France

The Tragi-Comedy of Lorraine

W.R. Jeudwine unearths the 17th century roots of France's age-old struggle for influence and power in the province of Lorraine.

The Rhineland Republic: Part I

Julian Piggott shows how, with the help of a puppet state on the Rhine, France between 1919 and 1923 attempted to solve the perpetual problem of her eastern frontier.

The Conspiracy of General Malet, 1812

On October 23, 1812, the Emperor Napoleon, campaigning in Russia, was for six hours threatened with dethronement by a theatrical coup d'etat back in Paris. Godfrey LeMay describes what happened.

The Louisiana Purchase, 1803

At the dawn of the 19th century, Napoleon Bonaparte liquidated the French empire in America, selling the vast Bourbon heritage along the banks of the Mississippi to the United States. Why?

Agobard of Lyons

Allen Cabaniss investigates rumour, propaganda and freedom of thought in the ninth century life of the late Carolingian empire.

Hitler & the Bomb-Plot Part III: In Paris

Only the infirmity of purpose displayed by the key-figure at the top, John Wheeler-Bennett writes, prevented the revolt against Hitler, which had failed in Berlin, from being continued successfully from Paris

Could Napoleon Have Won?

His refusal to learn by experience, C.S. Forester suggests, was largely responsible for Napoleon’s ultimate failure