Military historian John H. Gill leads us through the titanic Battle of Wagram in July of 1809. In the wake of Napoleon Bonaparte’s defeat at Aspern-Essling, Napoleon and Austria’s Archduke Charles race to rebuild and prepare. Gill vividly describes Napoleon’s massive fortification of Lobau Island and daring Danube crossing that thrust the Grande Armée onto Austrian soil.

The episode delves into Charles’s ambitious offensive action and Napoleon’s fierce counterattacks. Gill also unpacks the famous “Macdonald’s Square” counterattack, an 11,000-man column. We examine how Napoleon’s Italian and German allies performed under fire and discuss the strategic fallout: Napoleon’s hard-won victory forced Austria into armistice and reshaped the 1809.

This deep dive into Napoleonic military strategy and battlefield tactics is accessible to casual history buffs and packed with rich detail for serious enthusiasts. Don’t miss this energetic recounting of Wagram’s thunderous drama tune in and subscribe to The Napoleonic Wars Podcast now!

John's work can be found here Pen and Sword Books: Titles by John H Gill

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