What were the chances of promotion in Napoleon's army? From tracing the career history of every man who served in the 33e Ligne and didn't transfer to another unit (13,494 soldiers), it looks like 10.5% were promoted at some point. Some stats...1/

From around 1811, Napoleon wanted to introduce the Roman punishment of 'decimation' in his military. Groups he wished to punish - mutinous regiments, gangs of deserters etc. - would draw lots, & one in ten would be executed. It isn't clear whether it was ever actually carried out.

How far did Napoleon rule through fear? His response to disorder was often extreme violence 1806 Italy: "My intention is that the village that rose up...should be burned. The priest...should be shot. 3-400 guilty should be sent to the galleys...Waves of blood are needed to assure calm in Italy." 1/

The impact of the Russian campaign in 1812 on the French army - stats compiled for the 33e Ligne regiment.

Nearly done with #Waterloo for 11 Oct at Apsley House. Now i know how big the table needs to be. #history #wargaming #blackhistory @zwhitehistory.bsky.social @graemecallister.bsky.social

👋 #OTD was the storming of the Bastille in 1789, a major moment of the #FrenchRevolution 🇫🇷 💬Previously we’ve done an ep with @graemecallister.bsky.social about the 🇫🇷 Revolutionary and #NapoleonicArmies, how they were raised and fought ⚔️ Check it out 👉 bit.ly/4lCI5gg 🎧

Jean-Marie Vassals from Montbrun, Haute-Garonne. Joined the French army in 1782. Fought in every campaign of the Revolutionary Wars. Fought in every campaign of the Napoleonic Wars 1805-9. Returned to service in 1814. Killed at Wavre on 18 June 1815, in one of the very last battles of the wars.

Public service announcement! All 12 episodes of series one and two of War Walks with Richard Holmes are available on BBC iPlayer for the next week. Brilliant half-hour intros to some of Britain's most famous battles. Don't miss out! www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

We seemed to gather historians today! @graemecallister.bsky.social and Gareth Glover.

Brilliant weekend at Waterloo! The reenactors (and organisers!) did a fantastic job!

🚨 With #Waterloo 210 yesterday, don’t forget recent #napoleonic eps: 13. Re-evaluating the 🇳🇱 🇧🇪 Comtingent at Quatre-Bras with Andre Dellevoet 14. The 🇫🇷 Napoleonic Armies with @graemecallister.bsky.social 15. The 🇬🇧 Napoleonic Staff College with @1815fletcher.bsky.social 👉 bit.ly/43uWDsj

@zwhitehistory.bsky.social @graemecallister.bsky.social & other fine historical minds will be joining me here, in the Waterloo Gallery at Apsley House, London, on 11 October 2025 for a Black History Month event "The Black Soldiers of Waterloo". Put us in your calendar! #history #blackhistory #London

Join us at York St John University (and online) for a fascinating FREE talk by Dr James Hurst based on his new research into the British heavy cavalry at Waterloo. Wed 28 May, 5:30pm, all are welcome! More info and tickets (completely free!) here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/waterloo-t...

The French army of 1815 had many problems. One of the least discussed is that there weren't enough NCOs for frontline battalions. In May, hundreds of men were promoted to fill vacancies. Fortunately, some already had leadership experience - including Pierre Valette & Benoit Jomain of the 28e. 1/

Join the NRWGC for its next online event on Sunday 25 May! Templer medal winner Prof Kevin Linch will talk about his fascinating recent project "Georgian Army Officers: Digitising the Careers of British Army Officers" FREE to members! More info & tickets below: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/georgian-a...

On 10 May 1809 Napoleon's army appeared before Vienna. Austrian Archduke Charles withdrew across the Danube, allowing the French to seize the city but keeping his army intact to contest any river crossing. The scene was being set for two of the most brutal but lesser-studied battles of the wars.

Our work is making headlines. We are now the focus of a national news article in the UK, featuring in today’s Daily Express. Thank you to everyone who is supporting our efforts by following us on social media, or signing up to our mailing list on our website www.express.co.uk/news/world/2...

Heritage 1815: a committee of Napoleonic historians working to safeguard the future of sites from the Waterloo campaign. Following news of the planned sale of Gemioncourt Farm & 8.5 hectares of land on the Quatre Bras battlefield, the committee has issued a statement 🧵1/

A really exciting post Arts and Humanities Research Fellow House of Commons #skystorians 🗃️www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DMG777/a...

A quick thought on Napoleon's conscription efforts: A man could get deferral from conscription if he had a brother in service (or who'd died/been wounded in the army). One deferral was allowed per man in service. In 1807 in Vendée, 2.6% of conscripts applied. In 1809: 3.8% In 1811 it was 11.1%. 1/

It's fair to say that conscription in Napoleonic France caused problems. But what we often forget is the problems that it caused between ordinary people - people who were desperate for themselves or their family not to be conscripted. A quick story from the archives. 1/

Britain’s Second Napoleonic Army Join @zwhitehistory.bsky.social for a FREE talk on the East India Company army - key to Britain’s imperial ambitions in Asia, it receives less attention than it should. Tues 11 March, 6pm, online & at York St John University www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/britains-s...

For anyone interested in #c18th political or electoral history & for students researching EPQs, special subjects &/or final year dissertations, do check out the wealth of data & information available on our Political Participation & Electoral Culture (ECPPEC) website #skystorians 🗃️ecppec.ncl.ac.uk

A graph based on analysis of individual soldiers' entries in the registers of Napoleon's 33e Ligne - recruitment vs loss. The scale of the graph doesn't allow much nuance, but it does show the intensity and scale of both recruitment and loss in the campaigns of 1812-1813.

