Napoleon Bonaparte: Unveiling the Man with Will Durant"

Take a captivating journey with renowned historian Will Durant as he delves into the life and character of Napoleon Bonaparte, one of history's most iconic figures. In this engaging video, Durant unveils the personal aspects of Napoleon's life, his remarkable rise to power, his ambitions, and the multifaceted persona behind the legendary emperor.
👑 Explore Durant's insightful analysis as he covers:
Napoleon's personal life and experiences.
The factors that propelled him to prominence.
The ambitions and complexities of the legendary emperor.
Napoleon's profound impact on history and the world.
Discover the man behind the legend. Like, share, and subscribe for more captivating historical content.
#NapoleonBonaparte #WillDurant #EmperorNapoleon #HistoricalInsights #EnlighteningVideos #HistoryEnthusiasts #IconicFigures #NapoleonicEra

[@vinm300]

These videos are a goldmine (Actually they're priceless)

[@stevenguevara2184]

I just discovered Durant. Im blown away

[@drumduder]

Oh man!!! Congrats dude. There is nothing better than getting your noggin massaged

[@WrathofArminius]

This guy is good. Check out Mike Duncan’s podcast The History of Rome, or Revolutions. Probably the only person I’ve listened to more than Durant.

[@dredlew]

Amazing im sure they’ll arrest you and block this

[@rustinholliday2252]

It's the narrator that makes these audiobooks so nice to listen to imo, but I agree Durant is great.

[@d.c.8828]

Same

[@archaedemos]

Can't believe , fate, destiny ,and determinism, came up in this. I ponder these all too often. Great upload Thanks.

[@archaedemos]

@Durant and Friends yes Napoleon is a favorite study of mine, it's like a Whata story! Wow. and I'm sure I will get to those others as well. Love the voice and content of these videos. ,, So it is written that Fate shall Determine your Destiny,,, lol what a statement huh?

[@michaelleblanc7283]

What a treat to feast on ! Three new releases in a single day.

[@locustwalkman1894]

Beautiful

[@michaelhebert7338]

Very well done thanks for sharing.

[@jimlaguardia8185]

The final passage shows the genius, depth, wisdom and eloquence of Durant.

[@aek12]

Please put time stamp when you point anything in the timeline of audiobook. This is called consideration in human language.

[@WeenkerIV]

@@aek12 lol

[@ernestoA.1999]

57:00 upwards

[@ernestoA.1999]

@@aek12 57:00 upwards

[@user-te4of2fq5d]

One of a kind, "a gentleman and a scholar". I am forever grateful Mr. Durant.

[@s.kandeepanselvaraj4952]

Excellent audiobook I ever heard of. Listen to it more than five times this week. Voice and vocabulary is amazing. It gave a new insight about ever living emperor.

[@seansullivan5965]

Can't thank you enough dude!

[@johnmiller7453]

Rocky you are great!

[@rowheim]

Thanks for all this knowledge bro!

[@friedrichwaterson3185]

Awesome, your are the best. Merci

[@fullmetalmars8571]

Much appreciated 🏴

[@TyphonTheos]

These are great, Rocky! Because of your channel, I went through the audiobook of Life of Greece and am now totally a fan of the Durants. Thank you so much.

[@andrewhaggerty8452]

M M M M Mm M M MYea Yea m P No

[@ggmang]

I was just in Paris to see his tome at Les Invalides! Amazing timing. Thanks a lot Rocky (y)

[@Ikokaoniko]

Great work, Rocky.

[@williammcintosh9514]

Ivan Drobnjak -

[@Cb489]

These are great

[@cdfgh1111]

A sincere thank you Rocky C .

[@abcrane]

thank you dear

[@josephshillabeer]

Love this, just FYI i have listened to it completely about 6 times already since a few days ago

[@cinnamon4605]

This Randomly inspires me.

[@garanglester]

Who exactly did Napoleon study?! I think he studied 30% and philosophized 70% of his command ideas. Transcendent!!!

