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Osprey Essential Histories #3
The Napoleonic Wars: The Rise of the Emperor 1805-1807
In the space of two years, Napoleon Bonaparte transformed the face of warfare, crushing every major continental state that stood against him. The Empires of Russia, Austria, Prussia and Britain were not weak, so how were Napoleon's methods and his army so formidable? This revealing and engaging book explores the rise of Napoleon the Emperor, focusing particularly on the lives of both soldiers and civilians affected by the prolonged warfare in Europe. The impact of the conflict on aspects of life and culture within Napoleon's Empire is exposed in fascinating detail in this unique approach to the history of the Napoleonic Wars.
96 pages, Hardcover
First published January 19, 2001
About the author
Todd Fisher
22 books2 followersTodd Fisher is amongst the world’s leading Napoleonic scholars. He is the Executive Director of the Napoleonic Alliance, a founding member of the International Napoleonic Society.
Librarians note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarians note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 1, 2024
Excellent introduction to Napoleon’s Campaigns across Europe. The author does an excellent job of bringing to life the Field Marshal’s, the rivalries, and the various battles of the march across Europe.
December 30, 2016
This book serves as an excellent introduction to the early years of the Napoleonic Wars. As Napoleon's Grande Army crushes Austrian, Prussian, and Russian forces from Northern Italy through Germany and Poland, you'll gain an appreciation of the magnitude of these wars as well as the bravery and intelligence shown by Napoleon and his marshals. Political intrigue of the period is briefly discussed, but most of this book's attention falls on the details of the major battles fought. Full of exquisite art and maps, this book will give you a greater understanding of the styles of clothing and warfare of the time.
The Napoleonic Wars lead to unprecedented change throughout Europe in culture, politics, and warfare. This book serves as an excellent primer to introduce you to the story. While the writing occasionally gets a bit dry, the majority of the book reads almost like a novel. Highly recommended.
The Napoleonic Wars lead to unprecedented change throughout Europe in culture, politics, and warfare. This book serves as an excellent primer to introduce you to the story. While the writing occasionally gets a bit dry, the majority of the book reads almost like a novel. Highly recommended.
September 13, 2021
Superb book, im really glad it' the first volume of 4, so many details, focus on the life of solidiers ands Marshals alike, I' would like just more maps, sometimes it's hard to keep with the troops movements, but goolge saves the day.
July 25, 2017
A brief and good military and diplomatic history from the coronation of Napoleon to the end of the War of the Fourth Coalition
July 17, 2017
This book starts with a short and concise preamble of events leading up to 1805. This includes the Peace of Amiens signed on March 25, 1802, and the abduction on March 10, 1804, and eventual execution of the Duc d’Enghien in the early morning hours of March 21, 1804. At this point, I feel it only fair to declare that I am a Francophile (at least at this time in history) and my views on these and subsequent events may reflect this.
Napoleon used the short peace to reorganize his massive army and rebuild his devastated navy. Innovations introduced by him in the organization of combat groups and weapon improvements remained long after his demise, proving that his genius was apparent both on and off the battlefield. A short enlightenment of Napoleon’s marshals is both interesting and informative to anyone that desires a taste of the corps leaders without indulging in a heavy meal of facts, figures, and dates. Similar summaries of leaders, organizations, strengths, and weaknesses of Austria, Russia, and Prussia armies are covered, providing once again a bird’s eye view of the military situation on the continent in 1805.
A summary of two battles (Ulm and Austerlitz) and the two consequent French victories are presented, giving the reader an overall view of the situation, which ends with the signing of the Treaty of Pressburg; effectively ending the hostilities. Glimpses of Napoleon’s political prowess are revealed as are his talents on the field in his victories at the Battles of Jena and Auerstadt; as were the Battles of Eylau, Heilberg, and Friedland in the Polish Campaign a few months later. This section ends with the June 25, 1807, signing of The Treaty of Tilsit.
The life and deeds of Jean Lannes, one of Napoleon’s marshals is presented in a short, informative biography. It shows that the Emperor’s brilliance as a tactician could only succeed through the competence and bravery of his marshals, generals, field officers and men in the ranks. Although history hasn’t deemed Lannes Napoleon’s best-known marshals he proved, time and time again, to be one of the army’s mainstays and a key to its success.
I think this book (and indeed the entire series) should and will appeal to the masses. It provides an outline of history without gagging the reader with copious amounts of facts and figures leaving the essence that is easily discerning and recognize. The volumes are short enough to keep the mind from drowning in this fast-paced and turbulent time in history. This overview is the perfect preamble to a more encompassing and detailed study of the Napoleonic Wars.
Very few people realize that the New Europe Napoleon Bonaparte built out of the old order was like a house of cards and just as vulnerable to collapse at his first major defeat. The French Empire was molded with cannon and sword on the field of battle and was destined to die there; when was the only unanswered question.
Napoleon Bonaparte is best known as the military leader that put
almost all Europe under the thumb of France. His genius wasn’t only on the
field of battle but also in domestic and social reforms; many revolutionary for
the age. The Treaty of Amiens, signed in 1802, marked an end to military
hostilities but the beginning of a trade war with Britain. The sale of the France’s
Louisiana territory, in 1803, to the United States added 80 million, much
needed, francs to the government’s coffers. When Napoleon was crowned Emperor
of France on December 2, 1804, there was little doubt that the uneasy peace
between France and Britain would soon be at an end.
