Napoleon (Part 3) - The Decline (1812 - 1821)
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Date: 2022-09-10
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Comments and reviews: 19
Peter
How is this for a mind-blowing thing. Apparently, after military school Napoleon dearly wanted to join the navy. He applied to be a sailor on the expeditionary ships being commanded by La Perouse which were ultimately headed for New Holland (now known as Australia, with an aim to claim lands for France during the voyage (I have heavily summarised here. However, Napoleon's grades in military school were very poor (second last in his class, so he was rejected by La Perouse.
So in 1785, La Perouse heads off on a massive voyage around the Americas, Asia and Pacific Islands, and in January 1788 he eventually arrives on the east coast of what is now known as Australia. More specifically, he anchors off Dharawal country, now known as Botany Bay. However, the English fleet under Captain Arthur Phillip had arrived there just days before, and upon seeing La Perouse in the distance Phillip hastily took a ship a bit further north into Gadigal country, entered what is now known as Port Jackson, landed on Gadigal land now known as Sydney, and claimed the east cost of Australia for the British (called it New South Wales. Who knows what were the thoughts of the Eora people, who had lived on that country for thousands of years, as they watched these strangely dressed people with white skin raising fabric on sticks and proclaiming something or other in some strange language.
Having been beaten by a matter of days by the English, and after hanging out with the British at Botany Bay for 6 weeks, La Perouse and his mob headed off. However, as it happens, they were never seen again.
So, if Napoleon had been accepted into the La Perouse crew, he would have not been in France from 1785, he would have died on that voyage, and none of this amazing, incredible, massive, brutal and deathly Europe-defining world-shaping stuff would have happened. Talk about 'sliding doors'!
Today there is a Sydney suburb called La Perouse to acknowledge his arrival. And had La Perouse arrived a couple of days earlier, Australians would now be speaking French! History, no?
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How is this for a mind-blowing thing. Apparently, after military school Napoleon dearly wanted to join the navy. He applied to be a sailor on the expeditionary ships being commanded by La Perouse which were ultimately headed for New Holland (now known as Australia, with an aim to claim lands for France during the voyage (I have heavily summarised here. However, Napoleon's grades in military school were very poor (second last in his class, so he was rejected by La Perouse.
So in 1785, La Perouse heads off on a massive voyage around the Americas, Asia and Pacific Islands, and in January 1788 he eventually arrives on the east coast of what is now known as Australia. More specifically, he anchors off Dharawal country, now known as Botany Bay. However, the English fleet under Captain Arthur Phillip had arrived there just days before, and upon seeing La Perouse in the distance Phillip hastily took a ship a bit further north into Gadigal country, entered what is now known as Port Jackson, landed on Gadigal land now known as Sydney, and claimed the east cost of Australia for the British (called it New South Wales. Who knows what were the thoughts of the Eora people, who had lived on that country for thousands of years, as they watched these strangely dressed people with white skin raising fabric on sticks and proclaiming something or other in some strange language.
Having been beaten by a matter of days by the English, and after hanging out with the British at Botany Bay for 6 weeks, La Perouse and his mob headed off. However, as it happens, they were never seen again.
So, if Napoleon had been accepted into the La Perouse crew, he would have not been in France from 1785, he would have died on that voyage, and none of this amazing, incredible, massive, brutal and deathly Europe-defining world-shaping stuff would have happened. Talk about 'sliding doors'!
Today there is a Sydney suburb called La Perouse to acknowledge his arrival. And had La Perouse arrived a couple of days earlier, Australians would now be speaking French! History, no?
reply
Pavel
I guess what Napoleon missed in trying to make France very powerful: you have to build social constructs and industries that would outlast the emperor itself. Otherwise it dies with the emperor. Everything he did was reversible.
He reformed an army - yeah, ok, but that's the whole country outthere. One man might be fierce, but you can't kick the strong system out of people.
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I guess what Napoleon missed in trying to make France very powerful: you have to build social constructs and industries that would outlast the emperor itself. Otherwise it dies with the emperor. Everything he did was reversible.
He reformed an army - yeah, ok, but that's the whole country outthere. One man might be fierce, but you can't kick the strong system out of people.
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Federico
Dominante country/culture from an occidental point of view more or less in order:
Antic Greek culture, Romain empire, Italian renaissance, Spain (Carlos V, France (Louis XIV) then England (seven years war) then France (Napoleon) again then Germany (end of the 19th century to 1945) since then the US and tomorrow probably China.