Quick follow up on this thread about losses in Napoleon's 33e. I've crunched a few numbers on monthly losses, and have a few quick results. 1/

Ever wondered what actually happened to most soldiers in Napoleon's army? I've just finished going through the individual service records for the hard-fighting 33e Ligne regiment (14,829 entries) through a decade of warfare. Here are the headlines: 1/

Did Napoleon care about veterans? Found a note from 1807: 'The intention of the Emperor is that every soldier discharged from long service or wounds can return home with decent clothing, and should in consequence be provided with a uniform coat in good state.' Small reward, or better than nothing?

During the Napoleonic Wars, the French army frequently issued amnesties to allow deserters or draft-dodgers to re-join without punishment. In response to one such amnesty in 1810, eleven men recorded as 'deserting to the enemy' returned to France and were assigned to the 33e Ligne. A quick 🧵1/

We are delighted to be @yorkstjohn.bsky.social today for ‘Humanities Now: Research and Teaching in Post-92 Universities’. Today’s event is supported by the Society with an RHS Workshop Grant. We’re also speaking today about our current advocacy work for #History in the Post-92 sector. #Skystorians

The sad tale of the Caudron brothers. Both born in Cambrai, Jean Baptiste in 1771 and Louis Joseph in 1772. Both called up in the Levee of 1793, they were enlisted on the same day, 23 Nivose, Year 2 (12 Jan 1794) in the same battalion as grenadiers. Eventually this unit became 2nd Btn 21st Ligne.

Good news to start the New Year - my article on Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo for 'War on the Rocks' was one of their top-ten most read for 2024! If you want to start 2025 with a little Napoleonic content, you can read it here: warontherocks.com/2024/06/why-...

There's still time to order books for Christmas! And if you're looking for a gift for the history enthusiast in your life, look no further than the hottest new Waterloo book in town - with a special 25% off from the publisher! (Also available on Amazon etc. of course)

Battlechat #114 featuring @graemecallister.bsky.social is now available to all for your listening pleasure. Still time to order his fantastic book in time for Christmas! www.patreon.com/posts/117628...

Today! You can find us live on our YouTube channel (link below) at 14:00 eastern or watch the recording afterwards. We have received @graemecallister.bsky.social's slides and they look amazing! While on our channel, please do subscribe. It means a lot to us. www.youtube.com/@HeritageDay...

Battlechat 114 with Dr Graeme Callister @graemecallister.bsky.social is out now for patrons. We discuss his new book “Waterloo: the Attack of I Corps” in some detail – Graeme’s fascination & passion for the subject shines through! Get early access at www.patreon.com/battlegames?...

FREE online event in which I'll be talking about Napoleonic soldiers and service, conscription and casualties, desertion and disease, and much more! Much of this is based on genuinely new research, so if you have an interest in Napoleon's army do come along! Sat 14 Dec, 2pm Canada/7pm UK

After a brilliant recording session earlier with @battlegames.bsky.social to discuss my recent 'Waterloo: the Attack of I Corps', I see that the book has now been released in the USA - and is number 1 new release in Napoleonic Wars History! Still time to get your hands on one for Christmas!

Just finished an epic recording of Battlechat 114 with @graemecallister.bsky.social discussing his latest book “Waterloo: the Attack of I Corps”, an absolute must for Napoleonic fans, packed with a wealth of detail. Out soon for patrons first—sign up at patreon.com/battlegames?... for early access!

Really looking forward to this one - that's a lots of notes to respond to!

Between late 1798 and summer 1807, around 5,000 men joined Napoleon's 33e Ligne as conscripts. Fully a quarter of them lasted less than a year in service. A quick thread 1/

With December rapidly approaching, 'Waterloo: the Attack of I Corps' still has 20% off with the publisher if you're looking for the perfect present for the history lover in your life! (Or just treat yourself. You deserve it!) www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Waterloo-The...

Our next livestream event is December 14th with @graemecallister.bsky.social where Graeme helps us look at the soldiers that made up the Grande Armee of Napoleon. Details and registration for this FREE talk are here: www.historysymposium.com/graeme-calli...

Thanks to @blackredcoats.bsky.social for a brilliant talk on the story of the Corps of Colonial Marines for the Napoleonic and Revolutionary War Graves Charity this evening. It's the War of 1812 as you've never heard it before - highly recommend listening to Matthew if you get the chance!

Really interesting thread on the career of a veteran of the Revolution and Napoleon!

17 November 1812. Regimental register entry for Jean Louis Aubin: 'On the declaration of Sgt Guilbout & drummers Portier & Soiront, was burned with 40 others by the enemy the 16 or 17 November 1812 at Baragina, Russia'. Aubin was from Evreux in Eure. He was two weeks short of his 23rd birthday.

Looking forward to reading this one!

Hey #skystorians, I’ve created a Napoleonic history starter pack. It’s very nascent; please let me know who else should be added to it: go.bsky.app/JYvzqJr

Really looking forward to having a chat with Henry about this!

What's up next in the @historysymposium.bsky.social online series? @graemecallister.bsky.social next in December, and Reverand Stuart Hull in January! All times are eastern.

On 2 December 1805, the day of the Battle of Austerlitz, the French 33e Ligne of Davout’s famous III Corps numbered 2300 soldiers and sous officiers, to include all men on the regiment’s books. This thread explains what became of these men in the decade of war that followed. 1/