"Napoleon's Other War: Bandits, Rebels and Their..." Topic

… Pursuers in the Age of Revolutions.

"The wars of Napoleon are among the best-known and most exciting episodes in world history. Less well known is the uproar the armies stirred up in their path, and even more, the chaos they left in their wake. The 'knock-on effect' of Napoleon's sweep across Europe went further than is often remembered: his invasion of Spain triggered the collapse of the Spanish Empire in Latin America, and his meddling in the Balkans destabilised the Ottomans. Many places had been riven with banditry and popular tumult from time immemorial, characteristics which worsened in the havoc wrought by the wars. Other areas had known relative calm before the arrival of the French in 1792, but even the most pacific societies were disrupted by these conflagrations.
Behind the battle fronts raged other conflicts, 'little wars' – the guerrilla (the term was born in these years) – and bigger ones, where whole provinces rose up in arms. Bandits often stood at the centre of these 'dirty wars' of ambushes, night raids, living hard in tough terrain, of plunder, rapine and early, violent death, which spread across the whole western world from Constantinople to Chile. Everywhere, they threw up unlikely characters – ordinary men who emerged as leaders, bandits who became presidents, priests who became warriors, lawyers who became murdering criminals. In studying these varying fortunes, Michael Broers provides an insight into a lost world of peasant life, a world Napoleon did so much to sweep away."
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Amicalement
Armand

Very interesting find, sir! This volume might point to what is missing from most Napoleonic skirmish rules: realistic scenarios. Most of the rules – if they include scenarios – tend to be laden with guard/steal the Emperor's gold and forage for pigs and chickens scenarios (i.e. Napoleonic Pig Wars).

I will definitely have to look into this, especially as I start to build my Spanish army.

Thanks!

If you are interested in Peninsular skirmishes etc, have a look at:

1) The Fatal Knot
2) Rod of Iron: French Counterinsurgency Policy in Aragon
3) Napoleon's Cursed War

Glad you enjoyed it my friend!. (smile)

Amicalement
Armand

Thanks Dave.

Just finished it. I found it very good, in most respects, although I found the style was, at times, slightly irritating. I especially liked the fact, however, that it referred to books in which my own research was referenced, which is always a plus!;)

Thanks!.

Amicalement
Armand

Broers is an excellent historian and this is definitely one book to have on hand.