Napoleonic Wars: Battle for France 1814 

Hope you enjoy the latest instalment in our Napoleonic Wars series! You can also check out some new Napoleonic merch designs in our shop: teespring.com/en-GB/stores/epic-history-tv-merch-shop

The Napoleon series is the best history series I've ever watched. Just brilliant.

WHAT A CHANNEL!!!! the fact that these videos are a thing on a public forum puts history channel and national geographic to shame!!!

Outnumbered 4-1, deserted by essentially all his allies, hugely lacking in cavalry, most of his infantry are just learning how to hold a gun and at points he had to command whilst also manning the artillery. The fact that Napoleon made this into any campaign at all is astonishing. The fact he actually scored a series of victories is just ridiculous.

Napoleon's victories during The Six Day Campaign are probably the greatest examples of "defeat in detail" in military history. Absolutely genius.

French conscripts 1814: "We're not trained!" *In combat with cannon and musket fire* Napoleon: "This IS your training!"

Seeing Napoleon’s banner fall at 29:53 was surprisingly emotional - having watched this series religiously since Austerlitz that banner has always been there...

300 000 against 70000. He is not 3 times faster but 6. He doesn't kill 2for1 but 4for1 Enemies are more than 4 times his size, and they flee because they know he is in charge. If i read a novel with this kind of character, i would be chastising the writer for his lack of nuance. One of the few country elite that deserved such title.

This is the best line ever - 31:56 " He was the last figure in history to combine total political power with frontline, military genius - in the mould of Alexander, and Caeser"

“We’re in the endgame now” - Napoleon Bonaparte

You know the party is over when Davout is unable to join in

You know a general is a REAL badass when he takes on an entire continent of allied armies copying his tactics and strategies and still dishes out the pain train.

This campaign is where Napoleon basically went all critical mode. Like when a boss battle phase turns deadliest when the boss's life meter turns red.

We've all been waiting

I came here faster than the training of French recruits in 1814

The fact that in some battle his casualties are 600 and the allies are 3500 is just simply astounding

Imagine being a soldier in the allied armies. You all know what this man is capable of, and you receive news that he earned 4 victories in 6 days against the odds. Now, that is soldiering.

Imagine a marshal of the empire personally showing you how to use a musket now that is something no ordinary soldier can forget.

As a french, I must say that even in school we barely study Napoléon. Watching your serie gave me a renew interest for the history of my country

16:43 "Napoleon knew he had to land another decisive blow soon, so turned his attention back to Blucher". Among all the epicness, this sick burn was almost lost.

"You can't just ride out with 70,000 conscripts, and delay the army of Silesias' advance into France by 6 days!" Napoleon: *"Bet"*

A marvelous end to a world class series. What Epic History has done is reconstruct the past in such a way, I dare say, it was as if we were living through it. The charisma and tenacity of Napoleon can be felt through the videos, along with every single soldier who fought in those years. It is such quality content that has and could be set down as a part of history.

Infinity War: "Most ambitious crossover" 6th Coalition: "Hold my musket"

12:32, napoleon himself in the thick of the fighting, fighting for the survival of the French Empire at the gates of paris against the odds with the swelling music literally gives me goosebumps

The 6 days campaign had to be one of the biggest humiliation ever displayed in a battlefield.

The last verified soldier of the Napoleonic Wars was a Dutch veteran of the Grand Armee, Geert Adriaans Boomgaard, who died aged 110 in 1899. The last claimed soldier was a Polish veteran who fought for Napoleon, Vincent Markiewicz, who died aged ~108 in 1903.

Marvel real quiet after this dropped

Napoleon's counter attack against ungodly odds is some thing to be admire.

According to legend at 12:34, the emperor sighted the French cannons himself. As he had done at Lodi 18 years before

Napoleon, right before his departure for Elba: "I'll be back."

When the picture of Napoleon bidding farewell to his wife and son showed up, knowing that he would never see them again, that plucked a string in me. Powerfully evoking. Brilliant.

The opportunity of to spend a single day of talking with Napoleon would be priceless..

What a genius man he was! Even though he was outnumbered, outmatched, outresourced, just hearing his arrival could send entire enemy armies in retreat.

I never really understood what the hype around Napoleon was. Until I watched this series. Great narrator, great visuals, so many emotions and heroic moments.

Seriousy, an HBO show about Napoleon would be the best thing ever.

