Napoleon's Rage: The Peninsular War For Spain And Portugal | Man Who Would Rule Europe | Timeline

[@harrypolychronopoulos478]

There was a nice series about the peninsula war called "Sharpe''. Top notch series !!!

[@Rogue66669]

Books are better

[@lw3646]

Yes i love them. Even though they are kind of formulaic Sharpe is such a great character and solider. It really got me into learning more and not just seeing things from the generals perspective.

[@danrooc]

"Over the hills and far away" 🎵

[@loganfair4708]

Love the old documentaries being posted, takes me back to when I was a kid

[@travisspazz1624]

Seems like timeline is excited for the new Ridley Scott movie!

[@ShanGamer1981]

Im excited, watched waterloo a few days ago

[@Pickledsundae]

I LOVE THIS ALGORITHM

[@sietsehofstede4689]

We are to!

[@EnglishInfidel]

CoNsUmE

[@Hopkins98]

What movie is this?

[@Jayjay-qe6um]

Napoleon indirectly began the process of Latin American independence when he invaded Spain in 1808. The abdication of King Charles IV and renunciation of his son, Ferdinand VII created a power vacuum that was filled by native born political leaders such as Simon Bolivar and Jose de San Martin. Such leaders embraced nationalistic sentiments influenced by French nationalism and led successful independence movements in Latin America.

[@therearenoshortcuts9868]

if Napoleon gained control over the Spanish and Portuguese colonies... (and their fleets) it would've been over for Britain

[@jimmym8741]

“Successful”😂😂😂

[@mbern4530]

The invasion of Portugal also led to the royal family fleeing there which then led to that country's independence. Brazil would have remained a colony for much longer if not for that event.

[@alejandroalonso5386]

No it was England as most were Freemasons and bolivar studied in England

[@diegoflores9237]

Yes because only the French can come up with something as obvious as self determination.......

[@Condoc64]

What Napoleon failed to see was the massive American importing of chocolate by British shipping by one William Wonka to Spain. Once the Spanish population no longer had his chocolate they rebelled. This connection will he explored on November 22nd

[@legionbowen1292]

Lolololol 😅

[@UserNotFound-mw4hp]

Indeed, indeed. *smokes pipe that blows bubbles*

[@cswanson4476]

And it was not just the dearth of chocolate that drove Spanish popular outrage. Newer advances in the candy sciences-such as jawbreakers (which seemed to many to be a direct challenge to the hereditary Hapsburg underbite), bubble gum (dependent at the time on British rubber plantations in Malaysia), nougat engineering (much of which, ironically, was founded on fiercely guarded French secrets stolen by Wonka’s formidable brigade of corporate spies), and lollipops (which had cemented Wonka’s reputation as a pioneer of worldwide mass convenience)-all attributable to Wonka’s prescient genius, had seduced Spanish youth just as it had throughout the entire Atlantic world at the time. To the extent that the Spanish resistance to Napoleon was fed by the passion and energy of its younger generation, it could be attributed to the sudden disappearance of Wonka’s products from Iberian markets.

[@cavelvlan25]

I used to love learning about history yet the older I get the more I realize we only see so much. History belongs to the victor.

[@robertbobbypelletreaujr2173]

"Wobert please begin reading on pg52." *already reading ahead a few dozen pages, to:"find out what happens"* (as said to teacher who asked why he was so far ahead in the pages)

[@chucku.farley3927]

yeah most of what we know about history is probably BS

[@peterwebb8732]

If history is written by the victors, try explaining why so many Frenchmen have written about Waterloo……several of them trying to claim it as a victory in some form. 😂

[@tnightwolf]

As a Portuguese all i have to say about Napoleon is: Fk-off! And if he eventually revives 🤣 and tries to do it again: Bring it mate! We'll be here, waiting!

[@ME-eu9sf]

But to emigrate in France Portuguese are OK. Ha ha

[@foneco]

@@ME-eu9sf Fear not, Portuguese seed will conquer the World

[@Clem_Fandango11]

Sean Bean will be waiting.

[@gontrandjojo9747]

And what will you do? Flee to Brazil?

[@johnord684]

We have a legend in Britain that Arthur would return in our hour of need ,he did.

[@markmaher4548]

The RN had a fairly big hand in keeping Boney penned in too.

[@ruialmeida818]

It was a simple occupation of Lisbon, but Bussaco, Porto and Torres Vedras were massive defeats for the French Army. Also, the Portuguese kept raiding their supply lines in the interior, such as in the city of Almeida.

[@grahamgilbert4883]

It's fanciful to suggest that had Napoleon remained personally in charge of the army in Spain the French would have been victorious and pacified the country. The French army sustained itself at the expense of the peoples whose lands it occupied. It could pacify only by brutality, and didn't have the capacity to maintain itself indefinitely on contested ground.

