You're listening to an Airwave Media Podcast.

Welcome to the Age of Napoleon.

Episode 18, Vindication.

You'll have to forgive me if my voice sounds a bit off. I'm getting

over a winter cold and still not back to 100%. But I didn't want to delay this

recording any more than I already have, so here we go.

We left off last time in the late summer of 1793.

This was the season of the so-called Federalist revolt.

Moderate liberals all over France had risen up

against the Jacobin government in Paris.

The Federalists quickly seized control

of most major cities outside Paris, but were unable to capitalize on their success.

The rebels were poorly coordinated, inexperienced in war, and lacked popular support.

Almost as quickly as they had risen up, pro-Jacques-Bin Republican forces began retaking territory.

Napoleon was a part of these efforts, back with the regular army at last.

He had just received a big break, a promotion to major, and appointment to commander of

artillery for the Army of the Alps under General Jean-Francois-Cartot.

Napoleon may have been a major, but he remained largely untested as an officer.

The sum total of his combat experience was the brief unsuccessful expedition to La Madelena and losing a battle to civilians during the Easter riots in Ajaxio.

Since returning to the regular army, Napoleon had been far from the front lines serving as a supply

officer. He performed his duties with energy, but until the promotion he'd been little more

than a clerk in uniform. He owed his success entirely to the goodwill of friends

...