoyne? Lord Howe? Clinton? Or someone else entirely?

We discuss Britain's failures during the American War of Independence, whether Washington counts as British in the context of this debate, why egos matter in war, and whether this was a war that could never have been won by the British.

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British history, Military history, American History, War of Independence, American Revolution, George Washington

In this episode, expert John H. Gill unpacks the story of Napoleon’s Confederation of the Rhine armies. Created in 1806 as a new pact of German client states, the Confederation fielded some 90,000 soldiers by 1813. Gill asks if these men were patriotic allies or grumbling conscripts? He reveals how heavy recruitment and French domination stoked national resentment and even tiny principalities like Liechtenstein managed to send dozens of troops.

Buckle up for frontline tales: from Württembergers charging at Bautzen to Westphalian infantry collapsing in routs. We also break down the fateful 1813 turn: many German battalions fought on for Napoleon up to Leipzig, while others (notably the Saxon corps) infamously switched sides. How are these underdog battalions remembered, or indeed forgotten today? Tune in to find out.

John H. Gill's work Pen and Sword Books: Titles by John H Gill

Who was Napoleon's Greatest Marshal? We move one step closer to settling this question as Ney, Davout, Marmont, Murat, Saint Cyr and Suchet battle it out for public acclaim.

Brace yourself for a shock as we delve into these titans of the French Army's greatest moments, their military record, and their wider legacy.

• Michel Ney, the “Bravest of the Brave,” and his heroic last stand.

• Louis-Nicolas Davout, the Iron Marshal—Napoleon’s most disciplined and undefeated commander.

• Joachim Murat, the flamboyant cavalry genius who rose from stable boy to King of Naples.

• Louis-Gabriel Suchet, the unsung strategist who mastered counterinsurgency in Spain.

• Saint-Cyr, the intellectual-turned-general with a mind for art as much as arms.

• Auguste de Marmont, the controversial figure whose betrayal still divides historians.

🎧 Perfect for fans of: military history, European wars, biography podcasts, strategic analysis, and anyone captivated by the epic saga of Napoleon Bonaparte and his generals.

📅 New episodes every week. Subscribe now and step into the smoke and steel of the Napoleonic era.

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