Napoleon Crosses the Alps: The Road to Marengo

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In 1800, France's new First Consul - Napoleon Bonaparte - faces a precarious military situation, with huge Austrian armies poised to strike against the French Republic.

But Napoleon will not wither in the face of such a crisis. Instead, he embarks on one of the most famous and daring strategic manoeuvres in history - a march across the Alps - to turn the tables on France's enemies.

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📚 Recommended reading:
"Marengo 1800: Napoleon's Day of Fate" by David Hollins

"Marengo & Hohenlinden: Napoleon's Rise to Power" by James R. Arnold

"Marengo: The Victory That Placed the Crown of France on Napoleon's Head" by T. E. Crowdy

You can visit our online bookshop to find great books on Marengo and other Epic History topics:

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👕 Buy posters, t-shirts, hoodies, mugs & stickers at our merch store:

#EpicHistoryTV #History #Napoleon #Marengo #MilitaryHistory #FrenchHistory #ItalianHistory #EuropeanHistory

[EpichistoryTv]

As always, let us know what you think of this episode in the comments below!

[mr.solala]

The Napoleon Series is BY FAR the best series on this channel and on youtube

[AbsoluteAmoeba]

Austrians when they see Napoleon in Italy for a second time: “Aah shit. Here we go again.”

[warlordtitan]

One of the coolest things about this series is whenever a future Marshall turns up. Its a real "There he is!" moment while pointing at the screen.

[AncountN.]

LETS GO! SECOND ITALIAN CAMPAIGN SERIES! Best history channel

[Giorgos-eekn]

The period of Napoleon as 1st Consul is very underrated and not mentioned too much.

He really passed many reforms which made France greater, was the period he organized the Grand Armee to this invincible level we saw next, and generally was the beginning of his myth as Emperor and Legend.

[Onezy]

Napoleon: "It's Marengoin time."

[SootuKoll]

I'm really glad this channel hasn't gone the route of some other big YT history channels of mindlessly pumping out inaccurate and supeficial content every few days, and has kept its quality throughout the years.

[theironmarshal]

I love Massena’s highlights in this video, despite them being short.

Massena inspired confidence in everyone he met, but the greatness of his qualities was best seen when he was in the heat of an action. At St. Helena, Napoleon said of him:

"Massena was at his best and most brilliant in the middle of the fire and disorder of battle; the roar of the cannon used to clear his ideas, give him insight, penetration, and gaiety.... In the middle of the dead and dying, among the hail of bullets which swept down all around him, Masséna was always himself giving his orders and making his dispositions with the greatest calmness and good judgment. There you see the true nobility of blood."

This skill was best demonstrated during the Siege of Genoa, where he insisted on sharing the privations of his men. So tenaciously did he defend the city that his own men used to say: "He will make us eat his boots before he will surrender." In the end, Massena was forced to surrender, but he bought enough time for Napoleon to get behind the Austrians' line of communication, and it may be said that Marengo would not have happened without the Siege of Genoa.

[adaletguctur]

When Napoleon's 2nd Italian campaign is mentioned, the first thing that comes to mind is the Battle of Marengo. Napoleon made serious mistakes in this war, but he emerged victorious with the help of his tactical skills and a significant amount of luck.

However, what should be focused on in the 2nd Italian campaign is not the battle of Marengo, but the magnificent maneuver that Napoleon made by crossing the Alps. Thanks to this maneuver, he completely cut off the communication lines of the Austrians and trapped them.
In fact, the campaign was over at this moment. Because Austrian commander Melas had nowhere to escape.
Even in the scenario where Napoleon was defeated in Marengo (Desaix did not come), Napoleon could withdraw his forces in an orderly manner and after calling the other forces he had scattered around, he could fight Melas again and defeat him.

In this respect, the strategic concept of the 2nd Italian camaign is truly magnificent.

[KHK]

Finally covering Marengo! We're close to a complete Napoleonic series. Thanks EH!

[Redactedredacted]

Name drops of familiar faces

Moreau - 2:58
Massena - 4:02
Berthier - 5:18
Ott - 6:46
Suchet - 6:57
Soult - 7:09
Lannes - 9:26
Marmont - 10:01
Vukassovich - 14:34
Victor - 20:18
Desaix - 21:56
Nelson - 23:39


I’ve been watching since the original “Jena 1806” video from years ago so it’s like seeing old friends after a long time 🥰

[GunDrummer]

I’m a simple man. I see epic history tv post something about Napoleon, I watch it

[niks]

This channel turned me from someone who hated History, viewing as boring past events, to absolutely adoring the EPIC stories of our past! I feel so lucky to have found the work of this team!

[MrHnm]

It was a spectacular and exciting first part. All this combined with a speed that was typical of the campaign itself and of Napoleon's own character.

Poor Masséna made every possible and superhuman effort to hold his position in Italy. His efforts to protect France in Switzerland and Italy while Napoleon was away are worthy of praise. No one can ask him for more, especially since he was facing an Austrian army that outnumbered him more than three to one, unlike what he and Napoleon faced against Austria in 1796-1797. And combined with the increasingly worse conditions in Genoa (where, unlike Mantua, he never had the opportunity to receive reinforcements and supplies every two months, at least at the beginning of the campaign), it is impossible to blame him for anything.

Napoleon's strategic vision in perceiving a great flanking opportunity is simply brilliant: being able to outflank an entire enemy field army is only done with such ease by the masters of war. But his constant desire to win his decisive battle is one of the few traits that handicaps him as a military commander and will be his downfall in the later years of his military career.

Lannes ability and resilience to overcome a battle of that calibre demonstrates what a great soldier and commander he was. And together with Victor, he demonstrated what Napoleon's future marshals would be capable of, although Napoleon's inability to delegate important battles to his marshals would handicap them when it came to holding independent commands in the future.

Further praise must go to Berthier, whose organisational and logistical ability surpasses any of his time and of previous and later centuries. He demonstrates the importance of logistics in maintaining the army and keeping morale high.

Of the Austrians, what can I say? They were more organised and more determined than 4-3 years ago, but I think the victories of 1799 boosted their self-confidence too much and they did not realise the danger they were in until it was too late.

Looking forward to the bloody and glorious battle of Marengo.

Thanks once again to Epic History and all its contributors for bringing us the story of Napoleon Bonaparte in this great series and masterpiece of audiovisual art.

My regards

[XLEDI]

There’s no other channel that goes over the Napoleonic Wars as good as Epic History❤

[gdrobloxianemperor]

Like said before, this is the greatest history YouTuber of all time. The graphics are immaculate, explained in such an amazing way, and just interesting thanks Charles Nove and everyone else working at the epic history team you deserve at least 10 million

[AlanSouza-kspx]

The sounds, emotions and description that you put in every situation and battle in your videos is impressive, keep up this brilliant work ☺

[ufukhalatoglu]

I think after this we need a video series on the battles of Bautzen, Lutzen, Dennewitz, La Rothiere, Laon and many more. Those battles are often overlooked and deserve some attention.

[ThomasTubeHD]

WE ARE BACK! VIVA L’EMPEREUR!!! 🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