Generals and Napoleon

Discover the Top 15 most surprising moments of the Napoleonic Era—from unexpected battlefield reversals to political shocks that reshaped Europe forever. ⚔️🌍
In this video, we explore the events, decisions, and outcomes that defied expectations during the age of Napoleon Bonaparte, including shocking victories, disastrous miscalculations, underestimated people, and turning points that historians still debate today. Whether you’re a longtime Napoleonic history fan or new to the era, these surprises reveal why the period from 1793 – 1815 remains one of the most dramatic in military history.

Our experts include David Markham, Graeme Callister, Geraint Thatcher, and Zack White! We discuss:
Battles Napoleon should have lost—but didn’t

Decisions that unexpectedly changed the course of campaigns

Political and strategic surprises that altered Europe’s balance of power

How chance, weather, and human error shaped history

Perfect for fans of military history, European history, strategy, and war documentaries, this countdown-style breakdown is ideal for classrooms, podcasts, and history enthusiasts alike.
📌 Watch to the end to see which surprises rank as #1—and why it still shocks historians today.

The Duke of Wellington wasn’t just the man who defeated Napoleon — he was also one of Britain’s most influential political leaders of the era.
In this episode, special guest Marcus Cribb examines Arthur Wellesley’s political career, including his time as Prime Minister, his role in shaping Britain after the Napoleonic Wars, and his controversial decision to support Catholic Emancipation in 1829. Discover how Wellington transitioned from battlefield command to high politics, faced public unrest, and left a lasting mark on 19th-century British government.

We also discuss his later years and his funeral, one of the largest in British history.

Perfect for fans of Napoleonic history, British politics, and Waterloo, this video reveals the statesman behind the soldier.

X/Twitter: @mcribbhistory, @andnapoleon

The Battle of Bautzen (May 20–21, 1813) – Napoleon’s Hard-Fought Victory in the War of the Sixth Coalition
In today’s episode, special guest Jonas de Neef breaks down the Battle of Bautzen, one of the most intense and strategically intriguing clashes of the 1813 campaign. Fought after Napoleon’s retreat from Russia, Bautzen saw the Emperor attempt to crush the combined Prussian & Russian armies under Blücher and Wittgenstein. Despite a tactical French victory, the battle failed to deliver the decisive blow Napoleon desperately needed.
We explore:
Napoleon’s strategy and the movements leading to Bautzen

Key commanders: Napoleon, Ney, Soult, Oudinot, Blücher, and Wittgenstein

The brutal two-day fight

Ney’s missed opportunity that allowed the Allies to escape

Casualties, consequences, and how Bautzen shaped the rest of the 1813 campaign

Perfect for fans of Napoleonic history, military strategy, and anyone following the War of the Sixth Coalition.
🔔 Subscribe for more Napoleonic battles, biographies, and deep-dive episodes!
👍 Like & comment — Which Napoleonic battle should we cover next?
#Napoleon #BattleOfBautzen #NapoleonicWars #OTD #WarOfTheSixthCoalition #MilitaryHistory #GeneralsAndNapoleon

🇩🇪 King Frederick William III of Prussia
Discover the dramatic life and legacy of King Frederick William III (1770–1840), the Prussian monarch who ruled during one of Europe’s most turbulent eras. This video explores how a shy and reluctant king transformed Prussia after devastating defeats by Napoleon—leading to sweeping military, social, and governmental reforms that helped shape modern Germany.
Special guest Ethan Soefje joins the show to cover:
Frederick William III’s early life and accession to the throne

Prussia’s catastrophic losses at Jena–Auerstedt (1806)

His complex relationship with Napoleon Bonaparte

The influence of Queen Louise, one of Prussia’s most beloved figures

The Prussian Reform Movement (Scharnhorst, Stein, Hardenberg)

His leadership during the Wars of Liberation (1813–1815)

The Congress of Vienna and the rise of Prussia as a European power

His later reign and long-term legacy on German unification

This biography is perfect for fans of Napoleonic history, German history, and anyone interested in leadership under pressure.

👍 Like, Comment, and Subscribe for more deep-dive history episodes.
#FrederickWilliamIII #PrussianHistory #NapoleonicWars #KingsofPrussia #GermanHistory #HistoryDocumentary #GeneralsandNapoleon

While Napoleon’s armies fought brilliant battles across Spain and Portugal, their greatest enemy wasn’t always the British or the guerrillas — it was logistics.

Supplying tens of thousands of soldiers across rugged mountains, scorched plains, and hostile territory tested the limits of Napoleonic warfare. Food shortages, broken supply lines, and guerrilla ambushes made every march a struggle for survival.
In this video, special guest & author Gareth Glover will tell us
🚚 How Wellington & Napoleon tried to feed, arm, and move their armies across the Iberian Peninsula
⚙️ The challenges faced by French and British quartermasters
🔥 Why logistics, not tactics, decided the outcome of the war
🇪🇸 How Spain’s geography and resistance crippled Napoleon’s ambitions

Discover the untold story of the Peninsular War — a campaign where supply wagons, not just muskets, determined victory.

#Napoleon #PeninsularWar #NapoleonicWars #History #Wellington #Spain #Logistics