[@rhysnichols8608]

However militarily the British wouldn’t have been able to be a force on land in Spain, they would be defeated, which would further weaken Spanish and Portuguese armies, and make them easier to destroy. Total military victory would likely have achieved in Napoleon was in Spain for a significant period. At which point it’s foreseeable the Spanish would at least temporarily be subdued and accept a Bonapartist ruler. There would inevitably still be partisan activity and likely regular attempts at rebellion, but the situation would have been much more favourable for the French had Napoleon gone there and had a proper military triumph. Marshal Suchet also government Catalonia very well, if the rest of the nation was governed in a similar fashion, it could have worked for a while. At least enough not to bleed Napoleons resources as badly as it did

[@LDz454]

Napoleon feared Spain.. pretty much every European conquerer saw Spain as better left be or neutral rather than invading. During WW2 the Spanish volunteers the blue division were undefeated in the front lines of Russia in their battles before returning back to Spain for the civil war

[@peterwebb8732]

⁠@@rhysnichols8608That’s an interesting claim, but you haven’t supported it. You simply assume that Napoleon = winning. As mentioned, the French forces had enormous difficulty supporting themselves due to the scantiness of agriculture over much of the country, and the major lack of decent roads. The French had to retreat before the Lines of Torres Vedras because the alternative was starvation. Attempting to occupy an entire country which - however badly led - was surprisingly resilient- is an enormously costly enterprise. It got so that the French could not send a messenger through much of Spanish territory, without a Regiment for an escort. Imagine applying that to every set of dispatches and every supply convoy. Now try to keep that same hostile country under submission while trying to concentrate your forces to overwhelm Wellington? One reason why the French never managed to catch Wellington out, was that W knew that he could not afford a major defeat , so he was careful.

[@nebiamist4848]

Nither can they govern us nor can we govern ourselves, and this continues to be true in the Iberian peninsula to this day

[@stephenjohnson8237]

YES!! More Napoleon

[@Flo-pl5mg]

In fact, the king of Spain was particularly weak and his son too, which is what pushed Napoleon to overthrow the Bourbons of Spain to put his brother Joseph on the throne. He did not expect an uprising of the entire Spanish population or of the guerrillas. Horrors and atrocities were committed by French soldiers and the Spanish population, and this war became so much "dirtier" and crueler than previous campaigns. In fact the situation escalated on its own and things completely got out of his control. The only way for Napoleon to win in Spain would have been for all the marshals present to act as Marshal Suchet did.

[@thierryfromgwada9312]

well said.

[@jorgeluis4389]

The opinions of Mr. Markham are risible. 'Perhaps the Spanish would have fared better under Joseph Bonaparte'. Well, maybe the English would also have fared better under Napoleon. The point is that they did not want to, to the point that many gave their lives opposing the french army.

[@mexican-panzer6946]

*Paranoid by Black Sabbath intensifies* Napoleon: Welcome to the Iberian peninsula gentlemen. I will not lie the chances of your survival are small.

[@kl12345-u]

Wow, the commentators saying that Napoleon alone on the battle is worth 50,000 soldiers... that's true & really give me goosebumps, awesome!

[@kl12345-u]

@@N3Rd32 of course I know, it's more about morally & his wisdom of fighting strategies LOL he so damn smart

[@kleinenfuchse5365]

​@@N3Rd32It's big brain time. He obviously meant that Napoleon could fight 50.000 men firing a musket at him whilst he is fighting with his bare hands 🥴

[@N3Rd32]

@@kleinenfuchse5365 It’s always good to clarify. We have people like you roaming the internet.

[@kleinenfuchse5365]

@@N3Rd32 if you need to clarify that one guy could not take on 50.000 guys in a battle, you should have a serious word with your therapist 😭

[@ernestoA.1999]

@@N3Rd32are u sure ? At Mount Tabor Bonaparte with a division of 2,500 men crushed the ottoman army of 35,000 ottoman troops , that’s odds of 1:16

[@wellston2826]

Yeah, the Spanish Ulcer caused Nappy a great deal of problems, and then he went and caught cold in Russia.

[@Procc75]

i have never in my life heard or read someone refer to Napoleon Bonaparte as "nappy"... i love it. well done, King

[@rhysnichols8608]

You 2 are incredible cringe inducing

[@chrlmmartin7776]

Good presentation!! I never knew this history. Guerrilla warfare got it's start in Spain. U S generals never studied this prior to Vietnam &later Iraq. Our generals are pampered princes as late col David hackworth said in his best selling book "about face"

[@donkeygobbler6542]

The Welsh used guerilla warfare against the English hundreds of years before.Owain Glyndwr was their leader and Prince of Wales.

[@Wutzmename]

You know what killed Napoleon on St Helena island? The green paint in his house. Humid environments, like that on St. Helena, may have caused the arsenic to off-gas or perhaps even flake off the wallpaper itself. Although there is no conclusive evidence, it is suspected that the arsenic in the wallpaper may have contributed to Napoleon's death.

[@christophermichaelclarence6003]

You're all wrong. Our French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte died of Stomach disease. He apparently felt it after he failed his Russian Invasion Campaign 1812. And following the failure Battle of Waterloo 1815, his condition got worse with depression and guilt.

[@ward142]

Perhaps the British had enough of Napoleon and added something to his wine!

