Berliner Zinnfiguren/Books & Media/Books/1789-1815 products

Dawson, Paul L.: Napoleon's Officers 54,95 €

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 13:20:12 +0200

As part of the author's groundbreaking book seriesregarded as the definitive reference on Napoleonic army uniforms*Napoleon's Officers: Uniforms and Equipment* represents the most significant study of this perennially popular subject among wargamers, artists, and historians in over two centuries. Drawing primarily on contemporary regulations and rarely consulted archival holdings from the *Archives Nationales* and the *Service Historique de lArmée de Terre* in Parisas well as period illustrations and original uniform piecesthe author describes the uniforms of the *Grande Armée* staff with a level of comprehensiveness and precision unmatched since the heyday of the First Empire. The work examines the uniforms of brigade and division generals, including the magnificent and elaborate attire of General Lasalle, the idol of the light cavalry. Also described are the uniforms of *adjudants-commandants*, aides-de-camp, secretaries, and other often-overlooked yet indispensable staff members responsible for the day-to-day command of the *Grande Armée* on campaign. Featured are the striking uniforms of Berthiers aides-de-campwith their scarlet breeches and black dolmansas well as those serving the Marshals of the Empire and other high-ranking staff officers. The book also covers the *officiers dordonnance*men who acted on the Emperor's behalf; clad in green or medium blue, these officers outranked all others in the army and ensured the execution of the Emperor's orders. Equally vital to the functioning of the French army were the couriers and dispatch riders who transmitted orders and were essential to the command and control of the *Grande Armée*. Other staff members included topographical officers who mapped the armys route of march, war commissaries responsible for provisioning the army and procuring the raw materials needed for new uniforms, and inspectors who oversaw the proper outfitting of the troopsa central aspect of this visually impressive book.

Robinson, William: Wellington on Napoleon 32,95 €

Sat, 20 Jun 2026 08:50:14 +0200

The Duke of Wellington harbored a strong aversion to writing a history of his campaigns or battles; famously, he likened such an undertaking to the "history of a ball" and quashed various attempts to publish such works. Yet, in 1825, the Duke was prepared to set aside these views. Despite a packed schedule, bouts of illness, and an immense volume of correspondence, he began researching Napoleons Russian campaign of 1812. He acquired books on the campaign as soon as they were published and studied them closely. Based on this research, he drafted a memorandum on the campaign. The resulting work ran to more than 25,000 words and set out his true opinion of Napoleon. From start to finish, it was a ruthless, scathing attack on Napoleon and his abilities; Wellington questioned every decision, using them to portray Napoleon as incompetent and unimaginative. He wrote at length about the battles of Smolensk and Borodino, leaving no doubt that he held Napoleon solely to blame. Far from regarding him as a man worth forty thousand soldiers, he criticized every decision Napoleon made and contrasted them with his own alternatives. As he wrote, Wellington likely derived a certain satisfaction from criticizing his old adversary. He decided against publication, allowing the document to circulate only among a small circle of friends; consequently, this work is far less well-known than the views he expressed elsewhere. Wellington had no interest in becoming embroiled in a public debate regarding Napoleons abilities and legacy; he was content to praise Napoleon publicly while keeping his true opinion to himself for his own private satisfaction. This book aims to make these views available to the public after all and to examine how Wellington arrived at his conclusionsranging from praise for Napoleon to his harsh condemnation.

Griffith, Robert: So Just and Glorious a Cause 38,95 €

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 07:00:09 +0200

Volume 131 of the "From Reason to Revolution 17211815" series offers an extremely detailed account of Wellingtons first campaign on the Iberian Peninsula. Drawing on memoirs, letters, and previously unpublished primary sources, the work covers events ranging from Junots invasion in late 1807through the Portuguese uprisings of summer 1808, the deployment of the British expeditionary force, and the battles of Roliça and Vimeiroto the controversial Convention of Cintra and the liberation of Portugal from the French. Having brought most of Europe under his control by 1807, Napoleon turned his attention to the Iberian Peninsula, hoping to complete his hegemony and extend his sphere of influence as far as South America. He dispatched one of his most loyal generals, Jean-Andoche Junot, with 25,000 men to conquer Portugal. The Portuguese had long been caught between the conflicting interests of Great Britain and France. Faced with an invasion he could scarcely avert, the Prince Regent fled to Brazil with the assistance of a Royal Navy squadron, leaving his country to be occupied. When uprisings among the Spanish and Portuguese populations spread across the peninsula in the summer of 1808, Great Britain sent an expeditionary force under Sir Arthur Wellesleythe future Duke of Wellingtonto liberate Portugal. Although Wellesley was still a relatively inexperienced and unknown commander at the time, he conducted an aggressive and successful campaign. He defeated the French first at Roliça and subsequently at Vimeiro, though the arrival of more senior officers prevented him from fully capitalizing on his victory. Under the terms of the Convention of Cintra, the French negotiated generous conditions and were transported back to France, thereby ending their occupation of Portugal. "So Just and Glorious a Cause" draws extensively on primary sources from all levels of the French, Portuguese, and British forces involvedmany of them previously unpublished. The book sheds light on the grueling forced marches undertaken by French troops as they crossed the border into Portugal, the frantic diplomatic efforts in Lisbon, the ensuing brutal occupation and Royal Navy blockade, and Vice-Admiral Cottons endeavors to stoke the insurgency and support the uprisings in Portugal. It also provides a detailed analysis of the French, Portuguese, and British forces, as well as the logistical challenges of Wellesleys campaign. Accounts of the initial skirmish at Óbidos and the battles of Roliça and Vimeiro rely on eyewitness reports from both sides, dispelling numerous misconceptions regarding the engagements. Finally, the book addresses various myths surrounding the controversial Convention of Cintra, including the role Wellesley played in the negotiations.

Lampert, Andrew: No More Napoleons 16,95 €

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 07:40:07 +0200

How, for just over a century, Britain ensured it would not face another Napoleon Bonapartemanipulating European powers while building a global maritime empire.

At the conclusion of the Napoleonic Wars, a fragile peace emerged in Europe. The continents borders were redrawn, and the French Empire, once a significant threat to British security, was for now cut down to size. But after decades of ceaseless conflict, Britains economy was beset by a crippling debt. How could this small, insular seapower state secure order across the Channel?

Andrew Lambert argues for a dynamic new understanding of the nineteenth century, showing how British policymakers shaped a stable European system that it could balance from offshore. Through judicious deployment of naval power against continental forces, and the defence strategy of statesmen such as the Duke of Wellington, Britain ensured that no single European state could rise to pose a threat, rebuilt its economy, and established naval and trade dominance across the globe.

This is the remarkable story of how Britain kept a whole continent in checkuntil the final collapse of this delicately balanced order at the outset of World War One.

Law, S./Summerfield, Stephen (Hrsg.): Wellington's Defence of Portugal and the Role of Robert Crauford's Light Infantry 34,95 €