[@rhysnichols8608]

“Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth” Napoleon: hold my watered down wine

[@ernestoA.1999]

Vive L’Empereur !!!

nice stuff

[@shelleyharris165]

27 past souls, music 🎼🎶🎵🌍🌎🎸😇🤲🌎🕊️👣🎵

[@shelleyharris165]

Madrid to. The valet man. He was so nice 😇😎✌️

[@danboakye]

03:36 - He was scrupulously neat in his person.

[@nicholasalexandramcculloug9397]

We love Napoleon. He is our Emperor. He is one of the most beautiful humans of all time.

[@terrybutler8674]

Why? He needlessly caused the deaths of thousands to further his own ego.

[@teribradshaw-milling3164]

The British Oligarchs started or funded 5 of the coalitions against him/France, as to the stop the Spread of the ideals of the French Revolution!

[@terrybutler8674]

@@Johnaq Napoleon had some good ideas, and initially seemed to be anti-monarchy and a proponent of the best of the French Revolution. Then he declared himself emperor, planted his brother on the throne of Spain and attacked Russia. He cared nothing for his soldiers. You think these actions are admirable?

[@terrybutler8674]

What was beautiful about him?

[@ernestoA.1999]

@@terrybutler8674 Everything was beautiful about him , his Genius, his name , his glory, his remarkable personality. He was a visionary ahead of his Time

[@thomasjamison2050]

His strategy and tactics are most assuredly not irrelevant in modern war. Just the dressing changes, not the principles.

[@Hermetic_]

Rocky C: Thanks

[@shelleyharris165]

Good Lord 🙏😇😎✌️💛🎶🎼

[@gracefitzgerald2227]

I love Napoleon, even with his terrible views on woman. This painting makes him look so handsome. Great video as always. I’ve listened to this one and Montaigne’s a few times.

[@gracefitzgerald2227]

@Donnell Okafor sounds like a wonderful debate you can bring up with your mother, daughters, or sisters.

[@EliasKagan]

@@gracefitzgerald2227 My lady he had the views on women most people had back in the early 1800s. Women’s rights movements didn’t really start since the beginning of the 20th century. You are respectfully watching from a modern lens, but in order to study history correctly we have to judge their views and actions in the context of their times. Yes women were treated inferiorly than men, but so have they been treated for thousands of years in every culture and civilization in history.

[@gracefitzgerald2227]

@@EliasKagan Listen here smart guy! 😀 you’re absolutely right. I’m thrilled with all the insights of Marcus Aurelius but he doesn’t know any better than to have slaves, it’s just not within his comprehension to think differently. I’m usually the devil’s advocate. I appreciate the comment.

[@samuelmcl.9474]

@@EliasKagan eh, i disagree. It’s perfectly historical to respect a historical figure yet criticize their actions or views, regardless of historical context or period norms. I understand that a lot of people “throw the baby out with the bathwater” and choose to wholly condemn historical figures for not meeting our modern standards, and i think thats a bit harsh and devalues the study of history. But conversely, we should be careful not to delegitimize people’s own endorsements of historical figures. Its far more respectable to acknowledge the failings of a historical figure like napoleon while also praising their achievements, instead of attempting to minimize the bad and fixating solely on the good. Also, most crucially, your statement about women’s rights not being relevant or present is not correct. In fact, the Jacobin government during Napoleon’s time in the French Revolution went to great lengths to abolish feminist “women’s clubs”, with the Napoleonic Code later on only cementing this suppression of feminist thought. See also, The Woman’s March on Versailles during the French Revolution and feminist activists during the time such as Pauline Léon

[@brianmoran1196]

@@gracefitzgerald2227 There were many attempts in History to abolish slavery, but it was too costly until the industrial revolution. After the industrial revolution it was too costly to have slaves compared to the alternatives. Even the attempts to enslave German soldiers were uneconomical outside of the Gulags where the industrial revolution had not fully reached

[@fredmcelroy2839]

This strangely inspires me.

[@abrahamjoseph6984]

will durant outstanding.

[@Rico-Suave_]

Great video, thank you very much , note to self(nts) watched all of it 1:20:13

[@shelleyharris165]

Indeed

[@alanmann6099]

This stuff is the business. Much appreciated. Is there a Talleyrand biography by Mr. Duant?

