The Napoleonic Quarterly

Liam Gauci of the Malta Maritime Museum is joined by Phillip Cuccia and Konstantine Peradze to discuss the complex history of the Barbary States, their war with the United States and their broader impact on the Napoleonic Wars.
In this episode you'll hear:

The 'Pirate' vs 'Privateer' debate: The panel dives into whether the Barbary States’ seafaring activities should be considered piracy or state-sanctioned privateering, highlighting the political and legal complexities of the time.

The US Navy’s First Major Combat Encounter: A detailed look at the fierce 1804 close-combat in Tripoli, including Stephen Decatur’s daring actions and the dramatic destruction of the USS Philadelphia.

Personal Stories from the Mediterranean: Listeners hear about fascinating characters, like a Maltese who switched allegiances multiple times, and the roles played by Georgians and other Mediterranean peoples in these shifting alliances.

How the Barbary Wars Shaped American Naval Policy: The episode explains how attacks by the Barbary corsairs prompted the young United States to invest in building a powerful navy, influencing both US politics and military priorities.

Behind-the-Scenes Diplomacy and Local Perspectives: There’s rich discussion around diplomatic efforts, ransom negotiations, and the constant need for resources in the Barbary States, tying in broader Mediterranean and Napoleonic geopolitics.

Help us produce more episodes by supporting the Napoleonic Quarterly on Patreon: patreon.com/napoleonicquarterly

Alex Stevenson is joined by Rick Schneid, John Gill and Graeme Callister for the latest in our 1796 battles series, this time looking at Castiglione when for the first time Napoleon Bonaparte found himself on the strategic defensive.
You'll find all the pictures and maps mentioned in this episode here: https://x.com/napoleonic_q/status/2013017694077911143
Expect “on the battlefield” atmosphere, expert analysis, maps you can almost see, and a riveting blend of strategy and storytelling:
A Walkthrough of the Battlefield and Its Geography
Listeners will be expertly guided through the geography of Castiglione and its surrounding landmarks—hills, rivers, villages—painting a vivid operational map crucial to understanding the movements and intentions of both armies.

The Austrian and French Perspectives
The panel adopts the roles of staff officers and commanders in both the Austrian and French camps, offering both granular and big-picture views on morale, strategy, and the unique challenges faced by each side.

Command Decisions and Tactics Unpacked
Explore why Austrian commander Wurmser and his French counterpart Bonaparte made the decisions they did, how logistical issues, communication breakdowns, and battlefield improvisation altered the course of operations.

Dramatic Near-Misses and Shifting Momentum
Experience the near-encirclement of the French, the Austrian attempts at pincer movement, and how crucial moments and battlefield heroics (like the timely arrival of French reinforcements) flipped the campaign’s momentum.

Aftermath, Analysis, and Why Castiglione Mattered
The episode delves into the outcomes of the battle: the relief and renewed siege of Mantua, troop exhaustion, command changes, loss of crucial siege artillery, and how Castiglione marked a turning point in Napoleon’s operational approach—and for the wider Napoleonic Wars.

Help us produce more episodes by joining the Napoleonic Quarterly community on Patreon: patreon.com/napoleonicquarterly

The second half of Hamilton the Musical, which covers the post-Revolutionary period that just happens to be that of this podcast, is a bit more confusing than the first: "can we get back to politics, please?" as Jefferson puts it. The precise role of Alexander Hamilton after he left office, covering the John Adams administration, the elections of 1800 and 1804 and of course the famous duel with Aaron Burr which ended Hamilton's life are brilliantly covered but still leave some questions hanging. To resolve some of those, this episode sees the return of Peter Kastor, Professor of History and American Culture Studies at Washington University in St. Louis...
Help us produce more episodes by joining the Napoleonic Quarterly community on Patreon: patreon.com/napoleonicquarterly
In this episode you'll hear:
- How the musical impacts on historical understanding, both illuminating and simplifying the era of the Founding Fathers;
- Reflections on what the musical gets right and what it leaves out;
- An exploration of the key events and debates of the 1790s, including the Jay Treaty, the Adams administration, and the complexities of early American politics that are glossed over or omitted in the musical;
- Recommendations for books and resources to deepen knowledge about Hamilton’s life and the broader revolutionary and post-revolutionary period, including the works of Alan Taylor and Joanne Freeman, as well as Peter Kastor's own research;
- A nuanced discussion on the code of honor that shaped political and personal decisions, including the famous duel between Hamilton and Burr; and
- Insights into the personal challenges and tragic second acts of the Founding Fathers, contrasted with their triumphs, and thoughts on how historical interpretation might change in years to come.

Mentioned in this episode:
Founders Online
Explore the digitized collections of the papers of America’s Founders, including Hamilton, Jefferson, Washington, and more.
https://founders.archives.gov
Ron Chernow's Biography of Hamilton
The biography that inspired “Hamilton: The Musical” and shaped popular understanding of Alexander Hamilton’s life.
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/29384/alexander-hamilton-by-ron-chernow/
Joanne Freeman's “Affairs of Honor”
Highly recommended for anyone wanting to understand the culture of honor, dueling, and early American politics.
https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300088770/affairs-of-honor/
Alan Taylor’s “American Revolutions”
A Pulitzer Prize-winning historian’s sweeping account of the Revolutionary era.
https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393082815
Ken Burns’ Documentary: The American Revolution
A new, in-depth documentary series offering a broader perspective on the Revolution’s impact.

1804. July… August… September… Three months in which Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr take their political differences to the duelling ground… Tripoli’s pirates are bombarded by the United States… And another quarter, another new emperor - this time Francis I for Austria. This is episode 51 of the Napoleonic Quarterly - covering three months which continues this year’s theme of political violence.

[4:40] - Headline developments
[14:00] - Peter Kastor on US politics and the duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr
[36:00] - Liam Gauci on the Barbary States' war with the United States
[59:50] - Barbara Stollberg-Rilinger on Francis' decision to become Austrian Emperor

Help us produce more episodes by supporting the Napoleonic Quarterly on Patreon: patreon.com/napoleonicquarterly

In April 1796, a 26-year-old Napoleon Bonaparte transformed a demoralized, ragged French army into a lightning-fast strike force that knocked the Kingdom of Sardinia out of the war in just over two weeks. By utilizing the strategy of the central position he successfully split the superior Austrian and Piedmontese forces, defeating them in rapid succession at battles like Montenotte and Mondovi - and proving in the process that a disciplined, mobile army could shatter traditional European alliances and permanently shift the balance of power in Italy.
Clemens Bemmann is joined once again by Rick Schneid, our battlefield correspondent, and John Gill and Graeme Callister, our Austrian/Piedmontese and French army experts, for this continuation of our series on the battles of 1796.