The part where Napoleon was helping aim the cannon was a little bit of a tear jerker. The man frantically pushing his men beyond their limits to match his genius in a mad attempt to stave off the inevitable, and still succeeding. It really is awe inspiring what he was able to accomplish.

Napoleon even when commanding raw recruits from an exhausted country against an international coalition was able to not only offer battle but destroy them and force them to retreat 🥲 This man is incredible

This man has the most epic and tragic story ever.

Everyone gangsta until napoleon sights the cannon himself

My heart could scarcely bare to watch this one. “My life.. what a novel!” - Napoleon

BGM: 0:00 Earthquake -- James Murrey 2:27 Kilimanjaro -- Seb Jaegar 5:40 Renegade -- Seb Jaeger 8:22 General -- Joseph Heath 11:30 Skynet -- Seb Jaeger 12:55 Poseidon -- Ben Hayden 15:00 Agent -- Ben Hayden 16:08 Major Incursion -- Ben Hayden 18:22 Warrior -- Goncalo Marquis Ferreira Martins 20:07 Centurion -- Ben Hayden 21:42 Renegade -- Seb Jaeger 24:42 Viking -- Joseph Heath 27:10 Beoluth -- Seb Jaeger 30:55 General -- Joseph Heath

coalition: we have you 4 to 1 ! Napoleon: i like those odds.

This era is my favorite period of World History

The coalition: "We have you four to one." Napoleon: *"I like those odds."*

I love the irony of the outcome of the 1814 campaign. Napoleon loses in part, because the notorious aggressive Blücher manages to win a defensive battle and the cautious Schwarzenberg suddenly seeks a risky offensive encounter. If this wasn't history, I would call the writer out on such a "poetic switch".

“If other history channels are foolish enough to make napoleonic content, I will march to meet them... Then you will see the meaning of the word debacle.” Epic History Tv to his subscribers Britain, May 2020

Some interesting factoids : -Eugene de Beauharnais, Napoleon's stepson, fought well against the Austrians in Northern Italy, but did not came back to the emperor, waiting to see what would happen. After the war, he went to live with his wife's family in Bavaria, a melancholic, regretful man. He still managed to marry his daughters to many great noble families, who were impressed by his figure of hero of war. -Alexandre I of Russia was probably the first Ouiboo, showing an absolute fascination with everything Napoleon's related, and frequenting his ex-wife and stepdaughter. He also showed an absolute disdain toward the returning French royalists. -Marshal Marmont fought like a beast to defend Paris, ending the day holding his saber with only one arm and three fingers valid. When he heard about the marshal's revolt, he cancelled his order to surrender his corps to the ennemy and joined them to negociate. One disgruntled general surrendered anyway, making him look like an absolute traitor in front of his colleagues and convincing the allies to apply harsh conditions. His title, duke of Raguse, gave the verb "Raguser", to betray. He was the only marshal to meet the son of Napoleon at Vienna, many years later. -Marshal Ney and Murat were both executed while leading their firing squad and without blindfold. Marshal Brune was cut to pieces by a royalist mob. Marshal Berthier jumped out his window while seeing Prussian troops parade before his window. Marshal Mortier was ripped to shred by an artisanal gatling gun in an unrelated anarchist plot, many years later. -Davout held Hambourg until showed proof Napoleon had capitulated. He ordered to fire on royalist flags put in front of the walls, for wich he was in disgrace, and didn't have to swear allegeance to the king. This allowed to return to the emperor without betraying anyone during the Hundred-Days. His resistance is considered a model of defensive siege-warfare.

Been reading Andrew Robert's biography of Napoleon. He claims that Napoleon actually wanted to accept the frankfurt proposal, but it was the british who convinced the allies to give up on the proposal. Napoleon wasn't that irrational apparently.

Just reading about the Napoleonic wars alone is fascinating. Seeing it come alive like this makes it all that much more incredible.

The documentary channels are dead, Long Live Epic History TV !

Russia: we will keep Europe in peace for 20 years. Greeks: revolt Russia: 🤷‍♂️

*This is the thing many legendary conquerors have in common: Being in the fight with thier men, eating to same food, riding under the rain with them and generally sharing thier hardship. This is why thier men loved them so much and would push themselves so hard to make thier leaders proud.*

When you see the Allies fleeing before Napoleon, you know how much they were afraid of him.