[@mississippichris]

Talleyrand appears prominently in Durant's THE AGE OF NAPOLEON and THE AGE OF REASON. Talleyrand is one of history's remarkable characters. He singlehandedly invented the obfuscating language of modern diplomacy.

[@brianw.5230]

This is good but Napoleon wasn't short...he was average height.

[@Micheal-jo1sl]

Short for a commanding general

[@shelleyharris165]

Spain Austria, France🌍💪✝️☮️✌️🙏👣

[@benquinney2]

A very attractive man

[@bmarsh3683]

Napoleon Forever ; oui jesui Francais ❣️

[@erikvandam]

f y

[@RouteDeTours]

J'en doute.

[@marcoscastillojaen1888]

Un pequeño gran hombre. Como el titula de la película.

[@unclebill1202]

More great stuff. One point though: that island is pronounced St. Heleena (as if it had that extra "e"). It`s sounds even odder than hearing St.Louis pronounced St. Louie.

[@thomasjamison2050]

English english and American english are not quite the same language. However, for the most part, translation is not too difficult. Curiously, the variety of American accents has dwindled, but this is not as true of English accents. I think this is due to the fact that the English do not move around the country as often as Americans do, most likely attributable that there isn't that much variety in English native environments.

[@tommyodonovan3883]

"Imagination (High IQ, Brains?) rules the world." -Napolitan

[@tommyodonovan3883]

Rocky C Are you an IQ denier Rick?

[@doublenegation7870]

Tommy O Donovan, Imagination for Napoleon and others in the 19th c., certainly after having read and reread Goethe and the romantics, would by no means be reducible to what we call IQ today. The concept was far broader and inspiring, more open to the suggestive leaps of association and the obscure passions of sensibility, rather than the rational analytic of the understanding. An intellect without imagination is an intelligence, but not a creative one.

[@thepyrrhonist6152]

Isn't high IQ positively correlated to high achievement - at least on average? I guess you could argue Napoleon is somewhat of an outlier.

[@nathanhopkins7976]

Equating imagination with something as standardized and reducible as "IQ" shows a need for concreteness which lacks... well, imagination. If Napoleon meant intelligence, he would have said intelligence. What he likely meant was something more similar to "vision," the ability to conceptualize unrealized possibility, to see the state of the world as it could be rather than how it is. It was his own vision of a Europe unified under France which drove most of his life. Einstein is famous for saying that "imagination is more important than intelligence." In his own life, the mathematics which served as the basis for relativity theory had existed in their abstract form for decades. His vision was in using it as a basis for reconciling contradictions in physics between Newton and Maxwell, as a way of explaining the connection between space, time, and light. By the same token, Napoleon entered into the chaotic atmosphere of the French Revolution, brought on by Enlightenment intellectualism. Only Napoleon, though, had the vision to utilize this fervor for revolutionary French ideals to secure a rise to power and the conquest of much of Europe. This took intellect, of course, but it also took something more than cold rationality.

[@KILLRAPEDIE]

Imagination and vision are a type of intelligence

[@Joseph-lj8bb]

He was as great as a man could be without virtue and as wise as a man could be without modesty.

[@DurantandFriends]

Very well said.

[@fredmcelroy2839]

I wish I could have a look that makes people tremble like a child.

[@thomasjamison2050]

He was five foot six only in French inches. English inches are smaller than French inches. That's part of why the French found it reasonable to move to the metric system. It is less confusing for the less bright.

[@ponceperales1041]

10 May 2021. Chaya Kaufman, i.e. Ariel Durant, would be 123 years old today. The Durants also wrote A Dual Autobiography.

[@ponceperales1041]

Ada Kaufman. They met in New York.

[@Einstein1414]

I have their dual autobiography. Very Enlightening. They knew Everybody of their time!

[@TashiTrainer]

Let me say this. Napoleon asked about Tibet and Lama system when he was in his last year in exile that’s how informed this man was. Amazing. I am Tibetan btw lol

[@DurantandFriends]

I would love to get a Tibetan opinion on planksip.org. If you are interested in writing for us, let me now. Contact me (Daniel) through the contact page of planksip.org.

