November 1918. In western Europe, the four-year slaughter of World War One was drawing to an end.But across the former Russian Empire, a new conflict had broken out… a civil war that raged from central Europe to the Pacific, claiming an estimated nine million lives. Lenin, the Bolsheviks and their new Soviet Republic battled for survival against their many enemies – collectively known as the ‘Whites’. The Whites’ great hope: their newly-appointed ‘Supreme Ruler of Russia’, Admiral Alexander Kolchak. Kolchak was a war hero, a man of duty and discipline, who believed above all in service to ‘the motherland’. Millions looked to him to crush the Bolsheviks, avenge the murdered Tsar, and save Russia from chaos and collapse. This is the extraordinary tale of the life and death of Admiral Kolchak – Russia’s only ‘Supreme Ruler’.

November 1918. In western Europe, the four-year slaughter of World War One was drawing to an end.But across the former Russian Empire, a new conflict had broken out… a civil war that raged from central Europe to the Pacific, claiming an estimated nine million lives. Lenin, the Bolsheviks and their new Soviet Republic battled for survival against their many enemies – collectively known as the ‘Whites’. The Whites’ great hope: their newly-appointed ‘Supreme Ruler of Russia’, Admiral Alexander Kolchak. Kolchak was a war hero, a man of duty and discipline, who believed above all in service to ‘the motherland’. Millions looked to him to crush the Bolsheviks, avenge the murdered Tsar, and save Russia from chaos and collapse. This is the extraordinary tale of the life and death of Admiral Kolchak – Russia’s only ‘Supreme Ruler’.

1938 is a critical year on the road to World War Two. In Asia, the Sino-Japanese War continues to leave a trail of devastation across China. Now, as Chiang Kai-shek tries desperately to save Wuhan, the human cost becomes unimaginable. In Spain, Hitler and Mussolini’s interventions in the Civil War are proving decisive. But Europe now faces another great crisis when Hitler annexes Austria and then threatens to invade Czechoslovakia. As European leaders scramble to prevent another major war, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain comes to the fore with his strategy of appeasement.

On 21st February 1916, a thousand German guns opened fire on French positions around Verdun - launching one of the most brutal battles in human history. For 300 days, Verdun consumed a thousand lives a day. This is how it unfolded. Using detailed 3D graphics, we reveal the strategic landscape that made Verdun so critical - from the ring of fortresses guarding France's eastern frontier, to the exposed salient that gave German commander Erich von Falkenhayn his deadly opportunity.

February 1815. A small flotilla slips silently across the Mediterranean. On board: a former Emperor and fugitive, attempting the most audacious comeback in military history. Napoleon Bonaparte has dominated Europe for a decade. Defeated, exiled, and written off by the great powers of the world, he is supposed to be finished. Instead, he sails from Elba with just 1,000 men, marches on Paris... and the continent holds its breath. This episode maps Napoleon's extraordinary march north — from his landing at Golfe-Juan to the gates of Paris — tracing every twist of his impossible gamble in vivid detail. The Hundred Days has begun. But with 200,000 exhausted troops facing a million-strong coalition, can Napoleon's genius survive what's coming?

In 1937, conflicts across the globe wreak new levels of destruction and suffering. A civilian massacre in Ethiopia, the bombing of Guernica in Spain, and the ‘Rape of Nanking’ in China, provide glimpses of what could be endured in another world war. Reports and images from these conflicts are received with horror and increasing alarm, but Britain, France and the USA cling to their policy of ‘non-intervention’. As the alliances that will define the next great war take shape, the drift towards it seems inescapable.

In the summer of 1776, the largest expeditionary army in British history arrives off New York to crush the American rebellion once and for all. Facing the full might of the British Empire, the Continental Army fights desperately to hold New York. But after a series of defeats, General Washington struggles to hold together his forces. Then, in the Revolution's darkest hour, he decides to risk everything to turn back the tide.

In 1935, the established powers are failing to stem a tide of militarism and extremism. Hitler wields unchecked power in Germany, using it to unravel the Versailles Treaty and enforce Nazi racial ideology. In China, Nationalist and Communist factions are under pressure to unite against the Japanese invasion before it’s too late. And in Africa, Mussolini looks to expand his new Italian empire through war in Ethiopia. Meanwhile, the economic stresses of the 1930s continue to drive political division across Europe. In 1936, the polarisation explodes into open violence in Spain, where a deadly Civil War breaks out. Facing these crises, will the global order unite, or will the world's most powerful nations continue on a path of self-interest and isolation?

