Battles of Somosierra and Corunna 1808-1809 - Napoleonic Wars DOCUMENTARY

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  • Опубліковано 29 гру 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 986

  • @KingsandGenerals
    @KingsandGenerals  5 років тому +365

    Vive L'Empereur: bit.ly/2SJN3yv

    • @napoleonibonaparte7198
      @napoleonibonaparte7198 5 років тому +15

      Kings and Generals Je t’aime!

    • @Abdullah.Q8.
      @Abdullah.Q8. 5 років тому +6

      Kings and Generals
      Possible Arabic language

    • @alhassani626
      @alhassani626 5 років тому +5

      Timur's Siege of Moscow 1382

    • @arawn1061
      @arawn1061 5 років тому +3

      Hey could you do a video on how the Roman military evolved into the medieval world? Ala from the Legions to the roman army at manzikert, yarmouk, against Attila or during Justinians restoration against the goths. How did the byzantines organize their forces? Were there remnants of the Legionnaire even at the fall of Constantinople?

    • @rmz9309
      @rmz9309 5 років тому +2

      Ottoman Wars?

  • @hamm3rtym382
    @hamm3rtym382 5 років тому +911

    That cavalry charge gave me goosebumps! What bravery!

    • @heretyk_1337
      @heretyk_1337 5 років тому +102

      Literally throughout of history of my country... I cannot even describe it differently than:
      "They have cannons, they are entrenched, they have all advantages! It is impossible!".
      "Oh yeah? Hold my beer..."
      This nation is freaking nuts. Kircholm, Kutyszcze, Monte Cassino, Kostiuchnówka, almost all Uprisings, War with Soviet Union, Hodów... "How badly do they outnubmer us...?", "Eh, about 25:1...", "Good, otherwise they wouldn`t have a chance"
      All we need here is Gimili "Certanty of death... Small chance of success... What are we waiting for?".
      Yeah, i get goosebumps and misty eyes too :)

    • @FusionCoreHoarder
      @FusionCoreHoarder 5 років тому +95

      I have never heard of an example of Polish troops being cowards. And I have read many example of Polish bravery agaisnt overwhelming odds.

    • @mitjed
      @mitjed 5 років тому +68

      Polish cavalry are legendary, they defended Europe from the turks during the battle of vienna where the winged hussars charged like the lord of the rings style.

    • @d_c-fq7fb
      @d_c-fq7fb 5 років тому +45

      Polish troops imo, are some of the most badass on the planet. They have fought and won multiple victories that would have been impossible for some armies

    • @v44n7
      @v44n7 5 років тому +23

      @@d_c-fq7fb battle of wizna is a good example,
      although they have lost it was a 58:1

  • @Jon.A.Scholt
    @Jon.A.Scholt 5 років тому +379

    Those Poles from the Imperial Guard's Light Cavalry were amazing. They were reclassified Heavy Cavalry afterwards due to the wieght of their gigantic iron balls.

    • @HenioGracie
      @HenioGracie 3 роки тому +1

      Accually they were reclasivied as an old guard, and that was a maiden charge of this formation.

    • @FreakyPhilch
      @FreakyPhilch 2 роки тому +4

      @@HenioGracie I prefer the other one.

    • @KitsuneKai77
      @KitsuneKai77 2 роки тому +11

      Polish song about Somosierra 1808
      The blade flashed through the volley of canister shots
      A charge directly into the abyss at the behest of the emperor
      They fell to the ramparts in an avalanche of fire
      They raised the banner above the captured guns
      The drums stopped and the dust settled in the ravine
      The strange and rough earth will accept us today,
      Play me a trumpet, play me about Poland
      It is so close to me, though so distant
      Eagle, my Eagle, a sign of eternal glory
      Once you come to my home town
      Bow down to the wheat fields and the morning daybreak
      Immerse yourself in the sacred waters of Vistula
      Where I am leaving you are no longer there, my Poland
      You dreamed to army under the Spanish skies
      You were a restless dream, and your strength was
      On the way to a longed-for goal

    • @Il_Principessa
      @Il_Principessa Рік тому

      Those are chasseurs a cheval I think

    • @kube410
      @kube410 Рік тому

      @@KitsuneKai77 whats the name of this song? ive never heard it

  • @ElvenMetalhead
    @ElvenMetalhead 5 років тому +234

    Beset by many empires and countries through the ages, the poles are some of the most underrated armies in history. From the battlefields of Europe, to the skies of Britain, their heroism is second to none. I wish they got their due recognition.

