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Dispatch 27 (Patreon)

Published:
2024-09-20 00:43:43
Imported:
2026-06
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Content

Here is the twenty-seventh patrons-only Dispatch. Topics include: Napoleon's taste in watches, comparisons between the Spanish & American Wars of Independence, and "democracy" in the First Empire.

Don't forget to leave any questions for the next dispatch below. And once again: thank you for your support!

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Comments

Geoffrey Dellar

Were sieges still common in this era? If not, why? If so, where vauban’s tactics still in use?

Lucas Neumeyer (NEW-my-er)

Could you talk about the historiography of the Napoleonic wars? Have there been any changes in how we understand Napoleon over the years? Are there any points which historians disagree? If so, where do you land on the topic?

Christopher Burton

Perhaps you will cover this in the main narrative heading towards 1812, but I think it's amazing that during both their wars against Napoleon, the Russians were simultaneously fighting another war with Qajar Persia (You mentioned the Persians in one sentence of Dispatch #25). I'd be fascinated to know how much Napoleon's staff knew about this conflict and if attempts to make contact with the Persians went anywhere given the daunting geographic barriers between them. (I have also heard that the Hapsburgs were in contact with the Safavids during their wars with Ottomans, so I guess there was precedent.)

Vladimir

Could you tell us more about the French involvement in the First Serbian Uprising? I know that Napoleon sent artillery to help the Ottomans and had good things to say about the Serbian leader, but that's about it

Philip Ott

I often hear Napolean being described as a "warmonger" by pop culture and historians, but this doesn't seem to fit him given the narrative so far. Where do you think this description derives from? Is it leftovers from British propaganda or is he an easy scapegoat for explaining theae tumultuous years? Or do you feel this is a somewhat fair description, given his career as a whole?

Anastasia Montes

I really enjoy this podcast and I enjoy seeing a new episode on my feed. Always makes my day. This one was a pleasant, accidental, birthday gift for me! But what I was wondering is if you have a bibliography anywhere?

Adam H

Great Dispatch as always! Random question: What's your favorite Napoleon quote?

Hayden J Goettl

As love these :) Did Napoleon have any pets? Do you know if he preferred one animal over others?

Jon M

I'd add another difference between Spainish and American independence: an Ocean vs a Mountain range separating the combatants. America had time to shift forces/focus around the country (and faced fewer troops), while most of Spain was under pressure or occupied quickly, giving even less time to develop working political systems.

Michael

Question: I’ve heard in several tellings of the Napoleonic Wars about the “Ionian Islands” and how it swapped hands several times between France, Russia and Britain. Being off the coast of Greece, I’m left to wonder, why did France and Russia have an interest in the Islands, did it have any strategic significance?

Teresa

First, Everett, let me say that listening to your podcast is a dream come true for me. I visited the Invalides at the age of 5 and remember seeing the grave stone from St Helena, and tattered flags of the Grande Armée, and have been fascinated by the history of Napoleon ever since. I only discovered your podcast s month ago, but have reached episode 107. I love the way you fill in the background and give such good descriptions of the various characters involved-- in so many biographies they are simply names. Now I even enjoy boring tasks such as washing up, as I can escape to the Revolutionary era, thanks to you. Keep going, please!

Teresa

Question: di you think there might be any truth in the story that Marshal Ney's execution could have been faked, and he escaped to America and became a school teacher in North Carolina ( I would love it yo be true! )

Kirk R Johnson

One point from earlier in the narrative that's been nagging at me. What were the circumstances that led to the Russian Tsar to become the Ceremonial leader of Malta? Seems odd to have an orthodox sovereign in charge of a catholic military order.

Kevin Downey
>>149950636

Yeah, because the French Revolution is perhaps the most historiographically controversial event in history. Napoleon, its successor, may have a “liberal hero vs. warmongering tyrant” narrative surrounding him, but there has never been a François Furet style revisionist account of his rule (not counting Ridley Scott).

Kevin Downey

In the last episode, you reflected on how the advance of Poland's national struggle came at the expense of a suppression of Spanish liberatory dreams. My question is, how much did 19th century radical ideas surrounding revolutionary vs. non-revolutionary nations (which Hobsbawm describes and which you can read in, for instance, Engels) derive from occasions such as that in Somosierra? Did later radicals still, consciously or unconsciously, see those nations which had opposed Napoleon as being essentially backward in their national ambitions?

Harald Hansen
>>150358234

Yeah, it would be interesting to get into the myth vs reality of Tsar Paul and his madness/Prussiaphilia and how that relates to the March 1801 coup.

