History Summarized: French Empire (Ft. Armchair Historian!)

Dubious morality, drawn out timescales, intricate royal politics, worldwide stages — Colonialism be like that sometimes. And by "Like That" I mean impenetrably complicated. I did my best, I'll say that, but oh man is history a mess in the 15-1900s. This stuff is the reason I had so much trouble with history for so long. It's just so DENSE.
ANYWAY, join Blue and Griffin the Armchair Historian for a look into the history of the multiple successive French Empires. Listen carefully as Blue makes imperceptibly subtle commentary about his extremely non-biased opinions on this chapter in history, and laugh together as we analyze the historical significance of Napoleon Bonaparte's anime hair.

NOTE on 6:14 — I say Napoleon became Emperor in 1802. That's a mistake. In 1802, the constitution of France was amended to make the position of Consul permanent, but Napoleon did not become the Emperor until 1804, when he declared the French Empire. That's my bad.
NOTE on 11:25 — French Guiana, on the northeast coast of South America, remained part of France following the decolonization of Africa. That's a mapping mix-up.

[TheArmchairHistorian]

Hey OSP, it was great working with you! Great job on those maps too.

[pridelander]

"I nearly flopped AP European History back in High School"


Top Ten Anime Plot Twists

[MrRemicas]

"Why is the emperor of France a shonen protagonist?!"
Not surprising there's a manga about Napoleon and none about George III.

[floot]

Napoleon, 1799: no more kings, France shall be a free nation where all are equal.

Napoleon, 1804: *crowns self emperor of Europe*

[kaiad]

When he says 7 wars, he means over this. If you've never gotten too much into history, France and England have the passion of Romeo and Juliet, but in terms of absolute loathing.

[Matt-czti]

11:25 Blue, I’d like to offer a correction here. Your map shows France decolonising French Guyana, but that is still a French territory to this day

[nadiavazquez]

2:13 You can hear his soul leaving his body in horror

[CollinBuckman]

"Age of Vanity" sound like an era in some fantasy setting where the once great and mighty empire slowly descended into decadence and greed before collapsing or being taken over by a super evil emperor or something.

[christopherg]

4:45 "The incenstous, literal clusterfuck that is the Habsburgs."
Yes. That is what they do.

[buckyrogers]

It's funny being both French and English and hearing both sides of French history, specifically around Napoleon since in France he is basically a hero and in England he is a short comedic villain… Just an interesting observation :D

[Petrico]

Is Charlemagne worth a video? Imperial France is interesting but I'd also like to hear about the early franks

[LEGOMANIAC]

"Why is the Emperor of France a *shounen protagonist?!"*

I mean, you're not wrong.

[nirtrous]

11:22 France never abandoned French Guyana it is still part of france

[shaderunner]

"Why is the emperor of france a shounen protagonist"
That was honestly my thought about nepoleon (and alexander) when i first read about them in my high school history books.

"People this badass actually exist? holy shit...."

[Obi-Wan_Kenobi]

-Hello There- Wait a second, that won't do. This video as about France...

*Bonjour There!*

[DanteTheDemon]

You now, when I woke up this morning I never expected or wanted to hear the words “Why is the Emperor of France a shonen protagonist?” but I’m glad I did.

[lapisleafuli]

11:24 French Guyana dissapeared? am disappointed in you and your lack of knowlage about the most forgotten part of modern france.

[dehavillandvampire]

Blue: Don’t do colonialism!
Venice: *hides Adriatic/Aegean colonies*

[t.b.cont.]

“I don’t want to get into the moral implications of colonialism”

[darkraven]

Blue: Don’t Do colonialism, everybody looses.

Great Britain: Am I a joke to you?!