In our first episode of this new series, Dr John McAleer and host Dr Zack White delve into the history and significance of the East India Company, exploring its origins, its role in the British Empire, and its impact on India and the world. We discuss the complexities of trade, competition, and the transition from a mercantile enterprise to a military power, culminating in the pivotal events leading to the Battle of Plassey.

Support the show on patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/cw/thenapoleonicwarspod

Takeaways

The East India Company was a major player in global trade.

It significantly impacted the lives of millions across continents.

The company laid the foundations for the British Empire in India.

Understanding the East India Company is crucial for grasping Britain's multicultural society.

The company's rise was not inevitable; it faced many challenges.

The Mughal Empire was a sophisticated political entity during the company's early years.

European rivalries influenced the dynamics of trade in India.

The East India Company transitioned from trade to military power in the 18th century.

The company became a state in disguise, exerting political control.

The Battle of Plassey marked a turning point in the company's history.

Chapters (timings approximate)

00:00 The Rise of the East India Company

11:03 Understanding the Impact of Imperialism

21:00 Navigating Competition in the Indian Ocean

29:51 Cultural Perceptions and Misunderstandings

31:44 The East India Company: A Historical Perspective

35:46 Understanding the Mughal Empire's Influence

40:33 European Rivalries and Diplomatic Maneuvers

45:39 The Tenuous Position of the English Company

49:49 Transition to Military Power

54:38 Proxy Wars and Political Intrigues

59:44 The Metamorphosis of the East India Company

KEYWORDS

East India Company, British Empire, imperialism, history, trade, globalization, colonialism, Mughal Empire, military history, 18th century

What was a mutiny? Why did they matter? And once you started mutinying against your officers, how did you try to ensure that you weren't executed for your troubles?

Dr Callum Easton sits down with our very own Zack White to discuss mutinies in the Royal Navy and the East India Company Army as they compare and contrast the language, aims and management of these seditious acts.

Buy Callum's book at: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-98840-0?source=shoppingads&locale=en-gb&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=18594397130&gbraid=0AAAAADu685NMss3J-EAb3lpHn8W_5Vewg&gclid=CjwKCAiA3L_JBhAlEiwAlcWO5xKSiyBlZglKfhzAiVZjaxCo3gkrLjt1QW0v0utISfpk5P9kFpVPtBoChQUQAvD_BwE

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On 2nd December 1805 Napoleon achieved what was perhaps his greatest victory. Over the course of the short winter's day he shattered the coalition force arrayed against him on the Pratzen heights, in a victory that would help him to usher in a new order in Europe.

But what actually happened on that bitterly cold day? Who was responsible for this crushing victory? And how the has the battle been mythologised over the last 220 years?

Alex Mikaberidze returns for the blistering conclusion to this double-bill on Napoleon's finest hour. We discuss combatants, missed opportunities, blunders, bravery, legacies and much more as we finally deliver the episode that you've all been waiting for.

What happens when you have prisoners of war, yet neither side is willing to acknowledge the legitimacy of the others' combatants?

This was precisely the problem at play during the American War of Independence/Revolution. Award winning historian Trenton Cole Jones joins Zack and the Beau to explore this knotty problem, whilst Zack speculates that this conflict was the American Civil War 0.5, English Civil War 2.0 and British Civil War (no, we have no idea either!).

Find out more about Trenton's work at: https://www.cla.purdue.edu/directory/profiles/t.-cole-jones.html 

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Who was Napoleon's greatest marshal? The final heat of the series examining Napoleon's best and brightest commanders features a series of underdogs, as pitches are heard for Oudinot, Poniatowski, Grouchy and Marmont. Who will triumph, and claim the final semi-final places?

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Steve Brown joins us to discuss what it took to command within the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars. We explore a wide range of issues including their social structure, advancement and the pressures due to atritional losses.

Steve Brown - Biography | Helion & Company | Military History Books

In the first instalment of a new series on the show, we explore the nature of warfare in the 18th century, as we endeavour to understand the origins and impacts of key themes, ideas and trends that straddle the 1750-1820 period.

Guests Andrew Dorman, Alex Burns and Robbie MacNiven help us probe into the myths of conflict during the period.

Buy Alex's book: https://www.helion.co.uk/people/alexander-s-burns.php?sid=a3102760a9f413f6c3bfded3ceefb79b

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Amidst the upheavals of the Napoleonic era, European music was undergoing a profound transformation of its own. Today, Christopher Kimbell talks us through key developments in Western art music during the age of Napoleon. And Zack exposes himself as a Swiftie.

Christopher Kimbell's brand new book can be found here!:

https://www.routledge.com/Tradition-Community-and-Nationhood-in-Richard-Wagners-Die-Meistersinger-von-Nurnberg/Kimbell/p/book/9781032390321?srsltid=AfmBOopVbKYeQw4xXzSuguMeruQ_oNdC4K3l_ZuP8K9mwezMDx_7F75s

The Podcast’s Quartermaster Liam Telfer joins Zack to unveil a new line of apparel that will put your lace-clad friends to shame.

We talk about why we’ve chosen to embark on this sartorial adventure, the joys of modelling merch in a balmy Waterloo dawn, and Zack goes off on a bizarre anecdote about battlefield dogs (don't ask - we edited most of it out!).

Buy our merchandise at: https://napoleonic-wars-podcast.printify.me/products

Contact the show at napwarspod@gmail.com

How was the British Army of the Napoleonic Wars formulated? In the first instalment of a many part series we sit down with Dr Kevin Linch, a leading expert in the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars. We talk about how the army is formulated at a constitutional and political level, and the impact this had for how the army operated.

Buy Kevin's book The British Army, 1783-1815 at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-British-Army-17831815-Hardback/p/24416

Access the British Officers database at: https://www.georgianarmyofficers.org

Support out work at https://www.patreon.com/thenapoleonicwarspod

Who was the sickly boy who would go on to become the darling of British naval history?

Kate Jamieson returns to talk about the early years of the career of Horatio Nelson, exploring the patronage, the ability, and the hugely contentious question of whether he was a supporter of slavery.

Exciting new merch available at https://napoleonic-wars-podcast.printify.me/products

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What did patriotism look like in a country that was still trying to define what it stood for? And how could you express devotion to your country, when you weren't allowed to express a political opinion?

Dr Emma Macleod joins us to talk about how women could engage with patriotism in the first instalment of a wide ranging double-bill.

Read about Emma's research and find information on how to buy her books here: https://www.stir.ac.uk/people/255910#panel_1_3

Browse our new lines of merchandise at: https://napoleonic-wars-podcast.printify.me/products

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Was it possible to fire four rounds a minute with a musket, like it was claimed in Sharpe? We put the myth to test with re-enactor Liam Telfer.

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In this episode of The Napoleonic Wars Podcast, we’re joined by world renowned historian Dr. Alexander Mikaberidze, acclaimed author of The Napoleonic Wars: A Global History, for the first of a two part deep dive into one of Napoleon’s greatest triumphs: the Battle of Austerlitz.

Part One, The Eve of Austerlitz, sets the stage for the clash that would reshape Europe. How did we get here? Dr. Mikaberidze unpacks the wider geopolitical currents of 1805, why Napoleon’s meteoric rise forced old enemies into uneasy alliances, and how the French and Allied armies maneuvered across central Europe to converge on a small town in Moravia that would soon be etched into history.

We then explore one of the most remarkable aspects of Austerlitz: Napoleon’s mastery of deception. Far from stumbling into mistakes, the French Emperor feigned weakness, carefully baiting the Allies into overconfidence and error. Dr. Mikaberidze explains the subtle bluffs and calculated “blunders” that set the trap.

Finally, we turn to the battlefield itself. From rolling hills to frozen ponds, what did the geography around Austerlitz mean for 19th-century warfare? And how did the terrain shape the epic confrontation that followed?

For more information on Dr Mikaberidze's published work and where to find them please go to Alexander Mikaberidze, PhD

Andrew Lyter joins us to explore the careers of black pilots serving with HMS Poictiers during the War of 1812 and how they leveraged their vital knowledge to carve out identities as free maritime professionals.

