Episode 32: The Fate of Italy

Napoleon faces tough fights and his first defeats as commander-in-chief in Italy. The assault on the bridge at Arcole is examined. The events of the fall of 1796 and the dire situation in the besieged city of Montua are explored. Joseph Alvinci's role in the Austrian army and his return to the battlefield is discussed. The Battle of Caldiero and its consequences for Napoleon's army are analyzed. The Battle of Arcollet and its strategic decisions are examined. The significance of the Battle of Arcole in Napoleon's career and his cult of personality is highlighted.