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Once There Were Titans: Napoleon's Generals and Their Battles, 1800-1815
This is a masterly study of generalship in Napoleons Grande Arme. Napoleon arguably had the greatest collection of military talent to ever serve one man working for him during the period 1800-15.
The role of the Marshals of the Empire has been covered many times, and due credit is also given to them here; however, for the first time Kevin Kiley also examines in depth the contribution of the generals who never made that rank. Fifty-two general officers - some well known and some not - are examined using the battles they fought to illustrate just how valuable they were. From Marengo in 1800 to Ligny in 1815, both French victories and defeats are studied in meticulous detail, each chapter covering a battle fought and the generals who commanded them.
Diverse source material has been consulted in the preparation of this volume, including after-action reports, memoirs and correspondence from officers including Senarmont, Eble, Drouot, Teste, Marmont, and Davout, as well as from lesser-known characters such as the artillerymen Boulart and Nol, and the Polish cavalryman Niegelewski, who led the final dash up the pass of Somosierra. Furthermore, those closest to Napoleon such as Fain and Marchand give their piece and provide invaluable information.
Taken individually, this material paints a vivid picture of the Grande Arme and those who led it into fire. Taken as a whole, it provides an invaluable source and tells the remarkable story of the officers without whom Napoleon could never have achieved as much.
The role of the Marshals of the Empire has been covered many times, and due credit is also given to them here; however, for the first time Kevin Kiley also examines in depth the contribution of the generals who never made that rank. Fifty-two general officers - some well known and some not - are examined using the battles they fought to illustrate just how valuable they were. From Marengo in 1800 to Ligny in 1815, both French victories and defeats are studied in meticulous detail, each chapter covering a battle fought and the generals who commanded them.
Diverse source material has been consulted in the preparation of this volume, including after-action reports, memoirs and correspondence from officers including Senarmont, Eble, Drouot, Teste, Marmont, and Davout, as well as from lesser-known characters such as the artillerymen Boulart and Nol, and the Polish cavalryman Niegelewski, who led the final dash up the pass of Somosierra. Furthermore, those closest to Napoleon such as Fain and Marchand give their piece and provide invaluable information.
Taken individually, this material paints a vivid picture of the Grande Arme and those who led it into fire. Taken as a whole, it provides an invaluable source and tells the remarkable story of the officers without whom Napoleon could never have achieved as much.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 17, 2018
I would like to give this book 3.5 stars because some of the chapters were excellent while others were just okay. The author chose various battles to focus on as well as the marshals and generals, who had important roles to play in that particular battle. Kiley easily makes his point that Napoleon needed good service from the officers and men who filled his armies. What he does not reflect on is Napoleon's role in that service, especially from the marshals.
It is a difficult thing to assess an army led by such a dominating figure as Napoleon. He tried and did so much himself, but when he was not present then he had to find men who could the job. Most of the time he was fortunate, whether it was in having a Berthier or a Lannes or a Davout when needed, but as the years passed men died or performed less capably than necessary. His enemies became implacable in their desire for his defeat, until that day in June when, "This time there were too many," as his epilogue is called.
I enjoyed this book, and appreciate learning about the men, chosen by Kiley, who served France so well.
It is a difficult thing to assess an army led by such a dominating figure as Napoleon. He tried and did so much himself, but when he was not present then he had to find men who could the job. Most of the time he was fortunate, whether it was in having a Berthier or a Lannes or a Davout when needed, but as the years passed men died or performed less capably than necessary. His enemies became implacable in their desire for his defeat, until that day in June when, "This time there were too many," as his epilogue is called.
I enjoyed this book, and appreciate learning about the men, chosen by Kiley, who served France so well.
June 15, 2011
This book by Kevin Kiley (retired USMC artillery officer) offers the reader a very good account of some of Napoleon's generals, many unknown to most readers which is very refreshing. Many of the more famous Marshals are covered but also we hear from numerous officers we have read about in other books but never anything in depth.
Each chapter, 16 in total including the appendix (The Imperial Guard,) covers one battle during the Napoleonic Wars to highlight one or a number of Napoleons Marshals, generals and line officers. The book offers a very decent overview of the organisation and tactics of the Grande Armee and then covers a number of battles from Marengo in 1800 to Plancenoit in 1815.
Overall this is a very good book which sadly has been let down by a number of typographic errors (not picked up by an editor – the use of spell checkers doesn’t cut it) and the authors annoying habit of repeating himself, sometimes on the same page!
Having said that I learnt a few things and enjoyed the author’s accounts of the battles mentioned in the book. There were a number of decent maps and some very good B&W illustrations but I would have preferred some of the paintings in colour (by Keith Rocco) as they are great images that need to be seen in their original colourful glory.
Each chapter, 16 in total including the appendix (The Imperial Guard,) covers one battle during the Napoleonic Wars to highlight one or a number of Napoleons Marshals, generals and line officers. The book offers a very decent overview of the organisation and tactics of the Grande Armee and then covers a number of battles from Marengo in 1800 to Plancenoit in 1815.
Overall this is a very good book which sadly has been let down by a number of typographic errors (not picked up by an editor – the use of spell checkers doesn’t cut it) and the authors annoying habit of repeating himself, sometimes on the same page!
Having said that I learnt a few things and enjoyed the author’s accounts of the battles mentioned in the book. There were a number of decent maps and some very good B&W illustrations but I would have preferred some of the paintings in colour (by Keith Rocco) as they are great images that need to be seen in their original colourful glory.
July 27, 2012
Nice summary of some Napoleonic battles. Well written over all and I liked how the author reviewed the careers of the major players in each chapter, some of which are not well known in other Napoleonic works. The number of spelling and grammatical errors really detract from the book. You would think an editor would pick them up.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews