Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
By 1809, Napoleon Bonaparte sat at the summit of his power, yet the Napoleonic machine was beginning to show fatal cracks. While the Emperor secured a costly victory against Austria at the Battle of Wagram, the Spanish Ulcer continued to drain his resources and morale. This episode explores the failure of the continental system, the rise of savage guerrilla warfare, and the personal family dramas that led to a hemorrhaging of French power. Discover how the myth of invincibility was broken, setting the stage for the final march toward Russia.
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By 1809, Napoleon Bonaparte sat at the summit of his power, yet the Napoleonic machine was beginning to show fatal cracks. While the Emperor secured a costly victory against Austria at the Battle of Wagram, the Spanish Ulcer continued to drain his resources and morale. This episode explores the failure of the continental system, the rise of savage guerrilla warfare, and the personal family dramas that led to a hemorrhaging of French power. Discover how the myth of invincibility was broken, setting the stage for the final march toward Russia.
You can now become a History Hit member right here on YouTube! Join for access to a new exclusive documentary every week, and access to over 160+ of our documentaries presented by world renowned historians like Dan Snow, Eleanor Janega, Tristan Hughes, Mary Beard, Matt Lewis and more.
Get an exclusive release every week by signing up here: bit.ly/4pyExyn
This channel is part of the History Hit Network. Any queries, please contact owned-enquiries@littledotstudios.com
