In the aftermath of the French Revolution, Europe descended into a tumultuous series of wars of unprecedented scale and brutality. For more than a decade, an entire continent fought across land and sea, and at the centre of it all was one of history’s greatest and most controversial leaders: Napoleon Bonaparte. In this bookazine we chart the seismic events that made up what we now call the Napoleonic Wars, from the rise of the French Empire to Bonaparte’s final defeat and exile. You’ll find profiles of Europe’s most influential leaders and generals, and blow-by-blow accounts of some of the period’s defining battles, from Austerlitz and Trafalgar to Borodino and Waterloo. Read on, and immerse yourself in the fascinating stories of one of history’s most important conflicts.
History of War Book of The Napoleonic Wars
CRISIS & REVOLUTION: THE AGE OF NAPOLEON • THE INFLUENCE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, AMID MORE THAN 20 YEARS OF REVOLUTION, TURMOIL AND WARFARE, SHAPED THE FUTURE OF FRANCE
THE STAR OF NAPOLEON ASCENDANT • A ONCE OBSCURE ARMY OFFICER BORN ON THE ISLAND OF CORSICA ROSE TO BECOME A GREAT CONQUEROR AND EMPEROR OF FRANCE
NAPOLEON AND THE CHURCH • The famed French leader acknowledged the significant role religion played in the lives of the people
THE BATTLE OF THE PYRAMIDS • Napoleon's invading French Army defeated the opposing Mamluk forces and temporarily occupied Egypt
THE NAPOLEONIC CODE • The Napoleonic Code serves as the model for bodies of law beyond that of revolutionary France
EUROPE IN UPHEAVAL • A WAVE OF SOCIAL CHANGE, EMERGING INITIALLY IN FRANCE, THREATENED THE MONARCHIES THAT HAD RULED EUROPE FOR CENTURIES
FRANCE • Ignoring the peoples’ discontent, King Louis XVI's court paid in blood during the revolution
GREAT BRITAIN • At the time of the French Revolution, Great Britain was the strongest economic power in Europe
PRUSSIA • Prussia initially supported the ideals of Revolutionary France but later changed its political and military course
RUSSIA • Before and during the French Revolution, Russia was continually at war with its neighbours
AUSTRIA • Staunchly conservative, the Austrian monarchy opposed the French Revolution and set out to crush it
STATE OF PLAY: 1804 • STILL SMARTING FROM THE FRENCH REVOLUTIONARY WARS, EUROPE WAS AGAIN STANDING ON THE BRINK OF ALL OUT CONFLICT
TRAFALGAR: NELSON'S FINEST HOUR • FOR BRITAIN, TRAFALGAR WAS THE LAST HOPE AGAINST A FRENCH INVASION, BUT FOR NELSON, IT WAS THE FINAL BATTLE AGAINST A FAR MORE FEARSOME FOE
LIFE IN NELSON'S NAVY • SERVING UNDER NELSON, MANY 19TH-CENTURY SAILORS FACED GRAVER DANGERS THAN THE ENEMY
NELSON'S ILLNESSES AND INJURIES • NELSON'S TENDENCY TO PUT HIMSELF IN THE HEART OF BATTLE LED TO HIM SUFFERING AN ABUNDANCE OF AILMENTS THROUGHOUT HIS SEAFARING CAREER
THE BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR • 21 October 1805
NELSON'S TACTICS • BATTLE AT SEA USUALLY FOLLOWED DEFINED TACTICS, BUT NELSON DEVIATED, RISKED EVERYTHING AND CLAIMED THE MOST DECISIVE VICTORY OF THE WAR
NELSON'S LEGACY
HMS VICTORY • FAMOUS FOR ITS PIVOTAL ROLE IN THE BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR, TODAY HMS VICTORY SERVES AS A LIVING, BREATHING MUSEUM OF THE GEORGIAN NAVY
AUSTERLITZ • NAPOLEON'S GRIP ON EUROPE WAS GETTING STRONGER, BUT A 85,000-STRONG COALITION HAD AMASSED TO END THE AGGRESSION ONCE AND FOR ALL
2 DECEMBER 1805 AUSTERLITZ
THE PENINSULAR WAR • THE OCCUPATION OFTHE IBERIAN PENINSULA DRAINED FRENCH RESOURCESTO BREAKING POINT
HOTSPOTS OF PENINSULA • THE FIGHT FOR IBERIA WAS AN INTENSE STRUGGLE, FOUGHT ACROSS THREE COUNTRIES AND CONTAINED A MYRIAD OF BLOODY BATTLES AND SIEGES
KEY BATTLE SALAMANCA • WELLINGTON WAS CONFIRMED AS A MILITARY GENIUS...