#18 – The Battle Of Trafalgar

Welcome to the tragic Episode 18 of the Napoleon Bonaparte Podcast here on The Podcast Network.

Once again, David and I would like to thank everyone for the wonderful feedback and comments we have received since the last episode. We both really appreciate it and it’s added motivation to keep producing the show although, as you know, we have so much fun being Napoleon geeks together that the entire British navy couldn’t keep us away!

Speaking of the British navy…. this episode is about the Battle Of Trafalgar.


Battle Of Trafalgar by JWM Turner

On 21 October 1805, the French navy under the command of Villeneuve met disaster against the British navy under the command of Horatio Nelson at Cape Trafalgar, off the coast of Spain, in what is known as The Battle Of Trafalgar

To get a good idea of what naval battles in the early 19th century must have been like, we both recommend watching the 2003 film by Australian director Peter Weir,
Master And Commander
.

The theme music is La Marseillaise. Yes, we know it isn’t necessarily relevant to Napoleon but it’s hard to beat when it comes to French themes!

The Napoleon Podcast gets a mention in USA TODAY

My co-host, the right honourable J. David Markham, did an interview recently with a journalist from USA TODAY and as a result our little show got a small mention in a bigger article about podcasting. Of course, they named the show incorrectly and didn’t link to it in the online article, but it’s still nice of them.

Here’s an online copy of the article
.

PAHLAVI MEETS NAPOLEON AT EGYPT EXPO IN PARIS

HIH Princess Napoleon Bonaparte

Here’s an interesting story:

At an exhibition in Paris’ Grand Palais entitled Les Trésors Engloutis D’Egypt aka The Sunken Treasures of Egypt, there was a meeting between two representatives of the former Imperial Houses of France and Persia: HIH Princess Napoleon Bonaparte and HIM Shahbanou Farah Pahlavi of Iran. The Former reigning Empress of Iran and the descendant of the French Emperor were the VIP visitors of this exhibition that opened on December 9th 2006.

I confess to not being entirely sure who HIH Princess Napoleon Bonaparte actually is. Judging by the photograph, I am guessing she is either the twin sister, ex-wife or current wife of Charles Napoleon Bonaparte, aka Napoleon VII. Can anyone clarify that?

Napoleon slideshow

Here’s a nifty little slideshow of some of the Napoleonic images we’ve posted on our Flickr site over the last year. If you have Napoleonic pictures, feel free to add them to our Flickr group here.

A listener’s story: Gavin from Vancouver

One of the things that I love the most about doing this show is the community of new Napoleon enthusiasts that has built up around it. David and I are constantly getting emails like this one from Gavin O’Sullivan in Vancouver:

Dear Cameron and David,

My name is Gavin O’Sullivan.
I’m a letter-carrier living in Vancouver B.C., and around xmas time i picked up the lovely little invention called an ipod.
I must say it entertains me through the day whether listening to songs, books, or podcasts…….which brings me to your Napoleon Podcast.

As mentioned by you Cameron, growing up in a commonwealth country my knowledge of Napoleon was that he was a “tyrant”, or a “little Hitler”.
How my knowledge has grown with the help of your podcast.

I’ve always been interested in military history whether it be the American Civil war, Vietnam conflict, Roman , or WW1, WW2.
My parents grew up in London, England and lived through the blitz. so in some way my interest in human conflict had been instilled.

Your podcasts have entertained, intrigued, and informed me.
I truly feel that you guys are like my old buddies when i listen for your obvious enthusiasm, and friendship comes through in spades.
Even the episode when you guys finally met was brilliant, where i tend to think David’s supply of olde medicine was opened with a fervor.

So around your your 15th 16th podcast, i was at a thrift store mucking around for odds and sods, when in the corner of my eye i spot this huge pic of Mr. Bonaparte.
So after haggling down to a $4.00…..price tag…..i walked out of there with a wicked poster of Napolean which is now up in my living room.(see attached pic)

I do truly look forward to your next podcast, and i am spreading the word as much as I can.
I would help you guys out anyway i can, and think that podcasts will only grow with mates such as you blabbering about on the airwaves……haha.
My vote for your next one would be a Ceasar. or American Civil War.

Keep up the good work,

your fan

Gavin

Gavin and Napoleon

Nice haggling Gavin! How about you come over here when I attend my next house auction?

Please keep sending us your Napoleon stories folks! After sitting here getting inspired in solitude by Napoleonic stories over the years, I’m really thrilled to see this show helping others find a passion for the subject.

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