In our first episode of this new series, Dr John McAleer and host Dr Zack White delve into the history and significance of the East India Company, exploring its origins, its role in the British Empire, and its impact on India and the world. We discuss the complexities of trade, competition, and the transition from a mercantile enterprise to a military power, culminating in the pivotal events leading to the Battle of Plassey.

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Takeaways

The East India Company was a major player in global trade.

It significantly impacted the lives of millions across continents.

The company laid the foundations for the British Empire in India.

Understanding the East India Company is crucial for grasping Britain's multicultural society.

The company's rise was not inevitable; it faced many challenges.

The Mughal Empire was a sophisticated political entity during the company's early years.

European rivalries influenced the dynamics of trade in India.

The East India Company transitioned from trade to military power in the 18th century.

The company became a state in disguise, exerting political control.

The Battle of Plassey marked a turning point in the company's history.

Chapters (timings approximate)

00:00 The Rise of the East India Company

11:03 Understanding the Impact of Imperialism

21:00 Navigating Competition in the Indian Ocean

29:51 Cultural Perceptions and Misunderstandings

31:44 The East India Company: A Historical Perspective

35:46 Understanding the Mughal Empire's Influence

40:33 European Rivalries and Diplomatic Maneuvers

45:39 The Tenuous Position of the English Company

49:49 Transition to Military Power

54:38 Proxy Wars and Political Intrigues

59:44 The Metamorphosis of the East India Company

KEYWORDS

East India Company, British Empire, imperialism, history, trade, globalization, colonialism, Mughal Empire, military history, 18th century

What was a mutiny? Why did they matter? And once you started mutinying against your officers, how did you try to ensure that you weren't executed for your troubles?

Dr Callum Easton sits down with our very own Zack White to discuss mutinies in the Royal Navy and the East India Company Army as they compare and contrast the language, aims and management of these seditious acts.

Buy Callum's book at: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-98840-0?source=shoppingads&locale=en-gb&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=18594397130&gbraid=0AAAAADu685NMss3J-EAb3lpHn8W_5Vewg&gclid=CjwKCAiA3L_JBhAlEiwAlcWO5xKSiyBlZglKfhzAiVZjaxCo3gkrLjt1QW0v0utISfpk5P9kFpVPtBoChQUQAvD_BwE

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On the 18th June 1815, three fires broke out in central Belgium, that would go down in the annals of military history.

The first, and perhaps least well known, would actually prove to be pivotal in the scale of Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo, delaying the arrival of Bulow’s IV Prussian corps to the point that it would take them 12 hours to march from Wavre to Plancenoit on Napoleon’s right flank, arriving at a time when the Emperor was hopelessly over committed to the fight against Wellington’s Anglo-Dutch troops. The second is often sidelined to a passing comment in the story of the defence of La Haye Sainte, as the Kings German Legion defenders of the farm, one of Wellington’s three forward positions at Waterloo, scrambled to douse the flames with their camp kettles whilst coming under fire from the French.

The third holds an almost mythological status – Hougoumont. The siege within a battle that saw a multination force of Coldstream, and Scots Guards, alongside Hanoverian and Nassau troops. As they did so, the chateau famously bruned around them.

There are few things more disconcerting than trying to defend a burning building from a few thousand angry French, whilst also trying to not die as a result of the flames. But what was it actually like for the defenders for hougoumont? What were their bodies going? How did the fire spread? And what could they actually do to try and deal with the literal conflagration around them?

In the latest instalment of the Napoleonic Wars Podcast, firefighter, veteran and historian Liam Telfer joins us to discuss how you fight a fire while under fire.

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#Hougoumont #HougoumontFarm #BattleOfWaterloo #Waterloo1815 #NapoleonicWars #Wellington #DukeOfWellington #ColdstreamGuards #HistoricalBattlefields #MilitaryHistory #NapoleonicHistory #HistoryPodcast #BritishArmyHistory #HoldTheGates #Fire #Firefighter

In this episode, we dive into the fierce two-day struggle that became one of the defining moments of the Peninsular War: the Battle of Talavera. From the blazing July heat to the confusion of night assaults, we examine how Sir Arthur Wellesley—soon to become the Duke of Wellington—held his fragile Anglo-Spanish line against repeated French attacks.