And finally, we are at the end. And my God, what a series! Until this very day there is no any other historical series of this format on RU-vid done with such passion and love. You guys completed what could be called the greatest history series ever done on RU-vid! I applaude you! The only thing that I feel is missing from this video is Napoleon's farewell speech to his guard. It went like this: "Soldiers of my Old Guard, I bid you farewell. For 20 years I have constantly accompanied you on the road to honor and glory. In these latter times, as in the days of our prosperity, you have invariably been models of courage and fidelity. With men such as you our cause could not be lost; but the war would have been interminable; it would have been civil war, and that would have entailed deeper misfortunes on France. I have sacrificed all of my interests to those of the country. I go, but you, my friends, will continue to serve France. Her happiness was my only thought. It will still be the object of my wishes. Do not regret my fate; if I have consented to survive, it is to serve your glory. I intend to write the history of the great achievements we have performed together. Adieu, my friends. Would I could press you all to my heart. I embrace you all in the person of your general. Come, General Petit, that I may press you to my heart! Bring me, the eagle that I may embrace it also! Adieu, my children! Be always gallant and good. Do not forget me" - Napoleon Bonaparte When I read it the first time (I believe I was 15, maybe 16 or so then), I cried. The Old Guard, those men who withstood the sand of Egypt and ice of Russia. Men who didn't shake for 20 years on battlefield. Men who never complained. Those men now cried for his emperor. British Prussian and Austrian envoys too cried. Everyone cried. Only the Russians seemed untouched by Napoleon's words, although I believe they were. Napoleon was beyond doubt a great man, we all know that. But, more importantly, he was, in my humble opinion, a good man. In his early years Napoleon was a stubborn man. And an unforgivable. Once, when he read one novel from Voltaire in which a dying hero forgives his killers, he was angry. He thought that a dying hero shouldn't forgive his enemies, but instead curse them and with his last breath make his friends swear that they'll avenge his death! That's what a real man should do, young Napoleon thought. But when it was Napoleon's time to die......well he wrote a last wish. A last wish in which he forgives all his enemies, all those who betrayed him. Talleyrand, Fouche, "Raguser"......all of them were forgiven. Elba changed his views on the world tremendously. When he returned in 1815 in his Hundred days Napoleon was a different man. Much mentally much older, wiser and nicer. And that could be seen through his actions. He established free elections and free press, both somewhat banned during his previous reign. He even banned slave trade, which he himself re-established in 1802. Napoleon of the Hundred days wasn't that young hotheaded Napoleon. If during his first reign Napoleon passionately wanted to fix the world's mistakes, the Hundred days Napoleon wanted to fix mistakes that he himself made. And thus on Saint Hellen died a completely different man than the one who marched into Russia. But that isn't the last of Napoleon. No! He still didn't showed us his last triumph! In 1840, during a July monarchy, Napoleon marched for the last time. This time millions of people came to see his remains being brought back to France. And they laid him in a palace of invalids, a place where people pay him respect for already 200 years. Napoleon maybe lost in life, but he beat them all in death!

The voice that narratives this Napoleon series is just as sensational and powerful like the series itself. My hat off to you, sir whoever you are !!! Your voice just made the entire series came alive in my head. Thank you and for Napoleon, the emperor, you are always in my heart !!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I have watched this one 100 times at this point. Your ability to visually tell this story gives me chills on my spine. I know the end of the story but still find myself rooting for Napoleon. MASSIVE KUDOS on your ability to tell this story. I subscribe to maybe 20 or 30 channels, but at the end of the day this is one of my favorites. Keep the amazing content coming!

Epic History: Napoleon lost his empire due to the disastrous Russian Invasion. History Channel: It was because of Aliens!

I have never, ever before come across a series, based on events that we already know what will happen, leave me so angry and sad at the same time about how things turned out for the Emperor, when there could have been so different. I have never, EVER, come across a channel that the quality of its content shames networks that reigned for years, the respect for its viewers humbles us, and its analysis of historical events is done in such an interesting and entertaining way. I have nothing more to say, than Thank You. Thank you for this amazing series, and thank you for the company your videos kept me all these days. I hope you continue the amazing job! Edit: Some mistakes, I’m sorry, english isn’t my first language!

This is absolutely marvelous, utterly awe-inspiring, both Napoleon's genius and Epic History's presentation. History doesn't get any better than this.

The music score, the battlefield graphics, this is truly a master piece of story telling. Bravo!

I'm sad you didn't mention the battle of Bayonne the 14th of April 1814. The garnison didn't believed that the Emperor had abdicated and, outraged, made a "sortie" to break the siege of the city.

