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Although the campaigns of the Grande Arm茅e are victorious, Napoleon鈥檚 leadership style is beginning to undermine the success of his Marshallate.

Following his victory over Prussia, Napoleon invades Portugal and Spain 鈥� leading to the Peninsular Wars.

But his leadership style is crippling his Marshals ability to execute their responsibilities, and driving their vaulting ambition and rivalry.

Written by Andrew Roberts
Read by Ben Cura
Producer Lu Kemp

Andrew Roberts (Lord Roberts of Belgravia) is an award-winning historian whose prize-winning books include Salisbury, Masters and Commanders, The Storm of War, Napoleon the Great, George III and Churchill: Walking with Destiny. An Officier de l鈥橭rdre des Arts et des Lettres of the French Republic, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, he is currently a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at Stanford University, and Visiting Professor at King鈥檚 College, London.

Release date:

14 minutes

On radio

Wed 11 Nov 2026 11:45

Broadcasts

  • Wed 11 Nov 2026 11:45
  • Thu 12 Nov 2026 00:30