[@alanaadams7440]

How could that be he was out campaigning all the time

[@christophermichaelclarence6003]

@@alanaadams7440 Probably due to stress and lacks of food supply

[@schusterlehrling]

That has been investigated and no, it did not kill him. Actually he never was in good health since he became emperor. And it gradually declined . At St.Helena He might have lived 2 or 3 years longer then had he stayed in Paris.

[@Paul-r3v]

All British officers who met the date-of-rank criteria were promoted, regardless of their ability or past performance. They did not even have to be employed at the time. For example, in October 1810 Major General Stafford Lightburne was relieved from his brigade command by Wellington for “. . . many little improprieties which render him a discreditable person with the army.” He never had any military duties after he returned to England. Yet, this did not prevent him from being promoted to lieutenant general in June 1813 and if he had not died in 1827, he probably would have been promoted to general. Promotion of an officer to a brevet rank was a prerogative of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army. The Duke of Wellington could only recommend a promotion of a deserving officer. However on 23 April 1811, he was given permission to promote twelve captains to brevet major and six majors to brevet lieutenant colonel. He was also allowed to promote six British officers serving with the Portuguese Army to either brevet major or brevet lieutenant colonel. This privilege was extended in the latter years of the Peninsular War, with the understanding that it was not to be abused. These promotions were in addition to the general brevets, which were happening yearly by that time. Hundreds of British officers arrived in Portugal without having done any single militar duty. Yet, as the propagandistic media says, the Portuguese were just a group of incompetents who just by luck were capable of defeating French, Spanish, British, Germanics of all kind, Arabs, Otomans, Berberes, etc etc etc, during at least two thousand and five hundred years.

[@saidtoshimaru1832]

Joseph Bonaparte is remembered by the spanish as "Pepe botella" for his aparent drunkenness.

[@daniellastuart3145]

At the end of day and most historian don't like to except this is that The Spain /Portugal invasion was were the French Napoleonic amy was shown it can be beaten it was not invincible

[@thierryfromgwada9312]

Napoleon didn't lost his invicibility in the peninsula bro

[@Floren_Andro]

@@thierryfromgwada9312 You haven't heard about the Battle of Bailen have you???

[@thierryfromgwada9312]

@@Floren_Andro Bailen ? 😂 Let be serious. None of the famous french marshalls was involved in this battle. And, moreover, Napoleon was not in Spain at that time. Si i can confirm you that Napoleon didn't lost his invicibility in Spain.

[@Floren_Andro]

@@thierryfromgwada9312 According to you... If the battle is won by his marshalls it is a victory for Napoleon... But if he is not in the battle, Napoleon does not lose that battle... France (with Napoleon as Ruler), lost its first battle in Spain (and it was not the only one) and that does not change the fact that Napoleon was not present. It's like saying the Queen of England didn't lose the war over Jenkins' ear because she wasn't there.

[@thierryfromgwada9312]

@@Floren_Andro Man get a book ! This battle was not a personal defeat for Napoleon. When Napoleon was in Spain, he won all his battles, and his enemies have fled from him. Another point, Napoleon had already lost a personal battle in field before Spain campain 😉

[@ΓεώργιοςΊγγλης]

What a beautiful thumbnail. Napoleon the Great.

[@thalmoragent9344]

It's interesting how Napoleon even realized how poorly handled the situation in Spain and Portugal was handled.

[@charlesr7458]

Portugal had the biggest Port and best navey in the world. They discovered more than half the world. They discovered the ocean route to India and China for trade also africa and Brazil. Portugal was the Port of the Romans when they ruled.

[@Delogros]

Depends when we are talking about, in terms of 1808 or so the Royal navy greatly eclipsed the size of the Portuguese navy but it was always a powerful and formidable force even if it wasn't the biggest in the world or in Europe.

[@johnord684]

I can't underestimate Portugals fight against Napoleon .between Britain and Portugal and a couple of Spanish armies (when they could be bothered )kicked the French off the Peninsular.Oh and yes the Spanish guerrilla did better than all of them that i do give credit to.

[@charlesr7458]

@@Delogros when I wrote the biggest port was when Rome used Portugal as its port. Then when biggest and best Navey was in the age o discovery when. In discovery not for war. Spain had the navey for wars.

[@charlesr7458]

@@johnord684 Portugal and Spain even we being the same people always never got along. Complicated history its like a ongoing silent civil war.

[@Flo-pl5mg]

unfortunately Portugal at that time was not much more than an British colony

[@calinmarian98]

One of the biggest mistakes he made. He could have put the crown prince on the spanish throne and have his grande armee,weary of so much war around europe,to rest,recoup and recover. But since Napoleon was Napoleon,that couldn't happen.

[@ME-eu9sf]

Indeed. He thought Spaniards would be like Italians, in fact they are different people. Spaniards were fanatized by their priests above all, Spain was a retarded country, and they wanted to stay like that. For British, it was perfect to put the war there, as they got the local people on their side.

[@jonathanmcniel6483]

i miss documentaries like this.

[@darbyohara]

These shows are hilarious as nearly ALL of the historians are British 😂 Like can you get any more bias than that?

