CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains discussions about sex which may not be suitable for children.
Napoleon Bonaparte is one of the few commanders in history to be known for his capacity as a fierce fighter and a passionate lover. His romance with Joséphine de Beauharnais is one of the greatest in history and we know the intimate details about it because of the hundreds of passionate letters he sent to her over the years, some more explicit than others...
In episode 3 of Dan's Napoleon series, he's joined by sex historian and host of Betwixt the Sheets podcast Dr Kate Lister to explore another side of the French commander- his complex attitude towards sex, his obsession with Josephine and the way their relationship coloured his emotional life.
Meanwhile, Josephine was an incredible figure in her own right; she was a courtesan to rich men - glamorous and intelligent with an elegant figure and magnetic aura. When she met Napoleon in 1795, she was older than him and having had a number of strategic affairs with influential political figures, clever in her means of securing a stable life for her two children.
Ridley Scott's 'Napoleon' is in cinemas on November 22nd.
Produced by Mariana Des Forges, Charlotte Long and edited by Dougal Patmore.
Don’t miss out on the best offer in history! Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Get a subscription for £1 for 3 months with code BLACKFRIDAY sign up now for your 14-day free trial https://historyhit/subscription/.
We'd love to hear from you! You can email the podcast at ds.hh@historyhit.com.
You can take part in our listener survey here.
The Romanovs
Fall of the Aztec Empire
England & Portugal: The Oldest Alliance in the World
Bonnie Prince Charlie
Pythagoras' Utopia
Georgian Christmas
The Middle Ages in 5 Facts
Saint Nicholas
Fighting Hitler's U-Boats
The Boston Tea Party
Sara Forbes Bonetta: Queen Victoria's African God-Daughter
King Herod
The Tower of London's Most Notorious Prisoners
Mother Shipton: Tudor Prophetess of England's Doom
A Guide to Ancient Egypt
Medieval Baghdad
What Really Happened to the Princes in the Tower?
Tutankhamun's 'Curse' & Other History Mysteries
The 'Elgin' Marbles
Hades: King of the Underworld
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
History Extra podcast
Gone Medieval
WW2 Pod: We Have Ways of Making You Talk
Empire
Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society