Generals and Napoleon

General Louis Charles Antoine Desaix was one of Napoleon’s most brilliant and underrated commanders. Known as “the Just Sultan” for his integrity and calm leadership, Desaix played a crucial role in the French Revolutionary Wars and Napoleon’s early rise to power. From his campaigns in Germany to his legendary service in Egypt, Desaix earned a reputation for discipline, humanity, and battlefield brilliance.

Special guest Charles Mackay explores Desaix’s military career, his close relationship with Napoleon, and his decisive actions at the Battle of Marengo (1800)—where his timely arrival helped secure victory for France, but cost him his life. Often compared to Marshal Davout for his reliability and tactical skill, Desaix was widely expected to become one of Napoleon’s greatest marshals had he lived longer.
Learn why Napoleon mourned Desaix deeply, how his death shaped the Napoleonic Wars, and why many historians consider him one of the great “what-ifs” of Napoleonic history.
📌 Topics Covered:
• General Desaix biography
• French Revolutionary Wars
• Napoleon and Desaix
• Egyptian Campaign
• Battle of Marengo explained
• Napoleonic generals and marshals
• The death of General Desaix
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Battle of Wavre & Plancenoit (1815) | Napoleon’s Last Campaign & Grouchy’s Controversial Stand
The Battle of Wavre, fought on 18–19 June 1815, was the final major engagement of Napoleon’s Hundred Days and one of the most controversial battles of the Napoleonic Wars. While Napoleon faced Wellington at Waterloo, Marshal Grouchy fought the Prussian III Corps under General Thielmann near the town of Wavre in Belgium.
Special guest & author Graeme Callister will explore how Grouchy, obeying Napoleon’s orders to pursue the Prussians after Ligny, became locked in a fierce battle just miles away from Waterloo—unable to influence the decisive struggle that ended the Napoleonic Era. We break down the strategy, key moments, and fighting along the River Dyle, and explain why Wavre remains central to the debate over Grouchy’s responsibility for Napoleon’s final defeat.
Was the Battle of Wavre a missed opportunity, or did Grouchy do exactly what he was ordered to do? And could events at Wavre have changed the outcome at Waterloo?
Battle of Plancenoit (1815) | The Fight That Decided Waterloo’s Right Flank
The Battle of Plancenoit, fought on 18 June 1815, was one of the most brutal and decisive struggles of the Battle of Waterloo. As Napoleon battled Wellington to the west, the fate of the French army hinged on this small Belgian village, where Prussian forces under General Bülow collided with Napoleon’s right flank.
This episode explores how Plancenoit became the last major French defensive stand of the Napoleonic Wars. We break down the savage house-to-house fighting, the repeated Prussian assaults, and Napoleon’s dramatic decision to commit the Young Guard and Old Guard to hold the village. Despite moments of French success, the fall of Plancenoit opened the road to Napoleon’s final defeat.Was Plancenoit the true turning point of Waterloo? And could holding the village longer have changed the outcome of the battle?

X/Twitter: @graemecallister, @andnapoleon

General Gerhard von Scharnhorst was the intellectual architect of Prussia’s military revival after its crushing 1806 defeat by Napoleon. In this video, special guest Ethan Soefje explores Scharnhorst’s revolutionary reforms, his role in transforming the Prussian Army, and how his ideas laid the foundations for modern warfare.

Discover how Scharnhorst ended aristocratic privilege, introduced merit-based advancement, reorganized training and education, and helped create the Prussian General Staff. We also examine his collaboration with figures like Gneisenau, Clausewitz, and Blücher, and his contributions during the War of Liberation (1813) against Napoleon.

From his early career as a theorist and officer to his fatal wounding at the Battle of Lützen, this video explains why Scharnhorst remains one of the most influential military reformers in European history.

X/Twitter: @andnapoleon

Discover the Top 15 most surprising moments of the Napoleonic Era—from unexpected battlefield reversals to political shocks that reshaped Europe forever. ⚔️🌍
In this video, we explore the events, decisions, and outcomes that defied expectations during the age of Napoleon Bonaparte, including shocking victories, disastrous miscalculations, underestimated people, and turning points that historians still debate today. Whether you’re a longtime Napoleonic history fan or new to the era, these surprises reveal why the period from 1793 – 1815 remains one of the most dramatic in military history.

Our experts include David Markham, Graeme Callister, Geraint Thatcher, and Zack White! We discuss:
Battles Napoleon should have lost—but didn’t

Decisions that unexpectedly changed the course of campaigns

Political and strategic surprises that altered Europe’s balance of power

How chance, weather, and human error shaped history

Perfect for fans of military history, European history, strategy, and war documentaries, this countdown-style breakdown is ideal for classrooms, podcasts, and history enthusiasts alike.
📌 Watch to the end to see which surprises rank as #1—and why it still shocks historians today.

The Duke of Wellington wasn’t just the man who defeated Napoleon — he was also one of Britain’s most influential political leaders of the era.
In this episode, special guest Marcus Cribb examines Arthur Wellesley’s political career, including his time as Prime Minister, his role in shaping Britain after the Napoleonic Wars, and his controversial decision to support Catholic Emancipation in 1829. Discover how Wellington transitioned from battlefield command to high politics, faced public unrest, and left a lasting mark on 19th-century British government.

We also discuss his later years and his funeral, one of the largest in British history.

Perfect for fans of Napoleonic history, British politics, and Waterloo, this video reveals the statesman behind the soldier.

X/Twitter: @mcribbhistory, @andnapoleon