What Was It Like? Getting Drafted in Napoleon's Army DOCUMENTARY 

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My great-great-great-great-great-grandfather was one of those draftees who drew a "good number" but sold it to a richer man who had a "bad number", and went on to serve in the armée. Luckily he was positionned in Italy, not part of the Russia invasion. Thus not only did he get the chance to enrich himself by serving officiously as a mercenary for a Venician merchant, but also well survived the wars. And thus, here am I, 2 centuries later.

I got 14 ancestors who fought for Napoleon, only 4 survived. I am a Napoleonic reenactor myself which I do in honour of my ancestors. My regiment is featured in this video which is nice to see.

France's system to raise armies during the revolutionary/Napoleonic wars gave it an edge against that of its foes. France mobilized around 2.1 million men to fight its wars. Russia and Austria, the second and third largest nations, mobilized around 500K each. Granted, France was fighting multiple nations, so it had to mobilize more.

...and Remember ! When you hear about the *Russia* campaign. Take your severance fee, dip and bail immediately. Never look back. Move to furthest unreachable areas around the france if possible

Getting shouted at loudly by a sergeant on your first day is probably a universal military experience.

This is what i love about history. When someone grabs a magnifying glass into the social, economical, political and cultural aspects of the common people trapped within a system that they don't understand by forces outside their control. After the Napoleonic wars Europe became normalized with these concepts of mobilization, draft and sending thousands of young men to die in wars for their nations/leaders/ideals. And yet, more than 200 years later we continue to do so.

The choice of soundtrack for the episode is great. It immediately brought back all those Total War memories and it's truly fitting of this series. Thanks for providing the insight to this little looked at, yet big aspect of the war.

My great (3) grandfather was one of N’s soldiers, family story said he was a “guard.” He emigrated to the US immediately after fighting at Waterloo by hitchhiking on a ship bound for America. He was with a war buddy, so he left with another guy. A US historian told me tens of thousands of N’s soldiers came to the US, it was a huge immigration component but is not well-known.

How to join Napoleon's army: 1. Be a man in Napoleonic France Let's face it, you're gonna be marching sooner or later . . . 😆

Should ask my Ancestor, he was a Soldier of the Grande Arme and fought in Austerliz

Little tip: it's advisable to have an appetite for hiking, as this job may involve "a bit" of walking.

Awesome video! Napoleon's story is almost unbelievable at times

For those interested in this period, I can highly recommend the book: Voices from the Napoleonic Wars, edited by Jon E. Lewis. It contains several letters of both allied and French soldiers, of different ranks. It gives an insight that movies or games just can't give. They are direct lines to history, and describing life and battle of these times are very tense.

As an American I had to look up 1.488 meters only to find out that is below 5 feet. That means they could practically call up any man short of having a physical disability.

Love this channel for covering less obvious topics like this. Makes the channel special, really appreciate it

Invicta knocking out some fire videos again . Love it

Thank you for giving us vids about this era! And thanks for the soldier’s perspective!

Great job as always guys.

If y'all wanna read up a book on this there's the Sharpe series who are a series of historical novels following the soldier Richard Sharpe from the siege of serangapitam in 1798 (his second battle) to the battle of Waterloo

Thank you for explaning how the violence against men was perpetrated by the state via conscription and for making another great video

Fantastic! I can't wait to see the rest of this series

it must be noted that such situations were also massive wealth transfers from richer to poorer, as soldiers had to be paid, uniforms and arms made, provisions bought, some enriched themselves from this but largely more money was put in circulation trough salaries and whether by devaluation or redistribution wealthy people lost some of it

Invicta and Napoleon! I love it!!!

It was an informative and wonderful introduction of French Grand army conscription..during French revolutionary term. What attended when whole populations conscripted in war efforts that was meant ( total war) because conscription consistency of whole citizens ...thank you respectful 🙏 ( Invicta) channel

Thank you for the inspiring videos! They've been a source of motivation and creativity for me!

Very well done Video. Thank you

Fascinating stuff! Thanks for another great video.⚔🔥👏

Such high quality videos are rare and amazing on YT!

