Fighting For Napoleon

Author : Bernard Wilkin,René Wilkin
Publisher : Grub Street Publishers
Page : 197 pages
File Size : 46,6 Mb
Release : 2015-11-30
Category : History
ISBN : 9781473878457

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Fighting for Napoleon by Bernard Wilkin,René Wilkin Pdf

True, first-hand accounts of combat and soldiering from the men who fought for Napoleon Bonparte and the First French Empire: “Fascinating stuff” (Stuart Asquith, author of Military Modelling). The French side of the Napoleonic Wars is often presented from a strategic point of view, or in terms of military organization and battlefield tactics, or through officers’ memoirs. Fighting for Napoleon:French Soldiers’ Letters, 1799–1815, based on more than sixteen hundred letters written by French soldiers of the Napoleonic armies, shares the perspectives and experiences of the lowest, ordinary ranks of the army who fought on the frontlines. Authors Bernard Wilkin and René Wilkin provide an informative read of common soldiers’ lives for military and cultural historians as well as a fascinating counterpoint to the memoirs of Cpt. Jean-Roch Coignet, Col. Marcellin de Marbot, or Sgt. Adrien Bourgogne. “A superb guide to the experience and motivation of military service that is based on a wide trawl of relevant letters . . . A first-rate work that is of much wider significance.” —Professor Jeremy Black, author of The Battle of Waterloo “Provides the reader with a good insight into the lives of ordinary French of the Napoleonic Wars . . . Direct accounts of campaigns and battle, recruitment and training, barrack life, the experience of captivity and being wounded are all here, based on letters written most by uneducated men to their immediate family . . . This really is fascinating stuff, and surely a ‘must’ for students of Napoleonic warfare.” —Stuart Asquith, author of Military Modelling: Guide to Solo Wargaming

Author : Charles J. Esdaile
Publisher : Yale University Press
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 55,9 Mb
Release : 2004-01-01
Category : History
ISBN : 9780300101126

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Fighting Napoleon by Charles J. Esdaile Pdf

Alongside the Spanish army in the campaign against Napoleon (1808-1814) was an assortment of freebooters, local peasants, and bandits who were organized into ad hoc regional private armies. These "guerrillas"--a term introduced to the English language during the Peninsular War--ambushed French convoys, attacked French encampments, and pounced upon, dodged, and fought French columns, often with extreme brutality. This book investigates for the first time the irregular Spanish forces and their role in resisting Napoleon. Delving deeply into previously untapped archival resources, Charles Esdaile arrives at an entirely new view of the Spanish guerrillas. He shows that the Spanish war against Napoleon was something other than the great popular crusade of legend, that many guerrillas were not armed civilians acting spontaneously, and that guerrillas were more often driven by personal motives than high-minded ideology. Tracking down the bandit armies and assessing their contributions, Esdaile offers important insights into the famous "little war" and the motives of those who fought it.

Author : Beatrice de Graaf
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
Page : 519 pages
File Size : 42,5 Mb
Release : 2020-10
Category : History
ISBN : 9781108842068

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Fighting Terror after Napoleon by Beatrice de Graaf Pdf

Europe was forged out of the ashes of the Napoleonic wars by means of a collective fight against revolutionary terror. The Allied Council created a culture of in- and exclusion, of people that were persecuted and those who were protected, using secret police, black lists, border controls and fortifications, and financed by European capital holders.

Author : Wilkin Bernard
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 201 pages
File Size : 40,6 Mb
Release : 2015
Category : France
ISBN : 1473878462

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Fighting for Napoleon by Wilkin Bernard Pdf

Author : C J Wagevier
Publisher : Pen and Sword Military
Page : 206 pages
File Size : 42,8 Mb
Release : 2023-08-30
Category : Biography & Autobiography
ISBN : 9781399089784

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Fighting for Napoleon's Army in Russia by C J Wagevier Pdf

In 1812 the French emperor Napoleon decided to invade Russia. For this purpose, he gathered an army of half a million men and women, consisting of soldiers from all nationalities, including French, German and Italian. Serving in this army was Carel Johannes Wagevier, an officer in the 125th Regiment of the Line, which was staffed by mostly Dutch soldiers. Full of confidence, they went to war and began the long journey to the East. What followed was a horrific expedition deep into the Russian interior, a chaotic retreat, and captivity. Just like his fellow soldiers, Wagevier endured the cold, the stresses of combat, and the hunger that besieged the army. After fighting at the battle of Berezina in November 1812, he was taken prisoner and transported all the way to the Russian interior. In 1814 he and his remaining fellow officers were released, and together they started the journey back home. During his travels across Russia, he made notes of events that occurred or meetings that seemed memorable, including ones of unexpected generosity as well as sudden cruelty. These notes were later expanded into his memoir and published in 1820. Now, for the first time ever, they have been translated into English, providing a unique and fascinating insight into the life of a solider in Napoleon’s army.

