Empire 77. The Great Game Begins
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Sep 5, 2023 The podcast dives into the intense rivalry between Britain and Russia during the Great Game. It explores the pivotal Tilsit Pact, which marked a strategic alliance between Napoleon and Tsar Alexander to invade India. The hosts discuss political maneuvers, secret alliances, and the human impact of imperial ambitions. Intriguing stories surface, like the cultural realities of Afghan leaders contrasted with their barbaric image. Tensions rise as Afghanistan's political turmoil unfolds, revealing betrayal, espionage, and dramatic retreats.
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Tilsit Setting
- Tilsit, located in northeast Prussia, is where Tolstoy begins War and Peace.
- It's where Napoleon and Tsar Alexander I met on a raft in 1807 after the Battle of Friedland.
Napoleon's India Focus
- Napoleon's strategic brilliance was admired even by his enemies, like William Durenpool's great-grandfather who fought at Waterloo.
- Napoleon aimed to weaken Britain by targeting India, believing it to be the source of British wealth.
Spy Under the Raft
- The British allegedly had a spy under the raft at Tilsit, a disaffected Russian nobleman.
- This spy relayed the secret clauses of the treaty, revealing the plan to invade India.