    • @twisters999
      @twisters999 5 років тому +8

      The 4th allied army of the ww2. After the USA USSR and the British.... Where's France? And The others?

    • @47morlock
      @47morlock 3 роки тому +1

      Skies of England ? No my friend . American war of independence, more like 🤓😉

    • @michazadkowski8516
      @michazadkowski8516 3 роки тому +16

      @@twisters999 Poland still did more than France tho...

    • @sebastienk9716
      @sebastienk9716 5 місяців тому

      France took decisive action during the Second World War.
      At the Battle of Bir Hakeim, General Pierre Kœnig delayed and destroyed so many Italian and German tanks that he caused the failure of the German encirclement of the Allied armies.
      General Juin at the Battle of Garigliano, it was he and the French who broke the Gustave Line on which the Americans, British and Polish had been failing for a long time.
      The French also led their own landing in Provence with the first French army of General De Lattre de Tassigny who will liberate the south of France, Provence and go up the entire Rhone river until liberating Alsace and Strasbourg with the help of General Leclerc.
      The same General Leclerc who with his 2nd armored division will bring decisive actions in Normandy and then liberate the region of the Ile de France and Paris and then continue to the east to help Tassigny's first army to take Strasbourg.
      The French forces will then defend Strasbourg, which the Americans wanted to abandon, against the German attack. Total refusal of the French to abandon it, to respect the oath of Tobruk (Leclerc who had just taken with 1 cannon and very few men the fortress of Tobruk defended by the Italians, had sworn to his men to continue the fight until 'to take Strasbourg).
      Then Leclerc's troops will arrive to take Hitler's eagle's nest.
      De Gaulle did everything to restore the honor of the French army and he succeeded. He even prevented the Americans from making France an occupied country, by opposing the French dollar that Roosvelt wanted to put in place and by preventing the army of civil servants that Roosvelt had put in place to occupy important positions in the French administration.

  • @Armaghasthyp
    @Armaghasthyp 5 років тому +778

    Let's entrust the defense of Madrid to the guy without a portrait, going up against Napoleon.
    This is definitely gonna work out.

  • @sircopperfield7420
    @sircopperfield7420 5 років тому +169

    Jan Sobieski must be so proud of this guys. Polish fighting spirit lives on.
    Greetings from Croatian Catholic brothers!

    • @carlospargamendez7012
      @carlospargamendez7012 3 роки тому +5

      Fighting against spanish catholics, obviously...

    • @retardcorpsman
      @retardcorpsman 2 роки тому

      Sobeiski would never approve of a liberal anti-catholic French man like Napoleon leading the Poles. He’d rather see Krakow burn.

    • @jeromeescareal6331
      @jeromeescareal6331 2 роки тому +2

      king of winged hussars

    • @twisters999
      @twisters999 3 місяці тому

      Hvala brate! Love from Poland

  • @Pr0m3th3us
    @Pr0m3th3us 5 років тому +600

    San Juan: "No one will take our fortified barricade's"
    Jan Kozietulski: "Hold my Beer"

    • @Muhammed552
      @Muhammed552 5 років тому +50

      90% Calvary combat ability

    • @Cancoillotteman
      @Cancoillotteman 5 років тому +23

      Unlikely, I guess it was a vodka

    • @jakubkuberski448
      @jakubkuberski448 5 років тому +23

      @@Cancoillotteman Surprisingly, beer is a very traditional Polish drinks as well, to this day consumed in higher quantities than vodka

