Coming soon.......Joseph Fouche. #napoleon #fouche #policeminister #france #spies #history

New episode! In the spring of 1808, Napoleon said he considered Spain conquered. That summer, a Spanish army dealt France its first major battlefield defeat in nearly a decade. How did Spain manage this stunning reversal? podtrac.com/pts/redirect.m…

OTD in 1813 Marshal Jean-Baptiste Bessières died. On the eve of the Battle of Lutzen a cannonball ricocheted off a wall and hit him in the chest. He died instantly. A long time & close personal friend of Napoleon, his loss was much mourned. Bessières still wore a powdered wig.

Today we wish Jean-Marie Dorsenne (General of Division in the French Army and senior commander in the Imperial Guard), a very happy birthday!

Born on this day in 1773.

His name features on the west pillar of the Arc de Triomphe, Paris (France)

Photo credit: Joconde database.