In 1801, Nelson sails to the Baltic under Admiral Sir Hyde Parker to break up the newly-formed ‘League of Armed Neutrality’. At Copenhagen, his objectives are simple: destroy the Danish fleet and threaten the city with bombardment. But as Nelson takes on the Danish navy under the guns of the enemy’s capital, the unfolding battle is far from straightforward. Formidable defences and heroic Danish sailors will push the British to the limit in a tense, explosive and bloody contest.

The conclusion to our Rise of China series follows the nation’s transformation into the superpower we see today. In the wake of Mao Zedong’s death, Deng Xiaoping takes control and attempts to forge a new path for the People’s Republic. His reforms promise a brave new future, as China opens up to the world, transforms its economy and improves the living standards of its people. But China’s transformation will only be allowed to go so far. When popular protests erupt in 1989, the Tiananmen Square massacre becomes a startling reminder of China’s authoritarian government - one that survives to the present day.

In the aftermath of World War One, the global order is once again in a state of flux. Young nations like Italy and Japan are searching for prestige through foreign conquests. Germany, which has been hit hardest by the Great Depression and the World War One peace treaty, now looks to Adolf Hitler to rebuild the nation. World War One’s victors are dealing with their own political and economic crises, and have no appetite for further conflict. But as they fail to stem the tide of nationalism, militarism and foreign aggression across the globe, war is beginning to feel inevitable.

In the winter of 1775, Patriot forces invade Canada in an audacious attempt to seize Quebec. Then, they pummel the British garrison in Boston. Victory electrifies and emboldens the Patriot cause, and in the summer of 1776, the Declaration of Independence signals a new dawn for the former American colonies. But Britain will not let this treachery stand. It assembles the largest expeditionary force in its history to crush the rebels, and when the British armada arrives off New York, the conflict is poised to escalate to new heights.

In 1618, Europe stands on the cusp of the most destructive war in its history - a thirty-year-long cataclysm that will engulf the continent. Slaughter and rumours of cannibalism will haunt the land. War, starvation, and plague will decimate whole populations. What started as a regional religious dispute spirals into a widespread, total war. No one will be spared in a conflict that still casts a long shadow across European history to this day.

In the 1960s, China is back as a major world power - a nuclear-armed communist state, charting its own course. Chairman Mao makes his return to frontline politics, calling for permanent ‘Cultural Revolution’. The consequences for Chinese society will be far-reaching, transformative and traumatic. But Mao cannot live forever, and as his power fades in the following decade, those in his shadow fight for the right to lead China into the future.

In the darkest days of World War Two, the British Empire is the last major power fighting Nazi Germany. But German U-Boats scour the Atlantic and prey on Allied convoys bringing vital supplies to Britain. To stand any chance of fighting on, British codebreakers at Bletchley Park must crack the elusive Naval Enigma, and fast. Discover this remarkable true story of groundbreaking intelligence work, daring maritime raids and the genius of Alan Turing.

In 1949, after decades of revolution, invasion and civil war, Mao Zedong finally takes control of China. Chairman Mao proclaims it a 'People's Republic', but democracy is not on the agenda. Instead, he wields absolute power in an authoritarian government determined to rebuild China in line with his communist ideals. In the years that follow, his regime will oversee the expansion of China's influence and its transformation into a major player on the international stage. But in his attempts to revolutionise Chinese society, Mao will also unleash catastrophic violence and sow the seeds of humanitarian disaster.

The rise of Islam is an astonishing tale of forgotten empires, mystics, medieval trade networks and bitter religious conflicts. Across 1400 years of history, discover how a new faith from the deserts of Arabia spread across the globe to Asia, Africa and Europe, and built a religion followed by 1.9 billion people today.

Today, Christianity is the world's largest religion, but it was once the faith of just a few devoted followers. The story of its growth is one of the most astonishing in history. Our timeline and animated globe charts the spread of Christianity across the world, from the crucifixion of Christ to the present day, including all the major conversions, missions, conquests and schisms. Join us as we explore how a small, Judaic sect became the word's most popular religion over the course of 2,000 years.