    • @MrBlueSleeves
      @MrBlueSleeves 5 років тому +3

      Legends say they even beat the famed Russian bear cavalry

    • @Journey_To_Self-Mastery
      @Journey_To_Self-Mastery 5 років тому +1

      Its more like hold my cruissant

  • @kamilszadkowski8864
    @kamilszadkowski8864 5 років тому +452

    I'll throw in some fun facts if you don't mind:
    #1 Spaniards later gave the 7th Light Cavalry Regiment of Vistula Legion their own name "Los picadores del inferno" - The Raiders of Hell, the English called them "Damn Polonaise'.
    #2 The more accurate translation of the words shouted by Polish officer Baron Jan Kozietulski would be: "Move, you sons of dogs, The Emperor is watching!"
    #3 Polish riders managed to wound the Spanish General San Juan during their attack on the fourth barricade but he managed to escape.
    #4 The charge lasted only 8 minutes
    #5 Some sources claim that French officers tried to convince the Emperor that the charge is impossible for cavalry, then one of the Poles, Dyzyderiusz Chłopicki said loudly: "Le Polonais passe par tout!" - "Poles can cross anything!".
    The most interesting fact is that the descendants of the heroes of Samosierra (in a straight line!) went in their ancestors' footsteps during the Charge of Rokitna often called the second Charge of Samosierra. The charge happened on June 13, 1915, during the Great War. Polish cavalrymen of Polnische Legion in the Austrian army charged the Russian defences with just 50 men and routed the Russian soldiers. Unfortunately, Austrian commanders refused to send them support. Most Poles got killed while trying to hold the captured position.

    • @noahkidd3359
      @noahkidd3359 5 років тому +52

      God I love the poles, total badasses

    • @klavakkhazga3996
      @klavakkhazga3996 5 років тому +39

      Hi! I'm from Spain. It's "Los picadores del infierno", and picadores doesn't mean raiders. A picador is a role in bullfighting, the guys that go on horses with lances. From "picar", sting, which is what they do with the lance.

    • @kamilszadkowski8864
      @kamilszadkowski8864 5 років тому +12

      @@klavakkhazga3996 I've changed it. I know who picador is but I wanted to keep the translation simple. Still, thanks!

    • @DominikKost
      @DominikKost 5 років тому +35

      By coincidence I visited a Łyczakowski/Lychakiv Cemetery in Lwów/Lviv where I found an interesting grave of Józef Czułowski, with the sculpture of a cavalry hat on top of the tombstone. I learned that Czułowski was one of the Poles that took part in the charge at the Samosierra pass and altough he got through the battle otherwise unscratched, at some point his hat got shot off his head. After he died of old age, his family decided that he finally should get his hat back. :)

    • @Cancoillotteman
      @Cancoillotteman 5 років тому +5

      @@kamilszadkowski8864 I think the best translation would be "lancers", as both the weapon of the Picador and the cavalery unit were called such ;)

  • @RoamingIRaccoon
    @RoamingIRaccoon 4 роки тому +86

    The craziest individual story imo was Andrzej Niegolewski; a Polish lieutenant who took over for the charge on the final spanish battery and survived despite receiving 9 wounds from bayonets and getting shot in the head twice.

    • @wingedhussar5528
      @wingedhussar5528 3 роки тому +34

      They should just call the guy T-800.

    • @danielkerkhoff9452
      @danielkerkhoff9452 3 місяці тому

      And then Napoleon awarded him a medal taken off his own chest. He survived and died of old age years later, age 69

  • @rafalx1717
    @rafalx1717 5 років тому +171

    Only 125-150 Polish lancers took part in the charge... but after battle so many people claimed to be part of it, including many French. French general Montbrun was claiming to personaly lead the charge while he was also only watching. So many people wanted to share this glory.

    • @KingsandGenerals
      @KingsandGenerals  5 років тому +54

      Honestly, when reading about that, I was like "yep, should have been there". :-)

    • @Mira-K
      @Mira-K 5 років тому +27

      Not yet lancers. They adopted the use of lances only after the battle of Wagram some time later that year, when they defeated Austria's Polish lancers from Galicia and took their weapons.

    • @navox933
      @navox933 5 років тому +20

      @@Mira-K "took their weapons" poles being poles lmao

    • @mareksicinski3726
      @mareksicinski3726 3 роки тому +2

      @@navox933 ...what? Are you German or smth?