Britain be like: im gonna pay you 100$ to keep fighting france

Crazy how during this whole Campaign for France. Napoleon managed to lose only 3 actual battles And win the rest. Unfortunately. time was ticking. The English really wanted the House of Bourbon in power

This man went south the north to south over and over what a leader.

Marshall Marmont is an interesting figure. His parents were minor nobility from Burgundy, and he went to a school in Dijon where he met a well-known young Corsican. Then he was accepted at the prestigious artillery school in Châlons, where he had brilliant grades and even met one of his future friends, Géraud Duroc. In 1793, his unit which was in the Army of the Alps, was redirected at Toulon where he fought with Napoleon and another famous man, Jean-Andoche Junot. Long story short, his litte gang with Napoleon and Junot lived quite poorly after Robespierre's execution, Napoleon being discharged and without pay. After participating at the siege of Mainz in 1795, he was put in the Army of Italy with Napoleon, where he distinguished himself, notably at Arcole where he supposedly helped Napoleon get out of the mud in which he had fallen. Napoleon sent him to the Directory to deliver the standards of the defeated armies, and was made colonel at age 21 (!). He went to Egypt with Napoleon, and followed him in the second Italian campaign where he notably organized the artillery's crossing of the St-Bernard, depicted in the famous painting of David. He was later appointed inspector of the artillery that he organized very effectively. Disappointed of not being one of the first marshalls of Napoleon in 1804, he was put at the command of the 2nd Corps in Ostende for the future invasion of England. His corps particpated at the Ulm and Austerlitz campaigns of 1805 but not at the battle of Austerlitz itself. In 1806 he fought the Russians in Dalmatia, and stayed at Ragusa where he modernized the country, building roads, schools, hospitals. He was loved by the trooper and by the locals, but not by his immediade subordinates who found him arrogant and greedy. He was made duke of Ragusa in 1808 and marshall of the empire in 1809 after Wagram, where his corps fought with the Austrians at Znaïm. Napoleon made him governor of the Illyrian provinces, where his lifestyle and appetite for gold was very famous. He had near total power in Illyria, Napoleon nicknamed him "Marmont 1st" in reference of the "court" he had in Ragusa. After a short stay in Paris, Napoleon made him commander of the army of Portugal. Considering the lack of ressources, he fought quite well until Salamanca where a cannonball injured his arm. He was made commander of the 6th Corps in Germany and in France, fighting with determination despite the odds. But here's the interesting part. After withdrawing from Paris with his corps, he plotted against his old friend and Emperor. He made contact with Schwarzenberg and offered that his corps went in Normandy, in order to have peace. But on the 4th of April, Napoleon decided to abdicate with conditions. He sent MacDonald, Ney and Caulaincourt to Paris. Marmont followed them, but his negociations would be a weakness to Napoleon's conditionnal surrender, because the Emperor's main argument was the unity of the army to his cause. Marmont wanted to abandon his plot, and ordered not to move. But, in Paris, The Tsar dismissed the four emisaries. Why? Because Souham, the man left out to command 6th Corps, actually gave up his corps and marched in direction of Normandy. It's not surprinsing, as Souham was an ex-officer of Moreau, Napoleon's old enemy. At this moment all was lost, Napoleon had been betrayed. He abdicated without condition on the 6th of April. Of course, Marmont, seen as the traitor, did not do anything during the Hundred Days. In the Bourbon Restauration years, he was in service of Louis XVIII and Charles X (a friend) and even discovered and neutralized a plot against Louis XVIII. He was persona non grata with the army, but was appreciated for his intelligence in the higher society. He was commander of the Army in Paris during the July Revolution in 1830, and was forced into exile as his troops opened fire on the revolutionnaries. Marmont, being a friend of the king, but in favor of the liberals and an enemy of the ultra-royalists in the government, was in the middle of the fight. He exiled himself to England with Charles X, then to Vienna and Venise.He wrote books on his journey which took him to Egypt (again) and Russia, and on military strategy : his books were best-sellers in Europe at the time. He even met Napoleon II, giving him "lessons" about his father once a week. He never went back to France, as Soult, a marshall with whom he had a terrible relationship since the Peninsula War, was made prime minister. He died in Venise in 1852, being the last marshall of Napoleon to die. Why did he betray Napoleon? For the interest of peace, France, for having the luxury to have Napoleon's future in his hands? As the years passed, his relation with the Emperor deteriorated, the greed of Marmont being too strong. He always was in search of recognition from him, but never quite obtained it, and maybe this made him jealous. We'll never know, but I encourage EHTV's viewers to make researchs about the people of this time, as they were fascinating and shaped the world we live in today. (PS : sorry for eventual mistakes, English is not my main language, and I'm a bit in a hurry :) )

_This is beginning to be very_ *serious.* _-Napoleon Bonaparte_

Napoleon se defendió con todo lo que tenía , jamás arrugó y ganó muchas batallas estando en desventaja 4 a 1 , la verdad un genio total

I love Napoleon. His quotes are inspiring, his military genius undisputed, but i think a combination of pride and overconfidence in his subordinates led to his downfall. Especially in the hundred days. Most hardworking and smart men can only hope to achieve 2% of what he did though.