[@Rogue66669]

What is bias about this then ?

[@PissoffgooglePlimplim]

Did they say anything that was incorrect? Or you just mad that there brits

[@Delogros]

It's a British documentary... If I'm watching a French documentary then i would expect them to be French historians... Whats he problem here exactly?

[@marvinsilverman4394]

even BBC lie

[@rhysnichols8608]

I’m English, and I’m sick of the bias in these Anglocentric documentaries. The claim that the war with Austria in 1809 was due to French aggression is out right wrong. The Austrians intended to attack France with a British supporting attack in the Netherlands, while Napoleon was bogged down in Spain. “Austria didn’t want another war” absurd statement from this silly historian playing mental gymnastics to paint the French as the baddies all the time. There are multiple other points the commentary makes stupid claims, such as “Napoleon would bankrupt one nations so he could fund his war chest and make war on another” , if you didn’t know any better this would again make Napoleon seem like the aggressor. The reality is up until the invasion of Portugal in 1808, Napoleon had only gone into DEFENSIVE wars. He inherited the wars is the revolutionary government and ended that in 1800 at Marengo. He was most bothered about preserving peace and stabilising France. It was British lead coalitions that declared war on him multiple times, on flimsy pretexts, in 1803 Britain, Austria and Russia and Naples declared war on France, Napoleon won this war at Austerlitz, in 1806 Prussia declared war because Napoleon offered Hanover to the UK in exchange for peace, this war was ended in 1807 when he beat the Russians and Prussians. Of course Napoleon is not blameless, but the main instigators of war in the early years where the British and European coalition forces. Every conflict that happened was essentially a continuation of the war of 1803, by 1808 Napoleon was sick of it and started getting heavy handed. There are further inaccuracies such as ‘Austria politically panicked and surrendered in 1809 even tho they could have fought on” This is the opposite of what happened, the Austrian army commander, Arch Duke Charles, offered an armistice and started negotiations as he felt his army couldn’t face the French again. It was the Austrian emperor who flew into rage and sacked Charles for negotiating without his permission. Arch duke Charles who was one of Napoleons most skilled enemies, never held command again. Austria lost as the military surrendered not due to political lack of willingness to fight.

[@tTantPisForFrance]

I'm French and I agree with the British.

[@gordontickle1673]

The answer is a simple one, Napoleon didn't bank on the British having Sharp and his rifles! hahahaha

[@Jeremy-ks6lz]

Napoleon could've won if he had one heavy machine gun

[@tomaslopez2940]

Sounds like Spain became Napoleon's version of Afghanistan...

[@lw3646]

I was just thinking that. Difficult rugged terrain, impossible to patrol easily, strong resentment from the local population and a lack of belief in the benefits offered from the occupation as well as religious and cultural objections, guerilla warfare demoralising the occupying troops who control the main towns and cities but not the countryside outside. France also got a similar lesson in Indiachina and Algeria.

[@Floren_Andro]

It was worse than that. Since they crossed the Pyrenees, they were constantly harassed by the guerrillas, they could not rest at night and if that were not enough, when they arrived at a city occupied by the French, the children stabbed them when they were careless and the women got the soldiers drunk and then they threw them into the sea or a river or some high area. They poisoned the food/water and stole weapons or ammunition. There was no possible rest...

[@KangaKucha]

Gotta learn more about this. If I know correctly, France and Spain were allied but Portugal was with British, so got invaded. But then the British attack and invade Spain. Need to read it all and pull it together...

[@davidrenton]

Portugal is Britain's longest in time Ally, in fact it's the longest Alliance in history dating back to the 1300's

[@KangaKucha]

@@davidrenton agreed and I know they did it via a treaty or so. But no disrespect, I wish it didn't exist as I prefer Portugal and Spain being one instead. It's my opinion though. Can't deny Portugal and British Empires. I have Britian taking a lot from Port but not too much, like Angola goes to the Dutch due to British losing 1st Boer War.

[@AuxaneST]

​@@davidrentonFalse. The oldest Alliance in the world is the aptly named Auld Alliance between Scotland and France (since 20th October 1295). ;)

[@davidrenton]

@@AuxaneST the 'auld alliance' ended with the Treaty of Edinburgh 1560, due to the Scottish Reformation, becoming Protestant, and becoming allied with England, in total 265 years. with England(UK) - Portugal, the original Anglo-Portuguese Treaty of 1373 and the Treaty of Windsor in 1386 are still in effect. The last time it came into question was WW2 in which to quote "Portuguese government announced on 1 September that the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance remained intact" So the 'auld alliance' is not official and only exists in the romantic dreams of some Scots and maybe 1 French guy, it hasn't been for. Think about it for a second, there have been numerous Wars between the UK since 1707 with Scotland and France, 7 Years' War, the Napoleonic, War of the Spanish and Austrian Succession. So what kind of alliance is it , when Scotland has effectively been at many a war with France as part of the UK. The Anglo/Portuguese is a legal/diplomatic reality , the 'auld alliance is not, it's just a historical fact. Every so often a French leader will bring it up, because they are having beef with England, the French don't value it, i doubt many know of it's past existence, but Nationalists Scots get all giddy because someone mentioned them the French have only ever 'cared' about Scotland as a way to try to weaken England, they couldn't give a rat's backside about Scotland. Remember England and Scotland are family, but France are not.