    • @mareksicinski3726
      @mareksicinski3726 3 роки тому

      @@Mira-K sounds like a bit too much of a storybook type story if taken literally

  • @pma281
    @pma281 2 роки тому +141

    Brave Poles! Their fighting is worthy of recognition! Happy 103rd and 76th anniversaries of Polish independence from Spain! 🇪🇸🤝🇵🇱

    • @ukaszheil6672
      @ukaszheil6672 Рік тому +1

      Gracias, but most of us doesn't celebrate 76th anniversary - 32nd yes

    • @pma281
      @pma281 Рік тому +5

      @@ukaszheil6672 happy 32nd anniversary of Polish independence from Soviet rule, then

    • @crusader646
      @crusader646 Рік тому +2

      @@pma281 Thank you my friend! Love Spain from Poland

    • @pawelchmielewski1
      @pawelchmielewski1 Рік тому +3

      thanks Bro, thats sad history for us to die in not our wars agaist people ,who did not harm us.....no one knows im there is more glory or shame in it.greetings from Poland

    • @nickn8302
      @nickn8302 Рік тому +1

      Thankyou, Amigo!

  • @philRminiatures
    @philRminiatures 5 років тому +330

    An emotional thought for these brave Poles ...Greetings from France!

    • @heretyk_1337
      @heretyk_1337 5 років тому +9

      Read about Battle(Skirmish?) of Yevenes... Polish lancers fighting in Spain... They were called "Los Infernos Picadores"

    • @philRminiatures
      @philRminiatures 5 років тому +2

      @@emcehaThe links that unite us are eternal ...

    • @bakters
      @bakters 5 років тому +22

      Greeting from Poland. Vive la France!

    • @philRminiatures
      @philRminiatures 5 років тому +11

      @@bakters Niech żyje Polska!

    • @petite-beefcakes
      @petite-beefcakes 4 роки тому

      @@salvadormartinez4936 who hurt u? Why must you ruin everyone's fun? For once people get along in the comments, then u appear...

  • @HaloJumper7
    @HaloJumper7 5 років тому +126

    Wow, those Poles are legends. Much respect!

  • @Jon.A.Scholt
    @Jon.A.Scholt 4 роки тому +83

    The charge of the Polish cavalry, their sangfroid, is one of the most amazing things I've heard occur in the Napoleonic wars, wars full of similar feats

  • @Qba86
    @Qba86 5 років тому +113

    Allegedly one of the French generals commented that "One has to be drunk to order such a charge, as well as to perform it".
    To which Napoleon responded: "I only wish all of my soldiers were as drunk as Poles".

    • @mareksicinski3726
      @mareksicinski3726 3 роки тому +2

      most quotes like that inevitably are found to be apocyphal

    • @Qba86
      @Qba86 3 роки тому +7

      @@mareksicinski3726 Sure. That's why I wrote "allegedly".

    • @Kamfrenchie
      @Kamfrenchie 2 роки тому +5

      Napoleon actually said that, afaik, in Russia, where both french and polish troops were drunk, but the polish handled it much better and got into position quickly to fend off an attack. "Drunk as a pole" is an old french saying, iirc, though i believe it's not used much these days

  • @jewpacabra1905
    @jewpacabra1905 4 роки тому +405

    "Poles were the best cavalrymen, everybody wanted them"- My British history professor.

    • @blakeboles2848
      @blakeboles2848 3 роки тому +45

      He isn't wrong. Polish horsemen were highly sought after and used by napoleon, the prussians, and I think the austrians at one point or another.
      Fun fact, as late as WW2; when germany invaded poland in 1939, the poles were still using soldiers on horseback.
      The lancer and hussar is as integral to their military history as the cossacks are to Russia and the Horse Archer is to Mongolia

