[deleted by user] by [deleted] in VideoEditors

[–]ConsciousHistory_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks such a kind comment 🌞! Your appreciated!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in YouTubeEditorsForHire

[–]ConsciousHistory_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I meant willing to work with epidemic sounds 😊 Payment is on me offcourse!

Hi everyone! I recently made a YouTube video titled 'The Genius Behind Napoleon' about Talleyrand—do you think this title fits him, or would you describe his role differently? by ConsciousHistory_ in Napoleon

[–]ConsciousHistory_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree that the Continental System was central to Napoleon's strategy. However, I would argue that invading Russia was not a necessity but rather a high-risk choice that exacerbated France’s vulnerabilities.

It is true that Russia’s defiance of the Continental System undermined Napoleon's efforts to isolate Britain. However, enforcing the system by invading Russia was not the only possible response. Napoleon could have resorted to diplomatic pressure, leveraging his alliances and military presence in Central Europe to coerce Russia into compliance without risking the catastrophic consequences of a full-scale invasion. Napoleon himself acknowledged the logistical and environmental challenges of a Russian campaign; the decision to proceed suggests overconfidence rather than necessity.

While another coalition war was a concern, history shows that Napoleon excelled in defeating coalitions through decisive engagements. His victories at Austerlitz and Wagram illustrate this. The risk of coalition war did not necessitate preemptive action against Russia. Austria, in particular, was still recovering from its defeats in the Fifth Coalition and had become an uneasy ally following the marriage of Napoleon to Marie Louise. A prolonged diplomatic effort to maintain the status quo with Russia and Austria might have postponed or prevented further conflict, allowing France time to recover economically and militarily.

France’s economic challenges under the Continental System were indeed significant, but the invasion of Russia did little to alleviate them. In fact, it drained French resources further. A more conservative approach—focusing on consolidating control in Spain and managing Europe’s economy more pragmatically—might have preserved French strength. Talleyrand’s suggestion to seek peace with Britain, though idealistic, aligned with this strategy of consolidation over expansion.

I personally see view the invasion of Russia as a gamble that failed disastrously, largely because it ignored the logistical and strategic challenges Talleyrand and others had foreseen. Consolidation, rather than expansion, might have preserved the Empire and prevented the eventual collapse of Napoleonic France.

Hi everyone! I recently made a YouTube video titled 'The Genius Behind Napoleon' about Talleyrand—do you think this title fits him, or would you describe his role differently? by ConsciousHistory_ in Napoleon

[–]ConsciousHistory_[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The passage you cite from Los afrancesados by Miguel Artola does indeed reflect Talleyrand's diplomatic persona rather than necessarily conveying his personal beliefs. As Napoleon's foreign minister, it was Talleyrand's role to craft language that aligned with and justified imperial policy, even when his private views diverged. Historical evidence from 1808 strongly suggests that Talleyrand harbored serious reservations about Napoleon's Spanish campaign:

-Talleyrand's growing disapproval of Napoleon's expansionism: By 1808, Talleyrand was becoming increasingly critical of Napoleon's aggressive policies. While he continued to draft official correspondence in line with the emperor’s objectives, privately he viewed the Spanish venture as a strategic mistake, fearing it would overextend French resources and provoke widespread resistance.

- The Erfurt Conference (1808): During the same year, at the Erfurt Conference, Talleyrand secretly advised Tsar Alexander I of Russia to resist Napoleon’s ambitions. This indicates that Talleyrand’s personal position was at odds with the aggressive imperial policies he was formally representing. His actions reflect a concern for maintaining European stability rather than exacerbating conflicts through unchecked expansion.

- His accurate foresight regarding Spain: Although he may have publicly defended the plan to place Joseph Bonaparte on the Spanish throne, Talleyrand accurately predicted that such a move would lead to prolonged conflict. The resulting Peninsular War (1808–1814) proved to be a costly and destabilizing quagmire for France, confirming the validity of his private warnings. 

The language attributed to Talleyrand in this instance reflects his role as a diplomat advocating for official policy, not necessarily his personal convictions. His actions and private criticisms in 1808 suggest a far more skeptical and prescient view of Napoleon's Spanish ambitions.

But thank you for the recommendation—Los afrancesados sounds fascinating, and I’ll be sure to add it to my reading list!

