1809, ESSLING. NAPOLEON'S FIRST DEFEAT?

May 1809. After getting off to a thundering start with his campaign, Napoleon had to carry out a difficult military maneuver: crossing a river, in strength in full view of the enemy. The Austrians under Archduke Charles put up a vigorous resistance and together with the capricious River Danube contributed to the French Emperor's first defeat on the Continent. Gilles Boue' is a military history specialist and regularly collaborates to the history department of the French Ministry of Defense. His bipolar view of the battle helps to explain the reasons for this defeat. Vividly illustrated with battle scenes, engravings, photos and plates of uniforms.