The Battle of Maida 1806: Fifteen Minutes of Glory by Richard Hopton

The Battle of Maida 1806: Fifteen Minutes of Glory by Richard Hopton

A nation's history is littered with conveniently forgotten defeats and military disasters but it is unusual for significant victories to be ignored. Richard Hopton, the up-and-coming historian, has uncovered the long overlooked defeat of Napoleon's forces by General Sir John Stuart at Maida, Southern Italy in 1806. For many years the only hint that there had been a triumph there has been the residential area of North West London that derives its name from the battle.Following Ulm and Austerlitz, Napoleon's reputation for military genius was fast becoming a morale problem for his opponents, in the same way that Rommel's prowess did some 240 years later. No small part of the significance of the Allied victory at Maida in 1806 was the proof it offered that the French under Napoleon were not invincible.The Author brilliantly describes the cast of colourful yet highly improbably characters who fate and circumstances brought together. Arguably pride of place must go to Ferdinand II, Ruler of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, whose eccentricity was only exceeded by his abject incompetence.

Hopton, Richard: - Richard Hopton was educated at Magdalen College, Oxford. He is a trained barrister. He is a published author, Battle of Maida, (Pen and Sword 2002). He regularly reviews for such periodicals as The Economist and Literary Review. He has a regular column in Country and Town House. He lives in Devon.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781848848900
ISBN 10	1848848900
Title	The Battle of Maida 1806: Fifteen Minutes of Glory
Author	Richard Hopton
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Pen & Sword Books Ltd
Year published	2012-11-01
Number of pages	224
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.