As negotiations between Britain and its American Colonies give way to open violence, the British garrison at Boston finds itself besieged by Patriot militias. At Charlestown, these Patriots will take a stand against the advancing Redcoats, in what becomes known as the Battle of Bunker Hill. Across the Colonies, British power is waining, just as American confidence is growing. Now both sides must step up their preparations for all-out war.

In 1937, after years of internal conflict, China is briefly united by a devastating war with Japan, which reaches a horrific climax in the cities of Shanghai and Nanking. As its own ‘War of Resistance’ rolls on, China then becomes a key player in the Second World War, joining the allied fight against the Japanese Imperial Army across Asia. Victory is finally earned, but it comes at a staggering cost to the nation. In the power vacuum that follows, the old rival factions - Communists and Nationalists - will continue their fight for leadership. Just months after China emerges from the wreckage of one global conflict, it is once again plunged into a bitter civil war.

This is the story of how Allied codebreakers took on the most sophisticated encryption machine ever devised, and beat it - changing the course of WW2. Part 1 explores the origins of the Enigma codebreaking mission, and the establishment of UK intelligence operations at Bletchley Park.⁠

1792. The Age of Revolution has arrived in Europe! In France, the old order has been overthrown and the principles of liberty and equality are inspiring the people. But France's neighbours are alarmed by the French Revolution and concerned that these radical ideals will spread. Conflict is inevitable, and by 1792 France is at war with the kingdoms of Austria and Prussia. When these coalition forces march into France that summer, they feel confident of defeating a French army has been thrown into disarray by the revolution, with new, inexperienced officers and untested citizen recruits. But when the two sides face off at Valmy, the French must make a stand - the fate of their revolution hangs in the balance.

In 1925, a decade on from the downfall of its last emperor, China remains deeply divided. Its people are at the mercy of warlords and rival political factions. But a charismatic and ambitious Nationalist leader, Chiang Kai-shek, has a plan to unite the country by force. What follows is a decade of violence and turmoil, as Chiang’s Kuomintang Army takes on the warlords, then forces the Communists into an epic retreat, before facing a reckoning with foreign aggressors.

In the wake of the Boston Tea Party, tensions between the American Colonies and British Government escalate rapidly. Desperate to reassert their authority, the British send troops to seize militia weapons in the town of Concord, Massachusetts. But the American rebels are ready for a fight. A violent showdown looms.

China is well known as one of the world’s largest and most powerful countries - a major player on the global stage, characterised by its distinctive culture and unyielding regime. Yet behind the China we see today lies a fascinating, complex and turbulent history - one that must be explored to truly understand the modern republic. We begin our series with the breakdown of a 250-year old imperial dynasty, revolutionary power struggles and a fleeting courtship with democracy. This is the rise of China.

In the late eighteenth century, Britain has consolidated its global empire and now dominates North America. But in defeating her colonial rivals, she has also amassed huge national debts. To alleviate Britain’s financial woes, Parliament levies new taxes on its American colonies. But they have gravely miscalculated the response to ‘taxation without representation’. While some in the colonies remain loyal to their ‘motherland’, a growing number of settlers decry the measures and protest violently. American ties to the British Crown are weakening, enterprising attitudes are flourishing, and as tensions rise, a growing independent spirit will carry these patriots to the brink of war.

In 1805, Napoleon is planning his move against the Third Coalition of Britain, Russia and Austria. He is determined to finally defeat Britain, and if he can manage to get the French army across the English Channel, his huge and experienced land forces would surely capture the island. Only the formidable British navy stands in his way. Britain has ‘ruled the waves’ for many years, but now faces the combined forces of France and her ally, Spain. Nevertheless, when the British fleet catches sight of their enemy off Cape Trafalgar, its commander, Admiral Nelson, will not hesitate to engage. Admiral Nelson is outnumbered, but he has a typically daring plan of attack. The fierce battle that follows will be etched in time - a fateful day for Nelson, but also one that will seal his status as a titan of naval history.

In 1800, after marching across the Alps into Northern Italy and defeating every enemy in his path, Napoleon spreads his army in a bid to encircle the Austrians and block their escape. But he has miscalculated his enemy's intentions. On a hot summer's day, near the town of Marengo, an advancing detachment of French soldiers find themselves facing 30,000 Austrians. Outmanned and outgunned, the French are soon fighting for their lives, and Napoleon faces an overwhelming defeat. But when last minute reinforcements arrive, victory may still be in sight...