Author : Michael J Hughes
Publisher : NYU Press
Page : 299 pages
File Size : 40,9 Mb
Release : 2012-05-07
Category : History
ISBN : 9780814724118

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Forging Napoleon's Grande Armée by Michael J Hughes Pdf

“A fascinating study exploring the motivation of French soldiers during the Napoleonic Era, and the process through which they became Napoleon’s men.”—Frederick C. Schneid, author of Napoleon’s Conquest of Europe The men who fought in Napoleon’s Grande Armée built a new empire that changed the world. Remarkably, the same men raised arms during the French Revolution for liberté, égalité, and fraternité. In just over a decade, these freedom fighters, who had once struggled to overthrow tyrants, rallied to the side of a man who wanted to dominate Europe. What was behind this drastic change of heart? In this ground-breaking study, Michael J. Hughes shows how Napoleonic military culture shaped the motivation of Napoleon’s soldiers. Relying on extensive archival research and blending cultural and military history, Hughes demonstrates that the Napoleonic regime incorporated elements from both the Old Regime and French Revolutionary military culture to craft a new military culture, characterized by loyalty to both Napoleon and the preservation of French hegemony in Europe. Underscoring this new, hybrid military culture were five sources of motivation: honor, patriotism, a martial and virile masculinity, devotion to Napoleon, and coercion. Forging Napoleon’s Grande Armée vividly illustrates how this many-pronged culture gave Napoleon’s soldiers reasons to fight. “Hughes offers a tight and well-grounded exposition and analysis of French military culture in the Napoleonic period in which military honour is presented as a dynamic element.” —Journal of European Studies “Hughes’s book not only contributes to our understanding of the military success of Napoleon’s army, but also elegantly employs cultural history methods to better understand army operations and sustained troop motivations.” —Julia Osman, History: Reviews of New Book

Author : Alexander Mikaberidze
Publisher : Casemate Publishers
Page : 323 pages
File Size : 51,5 Mb
Release : 2010-08-19
Category : History
ISBN : 9781848849440

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The Battle of the Berezina by Alexander Mikaberidze Pdf

The full story of Napoleon’s legendary escape from Russia under seemingly impossible odds is recounted in this thrillingly vivid military history. In the winter of 1812, Napoleon's army retreated from Moscow under appalling conditions, hunted by three separate Russian armies. By late November, Napoleon had reached the banks of the River Berezina—the last natural obstacle between his army and the safety of the Polish frontier. But instead of finding the river frozen solid enough to march his men across, an unseasonable thaw had turned the Berezina into an icy torrent. Having already ordered the burning of his bridging equipment, Napoleon's predicament was serious enough: but with the army of Admiral Chichagov holding the opposite bank, and those of Kutusov and Wittgenstein closing fast, it was critical. In a gripping narrative that draws on contemporary sources—including letters, diaries and memoirs—Alexander Mikaberidze describes how Napoleon rose from the pit of despair to execute one of the greatest escapes in military history.

Author : H. A. Carruthers
Publisher : Pen and Sword
Page : 350 pages
File Size : 50,8 Mb
Release : 2014-04-30
Category : History
ISBN : 9781473849419

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Napoleon on Campaign by H. A. Carruthers Pdf

The rise and fall of Napoleon is chronicled in dramatic works of art by 19th century masters in this book of art and military history. Napoleon on Campaign collects magnificent works by Detaille, Meissonier, Vernet, Lady Butler, Hillingford and many of the other artists who sought to capture on canvas the most celebrated incidents of the Napoleonic Wars. Through their battle paintings, these great artists tell an intriguing tale of power, greatness, greed and hubris. While each painting is captivating in its own right, their chronological presentation creates a uniquely vivid historical narrative, aided by short summaries that provide important context for each scene. Gathering these images together in a single volume for the first time, Napoleon on Campaign is essential reading for anyone with an interest in the Napoleonic era.

Author : Gunther E. Rothenberg
Publisher : Indiana University Press
Page : 296 pages
File Size : 41,6 Mb
Release : 1980
Category : History
ISBN : 0253202604

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The Art of Warfare in the Age of Napoleon by Gunther E. Rothenberg Pdf

Some 12 years ago it was estimated that well over 300,000 works existed on this period and since then several thousand more have appeared. Therefore, it might be reasonably argued that there is little room for another volume. Nonetheless, this vast outpouring of literature has usually dealt with major leaders, specific battles or campaigns, and with certain branches of the service. Moreover, at least in English, the literature tends to concentrate primarily on the French or British armies. There appears to be a lack of works combining a description of the major changes and trends in the art of war, especially at the cutting edge of events, with a discussion of the French military establishment and the armies of the major opponents, British as well as continental. And while this book is only a brief survey, I do believe that it may serve as a contribution towards filling this gap in our historical knowledge of military institutions and fighting men.

Author : Todd Fisher
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 100 pages
File Size : 44,9 Mb
Release : 2013-10-31
Category : History
ISBN : 9781135977696

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The Napoleonic Wars by Todd Fisher Pdf

In 1808 Napoleon dominated Europe, but the peace was not to survive for long. Todd Fisher continues his detailed account of the Napoleonic Wars with Austria's attack against Napoleon in 1809. Despite being defeated at Aspern-Essling, Napoleon rallied his forces and emerged triumphant at Wagram. With glorious victory behind him Napoleon now turned his attention to Russia and invaded in 1812. Yet the army was not the Grand Armee of old, and even the capture of Moscow availed him nothing--the foe remained elusive, the decisive battle remained unfought. This book tells the full story of the now legendary retreat from Moscow, as the fighting force that had vanquished Europe perished in the snows of the Russian winter.

