The Cambridge History of the Napoleonic Wars: Volume 1, Politics and Diplomacy

A history of the Napoleonic Wars that focuses on international relations and bureaucracy with contributions by leading international experts.

A comprehensive history of the international politics of the Napoleonic Wars and the social, legal, political and economic structures of the Empire. Leading scholars examine the political context that produced the wars and set them within the broader context of eighteenth century great power politics in the Age of Revolution.Volume I of The Cambridge History of the Napoleonic Wars covers the international foreign political dimensions of the wars and the social, legal, political and economic structures of the Empire. Leading historians from around the world come together to discuss the different aspects of the origins of the Napoleonic Wars, their international political implications and the concrete ways the Empire was governed. This volume begins by looking at the political context that produced the Napoleonic Wars and setting it within the broader context of eighteenth century great power politics in the Age of Revolution. It considers the administration and governance of the Empire, including with France's client states and the role of the Bonaparte family in the Empire. Further chapters in the volume examine the war aims of the various protagonists and offer an overall assessment of the nature of war in this period.