Hi,
I've just listened to the latest podcast and found a related map. Unfortunately its one of the "sketch type" maps of the time. In the absence of contour lines, etc. is it fair to assess the River Lamato as an obstacle that "turned" (with regard to obstacle effects) the French cavalry supporting Digonet and therefore reduced their ability to flank Cole?
Or was it just a creek that the horses could easily ford/cross?
I suppose it shows how deeply Napoleon struck into the Russian psyche when Stalin accused the successful Marshal Zhukov (notably Kursk and the capture of Berlin) of Bonapartism. This meant he was a potential ‘Red Bonaparte’, who would use his popularity for his victories and the support of the army to seize power from the Cimmunist Party. Stalin was more effective than the Directory, sending Zhukov to far corners of the USSR in 1947-49. Although rehabilitated after Stalin’s death in 1953, Zhukov was again denounced for Bonapartism by the next Communist leader, Krushchev. Politicians getting nervous about successful leaders, eh?
To the Soviets "Bonapartism" was a term cautioning against a military takeover in any period of Party turmoil. Napoleon was the foremost example of such and the namesake for it in Partylore, but not the only suspect or possibility of such an action. Trotsky and Tito, like Zhukov, were other in house examples. Because the military had a group under them sworn to alliegance they were particularly fearful to Party control at any time of confusion or threat and thus to be specifically suspect to the possibility of taking over control.
The Napoleonic Wars Podcast has an interview with Bernard Cornwell and Sean Bean. It is well worth listening to!
Is Sharpt the new novel written by ChatGPT? I was always amused by a comment on TMP about an upcoming novel: Is that the one where Sharpe beats the French and gets the girl?
I recently came across AJP Taylor’s famous talk in this series about how WW1was unstoppable, due to German railway timetables. That could be debated endlessly, but it does demonstrate that events can take on a momentum of their own, which the parties involved cannot control.
Anyway, I had forgotten (yes, I am old enough to remember these talks and the first manned flight around the Moon) that Taylor began his series with the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Perhaps, his talk might seem rather quaint with his ideas about Napoleon being forced into war and a rather Anglocentric approach, but here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzvse8bZ-Fc
I remember AJP Taylor's Great Commander's series. Delivered straight to camera in what largely appeared to be one take. Even though we think ourselves better informed these days (with access to far more archival material today) the delivery was still very impressive.
Gallica has a map with hachures for the contours Plan of the Battle of Maida : Fought on the Plains of St Eufemia in Calabria Ulteriore on the ever memorable day July 4th 1806 by a small British Force of 4.795 men under the Command of Major General Sir J. Stuart K.B. against a superior French Force consisting of 7.800 men under the Orders of General Regnier, in wich the former gained a most Signal / P. Tho.s Ryves, Captain & Assist. Quart.r Master General Dec.r 1806 ; H. Wilson Sculp.t | Gallica
Lamato doesn't appear to be the problem as all the Franco-Allied forces crossed it. However the River Ippoteto (? as I cannot quite make out the full spelling) does appear to be more of an obstacle.