The Battle of Maida, 1806: Fifteen Minutes of Glory

Richard Hopton

mars 2008 · Pen and Sword

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This military history reveals the untold story of a British general’s dramatic victory against Napoleon in Southern Italy.

In The Battle of Maida, 1806, historian Richard Hopton has uncovered a significant yet long-overlooked defeat of Napoleon’s forces by General Sir John Stuart at Maida in 1806. For many years the only hint that there had been a triumph there was the residential area of North West London that derives its name from the battle. Now Stuart corrects this oversight with this rousing and authoritative account.

Following the battles of UIm and Austerlitz, Napoleon’s reputation for military genius was becoming a morale problem for his opponents. But the Allied victory at Maida offered significant proof that the Grande Arméewas not invincible.

In this enlightening history, Hopton brilliantly describes the cast of colorful yet highly improbable characters whom 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.

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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.