Generals and Napoleon

J.W. Viscardo

Generals and Napoleon, presented by J.W. Viscardo, focuses on the greatest collection of military talent in history - during the age of Napoleon! Instagram: @andnapoleon Twitter: @andnapoleon Support this podcast: <a href="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/generalsandnapoleon/support">https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/generalsandnapoleon/support</a>

  • 42 minutes 45 seconds
    Episode 151 - Prussian King Frederick William III, Napoleon's quiet nemesis, with special guest Ethan Soefje

    🇩🇪 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

    22 February 2026, 12:11 pm
  • 36 minutes 47 seconds
    Episode 150 - Wellington's Hidden War: Logistics in the Peninsula Campaign

    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

    13 February 2026, 12:06 pm
  • 26 minutes 23 seconds
    Episode 149 - Battle of Dresden, Napoleon's last great victory, with special guest Winston Valentine

    In August 1813, amid the German Campaign of the Napoleonic Wars, Napoleon faced one of his greatest challenges — the combined might of Austria, Prussia, and Russia. The Battle of Dresden would become his last major battlefield triumph, showcasing his tactical genius even as the empire began to crumble.

    Special guest Winston Valentine discusses Napoleon’s maneuvers, use of terrain, and daring counterattacks that crushed the Coalition forces under Schwarzenberg. Learn about the heroic stand of Marshal Saint-Cyr, the daring charge of the Imperial Guard, and the tragic defeat of General Vandamme at Kulm just days later.


    🔴 Key Topics Covered:

    • Background of the 1813 German Campaign

    • Napoleon’s defensive strategy at Dresden

    • Key commanders

    • The turning point of the fight

    • Aftermath and its impact on the War of the Sixth Coalition

    🎖️ Why it Matters:
    The Battle of Dresden was Napoleon’s final victory at the height of his powers — a flash of brilliance before the storm that led to Leipzig and the fall of his empire.


    📅 Watch more Napoleonic History videos every week!
    👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more deep dives into the battles, generals, and strategies of the Napoleonic Era.


    #Napoleon #BattleOfDresden #NapoleonicWars #MilitaryHistory #GeneralsAndNapoleon


    X/Twitter: @Napoleon_1796, @andnapoleon



    5 February 2026, 11:56 am
  • 47 minutes 10 seconds
    Episode 148 - General Rapp, Napoleon's fearless aide-de-camp, with special guest Jonas de Neef

    Few men stood closer to Napoleon Bonaparte than General Jean Rapp — a fearless soldier, loyal aide-de-camp, and hero of some of the Empire’s fiercest battles. From Austerlitz to Borodino, Rapp’s bravery and devotion made him one of the most respected figures of the Grande Armée.

    Special guest Jonas de Neef shares how this Alsatian officer rose from humble beginnings to become a Count of the Empire, Governor of Danzig, and one of the Emperor’s most trusted commanders. Discover his daring cavalry charges, his near-death encounters, and his loyalty even in defeat.


    🎖️ Highlights include:

    • Rapp’s early service in the Revolutionary Wars

    • His legendary charge at Austerlitz

    • Saving Napoleon from assassination attempts

    • Defense of Danzig against overwhelming odds

    • Life after the fall of the Empire


    ⚔️ Why it Matters:
    General Rapp embodied the courage, loyalty, and honor of Napoleon’s finest officers — a man who never flinched under fire.

    👉 Subscribe for more stories of Napoleon’s Marshals, Generals, and epic battles of the Napoleonic Era!

    #Napoleon #GeneralRapp #NapoleonicWars #GeneralsAndNapoleon #MilitaryHistory

    28 January 2026, 12:15 pm
  • 51 minutes 52 seconds
    Episode 147 - Part II of the Top 15 BATTLES of the Napoleonic Era, with a panel of experts

    🎖️ We return for Part II of the Top 15 Battles of the Napoleonic Era

    Step into the age of empires and ambition — this video counts down the Top 15 Battles of the Napoleonic Era, where strategy, courage, and destiny shaped the course of Europe. From the stunning triumph at Austerlitz to the final reckoning at Waterloo, discover how Napoleon Bonaparte’s genius — and his opponents’ resilience — changed warfare forever.