[@davidrenton]

@@AuxaneST btw it's not me saying or just the Brits, Portugal says it, from their own official website i.e. the government "The Anglo-Portuguese Alliance is the oldest alliance based in known history that is still in force by politics. The Treaty of Windsor was signed on May 9, 1386 between the Kingdom of Portugal and the Kingdom of England, over 630 years ago, and is still active to this day."

[@katherinecollins4685]

Very interesting

[@davyroger3773]

Love Napoleon but I’d also love to see some docs on Alexander, Caesar, Fredrick the great, Patton etc.

[@Lacteagalaxia]

Napoleon small and looser🤣

[@davidjones535]

How about posting these in order instead of jumping back and forth.

[@barn_ninny]

I was looking for a video about the Peninsular War, and this one isn't. About as much time is spent on the Austrians, Dutch, etc., as on the campaign in the Peninsula.

[@shehansenanayaka3046]

Napoleon Bonaparte one of the greatest generals of all time.. also one of my fav characters. Eagerly waiting for the movie of Napoleon. Ridley scott one of the best directors. Love from Sri Lanka. Timeline always bring best documentaries.

[@johnord684]

His Marshals, and Napoleon himself beaten in every battle he fought with the French by Sir Arthur Wellesly.

[@Delogros]

@@johnord684 Not entirely true, Ney at the very least beat him once, not to diminish Wellington he is a far better general then most continental Europeans are prepared to admit.

[@bnm0883]

@@johnord684 His marshals and himself were only beaten by coalitions, Wellesley never beat alone. Well-know British propaganda...

[@markmaher4548]

​@@DelogrosNey never actually faced Wellington entirely alone, he only ever fought rearguard actions delaying the advance of the Anglo-Portuguese army covering Massena's retreat from Portugal. Everytime having to cede ground to the advancing allied army. That's not exactly winning a battle.

[@Delogros]

@@markmaher4548 like you said it's called a rearguard action and victory in doing that is not based on land it's based on time, sorry to tell ya Ney won.

[@jonaldous3446]

I'll never understand why people revere napoleon... he was a narcissistic psychopathic dictator. People seem to think him as a military genius but they forget he abandoned one army in Egypt and another in Russia, lost in Spain and lost at Waterloo to an (arguably) inferior and smaller army.

[@expertstrategy]

Being a military genius doesn't mean you can't make mistakes or lose in the end, if that is what you are suggesting. Hannibal was a military genius, even though he was beaten in the end at Zama. Robert E Lee was one of the greatest generals in American history, and he too was ultimately defeated. There was also Suvorov, who was undefeated in battle, but lost his final campaign against the French in Switzerland and was forced to retreat, causing Russia to withdraw from the 2nd Coalition War. I find it rather odd that you hyperfocus on Napoleon's defeats and ignore his impressive victories, especially that thirteen-year long period from 1799-1812, when Napoleon had become the most powerful figure of Europe. One of the reasons why he is seen as a military genius was because he changed the nature of warfare, and his way of fighting would be emulated for the next 100 years. On top of that, how many other military leaders in history can boast in having defeated 5 out of seven hostile coalitions? I think you are forgetting that Napoleon fought against two armies at Waterloo, not just Arthur Wellesley's force. Other than that, I do not disagree with your point regarding his failures in Egypt, Spain, Russia, and finally at Waterloo. The reason why people revere Napoleon was because of the long-lasting politicl and military legacy he left behind, such as having indirectly caused the independence of Latin America from Spanish rule, doubled the size of the United States (Louisiana Purchase), introduced the Code Napoleon that influenced the civil codes of scores of nations around the world, and planted the seeds of national unification in Germany and Italy (unwittingly for the former and deliberately for the latter) that would arise in the following decades after his death. Napoleon may have been a dictator. However, that means nothing considering that Europe was ruled by autocratic regimes at the time, so Napoleon was not out of the ordinary or uniquely 'evil' in terms of how much power he held. Napoleon was no more or less of a dictator compared to any other ruler of the time, so singling him out of everybody makes no sense. If we are being technical, Napoleon was a dictator only from 1799-1804 before he became an absolutist monarch. Interestingly enough, when he returned to France in 1815, he was content to rule as a Constitutional Monarch.

[@Bullet-Tooth-Tony-]

@@expertstrategy I have him roughly at 2nd place to Alexander the Great, i used to have Hannibal 2nd but then I remembered how much territory Napoleon conquered.

[@expertstrategy]

@@Bullet-Tooth-Tony- I do not think that Napoleon should be placed in 2nd place. He is usually ranked as history's 3rd greatest commander. I think Genghis Khan deserves to be put in 2nd place, considering he founded the largest continuous land empire in history.