    • @wtflol2721
      @wtflol2721 3 роки тому +74

      @@blakeboles2848 Polish horses against German tanks, archaic cavalry against modern technology ... There is, as you can see, only a pinch of truth in this propaganda. At the same time, it is too one-sided picture, because horses also actively served in the German army during World War II. On September 23, 1939 near Krasnobród, the 2nd Squadron of the Navahrudak Cavalry Brigade clashed with with a detachment of East Prussian cavalry. In fact, there were a surprisingly large number of horses in the German army at that time: 4 German cavalry divisions (1 army and 3 SS divisions) plus many smaller independent units. Admittedly, Hitler called the impending war "Motorenkrieg", or "the war of motorcycles," but in fact, on the eve of its outbreak, he had as many as 600,000 horses in the army and only ("only") 200,000 motor vehicles. After Poland was occupied, the horses were requisitioned massively and Hitler could use 700,000 animals to attack Russia, and in those years the number of animals in the entire army never dropped below 1,100,000. To handle this number of animals, the army had 37,000 horseshoes, and there were also 48 veterinary hospitals, serving up to 100,000 four-legged patients daily.
      The German army used horses all the time - the first SS cavalry regiment already took part in the September campaign, and on its basis the 8th SS cavalry division was created, which fought until April 1945. In 1944, the 1st Corps fought as part of the Army Group "center" Cavalry, composed, among others with the 1st Royal Hungarian Cavalry Division and the 4th and 3rd Cavalry Brigades. There was also a cavalry composed of Ukrainian Cossacks. There are many such examples. The fact that the Germans lost as many as 3 million horses during the war can prove how big the formations are.

    • @TheHISTORYmann
      @TheHISTORYmann 3 роки тому +21

      @@wtflol2721 Great comment. Thank you for this information, I don't think I would have ever known this if I hadn't come across this comment as it's a detail too specific to be mentioned in the often broad histories of World War 2.

    • @jarkogonzo7432
      @jarkogonzo7432 3 роки тому +24

      ​@@blakeboles2848 In 1939, the Poles had 37 cavalry regiments, each about the strength of an infantry battalion. This cavalry fought like dragoons, that is, before making contact with the enemy, the soldiers dismounted, entrenched themselves and placed anti-tank guns in front. This made sense in the event of a war with Soviet Russia, where half of the front in the center was covered by forests and swamps. However, even in the fight against the Germans, for example in the Battle of Mokra, the Polish cavalry brigade repelled the attacks of the 4th armored division of the Wehrmacht.

    • @TheChuckfuc
      @TheChuckfuc 3 роки тому +3

      @@blakeboles2848 in ww2 they operated more as dragoons or mounted infantry. Using anti tank guns and heavy machine guns.

  • @kamilszadkowski8864
    @kamilszadkowski8864 5 років тому +180

    I have crazy time shortages as of late but there is no way in hell I'm missing the Battle of Samosierra.

  • @fumiao
    @fumiao 5 років тому +70

    Wow unbelieveable performance and incredible heroism by the Poles. Respect. Bravo!

  • @TheHippoBLT
    @TheHippoBLT 5 років тому +161

    If you want to see the charge in action watch the Polish movie, Popioly. Its on youtube and has English subs.
    It was made in 1965 and depicts the whole Napoleonic Wars from a Polish point of view, from Haiti to Russia.

    • @VRichardsn
      @VRichardsn 5 років тому +11

      Hey, thanks for sharing! I will check it out.

    • @woz1937
      @woz1937 5 років тому +11

      Here it is - ua-cam.com/video/Vi8eeTXzMsc/v-deo.html

    • @gtvpm9482
      @gtvpm9482 4 роки тому +3

      Send links please!

  • @johndoerayme7064
    @johndoerayme7064 4 роки тому +33

    My goodness, the elan of that Polish charge gave me chills

  • @Daimon-X
    @Daimon-X 5 років тому +288

    "Naprzód psiekrwie, Cesarz patrzy - Forward, you sons of dogs, the Emperor is watching." -
    Baron Jan Leon Hipolit Kozietulski

  • @علاءالدينأبوعاصي
    @علاءالدينأبوعاصي 5 років тому +53

    Classic example showcasing the effect of motivation and discipline under fire on combat effectiveness! The Polish Light Cavalry knew its objectives, and the loss of officers did not prevent them from completing the mission and capturing their objectives.