Sailors, Ships and Sea Fights | From Reason to Revolution 1721-1815 | Helion & Company

Why was Antwerp so significant during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars? Paul Leyland joins us to talk about how and why Antwerp became so strategically important to all sides, it's affect on naval policy and it's legacy.

Support our work at The Napoleonic Wars Podcast | creating a Napoleonic era Podcast, Youtube show & fan community | Patreon

David O'Brien makes his debut on the show, painting a picture of the fine arts in the Napoleonic period. We discuss the politics of portraits, the representation of ordinary people, and the ways in which Napoleon himself was portrayed during and after his life.

David O'Brien's books can be found at: https://frit.illinois.edu/directory/profile/obrien1

What as going on in Japan during the Napoleonic era? Thomas Gidney joins us to talk about why Japan had closed its borders to European influence, and how Napoleon may have inadvertently helped.

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Callum Easton provides the final instalment of our War and Peace coverage, talking about the demographics of the Royal Navy.

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Severine Angers is Vox-popped in the penultimate instalment of our War and Peace Conference series, as she discusses her work looking at how soldiers talked about trauma and loss in letters home to their families.

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Andrew Bamford talks to us at the War and Peace Conference about his latest research into the casualty returns from the British Army during the Peninsular War.

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Re-Up: To celebrate to publication of Graeme Callister's new book on the attack of I Corps, we're making the original three part odyssey available for listeners in one nice, neat, 3 hour special. Sink your teeth into it if you want to revisit this remarkable interview (the longest single interview we've ever done on the show).

Most importantly, go and buy Graeme's book: https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Waterloo-The-Attack-of-I-Corps-Hardback/p/51172

Jacqueline Reiter talked to Luke ahead of her keynote speech at the War and Peace in the Age of Napoleon Conference, where she discussed why the women seem to have been written out of the narrative of the Napoleonic Wars.

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Sophie Horrocks talks to Luke from the War and Peace Conference, as they talk about her research into theatre during the allied occupation of France at the end of the Napoleonic Wars.

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The Battle of Assaye has been called Arthur Wellesley’s first great victory, a clash that set the stage for his later fame as the Duke of Wellington. Outnumbered six to one by the mighty Maratha Confederacy, Wellesley’s 6,500 men faced a storm of cannon fire, disciplined infantry, and thousands of cavalry in a battle that could easily have ended in disaster. Instead, through bold gambles, ruthless determination, and sheer grit, Assaye became a defining moment in both the Second Anglo-Maratha War and in Wellesley’s own meteoric career.

In this episode of the Napoleonic Wars Podcast, we sit down with historian and author Josh Provan to break down this bloody, high stakes showdown. We explore the political intrigue that led to war in India, the geography around the village of Assaye, and the snap decision that saw Wellesley launch his outnumbered army into one of the fiercest fights of his life. From desperate bayonet charges to Wellesley himself rallying troops in the thick of battle, Assaye has it all: courage, chaos, and consequences that reshaped British power in India.

If you love epic battles, leadership under fire, and the origins of a legend, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

More of Josh Provan's work can be found here Joshua Provan - Biography | Helion & Company | Military History Books

For all your exclusive podcast merchandise needs go to Napoleonic Wars Podcast | Discover Our Exclusive Range at Napoleonic Wars Podcast

Robin Thomas is the latest to be Vox popped from the War and Peace Conference, as he discusses his research into women who were embroiled in the British campaign in Flanders in the 1790s.

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To mark publication day for Graeme Callister's new book on the attack of D'Erlon's I Corps (which Zack has described as a 'genuinely important study'), Graeme sat down with Zack and Liam to discuss the battle more generally, misconceptions, counterfactuals and much more besides.

Buy Graeme's book: https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Waterloo-The-Attack-of-I-Corps-Hardback/p/51172

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Rory Butcher is in the spotlight in the latest from our War and Peace Conference reports, discussing his research into the Fencibles in Britain during the Napoleonic Wars, and why they are so important.

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Andrew Dorman holds court in the next of our mini-series from the War and Peace Conference, as he discusses his research into the 18th Century Irish Military Establishment.

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Katherine Bayford paused during the War and Peace in the Age of Napoleon Conference to talk about how Josephine and her lover managed to defraud an entire army.

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Josh Provan returns to the show to discuss this semi-legendary figure from Indian history, his life, impact on politics on the sub-continent, and why the British were obsessed with placing him on a pedestal after defeating him.

Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/thenapoleonicwarspod

Buy Josh's book on The Mahratta & Jat campaigns at https://www.helion.co.uk/military-history-books/bullocks-grain-and-good-madeira-the-maratha-and-jat-campaigns-1803-1806-and-the-emergence-of-an-indian-army.php

Dawid Gralik returns to continue our exploration of the Duchy of Warsaw's army, looking at their service record, what happens to these men post-war, and yes, Zack manages to squeeze in some crime and punishment questions.

Twitter: @dawgra93 | @zwhitehistory

The popular Peninsular War series returns with an instalment dedicated to the deeply controversial convention of Cintra. Josh Provan joins me to chat about why this was ridiculed at home in the UK and abroad, why it was also necessary 48 hours after Wellesley's victory at Vimeiro, and how the inquiry into its signing unfolded.

007 meets Napoleonic reality as Bob Burnham returns to talk about his new book on Wellington's Spymasters. We discuss why paper was the top of the range gadget being issued to these daring agents, and how these men proved integral in the allies winning the Peninsular War.

Buy Bob's book at https://kentrotman.co.uk/newbooks/napoleonic-archive-15-wellingtons-spy-masters-the-reports-of-colonel-john-grant-and-captain-lewis-ruman-2/

The second instalment of the epic run down of Catherine's life looks at the coup, and Catherine as monarch.

Twitter: @zwhitehistory | @AMikaberidze

Ready to blast through the walls of Napoleonic history? In this pounding episode of the Napoleonic Wars Podcast, we talk to Dr Zack White about his edited collection An Unavoidable Evil - Siege Warfare in the Age of Napoleon. Discover how the era of Napoleon wasn't all about Austerlitz and Waterloo; from the fortresses of Izmail and Braila to Wellington’s Peninsular sieges, we uncover the dramatic and gritty stories of sieges that shaped empires.

We'll explore how siege warfare evolved during this period and why modern historians are turning their sights back on these crucial events. Dr White shares fresh insights from a team of top historians, bridging scholarly depth with battlefield excitement. Tune in as we delve into the strategies commanders used to crack fortress defenses, the challenges soldiers and civilians faced under relentless bombardment, and the lessons these epic sieges teach us about war and society. This is a must listen for military history enthusiasts craving a new perspective on the Napoleonic era's most explosive episodes!

Zack's edited collection can be found here An Unavoidable Evil | From Reason to Revolution 1721-1815 | Helion & Company

Charles Esdaile joins me to talk about the Guerilla (or little war). We discuss why the conflict is misunderstood, why not everyone guerilla was a patriot, and why Augustina of Aragon as much myth as reality.

Twitter: @CharlesEsdaile | @zwhitehistory

Buy the books: https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3ACharles+Esdaile&s=relevancerank&text=Charles+Esdaile&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1

Josh Provan returns to talk about the life of Simon Bolivar, a remarkable individual, widely regarded as the father of a number of South American nations, who had a career that resembled a yo-yo - for reasons we explore.

In the fourth heat of this epic contest of the Marshals, Bernadotte, Murat, Suchet and Victor all go into a bar, but not all of them come out alive...

Alex Mikaberidze champions 'the winner of the Napoleonic Game of Thrones' Bernadotte, John Viscardo makes the case for 'all balls and no brains' Murat, Antoni Gumbau valiantly defends Suchet and Chris Kimbell makes the case for Victor.

Vote for your winner below.

The Four Horsemen of the Podcalypse ride for the first time, as we unveil the new team of Luke Reynolds, Liam Telfer and Josh Redden who will be desperately seeking to keep that reprobate Zack in check.

We explain the new perks, the rationale behind it, and ask the important questions that tax the minds of Napoleonic experts like 'What supercars would figures from Napoleonic history have driven?' (The quality of the show will improve eventually, we promise!)

Join the Napoleonic Community at https://www.patreon.com/thenapoleonicwarspod

To mark the publication of 'So Just and Glorious a Cause', on the anniversary of the Battles of Rolica and Vimeiro, author Rob Griffith joins me to talk about some of the most famous events of the early phase of the Peninsular War, and the individuals responsible, and the way in which these British victories reverberated across Europe.

To enjoy 15% off 'So Just and Glorious a Cause', enter code NWP14 in the checkout when you buy the book at helion.co.uk 

Join the community at https://www.patreon.com/thenapoleonicwarspod

Alex Mikaberidze returns for another instalment of the series exploring the role of Russia in the Napoleonic era. In this episode we begin a multi-episode break down of the life of Catherine the Great, a much maligned, but also hugely influential figure in Russian history.

We discuss why Nicholas Holt's depiction of Tsar Peter III might not be entirely accurate, and what Catherine's early life was like.

Twitter: @zwhitehistory | @AMikaberidze

In the first of two instalments, Dawid Gralik joins me to talk about the complex history of Poland, how it influenced the politics of the Napoleonic Wars, and the make up of the Duchy of Warsaw Army.

Twitter: @dawgra93 | @zwhitehistory

Who was the best out of Massena, Cannes and MacDonald?

The Battle of the Marshals returns, with Charles McKay making the case for Massena, Graeme Callister championing Lannes and Clemens Bemman arguing for MacDonald.

Expert analysis (sort of) is provided by Josh Provan and Sam Jolley.

Have your say on twitter (search for @zwhitehistory and @NapWarsPod), and you can vote below.

Alexander Mikaberidze kicks off the first instalment of a new series on Russia during the Napoleonic era by talking about one of the most significant battles of the entire war: The Battle of the Berezina

Twitter: @AMikaberidze | @zwhitehistory

Buy the book: ⁠https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-Battle-of-the-Berezina-Paperback/p/18032⁠

In a brand new 'History of the Peninsular War' feature, Josh Provan and I sit down for an impassioned and entertaining back and forth where we discuss the origins of the Napoleon's Spanish Ulcer, the initial lack of British willingness to get involved, how Murat just made everything worse, and why the Battle of Bailen was a dream by every conceivable measure.

Have you ever wondered how Britain’s redcoats marched across Europe with full bellies, coin in their pockets, and plenty of ammunition? In this episode, award winning historian Professor Kevin Linch returns to our British Army series to help us break down the gritty reality of military logistics behind the lines.

We explore what was in a soldier's daily ration and how it was cooked up on campaign. We dig into how the army kept its soldiers paid, clothed, and armed in the heat of battle. From supply-line nightmares and busted boots to cunning contractors and a dash of black-market intrigue, nothing is off the table. It's a punchy, behind-the-scenes ride through the unglamorous but crucial "sinews of war" that kept the army fighting fit from the 1790s to Waterloo.

Find more on Kevin's work here Pen and Sword Books: Titles by Kevin Linch

For all your exclusive NapWarsPod merchandise look no further than napoleonic-wars-podcast.printify.me

Who was the worst politician of the Napoleonic era?

Jacqueline Reiter, Beatrice de Graaf, and Luke Reynolds discuss a range of contenders, as well as dishonourable mentions.

Deadly shoals, exploding ships, and debilitating disease are the topic of the day as naval historian Kate Jamieson returns to explain what happened at the Battle of the Nile, which took place on the day this episode airs.

Elsewhere, Zack lowers the tone by describing Nelson's battle plan as his 'balls of steel' moment'.

Donate at www.nrwgc.com/donate

Hear how the Battle of Waterloo unfolded in real time, with this minute by minute run through the events of the day, produced and recorded in 2023 in support of the Napoleonic & Revolutionary War Graves Charity.

Hosted by Zack White, Luke Reynolds and Liam Telfer