The Fall of Napoleon: The Final Betrayal

by David Hamilton-Williams

Praise for The Fall of Napoleon "A well-researched and original history. . . . Hamilton-Williams tells a stirring story, revealing much new material." —Kirkus Reviews "[Hamilton-Williams] is a fine writer and a ferocious logician. He has written a fascinating, if controversial, book." —Washington Times "A dedicated Bonapartist, British historian Hamilton-Williams spares no one in exposing the double and triple crosses perpetrated." —Library Journal In The Fall of Napoleon, David Hamilton-Williams offers a fresh and striking new assessment of the cause and effects of the Emperor's decline. Using substantial new research, the acclaimed author calls into question many of the views established in Napoleonic literature to date. Filled with fascinating details on the diplomatic intrigues linking Britain, Austria, Russia, and Prussia in the quest for Napoleon's demise, this riveting account reveals surprising new information on previously unknown secret terrorist organizations, assassination attempts, and the unbridled political duplicity that led to the French ruler's fall from power.

Genres: Military History

352 pages, Paperback

First published October 24, 1994

Reviews

[John Tarttelin]

I have just finished reading this superb book for the second time. Its sweep is majestic, its coverage exceptionally thorough and the painstaking care the author took with his research is obvious from the plethora of minute and revealing details that flow from his pen like droplets from the very well of knowledge itself. As a fellow academic historian I am exceptionally impressed.

This book reads like a novel and the dark secrets that haunted the British Cabinets of Pitt and Liverpool see the light of day for the first time. What perfidy was committed in the name of the British nation, what lies were spread, what calumnies directed against the Emperor, what mean-minded, disgusting machinations were perpetrated by Castlereagh at the Congress of Vienna as he went AWOL and made up his own policy as he went along - in the end he had to be recalled.

Subsequently because of a scandal involving homosexuality, he cut his own throat. It was the best thing he ever did for his country - his policy nearly led to the death of thousands. He betrayed the Prussians so blatantly that it almost led to war. The irony is that had Napoleon not returned from Elba, the fractious Allies would soon have been fighting themselves. They compounded their mutual treacheries by outlawing Napoleon as if he were a common criminal - a tactic that Wellington, Castlereagh's replacement, later had the grace to acknowledge had been a mistake.

In the end, the nations where no one but the rich 'voted' for anything, that crushed their own people underfoot, where the peasants had very few rights and were often treated as chattels, said in 1815 that Napoleon - who had three times been confirmed as Emperor of the French in plebiscites - was a threat to the peace of Europe! The fact he offered peace to all the Allies after being welcomed deliriously back to France by an overjoyed populace, and that all his friendly overtures were rejected - often unopened, seems to have escaped many historians over the past two centuries.

This is an eye-opening, seminal book I would recommend to anyone who really wants to see what actually happened during the twilight of Napoleonic France. The British nation lies shamed by Pitt and Liverpools' sponsoring of the assassination attempts on Napoleon's life by the evil Chevalier de la Foi of that noisome individual the Comte d'Artois. As if the French population would ever have supported a Bourbon restoration in a million years if Wellington had not imposed the 310lb 'ruler' Louis XVIII on the French nation. Britannia, go and hide your head in shame, for what mischief was done in thy name!

[Alan Grieveson]

If you interested in why Napoleon eventually lost, this is the book for you.
It follows the events just prior to Napoleon's abdication through to his death. The characters involved in his downfall are explored, why they acted as they did and all the political skulduggery that went with it.
It is a fascinating read that shows The Ogre of Europe wasn't beaten in battle but by the deceitful activities of many people he trusted but should have shot when he had the chance. Not to mention his trusted Marshalls who were too vain and greedy to loose the honours he had given them.
A sad end to a great military genius.

[Winston Valentine]

Entertaining book. Good information but accusing Davout of being disloyal is a stretch. This is a book where anybody who just does not follow Napoleon's will is a traitor and responsible for his defeat. I would be one of the first to defend Napoleon but this book never criticizes him for anything in a period where he makes many mistakes.

[Rich]

The great strength of Hamilton-Williams' book is that he takes the key players and events of a tumultuous,hard to understand period and masterfully breaks it all down for us in an engagingly well written narrative.