The Napoleonic Wars Podcast

On the 27th September 1810, British and Portuguese forces under the command of the Duke of Wellington defeated a French army under Marshal Massena. Dr Graeme Callister joins us for this latest instalment of our Peninsular War saga to talk through how Wellington's men fended off French attacks, discuss whether this was a battle that Wellington couldn't lose, and what this meant for the wider context of the Peninsular War.
Buy Graeme's books:
https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Dr-Graeme-Callister/a/4546
https://www.helion.co.uk/people/graeme-callister.php
Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/c/thenapoleonicwarspod

The Peninsular War series meets our battle series as we deep dive the Battle of Bussaco in the first of a two-parter on Wellington and Massena's duel in the Portuguese mountains. Graeme Callister joins us to talk about the French plan of operations, why their reconnaissance was so poor, and why Massena was so desperate to attack Wellington on his mountaintop position.
Get Graeme's books: https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Dr-Graeme-Callister/a/4546
https://www.helion.co.uk/people/graeme-callister.php
Support the show at: https://www.patreon.com/thenapoleonicwarspod
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction to the Battle of Basarco
01:47 Strategic context of the Peninsular War in 1810
03:50 French and Allied army conditions and morale
06:49 Terrain features and geographic challenges
11:12 French plans and reconnaissance errors
15:06 Wellington's defensive strategy and troop deployment
20:11 French misconceptions and attack plans
25:00 Terrain's impact on the battle's outcome
29:56 French troop conditions and leadership issues
34:59 The importance of terrain in 1810 warfare
39:54 French tactical errors and missed opportunities
45:07 The aftermath and significance of Basarco

Josh Provan returns for another instalment of our blow by blow retelling of the Peninsular War, which this episode being the first in a triple bill of Peninsular-focused episodes. We cover the Combat at the Coa, the combobulation of Black Bob Craufurd, and 'the big bang' that ended the siege of Almeida.
Buy Josh's books: https://www.helion.co.uk/people/joshua-provan.php
Support the show at: https://www.patreon.com/c/thenapoleonicwarspod

Wellington famously dismissed his rank and file as a band of criminals, rogues and reprobates who were hammered into a fine fighting force by the British military establishment. His infamous 'scum of the earth' comment has cast a long shadow over the reputation of the British soldiers who fought during the Napoleonic Wars. In this wide-ranging discussion, Liam Telfer and Dr Luke Reynolds dissect the reputation of soldiers during this period, separating myth and reality.
Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/cw/thenapoleonicwarspod

We all love to hate the Napoleon Movie - high hopes left dashed by a lacklustre storytelling, sloppy editing and a disdain for the historical. Now meet the man who wants to right that wrong! Connor O'Brien is a producer who wants to create a short film about a soldier in the Battle of Lundy's Lane, fought in Canada in 1814. His vision is for this project to be a stepping stone to a much larger production about set at the Battle of Waterloo.
I sat down with him to talk about his vision behind 'The Coward' (the short film he's creating), why he is putting historical accuracy front and centre of his film making, and how, in his words, he's bringing a 'Saving Private Ryan' approach to the Napoleonic Wars.
This is a fantastic project which we're very keen to support. If you would like to chip in to the fundraiser, check out the link below - you will not be charged unless the project reaches its funding goal.
Support 'The Coward': https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/exorbito/the-coward-short-war-film-2026
Find out more about the project: https://thecoward1812.com