[@shelleyharris2850]

🙏🔎💡. Holy Canoli. A lot of similarities

[@patriciapalmer1377]

Though a misogynist, I like Napoleon. I think it because I share his impatience with patronizing decorum, small talk and undisciplined thought and discussion. Salvation is a sense of humor which he seems to lack.

[@shivangbhardwaj826]

I think the misogyny was partly because his of the betrayal he faced from Josephine and partly because well he wasn't much popular with girls as he had been in an all boys military school from 9 to 19. And girls usually gossiped about him once he did start socializing at Paris

[@Rings-of-Saturn2]

To be fair, Napoleon fell deeply in love with Josephine and then got stabbed in the back. His opinion on the role of women in terms of their role in society was very normal for the time, he was not especially misogynistic. It is also worth noting that he allowed his sisters a lot of power in terms of governing their territories

[@rrnzo]

Is this an excerpt from the 'Age of Napoleon' volume xi?

[@Cb489]

I think so, I’m reading it now

[@rhysnichols8608]

This is one mans interpretation of Napoleon, it’s interesting, but quite polarised. One thing that makes me question the accuracy of the research done for this video, is the multiple times he was called ‘short’ and ‘only 5’6’ and it’s draining to have to keep repeating this, but he was 167cm and this was average height for the era, it would be like calling a 5’9 guy short in modern times, and reducing his emotions and aims to compensating for his non existent shortness is ridiculous.

[@brandonstanley9125]

still have some books on actual tape.

[@Bro-Brah]

Do you narrate the videos Rocky C?

[@Bro-Brah]

@@DurantandFriends thank you!

[@shelleyharris2850]

3 character, oh boy.

[@technicallydamneddadsage7097]

So we made it with the greats of the mammal kingdom (elephants, giraffes, hippopotomauses, rhinocerouses, gorillas!!!, whales, dolphins) and now we're still in Australia with the reality of demon's shrunken stresses, and we're descending, with bowelites - mismanaged infinites of the dumbness of "grace" - hi! hey! ha ha! ok at best, yeah? Gibbons, chimpanzees, dogs! in some cases, praying for cats, raccoons... awwwwe... I'm still here fighting for us. The nicest will be praying for fish if we keep it up.

[@gardenkey7365]

👍

[@marcoscastillojaen1888]

Aquel inteligentisimas enano que se auto proclamó emperador.

[@pluckinmageetar]

Anyone who uses the word "pusillanimous" gets a deeper dive😅

[@shelleyharris165]

Moles: Aren't they underground engineers

[@xyzllii]

Informative....thank you. But could you change your title to Will and Ariel Dumant. That would be the fair thing to do.

[@scottforest7337]

Too true

[@SuperBruins12]

Crybaby feminist. Always missing the point. Always making life a misery.

[@shelleyharris2850]

Went to 🇪🇬 Egypt

[@Agelesslink]

What is the reasoning of one who chooses to dislike such a neutral historical account?

[@Joseph-lj8bb]

Emotional listening

[@shelleyharris165]

123k views

[@benquinney2]

Cannon

[@benquinney2]

Kelly Anne Conway

[@lolwutszzz]

what book is this from?

[@RickBrood]

Napolean with the real EU.

[@KILLRAPEDIE]

Today was the 200th anniversary of his death

[@ponceperales1041]

I did remember. There were a few articles about it. France is divided, they say. The right and Macron, recalling him as a hero, acknowledging his faults. The left recalling he reinstated slavery. Which puts him together with the infamous villains of History. I have not read The Age of Napoleon. I wonder what Will and Ariel Durant said about it. (Actually, trying to read more about it got me into Rocky C. and the Durants.) By the way . Ariel Durant was born a day like today, May 10th. In 1898. Happy B-day Chaya Kaufman, i.e. Ariel Durant.

[@4FYTfa8EjYHNXjChe8xs7xmC5pNEtz]

He only had four extremities?

[@mosart7025]

That he was proud of.

[@user-te4of2fq5d]

❗His soldiers loving him says it all. William "Uncle Billy" Sherman enjoyed the same affection and loyalty of his troops as well as General Grant's.

[@ScorpioMojo]

W.D. /A./J.H./ Rocky... you've been a very naughty boy. I'm going to have to discipline you severely. lol. Angie sends her best. She told me to tell you that she thinks you're tremendously talented... and ADORABLE 😘

[@shelleyharris2850]

To many similarities

[@shelleyharris2850]

Hmm.