  • @davout5775
    @davout5775 5 років тому +205

    The Poles were for centuries considered to be the absolute best cavalryman in the whole world.

    • @kamilszadkowski8864
      @kamilszadkowski8864 4 роки тому +35

      @Eric Kim Cossacks were never really considered an elite cavalry. And Germans... they were obviously considered accomplished soldiers by that time sure, but I don't think they were ever considered as good cavalrymen as Poles or Hungarians.

    • @jibislakis8193
      @jibislakis8193 4 роки тому +6

      You never heard of the mongols👩‍🚒

    • @davout5775
      @davout5775 4 роки тому +19

      @@jibislakis8193 The mongols relied on numbers and quick strikes. Most of their conquests are against enemies with no comparable armies or armies which were similar to their army. When they came to Europe and faced real European armies they were easily defeated

    • @user-dr6bc4jc8y
      @user-dr6bc4jc8y 4 роки тому +14

      @@davout5775 nope, they defeated both Hungary and Poland. But the death of the great khan back in Mongolia stopped their advance.

    • @davout5775
      @davout5775 4 роки тому +25

      @@user-dr6bc4jc8y They were stopped in Central Europe that's how their expansion stopped

  • @blugaledoh2669
    @blugaledoh2669 5 років тому +62

    Those Poles have ball of steel.

  • @AulusMax
    @AulusMax 5 років тому +76

    4:00 Then the Winged Hussars arrived part 2

  • @johnham4485
    @johnham4485 4 роки тому +63

    Napoleon was a genius to understand how OP Polish cavalry was, therefore utilized them in his Grand army.

    • @mareksicinski3726
      @mareksicinski3726 7 місяців тому

      But it wasn’t just cavalry

    • @mareksicinski3726
      @mareksicinski3726 7 місяців тому

      PL troops were the second largest conditngent in the Grand Army by contiengent
      And arguably by then it didn’t take genius

  • @Orbotus
    @Orbotus 5 років тому +128

    I feel sad that so many Poles had to die, they were so brave because Napoleon promised them independence

    • @KingsandGenerals
      @KingsandGenerals  5 років тому +56

      Yeah. Don't forget that the independence was lost a few decades ago, so the memory was fresh.

    • @Orbotus
      @Orbotus 5 років тому +27

      @@KingsandGenerals Not to mention that when he finally created small Polish kingdom, it got wrecked right after Napoleon failed in Russia. He probably just did that because Poles were great soldiers and he needed them + it was a good place to resupply, recruit troops etc. Because it was at the Russian border.

    • @Altrantis
      @Altrantis 5 років тому +36

      Well, the French never forgot though, and 100 years latter after WW1 they pushed to reform Poland again. And then again in 1945.

    • @alekjanowski9847
      @alekjanowski9847 4 роки тому +9

      @@Altrantis Sadly USA and GB gave up on eastern europe :

    • @janherburodo8070
      @janherburodo8070 4 роки тому +22

      @@Altrantis Clemenceau was the greatest ally of Poland in Versailles.

  • @1987MartinT
    @1987MartinT 5 років тому +29

    The light cavalry tore the Spanish army in half at the point where their line was deepest! I was certain that this was gonna turn out like the Charge of the Light Brigade. The fact that they managed it is jaw-dropping!

    • @christopherlake398
      @christopherlake398 3 роки тому +2

      It was exactly like the charge of the Light Brigade in that they successfully took the guns, but with dreadful casualty rates. In both cases they also misunderstood orders on which guns to take.

    • @1987MartinT
      @1987MartinT 3 роки тому

      @@christopherlake398 At least here the cavalry's support followed up the charge. So it wasn't in vain.

  • @imperialpharaoh7900
    @imperialpharaoh7900 5 років тому +124

    Can you do Napoleons campaigns in Egypt? The battle of Pyramids and the Cairo Revolt?