In 1808, Napoleon launched a war against Spain, sparking a savage conflict that lasted nearly six years, cost half a million lives, and helped to bring down his empire. We tell the story of this war through more than a dozen dramatic accounts from Spanish, French, British, German and Polish participants. Together, they provide a raw and unflinching perspective of Napoleon's doomed attempt to conquer the Iberian peninsula. For the Spanish, it was their ‘War of Independence’ – for their British allies, ‘the Peninsular War’. These are the voices of witnesses to those momentous days.

In 1798, after a series of French victories in Europe, Britain stands alone against France and her allies. Aiming to strike a major blow against British interests in the Mediterranean, Napoleon Bonaparte leads an expeditionary force to conquer Egypt. But Britain still has the most powerful navy in the world.. and they are in pursuit. What’s more, the British fleet in the Mediterranean is commanded by Rear Admiral Horatio Nelson, who has a reputation for bold leadership and aggression. When he catches up with the French fleet in Egypt, he will lead a daring attack that goes down in history.

At the height of the French Revolutionary War, a new alliance between France and Spain threatened to overturn British naval supremacy, upon which Britain's empire, economy and security depended. The key to British survival would be to prevent the French and Spanish navies joining forces - so when British Admiral Jervis encountered the main Spanish battle fleet off Cape St.Vincent, he decided to attack, even though outnumbered almost two-to-one. The battle would be decided by the daring actions of one British commander - Commodore Horatio Nelson - who would soon emerge as one of history's most brilliant naval tacticans.

In 1800, France's new First Consul - Napoleon Bonaparte - faces a precarious military situation, with huge Austrian armies poised to strike against the French Republic. But Napoleon will not wither in the face of such a crisis. Instead, he embarks on one of the most famous and daring strategic manoeuvres in history - a march across the Alps - to turn the tables on France's enemies.

The story of Venice is a fascinating tale of ambition, commerce, politics, wars and empires. Join us as we chart the extraordinary rise of Venice - from a community of refugees hiding out in the Italian lagoons, to one of the medieval world's most dominant maritime states - and then explore its gradual demise at the hands of powerful enemies. We'll discover how the Serene Republic took advantage of its unique coastal location, and used skilful diplomacy to outmanoeuvre its rivals and expand its empire across land and sea. Venice would go on to become a jewel of the Italian Renaissance, an architectural masterpiece, and what many still consider to be the most beautiful city in the world.

In the years following independence, the newly-formed United States of America look westward for their expansion, hoping to conquer territory and sell off the land to eager European settlers. Among their targets is the vast, resource-rich 'Northwest Territory', stretching from the Appalachian Mountains to the Mississippi River. But this is not vacant land - thousands of native people, across numerous tribes, call these valleys and forests their home, and they will fight to protect it. As violence along the frontier rises and negotiations fail, the federal government decides to take the territory by force... but they have fatally underestimated their enemy. This is the full story of the Battle of the Wabash... America's first military defeat.

n 1799, the young French Republic faced war with a coalition of European enemies, and an unpopular and corrupt government at home. In the midst of disorder, military hero Napoleon Bonaparte returns from his campaign in Egypt. He has built a formidable reputation, he is adored by the people, and is viewed as an essential ally for those vying for power. But Napoleon has his own ambitions, and on one famous day in November, he will take decisive action to make them a reality. This is the full story of the Brumaire Coup - a day that changed the course of French history.

In 1798, during the French Revolutionary Wars, General Napoleon Bonaparte sailed with a French army to Egypt. The plan was to conquer the wealthy Ottoman province and deal a major blow to British interests in the Mediterranean. What followed was a campaign featuring legendary battles, ruthless occupation and a brutal expedition into the Holy Land, marked by Napoleon's first major military setback, and some of his most controversial decisions.

In 1807, Napoleon Bonaparte hoped to follow up his brilliant victories over Austria and Prussia with another decisive victory over the Russians in Poland. But amid freezing winter conditions, his attempted encirclement of General Bennigsen's Russian army near the East Prussian town of Eylau led, instead, to one of the most notorious battles of the Napoleonic Wars, fought in terrible conditions, with appalling losses on both sides.

In 1796, at the height of the Revolutionary Wars, Napoleon Bonaparte took command of French forces in northern Italy. He was just 26 years old and had never commanded an army before. Within weeks, he had turned his ragged, demoralised troops into a ferocious fighting force, defeating the Austrians and knocking Piedmont out of the war. With success, Napoleon began to believe it was his destiny to shape the fate of nations. In this series, we follow Napoleon's first glorious campaign step by step.