[@rhysnichols8608]

You’ve listed 2 military defeats, and 2 cases of bad conduct. Now shall we talk about his 53 victories in battle and how a nobody became emperor of half of Europe on his own talent and merit?

[@jonaldous3446]

@@rhysnichols8608 wow! imagine thinking abandoning 300000 men in the Russian winter to fate is a case of bad conduct. How about the massacre of Jaffa? Is murdering men who have surrendered on the promise of sparing their lives a good conduct? You focus on his military victories, I see that he was a dictator as bad as any other in history. Wellesley's victory at Waterloo is overshadowed by his shame at Peterloo btw!

[@pcka12]

The Continental System was sort of siege warfare from the inside, the reverse of the conventional idea!

[@murrayscott9546]

A losing hand, like Hitler"s.

[@robroy4663]

Time to make a film about the best general of the Napoleonic war, the Duke of Wellington. Just don't let Ridley Scott anywhere near it.

[@paulmorissette5863]

Is this the reference from the song? "Over the hills and far away"?

[@JohnnyWoodard]

I saw in one of the other videos that the boy at the beginning has a modern basketball T-shirt on under the jacket. Is that footage replacing footage this channel didn’t have rights to?

[@tudorpottudorpot8423]

Multiple errors of fact noted. Massena didn’t have 130,000 soldiers, he had just under 60,000. Wellington’s army was less than that, ½ were undertrained Portuguese milita. Take much of this with caution.

[@murrayscott9546]

Whatta recipe ! I present to you . . . The Peninsular War ! Everybody gets a slice !

[@someguy87643]

Much of movies pieces in this video are actually from Russia :) but Napoleon's spanish experience was pretty close to russian experience anyway

[@chrismac2234]

All the super computers keep coming out as Wellington as the greatest general. Napoleon was a great namer of streets.

[@chrismac2234]

@@thesedreamsarefree I don't care, in fairness, what Napoleon said on any military subject. He should have been an academic. He had a grudge against Wellington. And who could blame him.

[@thierryfromgwada9312]

Napoleon never cared of Wellington ! Welli what ? 😂

[@yvonne530]

Napoleon's ancestors were Albanian, Arvanitas from Epirus/ Mani Peloponnes...Kollgjeri Family!

[@AckzaTV]

spain just looks like san diego all those desert canyons

[@mohammedsaysrashid3587]

Allot thanks for ( Time line) channel for sharing this wonderful introduction, informative and historical interesting episode about a great French empire (Napoleon Bonaparte)...what was notable ( Napoleon Bonaparte) wanted defeating British marine dominant and its European marine commercial dominant on highly oceans by French land dominant on European content countries exceptional Britain 🇬🇧 ...which was opposition to the practical method and adopted previous experienced[ How marine dominate empires imposed marine embargoes on land dominant foes empire for long term 🤔...land dominant empire was defeated by simple amphibian assaults launched by amphibians marine dominant power which supported by its powerful fleets.....it was a great episode about that historical matter

[@corpbond2]

it's disappointing to hear disrespectful comments about Catholicism in this video. The French murdered thousands of people, including many innocent nuns and priests, and no one talks about it. But the Spanish people follow the religion of God and these "historians" claim the Church was oppressive.

[@Delogros]

I'm not saying I agree with anything in the video here but you have heard of the Spanish inquisition right? Can you think of a better word to describe it then oppressive?

[@JoshuaRicamonte-cr4oh]

What would happened if Napoleon Bonaparte went out to declare war on the Polar bear

[@ScottPeatfield]

Mads mikkelsen?

[@PeterGurney-p2r]

Spain was Napoleon's Viet-Nam!

[@Seven-ld9zv]

Another documentary from back in the 20th century. Boy am I glad I don't have this History Hit Tv they're constantly bombarding you with, if all they've got is documentaries from half a century ago.

[@RussellGeorge67]

Madly jingoistic. I think chasing an army of 14000 belligerents off of the theatre and killing or capturing 6000 of them counts as victory in any normal sense.

[@ThrE3-GeS]

27:05 Napoleon not only left but he took half of the more experienced army and the imperial guard on his even more disastrous russian campaign. He was unbeatable in spain because of his army that he took with him not because of his genius. If Napoleon had returned *alone* he would had lost nevertheless. Having 120‘ 000 men or having only 60‘ 000 men to conquer both portugal and spain can mean defeat or victory. I guess he understood really well that he had no chance, so he wanted to withdraw with his best troops to let the other appear as failure and him as successfull. and judging by some people and their opinion about this war and napoleons role, you can clearlly say that he just achieved that and fooled almost everybody.

[@rhysnichols8608]

Napoleon left Spain with 40,000 best troops in 1809 to face Austria who were mobilising for war, which was a successful campaign for Napoleon. He invaded Russia 3 years later

[@nataliiashtefan2191]

the most uselees man in history and SPAIN was the begining of his end as a bad ruller

[@mohammedsaysrashid3587]

(Napoleon Bonaparte) Spanish campaign activated Spanish 🇪🇸 patriotic enthusiastic altitudes against French 🇫🇷 invaders of Spain 🇪🇸..

