The Napoleonic Quarterly

• The Empire’s last act: Ritual, rivalry, and the end of old Germany (w/ Barbara Stollberg-Rilinger)

  A conversation with Barbara Stollberg-Rilinger, Professor Emerita of Early Modern History at the University of Munster and Rector of the Institute for Advanced Study in Berlin. Germany is becoming increasingly important to this podcast, which is why we're digging into another aspect of this fascinating part of Europe. Dualism and dissolution; between fealty and federation; the unravelling of the Holy Roman Empire and a tumultuous period. All setting the stage for Napoleon Bonaparte...This discussion:- Explores the complexities and contradictions of the Holy Roman Empire in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, including its structure, political dynamics, and the concept of legitimacy.- Discusses the dualism and rivalry between Austria and Prussia, and how their ambitions and actions contributed to the fragmentation and eventual dissolution of the Empire.- Examines the significance of symbolism, rituals, and ceremonies in sustaining imperial power—and the ways these traditional forms were both maintained and undermined in practice.- Looks at cultural and intellectual responses to the era’s upheavals, including the reactions of figures like Goethe, Schiller, and Hegel to the French Revolution and emerging German nationalism.- Considers the impact of Napoleon and the mediatisation of the Empire, questioning whether Napoleon was the executioner of the Holy Roman Empire or if its internal weaknesses had already sealed its fate.Help us produce more episodes by supporting the Napoleonic Quarterly on Patreon: patreon.com/napoleonicquarterly

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• The Lewis and Clark Expedition: Mapping the great unknown

  A conversation about a legendary moment in United States history between James Quint, Director of the Old Cowtown Museum in Wichita, Kansas, and Peter Kastor, Professor of History and American Culture Studies at Washington University in Saint Louis. The episode dives deep into the context and significance of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, from the initial uncertainty faced by the United States after acquiring the Louisiana Purchase to the quest for knowledge and trade routes in unknown territory.Discussion highlights the pivotal roles of indigenous nations and French-Canadian traders in shaping the expedition’s progress, including the crucial diplomatic and trading relationships necessary for survival.The complex dynamics of the Corps of Discovery are explored, touching on its diverse and multicultural makeup, the contributions of key figures like Sacagawea and York, and the evolving perspectives on Native American diplomacy.The challenges and logistical feats of the expedition—navigating vast rivers, crossing the Rocky Mountains, and surviving harsh winters—are described alongside the extraordinary documentation kept through journals and maps, which became invaluable historical sources.The legacy of Lewis and Clark is examined, not only as a story of exploration but as a lens into America’s expansion, scientific ambition, the consequences for native peoples, and how these events continue to shape public memory and interpretation in museums and beyond.Help us produce more episodes by supporting the Napoleonic Quarterly on Patreon: patreon.com/napoleonicquarterly

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• Episode 50: Q2-1804 - The imperial dignity

  1804. April... May... June... three months in which the British are facing an uphill struggle in building another coalition against the French... The Revolution takes its final step as Napoleon Bonaparte is to be granted the imperial dignity... and in the Caucasus, a determined Russian general is making real progress. This is episode 50 of the Napoleonic Quarterly... covering three months in which France makes the decision to move to Empire.[06.00] - Headline developments[18.10] - Adam Zamoyski on European diplomacy in 1804[46.40] - Philip Dwyer on the decision to make Napoleon Bonaparte an emperor[1.06.15] - Giorgi Tchkadua on Russian efforts to establish control of the CaucasusHelp us produce more episodes by supporting the Napoleonic Quarterly on Patreon: patreon.com/napoleonicquarterly

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• ADAM ZAMOYSKI on the Napoleonic soap opera

  "It was like a soap opera," Adam says of the Congress of Vienna near the end of this interview episode. That just about sums up his unique perspective on the whole Napoleonic period, as reflected throughout this discussion - a fascination with personalities and the impact individuals can have on human history, contextualised by an understanding of the messiness of diplomacy and power politics which defined the long 18th century. 01.20 - Izabela The Valiant, Adam's most recent book10.00 - How Adam's views about the biggest characters of 1792-1815 have developed over the past five years18.00 - Was Wellington over-rated28.00 - Czartoryski, Alexander's first foreign minister and a key figure for Poland36.00 - Power politics in eastern Europe - Germany, Poland, Austria, Russia and France 52.00 - Napoleon's Spanish calculations56.50 - The Congress of Vienna's negative impact on the ideals of monarchyHelp us produce more episodes by supporting the Napoleonic Quarterly on Patreon: patreon.com/napoleonicquarterly

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• Power plays in the Caucasus: Georgia, Russia and imperial expansion (w/ Giorgi Tchkadua)

  Giorgi Tchkadua of Ilia State University in Georgia, PhD candidate under our own Alexander Mikaberidze, helps unpack the multiplicity of riddles which makes up the fascinatingly complex power dynamics in the Caucasus before, during and after the 1792-1815 period. In this episode you'll learn: How Russian expansion into the Caucasus took place following failures by their Ottoman and Persian rivalsWhy the patchwork of kingdoms and khanates in the region proved so elusive for imperial dominationAnd above all, how from the perspective of those living in the Caucasus the big powers were themselves being played - in a local struggle for power even more compelling than you'd think.Help us produce more episodes by supporting the Napoleonic Quarterly on Patreon: patreon.com/napoleonicquarterly

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