Blake

Question: To what degree was the idea that Napoleon was the antichrist taken seriously in reactionary circles? I've heard before that Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden was convinced of this and based Swedish foreign policy on it, and that it was later proclaimed by the Russian Orthodox church as well during the French invasion of Russia. Were there specific signs associated with Napoleon that people pointed to?

Jordan Evans

During the period the podcast covers, Australia, in particular New South Wales and Tasmania, is being explored, colonised and invaded by the British. What were French views of Australia during the republic and empire? Did Napoleon have any thoughts on the antipodes?? Love the podcast!

Ben Richardson
>>150015394

I once heard it claimed that Josephine’s dog bit him when he was consummating their marriage. Sounds apocryphal/too good to be true, but I’d love to hear your take on it in a dispatch!

Carla

I don't know if this has been covered (as I am still quite new to the show and still haven't quite caught up yet), but I know Napoleon was a fan of classical music. If you haven't covered it already that would be super interesting for your dispatch segments, if you have please just ignore . Keep up the amazing work

STG
>>151078709

Its covered in a prior dispatch- I cant recall the exact one, but as you make your way through the show youll come across it

Luke Francl

Listeners might like this article about an enslaved man who settled in Iceland: https://www.damninteresting.com/a-trail-gone-cold/ It intersects with a number of threads that have been covered in the show: slavery in the West Indies, people of African descent in Europe, the conflict between Britain and Denmark, and the abolition of slavery.

Luke Francl
>>150145432

Conquering Constantinople/controlling the Hellespont was a major foreign policy goal of the Russian Empire for centuries so for them at least, it probably contributed to that. The Russians also saw themselves as protectors of Orthodox Christians in the Balkans.

Mikolaj

Question, was there any support for the Spanish cause in France? Seems like some circles could understand their fight for freedom.

Michael
>>150145432

Thanks for the reply, do you know why the French were interested in the area? Why did Napoleon have it ceded back to France at Tilsit, especially since it’s an island and the Royal Navy probably could blockade it.

Scott Miller

"You would make a ship sail against the winds and currents by lighting a bon-fire under her deck? I have no time for such nonsense." This quote is often attributed to Napoleon about Robert Fulton's steamship, though I'm unsure of its authenticity. Do you have any knowledge or thoughts on the quote?

Liam O'Faolain

First of all,great work Everett! You are doing a fantastic job and I am a huge fan. I have long been asking myself what made Napoleon a great general . Most books and histories focus on battlefield manoeuvres, which I don’t think is the answer. I was impressed by your account of the rapid movement of the Grand Armee to Spain, which I was unaware of before Does the answer to my question lie in Napoleon’s preparation? Coupled with his ability to inspire raw troops? Is his invasion of Spain a good example?

Brian Pritzl

Very happy with the podcast Everett. I am curious what topic you will take up when finished with Napoleon. France has a great deal of history and I would love it if you tackled some other periods.

Joaquin

I’ve always wondered what it’d be like to use a Time Machine, travel back say to 1808 before the invasion of Spain, and sit down with Napoleon in his maximum glory to have a chat.. would modern French be intelligible to him? Would his breath stink? Would he be smelly in general given the lack of modern hygiene products? 😄 what were his personal hygiene habits? I’ve read he used to take very long baths back when he was first consul but I don’t know if he kept that up later on or not! What would I pay to be able to sit next to him as he commanded his biggest battles and just see him in action! Or to have a fireside chat with him on the eve of major confrontations to know his real feelings (Worry? Excitement? Tiredness?)

Roger Lord

Love the show and all the work you put into it. I'm an American who recently moved to France and it's been very fun to connect elements of the narrative with places I've now been to. My partner is French and she works as a chef in fine dining. I also work in hospitality. Auguste Escoffier is credited with creating the "brigade" system still used by modern professional kitchens after serving in Napoleon III's army during the Franco-Prussian War. I was wondering what the kitchen staff situation was in Napoleon's army. How was the kitchen organized? What kind of food was prepared? Was it staffed by support people, soldiers, or a combination? Did women pay a role in the preparation of food for the military? Was the French military different from other armies of the time in how they managed the feeding of the men?

Chris Beer

The previous questions about Andorra and Luxembourg were quite interesting, can you talk about San Marino next? Did it maintain independence throughout the napoleonic era or was it ever folded into any of the Italian States Napoleon created? How (if at all) did it being a Republic color relations with France? Was it a bit more democratic than other Italian Republics of the period like Venice?