Sounds like how the US Military had Conscription or Draft after WWII lasting until 1973 as the so called "Peace Time Draft". This was all good during the Korean War because of the threat of Communism and combat in Korea, US men did serve when called upon and did so in general. By 1955 till the mid 1960s before Vietnam started men were prepared to be drafted as a rite of passage into adulthood to serve 2 years as an obligation. If you ever watch Dolby Gilis from the 1960s he and his buddy were drafted into the US Army during Peace Time. When Vietnam kicked off many of the men who had done their obligated 2 years service before 1965 were never really recalled back for service. Many had gotten married, gotten deferments from being recalled for active duty for injuries, family issues, educational, vocational efforts critical for national security or joining the National Guard or Reserves which has a low chance of combat deployment. The much younger guys who were 18-19 year olds were not so fortunate because during their high school years before 1965 all had enrolled for the Selective Service Program, meaning that piece of document which they filled out "Voluntarily" became their death sentence to either serve or go to Federal Prison. I knew many guys who have served their mandatory 2 years of Military Service from 1957-1965 never got called for Vietnam especially the Army. The DOD rarely called upon National Guard and Army Reserve units to active duty for Vietnam. I know of one unit that did get called up for Vietnam service from Hawaii, the 29th Infantry Brigade was called up for service for Vietnam. They didn't go as a whole unit but were taken in as replacements for many combat units already in combat in Vietnam in 1968. I know of a First Sergeant from the 29th Brigade who as an infantry National Guard Private was sent as a replacement infantryman to the 3rd Brigade 82nd Airborne already in combat. What surprised me that he was awarded the Combat Infantrymans Badge but no Parachutist or Jump Wings. He was not even a real Paratrooper that he was not Parachute qualified. Many National Guardsmen from the states were used to fill combat casualties in many combat units during that time. I experienced this during Iraq in 2008 when certain National Guard combat units needed NCOs and Soldiers to fill in their ranks. I was one of them. I went in to that unit and did my job. There were problems because of which state I came from for a year of obligation. Since I was a replacement NCO of E-6 I could not go higher until my platoon loses a Platoon Sergeant but for the unit merit of service in time I was last. That didn't matter for me because when you get promoted you might get killed but everyone has that chance to die in combat when in charge or not....

Excellent video 👍 Thank you 💜

Amazing work!

Great topic, incredible history within the Grande Armee!

This was a fantastic video!!!!

Thanks for the video

Firing three shots a minute... now that's soldiering!

This was very interesting. Lots of information. I am grateful for your channel and its content. Thank you

Great collab and overview! Honestly things are not much different these days with nations with conscripts and draftiees.

It took 6 Empires, 23 Kingdoms, 7 European Wars, 156 Battles, 4 Coalitions, 25 years of war, 9 million soldiers and 6 million dead to defeat Napoleon Bonaparte. Emperor and the greatest General in History🎩

Great video! While I started with killteam I felt it was too complicated to recruit new players so I got my group into Frostgrave. But it can be quite swingy and games can take a while. This video made me want to try out warcry!

Well timed.

In a parallel universe this video was made sponsored by CA and its new title TW Napoleon 2 and Pharao is just a fever dream from a sick mind

Recruiter" "Do you have your index finger?" Conscripter: "Uhhh gimme five minutes" Goes to the bathroom with a bayonet

dang good history video👍👍

Thanks!! 👍

It was GLORIOUS.

Great video! I did notice some issues with the thumbnail though. It says "drafed" instead of Drafted and what i am assuming is the AI image of Napoleon has a rather broken looking index finger

Subscribed to the 21st! What great footage.

peasant knocks out teeth to avoid draft; gets sent to artillery

On 0:38, there is Eagle of my regiment. Toujours en avant! :)

Love the Napoleon Total War soundtrack used in this video

I love how the video is exactly 18:21 long, wonder if that was in any way intentional

I love the sound track Give me total war napoleon vibes…… actually I know what I’m gonna do today lol Great video

You should bring more videos about the XVIII and XIX century armies and navies organizations and system.

amazing :)

I must scroll past your videos all the time. I am subscribe and have notifications on but the ones I miss are because the thumbnails sometimes don’t make it look like you.(this might only be a me problem as my suggested videos are all something invicta might make😂😂) just a thought lads no hate intended. Terrible a feel a need to mention that but Anyway love the content keep it up💚🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Love the napoleon total war game music playing in the background 😂😂

Subtly playing music from Napoleon total war in the background - nice touch!

Rad video.

Great video! Now I'm off to play Napoleon Total War.

nice!

As a soldier in Napoleons army I can confirm this.