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Dominante country/culture from an occidental point of view more or less in order:
Antic Greek culture, Romain empire, Italian renaissance, Spain (Carlos V, France (Louis XIV) then England (seven years war) then France (Napoleon) again then Germany (end of the 19th century to 1945) since then the US and tomorrow probably China.
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David
Napoleon tries his luck 10: 20. Lol! Why not! Those crazy Brits might take me to the USA!
Of course, it would be a pretty rad historical fiction if the United States actually brought Boney back to the US during the war of 1812 to fight the British.
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Napoleon tries his luck 10: 20. Lol! Why not! Those crazy Brits might take me to the USA!
Of course, it would be a pretty rad historical fiction if the United States actually brought Boney back to the US during the war of 1812 to fight the British.
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Hugo
Still, quite impressive how one man faced all european powers.
. and managed to keep and spread the values of the french revolution which, actually, kind of makes him the good guy to a point.
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Still, quite impressive how one man faced all european powers.
. and managed to keep and spread the values of the french revolution which, actually, kind of makes him the good guy to a point.
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Paul
Bertrand Russel stated that Napoleon emulated Caesar and wanted to outdo him, that Caesar emulated Alexander and wanted to outdo him, and that Alexander emulated Hercules, who never existed.
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Bertrand Russel stated that Napoleon emulated Caesar and wanted to outdo him, that Caesar emulated Alexander and wanted to outdo him, and that Alexander emulated Hercules, who never existed.
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Ancient
It's a shame that many of these documentaries are anti Dutch and pro England. The Dutch army played a major role in defeating Napoleon. It was definitely worth showing the Dutch flag.
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It's a shame that many of these documentaries are anti Dutch and pro England. The Dutch army played a major role in defeating Napoleon. It was definitely worth showing the Dutch flag.
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Respected
From a British perspective you realise how important those 22 miles of sea between Dover and Calais are. Saved us in WW2 no doubt and throughout history.
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From a British perspective you realise how important those 22 miles of sea between Dover and Calais are. Saved us in WW2 no doubt and throughout history.
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Bill's
It is said the Wellington brought Napoleon back to England, after Waterloo as a prisoner, but the English people treated him like a celebrity. No doubt.
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It is said the Wellington brought Napoleon back to England, after Waterloo as a prisoner, but the English people treated him like a celebrity. No doubt.
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ALSILVERU2
What kept the powers fr killing Napoleon intstead exile to island twice.
He caused global death and destruction decades and centuries to recover
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What kept the powers fr killing Napoleon intstead exile to island twice.
He caused global death and destruction decades and centuries to recover
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Goran
He should have just stopped when he acquired the most amount of land because he would quickly lose what he gained resulting in pointless deaths!
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He should have just stopped when he acquired the most amount of land because he would quickly lose what he gained resulting in pointless deaths!
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Palestine
The Geo History of India has comments disabled. It appears to be the only video with comments disabled. Any particular reason why?
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The Geo History of India has comments disabled. It appears to be the only video with comments disabled. Any particular reason why?
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Mr
Amazing how Britain won this conflictyou wouldnt even know they were a major player by the battles. Credit to our estranged father.
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Amazing how Britain won this conflictyou wouldnt even know they were a major player by the battles. Credit to our estranged father.
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jump
Napoleon 4 armies are headed to france!
Napoleon: that's ok I'll just fight them one at a time and stop them from uniting
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Napoleon 4 armies are headed to france!
Napoleon: that's ok I'll just fight them one at a time and stop them from uniting
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Emerald_Wrath1
Virgin Emperor: annexes countries to not be dealt with
Chad Emperor: spares enemies to destroy them again
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Virgin Emperor: annexes countries to not be dealt with
Chad Emperor: spares enemies to destroy them again
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Rigid
With a war like that, and the Seven Years War before it, was 'The Great War' of 1914-1918 really the 1st world war?
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With a war like that, and the Seven Years War before it, was 'The Great War' of 1914-1918 really the 1st world war?
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Sean
I think the weirdest thing about all of this to me is that the USA and Holy Roman Empire coexisted for a short time
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I think the weirdest thing about all of this to me is that the USA and Holy Roman Empire coexisted for a short time
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Christopher
Hey Alexa, play Waterloo by ABBA.
My, my! duh dum At Waterloo, Napoleon did surrender. oh yeah! duh dum
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Hey Alexa, play Waterloo by ABBA.
My, my! duh dum At Waterloo, Napoleon did surrender. oh yeah! duh dum
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Arsalan
Nipolean is a true Hero. He tried again and again and was almost alone against coalition. Long live the King!
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Nipolean is a true Hero. He tried again and again and was almost alone against coalition. Long live the King!
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