Generals and Napoleon
Generals and Napoleon
John W. Viscardo
General Sebastiani: Napoleon's General, Diplomat, and Survivor (with Jonathan North) | Ep 140
29 minutes Posted Nov 21, 2025 at 11:10 am.
0:00
29:25
Download MP3
Show notes

General Horace Sébastiani was more than just a cavalry officer—he was a battlefield commander, imperial diplomat, and political survivor in one of the most turbulent eras in French history. From the thunder of hooves in Spain and Russia to the quiet halls of diplomacy, Sébastiani’s career spanned empires, revolutions, and restorations.


Special guest and author Jonathan North joins the show to explore the remarkable journey of a man who wore many hats:
✅ His cavalry commands in the Peninsular War and Russian Campaign
✅ Service under Murat and participation in key engagements like Talavera and Borodino
✅ His diplomatic missions to Constantinople and role in shaping French-Ottoman policy
✅ How he navigated the fall of Napoleon, the Bourbon Restoration, and the July 1830 Revolution
✅ Why Sébastiani remains one of the most adaptable figures of the era


Whether on horseback or in the halls of power, Sébastiani was always at the center of history.

📌 Like, comment, and subscribe for more deep dives into the overlooked generals of the Napoleonic Wars!


X/Twitter: @andnapoleon