Napoleon’s Campaigns in Italy — 1796-1797 and 1800

The immortal words “Not tonight Josephine!” are probably apocryphal, but in 1796 Napoleon had more pressing concerns than his amorous wife: he had been handed command of the Republican forces in Italy. His men were clothed in rags, unpaid, and hungry. Napoleon set to work with a passion, bending his senior commanders to his will (despite their seniority in both age and rank), raising morale and promising the troops what they craved—the opportunity for victory and loot! Many historians regard Nap