During the years 1805-1807 many of Napoleon’s greatest battlefield
victories were fought. The Third Coalition (1803-1806), pitted the member
countries against the, newly declared, Empire of France. The battles of Ulm, Austerlitz,
Jena, Auerstadt, Eylau, Heilsberg, and Friedland, were all fought, and won,
against many different countries determined to moderate or remove France’s
influence in Europe.
As a history lover (especially of the Napoleonic era) I was looking forward
to reading this book. It didn’t disappoint me. It gives the reader a brief
summary of events, not weighing it down with facts and figures. This book is a perfect
preface to more detailed accounts of this period and its events.
Napoleon used the short peace to reorganize his massive army and rebuild his devastated navy. Innovations introduced by him in the organization of combat groups and weapon improvements remained long after his demise, proving that his genius was apparent both on and off the battlefield. A short enlightenment of Napoleon’s marshals is both interesting and informative to anyone that desires a taste of the corps leaders without indulging in a heavy meal of facts, figures, and dates. Similar summaries of leaders, organizations, strengths, and weaknesses of Austria, Russia, and Prussia armies are covered, providing once again a bird’s eye view of the military situation on the continent in 1805.
A summary of two battles (Ulm and Austerlitz) and the two consequent French victories are presented, giving the reader an overall view of the situation, which ends with the signing of the Treaty of Pressburg; effectively ending the hostilities. Glimpses of Napoleon’s political prowess are revealed as are his talents on the field in his victories at the Battles of Jena and Auerstadt; as were the Battles of Eylau, Heilberg, and Friedland in the Polish Campaign a few months later. This section ends with the June 25, 1807, signing of The Treaty of Tilsit.
The life and deeds of Jean Lannes, one of Napoleon’s marshals is presented in a short, informative biography. It shows that the Emperor’s brilliance as a tactician could only succeed through the competence and bravery of his marshals, generals, field officers and men in the ranks. Although history hasn’t deemed Lannes Napoleon’s best-known marshals he proved, time and time again, to be one of the army’s mainstays and a key to its success.
I think this book (and indeed the entire series) should and will appeal to the masses. It provides an outline of history without gagging the reader with copious amounts of facts and figures leaving the essence that is easily discerning and recognize. The volumes are short enough to keep the mind from drowning in this fast-paced and turbulent time in history. This overview is the perfect preamble to a more encompassing and detailed study of the Napoleonic Wars.
Very few people realize that the New Europe Napoleon Bonaparte built out of the old order was like a house of cards and just as vulnerable to collapse at his first major defeat. The French Empire was molded with cannon and sword on the field of battle and was destined to die there; when was the only unanswered question.
Napoleon Bonaparte is best known as the military leader that put
almost all Europe under the thumb of France. His genius wasn’t only on the
field of battle but also in domestic and social reforms; many revolutionary for
the age. The Treaty of Amiens, signed in 1802, marked an end to military
hostilities but the beginning of a trade war with Britain. The sale of the France’s
Louisiana territory, in 1803, to the United States added 80 million, much
needed, francs to the government’s coffers. When Napoleon was crowned Emperor
of France on December 2, 1804, there was little doubt that the uneasy peace
between France and Britain would soon be at an end.
During the years 1805-1807 many of Napoleon’s greatest battlefield
victories were fought. The Third Coalition (1803-1806), pitted the member
countries against the, newly declared, Empire of France. The battles of Ulm, Austerlitz,
Jena, Auerstadt, Eylau, Heilsberg, and Friedland, were all fought, and won,
against many different countries determined to moderate or remove France’s
influence in Europe.
As a history lover (especially of the Napoleonic era) I was looking forward
to reading this book. It didn’t disappoint me. It gives the reader a brief
summary of events, not weighing it down with facts and figures. This book is a perfect
preface to more detailed accounts of this period and its events.
September 11, 2016
I am fast becoming a fan of the essential histories series from Osprey. Short, but with good clear narative and clear diagrams and lots of pictures.
The one focuses on Napoleon's early battles after he becomes Emperor of France. Campaigns through Austria, Prussia and into Russia lead up to a fragile peace in 1807.
As this isn't the area of the wars usually written about from a British side (as the only British involvement at this stage is vague unfufilled promises) it was interesting to read about the battles and the movements between them. I got the impression that the author assumes readers already know aboout Austerlitz due to a relatively short description and no maps of this battle, but the narative is not impacted by this, and I still could follow the themes throughout the book.
Very simple to follow, and written as an easy-to-read book it's well worth a read.
The one focuses on Napoleon's early battles after he becomes Emperor of France. Campaigns through Austria, Prussia and into Russia lead up to a fragile peace in 1807.
As this isn't the area of the wars usually written about from a British side (as the only British involvement at this stage is vague unfufilled promises) it was interesting to read about the battles and the movements between them. I got the impression that the author assumes readers already know aboout Austerlitz due to a relatively short description and no maps of this battle, but the narative is not impacted by this, and I still could follow the themes throughout the book.
Very simple to follow, and written as an easy-to-read book it's well worth a read.
March 25, 2013
Considering the scope of the topic at hand vs. format of the book series, it should hardly come as a surprise that Napoleonic period and its wars is handled at a very basic level in this volume. Political situation, military campaigns and battles are dealt with rapidly in chronological order without much detail, but with sufficient depth to provide understanding of 'who, when, why and how'. The narrative is admirably supported by maps and contemporary art as well as some illustrations from Osprey's vast treasury of excellent military illustrations.
January 19, 2012
This is the first book of 2012 I have read and also the first history book that I have read since school! It was a interesting book especially I am very interested in this period of history, it has awoken a fire inside me to become a history buff...
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews