Within the turmoil of the French Revolution, Napoleon Bonaparte stands out to his military superiors, first by defeating the British at Toulon, then by putting down a royalist mob in Paris when outnumbered four to one, with a “whiff of grapeshot”. Having finally shaken off the humiliation of the failed invasion of Sardinia which began his career, he is made ... Show More
Yesterday
635. Joan of Arc: For Fear of the Flames (Part 4)
What were the harsh conditions of Joan of Arc’s imprisonment, at the hands of her English captors? How did Joan’s trial unfold, and with what was she charged? And, would Joan confess at the last moment in order to save her own life…? Join Tom and Dominic as they discuss the terri ... Show More
1h 2m
Jan 12
634. Joan of Arc: Heroine in Chains (Part 3)
How was Charles VII, with the help of Joan of Arc, able to fight his way to Reims to be crowned in the ancient seat of French kings? Why was she able to continually defeat the formidable soldiers of England, in battle? And, how was Joan’s legendary ascent finally brought shatteri ... Show More
1h 3m
Jan 8
633. Joan of Arc: Saviour of France (Part 2)
How did a young, uneducated peasant girl dressed in men’s clothing, Joan of Arc, plan to crown the son of the mad and feeble Charles VI, the King of all France, and save them from the English? What happened when she met with the Dauphin? And, what happened when, in April 1429, Jo ... Show More
55m 59s
Jul 2023
#384 | Napoleon Bonaparte
✨ The Great Speeches Challenge 📆 Starts Monday, 19th January---Find out more: https://bit.ly/45woKrt---He is a figure who, 200 years after his death, is still held as an example of the glories of France.In this episode, we'll talk about the rise and fall of Napoleon, the establi ... Show More
23m 59s
Mar 2024
The French Revolution, Part 2 of 2
It’s simple enough to pinpoint the beginnings of the French Revolution in 1789, but far more difficult to mark its end. Following the initial outbreak of revolution, France was plunged into years of political, social and economic instability, as various new governments sought to ... Show More
51m 39s