You're listening to an Airwave Media Podcast.

Welcome to the Age of Napoleon.

Episode 62, The World Stage.

Thanks for joining me.

Before we get started, I'd like to remind you once again that you can listen to this and all future episodes ad free by pledging

at least $2 a month on Patreon.com.

I also want to thank the listener who sent me a digital copy of a rare book that otherwise would have cost me over $100.

It was a huge help in writing this episode.

I would also like to thank the listener who sent me a 27 year old bottle of

Arminiac. I would also like to thank the listener who sent me a 27 year old

bottle of Arminiac. It has not been terribly helpful for the show, but I very much appreciate it nonetheless.

Anyway, now that Napoleon is in power, our story has changed in some fundamental ways.

When we started the narrative, the important events of Napoleon's life were mostly personal,

leaving home at a young age, his experiences at Brienne, the premature death of his father, etc.

As he moved from childhood to youth, he was able to become a player in much bigger events,

first major battles and campaigns, then national politics.

Now Napoleon is in his early 30s, entering the prime of his life, and the scale of our story is increasing again.

As the sole undisputed ruler of the most powerful country in Europe, Bonaparte was now the chief

protagonist of global politics and diplomacy and the de facto leader of the revolution, whatever was left of it.

From now on, most of the great dramas of his life will play out on the world stage.

And so in this episode we'll be delving into the world of diplomacy, checking in on the

other great European powers to see how they were trying and mostly failing to handle the rise of Republican France.

...