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Episode 117: Impossible (Patreon)

Published:
2024-09-01 02:51:28
Imported:
2026-06
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Downloads

  • impossible.mp3
  • Episode_117_Impossible - audiogram.mp4
  • Episode_117_Impossible - audiogram.mp4
  • Episode_117_Impossible - audiogram.mp4

Missing 3 full-res photos, 3 videos, 1 file, as this post has not yet been imported.

Content

The Spanish Patriots prepared to hold off Bonaparte in a rocky mountain pass, but they didn't count on the heroism of the Polish cavalry of Napoleon's Imperial Guard.

Files

Previews only

Comments

Tom Harrison

I was just about to switch off my bedside reading light and turn in for the night when my my email dinged to announce a new message. So, AirPod buds inserted and we’re off to Napoleonic Spain!

Maciej

Great episode as always!

James Watters

I’m re-listening to the older podcasts but it’s easier for me to do it via Pocket Casts with my other podcasts than via Patreon. There is a problem with that however. The description of the older episodes is just “Here is the ad-free version of episode n” so no description of the subject matter which means I then have to look at the version with ads to find out. I’m not sure if you can remedy this but it would be much appreciated!

Andrzej Gilek

Wow, what a fantastic hour it was! Very cinematic visualization, just perfect. I don't know how the author does it, but no episode has captivated me so much since the memorable episode about Austerlitz. I immediately began studying all available maps and sources. By the way, maybe it's worth making a diagram, troop deployment, etc.? Either way, great episode, congratulations! PS. Yes, I am Polish. :-)

John McCormick

What a terrific episode. It brought home to me the utter futility and ironies of war. What an irony that brave Poles so ambitious to show napoleon their worth spent their blood doing to Spain what others had done to Poland. And all for …nothing. Everyone was eventually kicked out of Spain and Poland lost its sovereignty anyway.

Axe capitol

I started my age of Napoleon journey in April and binged the show before the summer started. I once swaggered with napoleons early conquests now I am a bit squeamish as the emperor teeters on the brink of collapse. It seems so obvious with hindsight but the Napster should have learned from his all the mountain campaigns of his career and consolidated his gains. How can he possibly expect to enact hegemony on such a large area of “backwards” people who already had a big uprising? Only a matter of time until it happens again.

Tanner Scheffel

Polands National Anthem is a banger! Makes me wish I could’ve charged with them at Somosierra!

Smooth Shrek

Can’t wait to buy the physical and audiobook version of whatever book you end up writing after (or during!) this series. You tell a great history, Everett!

Andrzej Gilek

The tragic fate of Polish soldiers alongside Napoleon's army is reflected in the famous Polish novel 'The Ashes' (Popioły) by Stefan Żeromski. I have no idea if there is an English translation available. But there is a black and white film directed by Andrzej Wajda. You can find it on YouTube with English subtitles. Poor quality, but worth watching. Many scenes take place in Spain. There is Somosierra, but there is also the storm of Zaragoza. Napoleon threw the Poles into battle with the Spanish, promising them to regain their lost homeland. The book shows the cynicism of the whole situation. Stefan Żeromski showed the courage and sacrifice of soldiers, but he fought against national stereotypes and unnecessary national bravado. 'The Ashes' well illustrates how tragically the fates of Poles and Napoleon were intertwined. From Italy in 1797 to Haiti (of all places). To finally bury the dream of an independent Poland for over a hundred years.

James Whittaker

Great to hear the Polish perspective. The National Anthem of Poland is musically really similar to the former Yugoslavia which is really interesting - my better half (of former yugo descent ) enjoyed that.

poster boy

fantastic episode, and who doesnt love a dramatic cavalry charge.. well done

Blake

Was very happy to listen to this episode without knowing the outcome. The way you set it up I half expected that the charge would fail at every point in the narrative.

God's Eepiest Soldier

another event to mark down for my personal delusion that i could totally do a cavalry charge without getting even a little hurt and it would be cool and fun and rip to the guys who died but i’m different. in seriousness: good episode!! also seconding the popioły rec above

thurgave

Always brings a tear to my eye to hear the anthem; my grandparents (who were immensely proud of their heritage) had it played at the end of their funeral masses.

Maxim Beckers

Dear Everett, I’m going through the Age Of Napoleon for a third time now. Started in summer of 2023. You sometimes mention an additional podcast on specific subjects. You spoke about a podcast about a episode for Pasquale Paoli, and in EP36 you speak of your intention to have an episode about Corsica and about the Bonapart family. I also wonder if there are specific episodes about Bernadotte (perhaps too early) or Masseina Of course I’ve listened to all of the dispatch episodes and we get information throughout about all these characters but I’m just wondering if there are any episodes I might have missed I also notice that the Patreon episodes only go back to episode 56. Perhaps there are is more content in don’t know about and it can be found somewhere else. Kind regards, Maxim

Maxim Beckers

Tremendous episode, appreciate the work you put into the show!

Callum

One of my favourite episodes of the series. Imagine how epic a movie version of this charge could be

Carson Brooks

Probably a top 5 episode for me.

Matthew M—

just chiming in with the other poles in the comments (or polish-americans like yours truly, or anyone at all of any background, really) to say what a wonderful episode, although of course you feel for the spaniards (especially so as poland is of course no stranger to invaders, as pointed out in the episode). maybe the two most catholic nations going at it, ha. and the polish anthem is so beautiful. lastly, someone else mentioned żeromski. he's a fantastic polish author, and another is bolesław prus. his novel 'the doll' i think is the finest in polish literature, and includes a character obsessed with napoleon (although it takes place at the turn of the 20th century.)

Jack Lawless

Came to say I was mowing my lawn listening to this and I finished faster than I ever have because I was practically sprinting during the high point of the charge.

Donald Eckler

Have you thought about writing this episode into a movie script? It is truly an unbelievable story that you told so well. It is vivid and would make a wonderful movie.

Teresa
>>148842604

Hello Maxim, the earlier episodes are on Amazon Music ( though with adverts unfortunately) which is where I found them 2 months ago-- I'm just about to start listening to the whole series for thd second time. Best Wishes