In the 8th century Middle East, a new dynasty seized control of one of the world’s greatest empires – the Islamic Caliphate. Though little remembered in the west today, the Abbasids reigned for five centuries. They oversaw an era of Islamic military dominance... city-building… brilliant scholarship, and technological innovation. It has come to be remembered as Islam’s ‘golden age’. This is the story of the Abbasid Caliphate.

All 44 Presidents in 150 seconds! A timeline of all the presidents in chronological order. If you want more detail check out Epic History TV's 2-part guide to America's Presidents:

Epic History TV's complete four-part history of Alexander the Great in one video. Follow the incredible story of the Macedonian king as he embarks on the total conquest of the ancient world's greatest superpower, the Persian Empire. With dramatic victories at the Granicus, Issus and Gaugamela, Alexander defeats Darius III and claims the throne of Persia. But his campaign to subdue the empire's easternmost provinces and reach the edge of the known world will take him into modern Afghanistan, Pakistan and the frontier of India, where he meets the Indian king Porus in battle at the Hydaspes. This is the complete overview of Alexander's conquests, a 10 year period of immense drama and historical significance, as the young Macedonian king's breathtaking achievements ushered in a new era in European and Middle Eastern history - the Hellenistic Age.

The Napoleonic Wars (1803 - 1815) brought upheaval and destruction to Europe on an unprecedented scale. This is the story of the first half of those wars, when Napoleon Bonaparte, self-crowned Emperor of the French, ruled supreme on the battlefield and international stage - the greatest man of his age. But in the midst of victory, the seeds of his eventual downfall were sown. This video is a compilation of the first six episodes of Epic History TV's Napoleonic Wars series.

In 1812 Napoleon invaded Russia with the largest army Europe had ever seen, composed of troops from France as well as Poland, Germany, Italy and several other allied states. The campaign that followed saw the Russians use scorched earth tactics to deny the enemy supplies, while Napoleon advanced further and further into Russia, searching in vain for the decisive blow that would force Emperor Alexander to negotiate peace. Even after winning a costly victory at Borodino and occupying Moscow, Napoleon's invitation to negotiate received no response. Napoleon found himself 500 miles from friendly territory, outnumbered, poorly supplied, and with winter approaching. What followed was one of the most harrowing and disastrous events in military history - the Retreat from Moscow - in which Russian attacks, freezing weather and starvation virtually wiped out the once-proud Grande Armée.

All 5 parts of Epic History TV's history of World War One in one place (re-edited in 2021). From the Schlieffen Plan to the Versailles Treaty, a global history of the entire conflict.

This compilation of our Napoleonic Wars series covers the period from 1809 to the Emperor's abdication in 1814. Along the way we encounter the horrors of the French occupation of Spain and Portugal, Napoleon's disastrous invasion of Russia, and the great struggle for German in 1813. The series concludes with arguably Napoleon's finest campaign - his doomed defence of Paris in 1814.

This is the dramatic story of NASA's Apollo Program, from President Kennedy's ambitious lunar landing goal, through the tragedies and triumphs, to the future of the program. It covers the significant milestones such as the Apollo 1 disaster, the successful Apollo 11 lunar landing, and the dramatic near-disaster of Apollo 13.

The First Crusade was one of the most extraordinary, bloody and significant episodes in medieval history. It began with an appeal for aid from the Christian Byzantine Empire, threatened by the rising power of the Muslim Seljuk Turks. But when Pope Urban II preached a sermon at Clermont in 1095, the result was unlike anything ever seen before.

Alexander is played by Charlie Merriman, an actor who studied Ancient Greek and Latin at Cambridge University. With Barefaced Greek, he performs in plays and videos in Ancient Greek.

Edward Thatch, known as Blackbeard, likely began his pirate career around 1717 under Captain Ben Hornigold in Nassau. He later commandeered Stede Bonnet's sloop, renaming it "Revenge." Blackbeard terrorized the American eastern seaboard and the Caribbean, capturing a French slave ship he renamed "Queen Anne's Revenge," which he used to attack from Guadeloupe to the Gulf of Mexico. In 1718, he blockaded Charleston, South Carolina, for ransom. After his flagship ran aground, possibly intentionally, he accepted a pardon in Bath, North Carolina, but soon returned to piracy. He was killed in a battle led by Lieutenant Maynard at Ocracoke Island, organized by Virginia's Governor Spotswood.