[@SilenTHerO78614]

I'm just here for the Sharpe memes

[@lw3646]

The 'that's not solidering' ones mostly.....

[@brunoalbano616]

He conquered everything, except the British Sea, the Iberian Heat and the Russian Winter.

[@amkool6135]

Bonaparte…the greatest general of all time

[@williampaz2092]

The reason I dislike using the phrase “………of all time” is because so much changes so quickly. I will accept that Napoleon was the greatest general of his age but not of all time. The speed and shock of WW2 Armored Warfare would have stunned him, he would have been out of his depth. General George Patton or Field Marshal William (Bill) Slim would have destroyed his best armies easily.

[@robertbruce7686]

@@williampaz2092 or Alexander The Great? Or Ghengis Khan.....😆

[@murrayscott9546]

and an enormous egotist, that time. My sympathies, for the Dead.

[@bigenglishmonkey]

who is truly the greatest? the man who gets called the greatest? or the man who beat him?

[@murrayscott9546]

Mirror, mirror on the wall . . .

[@alanaadams7440]

Kinda like affirmative action for the French

[@kenwelckle367]

His own ego lead to his own down fall.

[@MAAF808]

Like any good ol' Frenchman. 🤣

[@camm8642]

Brits to....

[@camm8642]

And germans for that matter as well

[@nigelbagguley7606]

With respect to the General Staff, if bread be the staff of life then the life of the staff is one long loaf.

[@nigelbagguley7606]

The British Army's Peninsula campaign was the story of both political and headquarters interference writ large.

[@jacobfunderburk1307]

Napoleon is alive today. He just is head of another country in Europe.🤫

[@canard901]

Finally a documentary about Richard Sharpe

[@jumman5589]

Respect for the great nappoleon bonpart❤

[@derjano]

Its an old documentary with only British historians and an americain. I miss how French historians think of Napoleon.

[@Delogros]

Maybe watch a French documentary? It's not like there aren't loads and not every perspective on history needs to 100% align with yours to be valid either.

[@JoshuaRicamonte-cr4oh]

What would happened if Napoleon Bonaparte conquered And occupied the Arctic

[@murrayscott9546]

A very long retreat + polar bears.

[@111aem]

Portugal save England few times during the last 650 years. The must well known time when Portugal saved England was when Portugal did not accept the European blockage against England during the Napoleonic wars. If Portugal accepted the European blockage against England, England would be invaded by Napoleon armies.

[@garylancaster8612]

I certainly accept that Portugal is England's oldest and most loyal ally but Napoleon could never have invaded Great Britain as the Royal Navy completely controlled the English channel and would have sunk any French Invasion fleet before it even left Boulogne.

[@111aem]

@@garylancaster8612 If Portugal accepted the European blockage against England, England would have to face all of European armies controlled by France and not just Napoleon! It would be impossible for England to survive from such a great power! Napoleon wrote in his memoirs when he was imprisoned in St Helena that "the King John VI of Portugal was the only European king who managed to deceive him"! Long live the Anglo-Portuguese alliance!🤝🤝

[@danrooc]

@@111aem Highly valuable as it was, the Anglo-Portuguese alliance was not England's only foothold in Europe. Trade was probably her best asset, much more significant than her military capabilities. From the Atlantic and as far as Russia, Napoleon's Continental System and blockade on Britain had too many leaks, making it crumble as local economies were damaged and dislike for Napoleon's empire grew. Shifting alliances along this period also show how unstable and unfeasible an "All against Britain" alliance would have been.

[@Phenom24uk]

The Duke said 40,000 men. Not 50,000 men

[@thehum1000]

The French army was not all french alot of tbe soldiers were conscripted from many countries.

[@conceptalfa]

👍👍👍

[@murrayscott9546]

Kinda like da Gadfadda. Oh ! How the mighty have fallen !

[@soonmeekim930]

Yet he was “attacked” by a horde of rabbits….

[@ThrE3-GeS]

The battle in Galicia at La Curuña was a french victory, Moor not only lost his life, he also lost half of his army but who cares? if you managed to liberate Portugal, open up a new front and in the long run won the war with a british-portuguese-spanish coalition under the great general of Grand Duke of Wellington, Sir Arthur Wellesley 😉 But you british managed to liberate Portugal so whe own you everlasting thanks. It showed us that Great Britain could be trusted, that it keeps it word and that we had choosen the right allies 🇵🇹🤜🏾🤛🏾🇬🇧 did you that since the treaty of windsor 1386 Portugal was always on the same side as Great Britain in every war like the spanish succession war, seven years war, napoleonic wars, ww1 only in ww2 was Portugal officialy neutral but they helped the UK concealed. now that‘s what i call loyalty.

[@Delogros]

Coruna was essentially a rear guard action, the British held the ground at the end of the battle and it allowed them ti evacuate which makes it a British victory as they achieved all of there objectives. The british also lost at most 1,200 men due to the battle (The french lost 1,000) of 16,000 how exactly is that half? You only get near that number if you include al lthe sick that where left behind after the exacuation which 1) has nothing to do with the battle and 2) includes all the Spanish as well.

