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french perspective Archive

The Strategic Failure of French Privateering

Clearly French privateering during the Revolutionary period failed in its perceived strategy: to cripple British marine trade.
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The Hidden Hand: Espionage and Napoleon

*SPOILERS*
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A Real-Time Account of Trafalgar From Behind French Lines

When it comes to the Battle of Trafalgar, there is certainly no shortage of first-hand accounts. It was a huge battle fought by tens of thousands of sailors, many of whom wrote of the experience. The Helmsman’s Log from the Mont Blanc is noteworthy first because it is the first real-time account from behind French [...]
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French Perspective on the Battle of Trafalgar

During the great battle of Trafalgar, fought on October 21, 1805, the French 74 gun ship of the line Redoutable engaged the British 100 gun warships Victory and Temeraire, nearly capturing Nelson’s own flagship (HMS Victory) before being beaten by the combined firepower of the British ships. The Redoutable’s stout performance during the battle resulted [...]
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British vs. French Shipbuilding During the Napoleonic Era

Throughout our beloved series, Patrick O’Brian makes many references to the apparent superiority of French ships and shipbuilding. Indeed, our own dear Surprise was originally French. O’Brian’s references are consistent with those of many historians, but they are by no means accepted as absolute fact. This excerpt was brought to my attention by a visitor [...]
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The Romance of Duelling

The men of our beloved series are all profoundly concerned with honor in a way that is difficult for members of the modern world to comprehend. Furthermore, many of us harbor misconceptions about this now extinct practice thanks to movies and modern literature. This excerpt from The Romance of Duelling in All Times and Countries [...]
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The French Navy During the Napoleonic Era

While Jack and Stephen sometimes encounter enemies from other nations, the overwhelming villain of our beloved series is Napoleon Bonaparte acting through the French Navy. Of course, English antipathy towards the French dates back much farther than the Napoleonic Era, and that antipathy lead to a kind of Age of Sail naval arms race. Anglo-French [...]
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Longitude Pt. 1: The Academie Royale

For much of history, mankind has been preoccupied with how exactly we might determine where we are in the world at any given moment. Obviously, for sailors, this question has an even greater importance. Ancient sailors were obliged to keep in sight of land, or to navigate as best they could by well-known stars. Such [...]
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Napoleon’s Letter to Admiral Brueys’ Widow

Cairo, August 19, 1798 Your husband was killed by a cannonball while fighting on board his ship. He died honourably, and without suffering, as every soldier would wish to die. Your sorrow touches me to the quick. It is a dreadful moment when we are parted from one we love. It shuts us off from [...]
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(Delusional) French Report of Victory at Trafalgar

From The Naval Chronicle, Vol. XIV, July to December 1805 The operations of the grand naval army second, in the Atlantic, those of the grand imperial army in Germany. The English fleet is annihilated! Nelson is no more! Indignant at being inactive in port, whilst our brave brethren in arms were gaining laurels in Germany, [...]
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All To Seek: Cross-Reference

Subjects Commonly Addressed