Part 1 of our animated timeline of America's first 44 Presidents, from George Washington and the Founding Fathers to the trauma of Civil War and Reconstruction.

Part 2 of our timeline of America's first 44 Presidents, from Benjamin Harrison to Barack Obama.

In 1956, an international crisis over control of the Suez Canal put Britain and France into direct conflict with President Nasser of Egypt, a proud Arab nationalist determined to stand up to foreign powers meddling in Egyptian affairs. To understand the deep roots of the crisis we go right back to the creation of the canal in 1869, and the long history of British intervention in Egypt - all with the usual Epic History TV maps as well as loads of brilliant and rarely-seen archive film from the period.

In 1956, an international crisis over control of the Suez Canal put Britain and France into direct conflict with President Nasser of Egypt, a proud Arab nationalist determined to stand up to foreign powers meddling in Egyptian affairs. Part 2 explores how Britain, France and Israel cooked up a secret plan to invade Egypt, overthrow Nasser and reassert their standing as global powers. But when the international community, and in particular the United States, condemned their actions, the aggressors were forced into a humiliating climbdown. The repercussions for the Middle East and global history were long-lasting and profound.

Watch the story of Magellan's voyage on Simple History

A quick guide to infantry tactics and formations of the Napoleonic period, which first appeared in our video on the Battle of Aspern. In this video we try to explain why lining up shoulder-to-shoulder was not as stupid as it first seems, and how different formations were used to maximise firepower, mobility and defence. All achieved through the miracle of drill.

In 1804 Napoleon created 18 'Marshals of the Empire', to serve as the senior officers of the Grande Armée. He created a further 8 before his abdication. A few were aristocrats, but others were the sons of shopkeepers or tailors. The most favoured became princes and kings. Among their ranks were legendary figures such as Marshals Lannes, Soult, Davout and Massena, but also much less well know figures like Pérignon, Brune and Moncey. Our series will explore the lives of all 26 Marshals, and rank them according to our own judgement of their achievements as Marshals.

In 1804 Napoleon created 18 'Marshals of the Empire', to serve as the senior officers of the Grande Armée. He created a further 8 before his abdication. A few were aristocrats, but others were the sons of shopkeepers or tailors. The most favoured became princes and kings. Among their ranks were legendary figures such as Marshals Lannes, Soult, Davout and Massena, but also much less well know figures like Pérignon, Brune and Moncey. Our series will explore the lives of all 26 Marshals, and rank them according to our own judgement of their achievements as Marshals.

In 1804 Napoleon created 18 'Marshals of the Empire', to serve as the senior officers of the Grande Armée. He created a further 8 before his abdication. A few were aristocrats, but others were the sons of shopkeepers or tailors. The most favoured became princes and kings. Among their ranks were legendary figures such as Marshals Lannes, Soult, Davout and Massena, but also much less well know figures like Pérignon, Brune and Moncey. Our series will explore the lives of all 26 Marshals, and rank them according to our own judgement of their achievements as Marshals.

In 1804 Napoleon created 18 'Marshals of the Empire', to serve as the senior officers of the Grande Armée. He created a further 8 before his abdication. A few were aristocrats, but others were the sons of shopkeepers or tailors. The most favoured became princes and kings. Among their ranks were legendary figures such as Marshals Lannes, Soult, Davout and Massena, but also much less well know figures like Pérignon, Brune and Moncey. Our series will explore the lives of all 26 Marshals, and rank them according to our own judgement of their achievements as Marshals.

In 1804 Napoleon created 18 'Marshals of the Empire', to serve as the senior officers of the Grande Armée. He created a further 8 before his abdication. A few were aristocrats, but others were the sons of shopkeepers or tailors. The most favoured became princes and kings. Among their ranks were legendary figures such as Marshals Lannes, Ney, Soult, Davout and Massena, but also much less well know figures like Pérignon, Brune and Moncey. Our series will explore the lives of all 26 Marshals, and rank them according to our own judgement of their achievements as Marshals.

