Epic History Newsletter #17

Dear Patrons,

Welcome to Epic History newsletter number 17. All team members are on the road this Friday, so this edition will be a quick one! Lots of exciting projects underway, here's the latest...

Production updates

Rise of China

Writing and animation continues on our epic history of 20th century China. This is such a fascinating topic, and so under-explored in the west given its importance. Episode 1 will set the scene, covering the 'backstory' of China's 'century of humiliation' at the hands of foreign powers, before we dive into the first of many crises and civil wars. And of course, the first thing to understand about China is... it's BIG. How big?

American Revolution

Patrick and Mike have been hard at work writing episode 1, which takes us from the aftermath of the Seven Years War to the opening battles of the struggle for independence. One of our aims in this series is to add nuance to a few old myths - for example, to highlight how many Americans saw themselves as British, while many Brits supported the colonies' arguments. Here's British MP Edmund Burke speaking in the House of Commons in 1774:

"Leave America... to tax herself... Leave the Americans as they anciently stood, and these distinctions, born of our unhappy contest, will die along with it …. Be content to bind America by laws of trade; you have always done it …. Do not burthen them with taxes….

More updates soon.

World War 2

Also in the research and writing phase. It's going to take us at least two episodes to get to the outbreak of war in Europe, as I'm determined to provide a full background and context to the global war. So I'm currently wrestling with the Locarno Pact, the Lausanne Conference, German reparations and other things dimly remembered from GCSE history. More updates soon.

One Cool History Thing

... comes this week from Patrick - an excellent account he discovered during Battle of Marengo research, but which we couldn't get into the video. Patrick writes:

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General Soult - captured by the Austrians during the siege of Genoa - was actually in Alessandria as the Battle of Marengo unfolded. He had been badly wounded in the leg, and was bedridden, but still gave a detailed account of events from his perspective. (The following is an excerpt taken from the book “Marengo” by T.E. Crowdy):

“From my bed I could hear the battle very well, and from the distance and closeness of the fire I could judge which of the two parties was making progress. It was a cruel position. My brother and Lieutenant Hulot, my aides-de-camp, and Dr Cothenet, my surgeon, went alternately to watch at an observatory above the Episcopal palace, where I was staying. There, armed with a spyglass telescope, they could see the movements of the two armies well enough, and then they came to communicate their remarks to me. I was thus informed of the state of the battle, as well as possible, without taking part.”

(Below is a conversation between Soult and an Austrian doctor in the early afternoon, just before Desaix’s arrival):

‘Well doctor, how is the affair going?’ inquired Soult.

‘Ah general, what a battle! We do not know where to put our wounded; we have more than 5,000 up until now and, although the battle has finished, at this moment they are still arriving by hundreds. Our brave General Hadik is in that number, several other generals and a quantity of officers. Your loss is also very considerable.’

‘But to which side goes the victory?’

‘To ours, General, and that is the only consolation for the price it has cost us.’

Soult was unconvinced:

'Are you sure, Doctor?’

‘Without a doubt, General Melas is coming back and did you hear his staff just pass by in the street?’

Soult realized he had just heard the sound of horses going by, so perhaps the doctor was telling the truth. All the time, though, he could hear a number of guns in the distance. The doctor had claimed that the battle was over, so Soult quizzed him on this: 

‘It can only be the French rearguard that General Zach is pursuing.’ 

Soult listened again; the sound seemed to be coming closer:

‘If there is a rearguard engaged, it would seem to be yours?’

This time the doctor listened more carefully. It was true; the guns were coming nearer. A look of concern came over the doctor’s face; he left the room hurriedly. At about 11.00 pm, the old doctor came back to Soult’s room. He spoke of his disappointment:

‘We are lost, our troops are recrossing the bridge at this moment! One had thought the battle won, and, like I told you, General Melas came back to Alessandria, when it was announced to him that your army had made a new attack. He returned with all haste, but he was not in time. Everything had changed, General Zach had been taken and we had been broken. There was nothing more left than for General Melas to cover the retreat. I do not know what General Melas will do to get us out of this situation.’

It became Soult’s turn to console the doctor, who left shortly afterwards.

That night Soult could barely contain his joy. As confirmation of the seriousness of the Austrian defeat, an officer came into [Soult’s] quarters and informed him that he was to be transported over the Tanaro River into the citadel to the west of the city.

Soult was naturally concerned about being moved. His wound had been serious, and had been ‘menaced’ by gangrene at one point. He feared his wound might be aggravated by any attempt to move him. The Austrian replied that he could only remain in his quarters if Soult gave his parole. This would mean Soult would be unable to serve against the Austrians for the remainder of the war if he was released. It was a weighty decision, so Soult conferred with his physician. Dr Cothernet advised him to give his parole rather than risk further injury. With hindsight, he should have tried to stall his captors a few hours, as hostilities were drawn to a close.

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That's it for this week, but we'll be back with more updates soon. Thanks as always for your fantastic support.

Toby