Little has been written about the defense of the Kingdom of Northern Italy, and this is the first study in English to detail the two-year conflict (1813-1814) within the larger context of the Napoleonic Wars. The French commander responsible for the defense was Eugene Beauharnais, stepson of Napoleon and son-in-law of the King of Bavaria. Outnumbered three to one, Beauharnais fought an outstanding defensive campaign, covering all of Napoleon's southern front while Napoleon faced off against the main allied armies as they invaded France.

This was only Beauharnais's third command, and as a result of his less than stellar performance in his two earlier posts, he had acquired a poor reputation as a leader. Nafziger and Gioannini explain, however, that in this instance Beauharnais proved himself once and for all as the commander of an independent army, defending one of the most important parts of the French Napoleonic Empire. He made full use of geography, keeping his army in being, rather than risking it to seek a decision in the field. Because his stepson held the plains of Italy, Napoleon was able to concentrate his energies upon the evacuation of Germany and to demonstrate his military prowess in France.

The A to Z of the Napoleonic Era covers one of the most explosive and most exciting periods of world history, spanning the time from the eruption of the French Revolution through the end of the Napoleonic wars (1789-1815). These 26 years of history saw the birth of nationalism and Western democracy, economic crisis and political convulsion, the growth of industrialism, the death of ancient traditions, and the birth and break-up of empire. It was the time of Napoleon, who gave his name to this period of tremendous change: the period in which the roots of modern Europe were planted. This work is intended as a broad review, devoting a majority of its attention to the military and political events and personalities of the period, while also surveying the major artistic, social and cultural events and personalities that formed this period.

The End of Empire is a continuation of Nafziger s definitive military studies of the Napoleonic era beginning with the 1812 campaign and progressing through the 1813 campaign. Having suffered a massive reversal of fortunes in Russia Napoleon found himself confronted, in Germany, by the combined forces of Russia, Prussia, and Austria. After the disaster of Leipzig Napoleon s German allies fell away and he was forced to fall back, beyond the borders of France. Offered a negotiated peace on the basis of a return to the pre-1792 borders, Napoleon chose to continue to fight, trusting in his star. He was, however, desperate for troops and short of horses and cash. Cornered and threatened by three armies invading from the north, northeast, and east, every chance to stop the Allies had to be taken and there was desperate battle after desperate battle. Of all his campaigns, Napoleon s 1814 campaign was one of his most brilliant. Eventually, after several terrible defeats, the Allies refused to engage him in battle when he confronted them. Instead they pushed their other two armies forward, slowly driving him back as he rushed to block the advance of the other armies on Paris. This strategy proved successful and eventually Napoleon was obliged to abdicate when his marshals refused to fight further. "The End of Empire" includes a detailed text, specially commissioned maps and the author's trademark extensive orders of battle."

The word Islam means Peace, but for nearly 1,400 years its adherents have waged war--frequently on the grandest and most successful scales in history. This book introduces some of IslaM's greatest military figures and analyzes significant events that are shaping the modern world. Nafziger and Walton detail the rich and diverse military histories of dozens of empires, nations, tribes, clans, and peoples.

Militant Islamists viewed the events of September 11, 2001, as merely one more step in an ongoing military campaign against the West and the United States. Major events in this ongoing war include the great Arab conquests in the Middle East and the Iberian Peninsula, the Crusades, Muslim India, the Seljuq and Ottoman Empires, naval warfare, colonialism, and the numerous military actions of modern Muslim states. The word Islam means Peace, but for nearly 1,400 years its adherents have waged war--frequently on the grandest and most successful scales in history. This book introduces some of IslaM's greatest military figures and analyzes significant events that are shaping the modern world.

Nafziger and Walton detail the rich and diverse military histories of dozens of empires, nations, tribes, clans, and peoples. They make a special effort to outline the military history of the Quran and show how Islamic theology justifies military effort. With considerable discussion of the military aspects of terrorism, this overview will provide the general reader with background information and analysis of parts of the world that are likely to remain a battleground for years to come.