[@marcoscastillojaen1888]

El Rosacruz que no lo fue al no seguir las enseñanzas de la escuela.

[@rphilipsgeekery4589]

That thumbnail is miles wrong :)

[@thomasjamison2050]

I am sure that Napoleon read Frederick's analysis of Machiavelli. I don't really see Napoleon being guided by the principles recommended for a small minded, petty and backward Italian prince.

[@Swagmaster021]

Where can I find that analysis of Machiavelli?

[@EliasKagan]

If you call Machiavelli small minded you are indeed yourself very small minded

[@thomasjamison2050]

@@EliasKagan Perhaps you haven't read it, or perhaps when you read it you weren't paying attention to his comments about Italian princes of his day.

[@thomasjamison2050]

@@EliasKagan Google. It's not hard to do.

[@EliasKagan]

@@thomasjamison2050 The prince was extensively studied by Napoleon himself, and it is still relevant today. Even modern presidents such as Macron, Reagan, Putin are known readers of Machiavelli, it’s a political philosophical classic. Perhaps you should actually read it first instead of just “googling” it and criticizing it.

[@Gorboduc]

31:49 lol

[@shelleyharris165]

Scholar

[@shelleyharris2850]

Vienna

[@shelleyharris2850]

They all wore high collars. Hmm. Tight lipped, determined.

[@billbill-sz3mn]

1:19:35

[@batsky6061]

Da vill to powa

[@shelleyharris165]

The morning 🌄 Glory soap. Fl. I left it. Shampoo. 🤔

[@bucheronix]

The myth that Napoléon was short is a good example of british propaganda. It stems primarily from the fact that he is listed as 5 feet 2 inches tall at the time of his death. However, this is 5 feet 2 inches in French "pieds" units. The french foot was longer than the english foot. In modern international units, he was 1,68 m (5 feet 7 inches). In 1800, the average height for an adult male was about 5 feet 5 inches. So in fact, he was quite tall for his time.

[@mwmann]

1. Alexander the great 2. Gaius Julius Caesar 3. Napoleon Bonaparte... the top 3 military leaders in world history. If any one of them were alive today with all the modern weaponry they would be unstoppable !!!!!!!! And the most glorious thing to realize is these men wouldn't hesitate to use the most destructive weapons if needs be.

[@mosart7025]

That is glorious why?

[@mwmann]

@@mosart7025 Some people ask why ? I say why not ? They aren't building all these nuclear weapons just to look at and wag their dick over, in a display between the U.S. Russia and China to see whose the baddest. No, everything men create they eventually use it. Everything mankind creates comes with a blessing and a curse. The nuclear bomb works as a deterrent. Good. It also ends lives quickly. Hiroshima, one bomb, 70 or 80 thousand dead instantly. Nagasaki, 1 bomb, 50,000 dead instantly. We make great medicine that heals or makes life more bearable. And it also comes and injures the body in cancer treatment. It has to, its the only way to kill the cancer. Medicine heals and is abused and causes overdoses. Good and bad. Blessing and curse. Automobiles, great invention but 30 to 40 thousand killed every year by accidents. I ramble on about this because the curse of the nuclear missiles and bombs has only happened twice. In Japan. We are overdue. Especially with over 25,000 nukes 100 times more powerful spread between about 10 to 15 nations. Between now and 2050 World War 3 will start. I'll be 96 if I'm still alive. But it's going to happen. Men are good and evil. But we lean more towards our own selfish self interests. We are most definitely more dark then light. You'll understand when you grow up. Mr Jim Brown was an old man I used to work with when I was 16 and 17 during 2 summers in Dallas Texas. 1972 and 73. He told me something so simple in between waiting on customers at Red Coleman's Beer, Wine and Liquor store, I thought it was weird. But now as I've observed my life looking back and watching the world go by these past 49 years I see how his simple phrase is so true. "People are f**king stupid, don't ever forget that boy." Yes Mr Brown, you were right !!!!