In 1804 Napoleon created 18 'Marshals of the Empire', to serve as the senior officers of the Grande Armée. He created a further 8 before his abdication. A few were aristocrats, but others were the sons of shopkeepers or tailors. The most favoured became princes and kings. Among their ranks were legendary figures such as Marshals Lannes, Ney, Soult, Davout and Massena, but also much less well know figures like Pérignon, Brune and Moncey. Our series will explore the lives of all 26 Marshals, and rank them according to our own judgement of their achievements as Marshals.

The video covers the major events of Russia's two revolutions of 1917 - the February Revolution that ended Tsarist rule and the October Revolution that brought the Bolsheviks to power. It explains the causes of Tsar Nicholas II's unpopularity, including the role of Rasputin, Russia's involvement in World War One, and the events in Petrograd that led to the Tsar's abdication. It also discusses the Provisional Government's challenges, Prime Minister Kerensky's struggles, and the Bolshevik coup led by Lenin and Trotsky. The aftermath led to a brutal civil war and the formation of the Soviet Union in 1922.

All 5 parts of Epic History TV's history of World War One in one place (re-edited in 2022). From the Schlieffen Plan to the Versailles Treaty, a global history of the entire conflict.

This is Epic History TV's guide to HMS Victory, one of the most famous warships in history, and flagship of Vice Admiral Nelson at his decisive victory over the Franco-Spanish Combined Fleet at Trafalgar in 1805. In this episode we look at the composition of naval crews, and how they sailed, fought and lived aboard a warship like Victory.

In 1796, at the height of the Revolutionary Wars, Napoleon Bonaparte took command of French forces in northern Italy. He was just 26 years old and had never commanded an army before. Within weeks, he had turned his ragged, demoralised troops into a ferocious fighting force, defeating the Austrians and knocking Piedmont out of the war. With success, Napoleon began to believe it was his destiny to shape the fate of nations. In this series, we follow Napoleon's first glorious campaign step by step.

In the 8th century Middle East, a new dynasty seized control of one of the world’s greatest empires – the Islamic Caliphate. Though little remembered in the west today, the Abbasids reigned for five centuries. They oversaw an era of Islamic military dominance... city-building… brilliant scholarship, and technological innovation. It has come to be remembered as Islam’s ‘golden age’. This is the rise and fall of the Abbasid Caliphate.

In 1804 Napoleon created 18 'Marshals of the Empire', to serve as the senior officers of the Grande Armée. He created a further 8 before his abdication in 1814. A few were aristocrats, but others were the sons of shopkeepers or tailors. The most favoured became princes and kings. Among their ranks were legendary figures such as Marshals Lannes, Ney, Soult, Davout and Masséna, but also less well know figures like Pérignon, Brune and Moncey. Our series explores the lives of all 26 Marshals, and ranks them according to our own judgement of their achievements as Marshals.

November 1918. Following the Bolshevik Revolution, Russia is engulfed in a gigantic civil war. Lenin and the Reds hope to forge a new Soviet empire. His enemies, the Whites, look to their new leader Admiral Alexander Kolchak to avenge the murdered Tsar and save Russia from chaos. Kolchak is famed for his devotion to duty and 'the motherland', but faces a crisis of unimaginable proportions. Against the backdrop of a horrific civil war that claims millions of lives, he struggles for international support, military success, and ultimately, his own survival. This is our full documentary recounting the extraordinary life and times of Admiral Kolchak – Russia’s only ‘Supreme Ruler’.

In the years following independence, the newly-formed United States of America look westward for their expansion, hoping to conquer territory and sell off land to eager European settlers. Its first target is the vast, resource-rich 'Northwest Territory', stretching from the Appalachian Mountains to the Mississippi River. But this is not vacant land - thousands of native people from numerous tribes call these valleys and forests home, and will fight to protect it. As violence flares along the frontier and negotiations fail, President Washington and the US decide to take the territory by force... but they have fatally underestimated their enemy. This is the full story of the 'Northwest Indian War' and the Battle of the Wabash... America's first military defeat.

In 1798, during the French Revolutionary Wars, General Napoleon Bonaparte led a daring French expedition to Egypt. The plan was to conquer the wealthy province, and deal a major blow to British interests in the Mediterranean. What followed was a campaign featuring legendary battles, ruthless occupation and immense hardship.

This is our full documentary covering the Napoleonic Wars - from Napoleon's glorious victories as France's new Emperor, to his disastrous invasions of Spain and Russia, and finally his dramatic downfall as he fights to save his empire. These were some of the bloodiest and most momentous conflicts Europe has ever seen, and now you can witness every major campaign and epic battle all in one video.