We explore the drama behind the battlefield: the strained coordination with General Cuesta, the bold French offensive under Victor and Jourdan, and the tactical decisions that turned Talavera into a brutal contest of discipline, firepower, and sheer endurance. Through narrative storytelling and clear military analysis, this episode brings you into the smoke, the volleys, and the human cost of one of Wellesley’s earliest—and hardest-won—victories.

Find out more about Josh's work at: ⁠https://www.helion.co.uk/people/joshua-provan.php⁠

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#BattleOfTalavera #Talavera1809 #PeninsularWar #NapoleonicWars #Wellesley #DukeOfWellington #SpanishWarOfIndependence #MilitaryHistory #HistoryPodcast #NapoleonicBattles

In this episode, historian Josh Provan joins us to trace the tense, twisting campaign that led to the Battle of Talavera—a confrontation born not just of French ambition, but of uneasy alliances, political blunders, and the grinding realities of Peninsular warfare.

We explore how Sir Arthur Wellesley set himself and his men on a collision course with both Joseph Bonaparte’s French army and his own Spanish allies. From logistical nightmares to clashing personalities, from the chaotic advance toward Madrid to the stubborn stand on the banks of the Tormes, this is the story of how a campaign fraught with mistrust and miscalculation forged one of Wellesley’s most hard-fought victories.

Expect deep context, sharp analysis, and the human side of the campaign—the commanders, the soldiers, and the decisions that shaped the battlefield even before a single shot was fired at Talavera.

Find out more about Josh's work at: https://www.helion.co.uk/people/joshua-provan.php

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#NapoleonicWars #PeninsularWar #BattleOfTalavera #Wellesley #ArthurWellesley #SpanishWarOfIndependence #MilitaryHistory #HistoryPodcast #NapoleonicWarsPodcast #Talavera1809

Following the lively debate that sprang up around our episode on 'Who was better: Wellington or Napoleon', we took the time to sit down and carefully consider some of the interesting questions and counter arguments made by our listeners. Who was Wellington's Berthier? Is criticising Wellington anti-British? Was Wellington's political career really that bad? Was Napoleon really better than Caesar?

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By 1815, London had long considered itself the centre of Britain and the wider Empire, so how did it respond when “the greatest victory which History records” (The Chester Chronicle) occurred a mere 200 miles from it? By co-opting it, naturally. Moving away from previous work on the Waterloo Banquet and Vauxhall’s Waterloo fete, this talk explores some of the ways in which ordinary Londoners experienced Waterloo, including walking over a bridge named after it, seeing relics from it, and witnessing it recreated on stage and canvas.

In October 2025, our very own 'Beau', Dr Luke 'Memory' Reynolds, gave a talk at York St John on 'Staging Waterloo: The Battle in the Capital'. Whilst you've heard him before on the show talking about the Waterloo Banquet, for this one he focused on other aspects from paintings to bridges and on to stage shows all trying to capture the battle.

With the very kind permission of York St John University, we present for you listening pleasure a recording of that talk.

For more events from York St John University, visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/york-st-john-university-1088934555

Who was the better battlefield general? Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of the French, or Arthur Wellesley, first Duke of Wellington, and darling (sort of) of the British army.

Recently famed author of the Sharpe's series of novels Bernard Cornwell set the social media sphere ablaze by once again igniting this age old discussion. The response, predictably, divided social media, but what happens when some historians weigh in to try and settle this issue?

Your favourite Napoleonic Wars Pod hosts, Napoleonic historians Dr Zack White, Dr Luke Reynolds, and Mr Liam Telfer take to the boxing ring in this one, as Liam makes the case for Wellington, Zack (unusually) makes the case for Napoleon, Luke can't decide whether he's a moderator or a debater, and ultimately we all end up agreeing.

Logistics. Destruction of armies. Limited campaigns. Movement. Motivation. Skill. Success. Legacy. All come under the spotlight in a bruising assessment of the strengths and not inconsiderable weakness of both of these commanders, as we pop the usual myths, weigh in on some of the more partisan comments, and put the case to you to get involved in this debate.

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