Graeme Callister: Soldiers that Made the Empire Men of the Grande Armée

Title: Soldiers that Made the Empire: the Men of Napoleon's Grande Armée

Description: Napoleon's army is famous for many reasons. Its glittering generals, its glorious victories, its supposed tactical prowess, the corps system are frequently invoked as hallmarks of the Grande Armée. But at the heart of all of this were hundreds of thousands of ordinary men who filled the emperor's ranks. Most were conscripts, young men often leaving their home department for the first time. This talk will focus on those men, outlining their background, service, and experiences in the army. Based on extensive research into the records of the French army archives, it will offer new insights into the men who marched beneath the eagles in victory, conquest, and ultimately defeat.

Biography: Dr Graeme Callister is Senior Lecturer in History and War Studies at York St John University (UK). His research focuses primarily on the history of conflict, especially in the Napoleonic period. His recent publications include Battle: Understanding Conflict from Hastings to Helmand (Pen & Sword, 2022) and Waterloo: the Attack of I Corps (Pen & Sword, 2024). His work on Napoleonic conscription won the British Commission for Military History's Sir Michael Howard Prize. He also has a forthcoming book on the conscripts of Napoleon's army (Helion, 2025).

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