Follow the epic saga of Napoleon's rise to power in one video: from his first success at Toulon as a young artillery captain, to his brilliant first campaigns in Italy, and his dramatic adventures across the sands of Egypt and Syria. In 1799 he seizes political power in the daring Brumaire Coup, before his legendary crossing of the Alps en route to the epic battlefield of Marengo.

Here’s a further trimmed version: *World War One - 1914* explores the alliances of Europe, including the Triple Alliance and Triple Entente, and the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which sparked the war. Imperial rivalries and alliances fueled the conflict, though US President Wilson kept America out. Germany invaded France and Belgium but was stopped at the Battle of the Marne, leading to a stalemate of trench warfare. Britain blockaded Germany after winning the first naval battle at Heligoland Bight. In the East, Germany triumphed at Tannenberg and Masurian Lakes, while Austria-Hungary suffered heavy losses. Colonial forces clashed in Africa and the Pacific, with Japan capturing Tsingtao. By winter 1914, failed offensives and high casualties on all fronts crushed hopes of a short war. The first Christmas saw brief peace with football in No Man's Land.

Here’s a further condensed version: *World War One - 1915* highlights German Zeppelin air raids on Britain, and the Royal Navy's victory at the Battle of Dogger Bank. Germany began unrestricted submarine warfare, while on the Eastern Front, Germany defeated Russia at Masurian Lakes, but Russia captured 100,000 Austro-Hungarians at Przemyśl. Allied ships faced heavy losses in the Dardanelles, and troops, including ANZACs, were pinned at Gallipoli. On the Western Front, British offensives failed, and Germany used chemical weapons at Ypres. The Armenian Genocide began in April. The sinking of *Lusitania* outraged the US, prompting Germany to suspend attacks on passenger ships. Italy joined the war, attacking Austria-Hungary, and Allied offensives in France resulted in heavy losses. In the Balkans, Serbia was overrun by the Central Powers, with the Serbian army suffering catastrophic losses during its retreat.

World War One: 1916' covers the great battles of Verdun and the Somme on the Western Front, as well as Russia's Brusilov Offensive on the Eastern Front. In the Middle East, British forces surrender at Kut, while the Arab Revolt begins in the Hejaz. But unbeknownst to Arab leaders, the British and French have secretly agreed to carve up the Middle East after the war in the secret Sykes-Picot Agreement. The war's only great naval battle is fought at Jutland, while the Italians face crisis after the surprise Austro-Hungarian attack at Asiago. In the Balkans, Romania joins the war on the Allied side, but is soon overrun by the Central Powers. CORRECTION: 13.10 - Karl was the great-nephew, not the son, of Emperor Franz Josef I.

Here’s a revised version under 1000 characters: In *1917*, Germany reintroduces unrestricted submarine warfare, hoping to defeat Britain by cutting off food supplies. This leads to an American declaration of war. In Russia, revolution forces Tsar Nicholas II to abdicate, and the Provisional Government vows to continue the war. However, the Bolshevik Revolution leads to an armistice by year's end. On the Western Front, major battles include Arras (with Canada’s capture of Vimy Ridge), the Nivelle Offensive, Messines, and Third Ypres (Passchendaele). In November, Britain launches the first mass tank attack at Cambrai. In Italy, Germany's reinforcements lead to victory at Caporetto. In the Middle East, Britain wins at Kut, Baghdad, and Gaza, allowing them to enter Jerusalem. The Arab Revolt captures Aqaba, aided by TE Lawrence, but the Balfour Declaration complicates British promises to the Arabs about independence.

This is the story of the first day of the Somme Offensive, 1 July 1916 - the single bloodiest day in British military history. 57,000 British soldiers became casualties, most within a few hours of the initial attack. The offensive was part of a doomed attempt to break the deadlock of trench warfare. But behind the myths lies the story of an elaborately-planned battle, fought against a determined and experienced German enemy, and a struggle that was seen at the time as both unavoidable and necessary. The Battle of the Somme, of which 1st July was just the first, disastrous day, raged for another four months, and was vital not only in diverting German forces away from their assault on the French at Verdun, but in teaching Britain's 'citizen army' how to fight a modern war against the German army.

From Prince Rurik to the Russian Revolution, this is a compilation of the first 5 episodes of Epic History TV's History of Russia.