    Join our fantastic panel of guests - Marcus Cribb, Graeme Callister, Josh Provan, and Charles Mackay - who discuss everything from Kellerman's stalwart victory at Valmy to Wellington’s defensive genius at Waterloo. We break down the tactics, triumphs, and legacies of battles involving from France, Britain, Russia, Austria, Prussia, and beyond.


    🔍 Whether you're a history buff, military strategist, or Napoleon enthusiast, this episode is packed with insights, surprises, and debates on what made these battles legendary.


    💬 Tell us in the comments: Which ones would make YOUR Top 15 list?

    🎧 Subscribe for more on the Napoleonic Era, epic battles, leadership lessons, and the fascinating lives of history’s greatest military era


    X/Twitter: @graemecallister, @mcribbhistory, @LandOfHistory

    Bluesky: @bubblesvampire.bsky.social

    20 January 2026, 12:19 pm
  • 56 minutes 54 seconds
    Episode 146 - Top 15 BATTLES of the Napoleonic Era, Part I, with a panel of experts

    🎖️ What Were the Top 15 Battles of the Napoleonic Era?


    Step into the age of empires and ambition — this video counts down the Top 15 Battles of the Napoleonic Era, where strategy, courage, and destiny shaped the course of Europe. From the stunning triumph at Austerlitz to the final reckoning at Waterloo, discover how Napoleon’s genius — and his opponents’ resilience — changed warfare forever.


    Join our fantastic panel of guests - Marcus Cribb, Graeme Callister, Josh Provan, and Charles Mackay - who discuss everything from Kellerman's stalwart victory at Valmy to Wellington’s defensive genius at Waterloo. We break down the tactics, triumphs, and legacies of battles involving from France, Britain, Russia, Austria, Prussia, and beyond.


    🔍 Whether you're a history buff, military strategist, or Napoleon enthusiast, this episode is packed with insights, surprises, and debates on what made these battles legendary.


    💬 Tell us in the comments: Which ones would make YOUR Top 15 list?

    🎧 Subscribe for more on the Napoleonic Era, epic battles, leadership lessons, and the fascinating lives of history’s greatest military era


    X/Twitter: @graemecallister, @mcribbhistory, @LandOfHistory, @andnapoleon

    Bluesky: @bubblesvampire.bsky.social

    11 January 2026, 11:51 am
  • 47 minutes 25 seconds
    Episode 145 - Napoleon's rise from lieutenant of artillery to ruler of France, with special guest Rafe Blaufarb

    🌍 From an unknown Corsican artillery lieutenant to Emperor — Napoleon Bonaparte’s rise is one of history’s most dramatic stories. Special guest Rafe Blaufarb joins the show to discuss how Napoleon climbed the ranks during the French Revolution, won stunning victories, and seized power to reshape Europe forever.


    ⚔️ In this video, we’ll cover:

    • Napoleon’s early military career as a young officer

    • His breakthrough at Toulon and rise to general

    • How he became a national hero

    • The 1799 coup that made him First Consul


    📖 Perfect for history buffs, students, and anyone fascinated by leadership, ambition, and the Napoleonic era.

    🔔 Subscribe for more Napoleonic history, great battles, and “on this date” events from the life of Napoleon and his marshals!


    X/Twitter: @andnapoleon


    #Napoleon #History #NapoleonicWars #FrenchRevolution #RiseOfNapoleon #floridastateuniversity

    2 January 2026, 11:48 am
  • 40 minutes 38 seconds
    Episode 144 - Battles of Ligny and Quatre-Bras, the Waterloo precursors, with special guest Gareth Glover

    🔴 The Battles of Ligny & Quatre-Bras | Napoleon’s Final Gamble Begins 🔴
    In this episode, we dive deep into the critical twin battles that set the stage for Waterloo: Ligny and Quatre-Bras, both fought on June 16, 1815. Special guest & author Gareth Glover discusses how Napoleon's last great victory at Ligny was undercut by missed opportunities, and how the Duke of Wellington's stubborn stand at Quatre-Bras helped shape the epic showdown to come.