Author : Paul L. Dawson
Publisher : Pen and Sword
Page : 417 pages
File Size : 44,6 Mb
Release : 2019-12-19
Category : History
ISBN : 9781526749284

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Battle for Paris 1815 by Paul L. Dawson Pdf

“For anyone seeking a full understanding of the end of the Napoleonic era this book is a must read . . . [a] tour de force of research.” —Clash of Steel On the morning of 3 July 1815, the French General Rémi Joseph Isidore Exelmans, at the head of a brigade of dragoons, fired the last shots in the defense of Paris until the Franco-Prussian War sixty-five years later. Why did he do so? Traditional stories of 1815 end with Waterloo, that fateful day of 18 June, when Napoleon Bonaparte fought and lost his last battle, abdicating his throne on 22 June. But Waterloo was not the end; it was the beginning of a new and untold story. Seldom studied in French histories and virtually ignored by English writers, the French Army fought on after Waterloo. Many commanders sought to reverse that defeat—at Versailles, Sevres, Rocquencourt, and La Souffel, the last great battle and the last French victory of the Napoleonic Wars. Marshal Grouchy, much maligned, fought his army back to Paris by 29 June, with the Prussians hard on his heels. On 1 July, Vandamme, Exelmans and Marshal Davout began the defense of Paris. Davout took to the field in the north-eastern suburbs of Paris along with regiments of the Imperial Guard and battalions of National Guards. For the first time ever, using the wealth of material held in the French Army archives in Paris, along with eyewitness testimonies from those who were there, Paul Dawson brings alive the bitter and desperate fighting in defense of the French capital. The 100 Days Campaign did not end at Waterloo, it ended under the walls of Paris fifteen days later.

Author : Charles Esdaile
Publisher : Penguin UK
Page : 656 pages
File Size : 48,8 Mb
Release : 2008-08-28
Category : History
ISBN : 9780141909462

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Napoleon's Wars by Charles Esdaile Pdf

No other soldier has provoked as much anger or as much fervour as Napoleon Bonaparte. Was he a monster, driven on by an endless, ruinous quest for military adventure – or was he a social and political visionary, brought down by petty reactionaries clinging to their privileges? Charles Esdaile’s major new work reframes our understanding of Napoleon. Napoleon’s Wars looks beyond the insatiable greed for glory to create a new, genuinely international context for Napoleon’s career. The battles themselves Esdaile sees as almost side-effects, the consequences of rulers being willing to take the immense risks of fighting or supporting Napoleon – risks that could result in the extinction of entire countries and regimes.

Author : Anonim
Publisher : Pelangi ePublishing Sdn Bhd
Page : 33 pages
File Size : 48,9 Mb
Release : 2012-11-01
Category : Fiction
ISBN : 9789674310745

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Napoleon Bonaparte by Anonim Pdf

This book is suitable for children age 9 and above. Napoleon Bonaparte was the first emperor of France. He was a very successful military general and he led his army into many victorious battles. This is the story of how a lawyer's son rose to become a powerful emperor.

Author : Field Marshal Viscount Garnet Wolseley
Publisher : Pickle Partners Publishing
Page : 114 pages
File Size : 53,5 Mb
Release : 2014-06-13
Category : History
ISBN : 9781782891567

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Decline And Fall Of Napoleon by Field Marshal Viscount Garnet Wolseley Pdf

The Napoleon in power in later years may have lacked the absolute genius and resolution that his earlier campaigns displayed; however, he was more than a match for his enemies on more than one occasion. Field-Marshal Wolseley’s short biography of Wellington begins in 1812, following the travails of Napoleon as he and the few survivors of the La Grande Armée trudged back from the Russian snows. As Napoleon feverishly combs depots for recruits, and conscripts more men for his army, he takes the fight to the Allies in Germany. But outnumbered, and demanding the impossible from his generals and troops, he is heavily defeated by the Allied forces. Pushed back to the borders of France, Napoleon contrives his finest campaign since the early Italian campaigns that gained him his fame. However, the number of allied forces eventually pushed him back, forcing his abdication and banishment to Elba. In the final throw of the dice, Napoleon returns to France and, despite some of his finest manoeuvring, is finally defeated at the battle of Waterloo. “An admirable monograph, by the new Commander-in-Chief of the Forces,...giving in a crisp resume the last half of the career of Napoleon, ... Limited by space, there is yet a well-digested mass within these covers, clearly collated and tersely expressed...”-Theodore Aryault Dodge

Author : Digby Smith
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 336 pages
File Size : 42,9 Mb
Release : 2000
Category : History
ISBN : UOM:39015049480828

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Napoleon's Regiments by Digby Smith Pdf

The best single-volume reference book on the regiments of Napoleon's army, with details of unit organization and history plus biographies of 200 regimental officers.