Good to see empire tw still lives on least through music:-)

Your likelyhood of death or life changing injuries were huge. Look at his casualties throughout the war. Insane

Okay, this is very interesting! Personally not a fan of Napoleon, but we must say it how it is - he plays a huge part in history!

15:45 This technique is often mentioned, but was most likely never used in action. It seems very complex and offers little advantage.

“What was it like getting drafted into Napoleons Army”. It was nothing like the movie that’s for sure 😂

Nice

Finally yesss

i see you are a person of culture as well (background napoleon total war music)

I’m a simple man: I see new video notiff, I come and watch.

Dude always with the gas videos 🔥 😮‍💨

Thanks for the story of common folk. Because it's depressing that leaders venerated and remembered, but not one who was slayed for their glory.

Do a similar video about the swedish carolean army or the Polish Commonwealth.

'Some exceptions were made for younger volunteers' judging by the known ages at enlistment of surviving vets circa 1880 those exceptions were closer to a rule. Basically if you could handle a musket it was very rare for someone to care about your age. Nevermind how among drummers musicians and seamen ages of 12 are recorded. This wouldn't be just a french specific reality. In those days the sorta rule was 15/16 is fighting age and 12/13 is the age for nominally noncombat troops or seamen. Its enough to take a quick glance at the ages of Royal Marines at Trafalgar. There were plenty of 16-17 year olds who served in the marines.

The other day I had a patient who was 95 years old clear as a whistle I asked about her last name and she said it was Czech and the Napoleon movie add came on! She said, Oh we had 3 great uncles that left to fight for Napoleon in Russia and never came back I was like! Damn!

Step 1: Time travel in order to be able to join. Please complete step 1 before continuing these instructions.

Don't forget about cannoneers and cavalry drafting as well.

Vive l'Empereur !

You should do one for the American Civil War, the Liberty Rifles may interest you!

Somebody who volunteered to take another's place in the army could make a very interesting character for a series of stories.....

Thanks for the Info, but I'm just wondering, do you think its a bit too late now to sign up? Seems like it could be a pretty good chance to see most of Europe.

0:00: 🎮 이 비디오는 나폴레옹의 전쟁에서 일반 병사들의 역사를 탐구합니다. 징집부터 훈련 및 전투의 혼돈까지를 다룸 3:00: 지원병 시스템에서, 지속되는 전쟁으로 대량 징집 시스템으로 바뀜 5:40: 지원병은 평시에 18~30살 남성이 4년간 복무. 16세로 확대 징집병은 20~25살 대상 7:28: 📋 징집 과정에서, 지역의 할당량만큼 무작위로 뽑음. 건강, 1.488M 이상의 키가 기준. 대립군의 존재. 돈을 주고 대신 복무. 150만이 징집됨(프랑스 혁명전쟁 중). 11:16: 😢 프랑스 제국 시기의 징병은 농부 가족들을 포함한 많은 사람들이 감정적인 이별과 빈번한 탈영을 유발했습니다. 주요한 수단으로 탈영병의 집을 수색. 15:05: 💂 다양한 행진과 진형, 소총 발사 기술을 배움.

2:22 is that Podrick the best squire freaking Payne?!

What combat post do u suppose would have the highest chance of making it out alive? My uneducated guess would be artillery men

Where do i sign up!!??

these soundtracks were used in The Total War: Napoleonic Wars

How about Alexander how did people join him and tried to tolerate his decisions?

That Napoleon total war music

Ww1 French attrition in the trenches 14%. Napoleons attrition 33% you were more than twice as lickley to die if you served Napoleon. Some genius.

Strange, I thought there'd be sailor women spamming "Blee!" streaking across the field.

In the us civil war you could hire a substitute it was resented as it cost 300 dollars too large a sum for most people

thx for tutorial I am now napoleonian soldier

One of my ancestor was a soldier in Napoleon's army he was killed at the age of 24 during the battle of Wagram on 9th July 1809 against the Austrian, he was 24 his name was Jean a former sheep goat !

Ooohhhh so close Napoleon! Better luck next time!

Hey check the thumbnail again. I appreciate the video. Thank you

Very good and informative. The video is very funny though. Only old farts in it whilst the conscription age was for the young only 🤣

I would like to apply for cavalry position

does anybody know whats the name of the music they used for the background?

I appreciate the Napoleon Total War soundtrack