[@ernestoA.1999]

@@mosart7025 why ? When u die , and 2000 years later , let’s say in the year 4021 if you are still remembered as if you lived yesterday , then yes it is GLORIOUS

[@negbefla6956]

@@ernestoA.1999 few people understands that all live but few if any never die.

[@aw2632]

The man of art worshipping the man of deeds. Idolatry!

[@ernestoA.1999]

How can you not idolize such men ! , they are into this earth with hundreds even thousands of years in between them

[@michaeloriente2778]

*h

[@ponceperales1041]

I am listening Napoleon’s views on women, relationships, family. What?! The Spanish Inquisition was more lenient. I wonder how much those views were influenced by Josephine’s lukewarm love for him and her infidelities. The Code Napoleon ... Did he think otherwise once in Santa Helena?

[@stevenhombrados1530]

5’6” was at his last days, plus it was in The Imperial French measurements of his time, that was used. Then again 5’6” was an average height, unless your constantly standing with the old Guard! Than you would look like a midget! Lol

[@impaugjuldivmax]

sure, he was small only in around 6+" Guardsman

[@flemhawker9134]

As you say, Napoleon wasn’t particularly short, always painfully thin & wiry in his twenties, often ill from stress & mental exhaustion in his early days as he didn’t eat or sleep properly on campaign. In French measurements prior to the introduction of the Metric system he was 5’2” which in imperial worked out at 5,6 & a half, as you say, average height for the time, but I always used to wonder myself if the rumour that he was short had been started by some English diplomat who was expecting him to be taller maybe & was then taken aback to see him with Members of the guard in full rig looking rather diminutive. A man before his time, short or tall he absolutely managed to terrify the European ruling class. PS if your the kind of chap who enjoys reading biographies on Napoleon have you read “Napoleon the man” By Vincent Cronin? (1972) It’s one of my favourites & an easy, pleasant read compared to some of them which can be hard going at times. It has its critics for being biased, however I’ve been studying the Man & this period of history for over four decades, I think its worth a go. It certainly sheds some light on Bourrienne, who was one of the main sources on Napoleons personality etc for future Biographers.

[@stevenhombrados1530]

@@flemhawker9134 Ahhh, well thank you, I’m sure there are still some copies left? Thou, having a huge list of Napoleon books to read, all I’m missing is time! :(

[@rhysnichols8608]

In French imperial feet he was 5’2 (which is 5’6 using modern feet) and considering the average height at that time period was 5’6 he wasn’t short. He was 167cm/5’6.5/written as 5’2 using old French feet.

[@shelleyharris165]

This is a lot. Right 💪😎😇🙏✌️☮️✝️🎶🎼🌍💛🕊️🐞♈💐🦋🌄❤️🗝️🌊🙌🍯🍀🤲💗🥁🎈🎈🎈😘💋🔔🥰🌍

[@shelleyharris2850]

J

[@shelleyharris165]

Dry eye

[@stickemuppunkitsthefunlovi4733]

Didnt you know napoleon was black?

[@geert574]

The predecessor of today's France little socialist emperors in parliament

[@admiralkipper4540]

No one involved on the democratic system can even come close to this guy

[@rhysnichols8608]

20 IQ take. Modern France more resembles the revolutionary governments between 1792 and 1798, full of corrupt materialistic politicians and secret societies, Napoleon exiled most of them

[@thomasjamison2050]

The relationship of political movements in Europe relative to banking is often overlooked, and often extinguished under the guise of so-called anti-semitism. The Rothschilds had a great deal to do with the downfall of Napoleon, and the fact that Hitler took over the German banks can reasonably ascribed to casus belli. Sure, Hitler was not a sweetheart, but I don't think he ever really appreciated the concentrated power of the bankers of the world. Churchill, however, was deeply in the debt of the bankers who eliminated his debts in exchange for political obedience.

[@shelleyharris2850]

Many mistakes.

[@mixerD1-]

Seriously bad god complex issues with him...small wonder it was his own who got rid of him.

[@rhysnichols8608]

If any man has a right to a big ego it’s the man who conquers Europe.

[@nelsclin31]

Who’s here because Elon Musk? 🙋🏻‍♂️

[@Nicks721]

Did Elon musk say something about Napoleon??