    👑 Featuring key figures like Marshal Ney, General D'Erlon, and Field Marshal Blücher we examine the strategies, blunders, and heroism that unfolded over one fateful day in Belgium.

    ⚔️ Learn how coordination failures, fog of war, and bold decision-making altered the course of European history in just 24 hours.

    🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more Napoleonic history every week!


    #Napoleon #BattleOfLigny #QuatreBras #NapoleonicWars #Wellington #Waterloo #MilitaryHistory #HistoryPodcast #PrussianArmy #MarshalNey

    24 December 2025, 11:58 am
  • 33 minutes 48 seconds
    Episode 143 - Napoleon's funeral, The Return of the Emperor to France, with special guest Charles Mackay

    Discover the dramatic story of Napoleon Bonaparte’s state funeral and the return of his remains to France in 1840, nearly two decades after his death on Saint Helena. Special guest Charles Mackay joins us to explores the political symbolism, the public reaction, and the elaborate procession that accompanied the Emperor’s final journey through Paris to Les Invalides.


    Learn why King Louis-Philippe agreed to bring Napoleon home, how French citizens responded, and what the funeral meant for Napoleon's legacy.


    🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and follow more Napoleonic history!
    👇 Comment below: Should Napoleon have been buried in France or left on Saint Helena?


    Bluesky: @andnapoleon.bsky.social‬, @bubblesvampire.bsky.social‬


    #napoleon #napoleonfuneral #lesinvalides #history #podcast

    15 December 2025, 11:44 am
  • 45 minutes 47 seconds
    Episode 142 - King Charles X, the 2nd attempt at replacing Napoleon, with special guest David Montgomery

    👑 Charles X of France – The Last Bourbon King 👑

    Charles X (1757–1836) was the final reigning monarch of the Bourbon line in France. Brother of Louis XVI and Louis XVIII, Charles inherited the throne in 1824 during the Bourbon Restoration. Special guest & podcaster David Montgomery joins the show to discuss his reign, which was marked by attempts to roll back the French Revolution.


    Deeply conservative, Charles X pushed policies favoring the Catholic Church and the old aristocracy—earning him fierce opposition from liberals and the middle class. His controversial July Ordinances of 1830, which dissolved Parliament, censored the press, and restricted voting rights, triggered the July Revolution. Charles was overthrown and forced to abdicate, ending Bourbon rule in France.


    📜 In this video, we’ll explore:

    • Charles X’s rise to power

    • His political struggles during the Restoration

    • How his policies sparked the 1830 Revolution

    • The legacy of the last Bourbon king of France

    🔔 Subscribe for more history on French kings, Napoleon, and the dramatic revolutions that shaped Europe!


    X/Twitter: @TheSiecle, @andnapoleon


    #charlesX #kings #kingoffrance #bourbons #napoleon

    7 December 2025, 11:50 am
  • 42 minutes 17 seconds
    Episode 141 - Battle of Bailen, the defeat Napoleon never forgot, with special guest Josh Provan

    The Battle of Bailén (July 16–19, 1808) was a shocking defeat for Napoleon’s forces during the Peninsular War—and the first time a French field army surrendered in open battle. Special guest and author Josh Provan discusses how Spanish General Castaños surrounded and crushed General Dupont’s troops, forcing over 17,000 French soldiers to lay down their arms.


    This stunning Spanish victory electrified Europe, shattered the myth of French invincibility, and inspired resistance against Napoleon across the continent.


    ⚔️ Learn about:

    • How Spanish forces outmaneuvered Napoleon’s troops

    • The leadership of General Castaños

    • The surrender of General Dupont

    • Why Bailén changed the course of the Peninsular War


    X/Twitter: @landofhistory, @andnapoleon


    #bailen #battles #battlefields #spain #napoleon

    29 November 2025, 11:55 am
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