The endgames of military genius like Napoleon and Hannibal are all depressing and a story of how things could have ended differently. Thanks to epic history for such a series never have I loved history so much before. You guys made Napoleon an idol for me

Could you imagine what it must have been like, to have the emperor come up to your cannon and sight the gun himself, and then start barking orders directly at you to get the shot and powder etc. How invigorated the soldiers around him must have been. I bet that cannon fired and reloaded so fast after Napoleon left for the remainder of that battle. There must have been some truly incredible, undocumented moments in these final days of the empire.

as soon as you hear "the coalition decided to split their armies" I knew what was gonna happen. It already happened like 5 times before

I would have never believed that such a man existed and has done the impossible things, if it wasn't historical fact.

It's pretty clear that the allied commanders were scared shitless of Napoleon. Napoleon's success here was half military genius half his reputation working for him!

*napoleon's flag falls at 29:53 * Me on my one knee : emperor, you gave them hell even when you lost.

Girls: how did he not cry during titanic, do boys even have feelings? Me: watches this documentary about Napoleon's defeat 😭

Fighting an enemy double your size and yet inflict the same amount of casualties equal to your own army is insane

Actually sad to see the picture of Napoleon drop to the ground after this long and glorius series. Great job!

Hope you will do a remake of Waterloo, with as much detail as you have done with this one ! Great series !

The music used here is just so absolutely beautiful and masterfully edited, that even Hans Zimmer would agree!

This campaign must surely be one of the greatest feats of military genius in history.

In France, we just study Napoléon when we are 9 years old. Very sad because it's an incredible story of our country 🇫🇷

One of the best stories that history has to offer! Napoleon was truly a military genius and a brilliant innovator. But in the end, hubris was his downfall.

My man was fighting a whole coalition of armies with just 30k troops and still won

Napoleon's military genius is unbelievable!

"I sought a glorious death disputing, foot by foot, the soil of the country, the balls flew around me, my clothes were pierced, but none reached me" Napoleon is the absolute definition of an anime character with plot armor

The numerical superiority of the enemy Was overwhelming, however the performance and the achievement of Napoleon and the men under his command on the battlefield, can not be denied as history will attest.

Just hearing the word *Elite Old Guard* puts up so many chills in your body 9:47

I think these are awesome. I hope they go back and redo the Battle of Waterloo and make it sound as a completion of these are, with more in-depth on Napoleon’s return, his preparation for war, and the campaign in total.

Before Epic History TV started this series, the Napoleonic Wars never caught my attention like other wars did. I've always been more interested in World War 1 and 2, the wars in the 17th century and various wars of the Ancient history. But I can honestly say that I've never seen anything like this series. It has been the best history series I've ever watched on RU-vid or anywhere else for that matter. Thank you for this, it has been incredible and I wish it could've gone on forever.

Napoleon - When you're the only pro player carrying your team.

29:52 that felt soo weird to see Napoleon’s banner fall

Greatest commander ever - Napoleon. Six days campaign is tactical masterpiece.

I have to admit, I teared a bit when Napoleon's banner went down at 29:52

Napoleon truly was both 'Alexander come again' and 'The Enlightenment on Horseback'

Geez.. This series is amazing ! I started with the condensed Napoleonic Wars episode and was instantly hooked. From there I began watching the individual episodes and I have to say, I was blown away ! The narration, visuals, and of course, the music, is phenomenal. Epic History made an absolute masterpiece.

Even in defeat he proved himself to be the best general of his time

I’ve waited for this episode

Just finished this whole series and the Waterloo video. Fantastic. It's no wonder the Napoleonic wars have fascinating so many people

As an Indian and obviously anti British, I always held Napoleon in high regard, I never wanted to watch the video till the end as it was too painful. Such Boldness, decisiveness, and wielding complete fidelity over his men. The man is a Legend.

*Napoleon in notification means Epic History TV has arrived*