[@Boviss1Bovis]

I didnt make it past the 2nd advertisement for 'history hits'. Intrusive and obnoxious self promotion is self-defeating. It compromises your content.

[@lw3646]

Gotta pay the bills....

[@Boviss1Bovis]

@@lw3646 Does anyone believe that any random person (a ten year old from Tierra Del Fuego for example) doesnt know that YT channels either prosper or vanish on the basis of views, comments, 'likes' and subscriptions? It goes without saying. Classy channels don't do this intrusive beggary because they know that if the content is sound and useful, people will appreciate it and consume more of it. Every advert removes value. Early in this video the negatives of the advertising outweighed the content value. They made the content unwatchable.

[@xmooretenor]

Do they really spell peninsula with an "r"?

[@closetglobe.IRGUN.NW0]

I think peninsular is the adjective for the type of war it is? Idk if that explains it well. Personally I would've preferred the Iberian war but oh well

[@cwilh6044]

Anyone know what film(s) they keep showing clips of thruout this doc?

[@nataliiashtefan2191]

the begining of the end of napoleon useless bonapart was SPAIN

[@patricklioneljonson2747]

The british did not defeat Napoleon.

[@Delogros]

They did actually, British forces where involved and the British where the political glue that kept the coalations either going or built in the first place not to mention providing much equipment and money to the exstent that 1/3 of the muskets used at Leipzig by the Allies where British made. Add to that the British suffered the second highest military casaulties including more the Russia and I think you'll find they have earnt the right to be considered a full memeber of the Alliance that defeated Napoleon.

[@patricklioneljonson2747]

@@Delogros not so, Wellington had a hand in defeating Napoleon, but if it was not for the Prussian army showing up on Napoleon's right flank. Then Wesley would have got crushed. Napoleon had to divert thousands of troops to hold the prussians back

[@Delogros]

@@patricklioneljonson2747 Whats your point? The Prussians without the Anglo-Allied army lost at Ligney despite having a 16,000 man numerical advantage over the French and more canon, are you saying the Prussians could have won without Wellington because the evidence seems to suggest otherwise. As for being crushed also not true, Wellington had positioned 2 Fresh divisions a mile and a half North so that if he had to retreat he had a fresh rearguard to hold the French and given the state of the French cavalry Wellingtons army would almost certainly have been able to withdraw absolutely fine, Wellington gave up a 12,000 man numerical advantage (The 2 Divisions amounted to about 16,000 men) to make sure he was able to retreat if he had to.

[@Delogros]

@@patricklioneljonson2747 Also worth pointing out Wellington held at Waterloo with an army that spoke 4 lanuages and had never fought together and with 17,000 Dutch troops he didn't trust as they had been fighting for the french for 20 years for over an hour longer then the Prussians did at Ligney despite being outnumbered by the French unlike the Prussians at Ligney.

[@patricklioneljonson2747]

@@Delogros that is true, but Wellington has fought with foreign troops in all his campaigns. I would say by now he's pretty used to it. The Portuguese in the peninsula campaign, the Hindu and Indians in India. Etc.

[@buckfaststradler4629]

The American commentator is far too partial towards Napoleon.

[@racimbengrait]

Kérosène les deux th

[@Lacteagalaxia]

Mi pais lucho por su independencia aun a un precio muy alto y gano🇪🇦❤️

[@walideg5304]

Yes it won the worst king of their history: Fernando VII, horrible, corrupt, cruel, orgy addict.

[@acusticamenteconvusional9936]

"A civil war between liberals and reactionaries" lmao what

[@guldenaydin9918]

⚘️🍃

[@andrewhart6377]

Rotten with advertisements of non interesting nonsense

[@RedRepublicanArmy]

Rod Steiger Waterloo 1970. Moonlight Sonata Song. Great War and History: Israel vs. Ancient Kingdoms, Greek vs. Persians, The Crusade, Thirty years war, Napoleonic War, American Spanish War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Afghan Soviet War, Vietnam War, Gulf War, Mexico War On Drug and War On Terror. #US AND ALLIES MUST BOMB NORTH KOREA AND IRAN. #USA, ISRAEL, NATO AND ASIAN ALLIES VS. RUSSIA, CHINA, NORTH KOREA AND IRAN. #BEST PC GAMES: CALL OF DUTY, RESIDENT EVIL, MEDAL OF HONOR AND TOMB RAIDER. #PNP/AFP MODERNIZATION AND REFORM, PAG-ASA ISLAND AND SABAH ARE PHILIPPINES.

[@robertbobbypelletreaujr2173]

Yooooo 🐢💕🌎

[@factsoverfear9771]

🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮

[@christopherfanelli8821]

Why do you leave that same emoji on every video you watch?

[@fuadsamedzade386]

First

[@sirandrelefaedelinoge]

Are people still doing this...? It's not a competition

[@kjo412]

First to comment !

[@dreamjackson5483]

First to the dungeon

[@Concerned_citizenNZ]

For the peninsula campaign, they talk about Austrians alot