Art and Architecture Collection > Napoleonic Era: A Research Guide

Military History Resources

Campaigns and Battles

Adkin, Mark. The Waterloo Companion. London: Aurum Press, 2001. (JFF 02-378)
An exhaustive compendium of data about this decisive battle for the armchair military history enthusiast. Reviews such significant factors as the battle orders, battlefield itself, infantry, cavalry, and artillery actions, battle highlights, and aftermath events. A section on myths and controversies reveals just how variable the battle’s outcome could have been.

Esdaile, Charles J. The French Wars, 1792-1815. London; New York: Routledge, 2001. (JFD 01-16265)
Concise guide to the War of the First Coalition, 1792-1797, the War of the Second Coalition, 1798-1801, and the Napoleonic Wars.

Glover, Michael. The Peninsular War, 1807-1814: A Concise Military History. London: Penguin, 2001, c.1974. (JFD 02-3638)
Tracks the stages of warfare in the Spanish Peninsula from the time of the arrival of British troops to the last drive into southern France.

Lefebvre, Georges. Napoleon; From Tilsit to Waterloo, 1807-1815. New York: Columbia University Press, 1969. (JFD 94-4474)
Documents major battles during a major transition period in the First Empire’s fortunes, tracing the arc from triumph to decline.

Neillands, Robin. Wellington and Napoleon: Clash of Arms 1807-1815. London: John Murray, 1994. (JFE 94-16885)
Compares the generalship tactics and styles of Napoleon and the English commander, Wellington.

Rothenberg, Gunther. The Napoleonic Wars. London: Cassell, 1999. (JFF 00-323)
Authoritative evaluation and documentation on Napoleon’s military leadership.

Schom, Alan. Trafalgar: Countdown to Battle 1803-1805. London: Joseph, 1990. (JFE 90-7408)
Explains the political and military circumstances leading to the major sea battle at Trafalgar in 1805, an engagement that brought crippling defeat to the French Fleet and a heroic death to England’s beloved Admiral Horatio Nelson.

Zamoyski, Adam. 1812: Napoleon’s Fatal March on Moscow. London: HarperCollins, 2004. (JFE 04-8489)
A detailed account of Napoleon’s campaign against Russia in the fall of 1812, offering new evaluations of the Russian army response and the circumstances whereby Napoleon’s troops were defeated and destroyed.

France’s Marshals

Delderfield, R.F. The March of the Twenty-six; The Story of Napoleon’s Marshals. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1962. (D-13 8177)
A portrait of the generals whom Napoleon appointed to lead his armies and stage his military campaigns.

Palmer, Alan. Bernadotte: Napoleon’s Marshal, Sweden’s King. London: John Murray, 1990. (JFE 91-3440)
A biography of one of Napoleon’s most colorful Marshals—and rivals—and the man who was chosen by Sweden to replace their previously hereditary ruling dynasty. Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte (1763-1844) started his career as a soldier in the army of Louis XVI and ended as Carl XIV Johan, King of Sweden.

Young, Peter. Napoleon’s Marshals. Reading: Osprey Publishing, 1973. (JFE 74-1214)
Authoritative guide to the dress, ornamentation and field practices of Napoleon ’s leading generals.

Military Costume

Chartrand, Rene. Napoleonic Wars: Napoleon’s Army. London; Herndon, VA: Brassey’s, 1996. (JFG 97-128)
Part of the Brassey’s History of Uniforms series, with information on regimental dress, details, and colors for the French army.

Fletcher, Ian. Napoleonic Wars: Wellington’s Army. London; Herndon, VA: Brassey’s, 1996. (JFG 97-252)
Describes uniforms, details, and colors for the English army that opposed Napoleon.

Pericoli, Ugo. 1815: The Armies at Waterloo. New York: Scribner, 1973. (JFF 74-957)
Information on the military dress of Napoleon’s remaining Grande Armee, along with those of the English and their