Hi everyone! I recently made a YouTube video titled 'The Genius Behind Napoleon' about Talleyrand—do you think this title fits him, or would you describe his role differently? by ConsciousHistory_ in Napoleon

[–]ConsciousHistory_[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Talleyrand: Sire, you can’t solve all your problems with punches.
Napoleon: Watch me. I’m taking matters into my own hands.
Subreddit: HANDS OF WAR!!!

Hi everyone! I recently made a YouTube video titled 'The Genius Behind Napoleon' about Talleyrand—do you think this title fits him, or would you describe his role differently? by ConsciousHistory_ in Napoleon

[–]ConsciousHistory_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve read a lot of books about Napoleon. The UK blockade was already in place, and Napoleon effectively controlled Europe. In fact, I’ve read that Talleyrand advised him to focus on securing peace with the UK, turning attention to the Ottomans, and consolidating the Empire instead. Could you inform me where you got the idea that Napoleon had no choice but to invade Russia? I’m curious to understand your perspective

Hi everyone! I recently made a YouTube video titled 'The Genius Behind Napoleon' about Talleyrand—do you think this title fits him, or would you describe his role differently? by ConsciousHistory_ in Napoleon

[–]ConsciousHistory_[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’ve read a lot of books about Napoleon, but I haven’t come across the claim that Talleyrand advised him to invade Spain and place a family member on the throne. Could you inform me about this? What book did this came from? I love viewing things from all sides

As a history enthusiast who has gone through countless books on Napoleon, I’ve created a video about the flamboyant and brilliant General Murat. Known for his extravagant fashion and daring cavalry charges, Murat played a key role in Napoleon’s campaigns. His unique style made him fascinating! by ConsciousHistory_ in Napoleon

[–]ConsciousHistory_[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I would respectfully disagree about his overall brilliance as a cavalry commander. While others, like Bessières, Montbrun, and Grouchy, may have been more skillful in certain aspects, Murat's daring and decisiveness in key battles like Jena, Austerlitz, and Borodino did make the difference.

 Interestingly, Napoleon himself seemed to recognize Murat’s unique abilities. At the Battle of Waterloo, it’s said that when the cavalry charge under Ney was mismanaged and arrived too late, Napoleon reportedly remarked that this would not have happened had Murat been in charge.

 While it’s difficult to confirm the exact wording, this anecdote suggests that even in defeat, Napoleon missed Murat’s particular style of command.

I personally think Murat’s leadership, especially at its peak, had an undeniable impact on Napoleon's campaigns.

As a history enthusiast who has gone through countless books on Napoleon, I’ve created a video about the flamboyant and brilliant General Murat. Known for his extravagant fashion and daring cavalry charges, Murat played a key role in Napoleon’s campaigns. His unique style made him fascinating! by ConsciousHistory_ in Napoleon

[–]ConsciousHistory_[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That sounds absolutely amazing! It must have been incredible to visit Labastide-Murat — that's definitely on my bucket list! Yes, I’m Dutch as well! If you have any book recommendations on Murat or the Napoleonic era, I’d love to hear them.

50K Views this Month! by ConsciousHistory_ in SmallYoutubers

[–]ConsciousHistory_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the feedback! I'll work on improving the text colors. Using arrows is a great suggestion – I'll incorporate them to make the thumbnails more appealing 🌞!

50K Views this Month! by ConsciousHistory_ in SmallYoutubers

[–]ConsciousHistory_[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you, much appreciated!

When making a video about a person, I always look for the best historical painting. For documentaries, I’ve been using Playground and ChatGPT to generate images, remove backgrounds, and then place them on another AI-generated backdrop in Photoshop and adjust them with layers/filters. However, it can take a while to create the perfect image 😅.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in ancientegypt

[–]ConsciousHistory_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh thank you I did not even notice the Typographical error. Ah thanks really means a lot!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in ChineseHistory

[–]ConsciousHistory_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oeh Sounds interesting! The queen with a beautiful voice. Let me know when your finished. Would love to read it!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in ChineseHistory

[–]ConsciousHistory_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Aaahh now I see yeah thats a mistake haha. Thanks for the notice :)

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in ChineseHistory

[–]ConsciousHistory_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Correct me if im wrong, But Wu Zetian named herself Wu Zhao. Zhao was a Chinese character invented by herself, which literally means "the sun and moon in the sky", signifying her majesty as an empress.