    • @worsethanjoerogan8061
      @worsethanjoerogan8061 5 років тому +2

      Battle of Egypt would be okay except it was such a one sided affair

    • @enriquepenanieto4398
      @enriquepenanieto4398 5 років тому +1

      Or the Battle of Puebla in the 2nd French Intervention would be more interesting.

    • @jamiengo2343
      @jamiengo2343 5 років тому +1

      Imperial Pharaoh and the Battle of the Nile

    • @abcdc197
      @abcdc197 4 роки тому +1

      Battle of Pyramids was MMA fighter beating baby. Like that wasn't a battle that was rape. Then again Egypt deserved it for supporting Britain even tho Napoleon never intended to fight Ottomans in the first place. Napoleon lost less than 30 while killing thousands. Mamluks thought it was good idea to use medieval tactics against Napoleon and got wiped out. They had no place on battlefild as main force in 19th century. However Napoleon was impressed by them so much that he took many of them as his bodyguard. Actually in Spanish rebelion, civilians attacked and killed many mamluks of Napolen's general Murat as they saw them as muslim invaders and Napoleon nothing but a heathen. It was one of many things that drove Spanish to rebelion. Then Murat avenged them by killing hundreds od civilans which futher worsened the situation...

    • @TheHISTORYmann
      @TheHISTORYmann 3 роки тому

      @@abcdc197 Thank you for this, it was great to read. What I find interesting is that Murat would raze a European town because of the deaths of the Mamelukes. I don't think this is ever something you would read in Russian, Spanish, British history etc. And shows how the principle of meritocracy was so important to the French Army. You have to consider that many Europeans thought that those in the Middle East were inferior, but not Murat, and not Napoleon, who saw the worth of men not by their blood but by their merit.

  • @oguzkagankatran522
    @oguzkagankatran522 5 років тому +23

    wow what a bravery, respect from turkia to poles

  • @somsahay2161
    @somsahay2161 5 років тому +34

    Salute to that cavalry charge, gave me shivers while watching. I hope there is a memorial or something on the site of the battlefield for them, does not matter which side they fought on, feats like these deserve admiration from all. Incredible to think that almost all of them knew the price they were going to pay, and they all paid, and willingly for their martial honor. War is terrible, but it makes heroes come to the fore.

    • @archivesoffantasy5560
      @archivesoffantasy5560 4 роки тому +6

      Qimodis see how Austria Prussia and Russia treated Poland and you’ll see why they loved napoleon. He’s on their national anthem

    • @archivesoffantasy5560
      @archivesoffantasy5560 4 роки тому +4

      Qimodis ok, he’s on your national anthem. I have great respect for poles they helped us in the battle of Britain

  • @mattaffenit9898
    @mattaffenit9898 5 років тому +14

    Dat cav charge tho...
    🎶🎵THEN THE WINGED HUSSARS ARRIVED🎵🎶

  • @sisi4361
    @sisi4361 5 років тому +25

    Greatly respect to all fallen and surviving polish cavalry.

  • @hemmingwayfan
    @hemmingwayfan 5 років тому +79

    Never underestimate the power of a Pole on horseback

    • @catriona_drummond
      @catriona_drummond 5 років тому +21

      Exactly my thoughts. The narrator was going on about "perhaps this, perhaps that". I was like: "They were poles on horsebacks. They do not stop."
      From Grunwald in 1410 over Kircholm, Vienna, Somosierra right up to 1939 where they still managed to shake German infantry with a couple of attacks (and no they didn't attack tanks), and even to 1945(!) at the battle of Schoenfed it's a history of incredible bravery, often outnumbered.

    • @heretyk_1337
      @heretyk_1337 5 років тому +3

      Why is it that all we need is a horse between our legs... that didn`t come out right... to go completely crazy? Nah, we don`t, we just need to believe that we go for some thing grater than us, and off we go against most fucked odds you can imagine...

  • @TheHistoryofSpainPodcast
    @TheHistoryofSpainPodcast 5 років тому +47

    W-w-we were overwhelmed.

  • @Whitemoon193
    @Whitemoon193 5 років тому +177

    Hard times for Poles. Fighting for independence in the same time forced to crash rebelion in Haiti and independence of Spain. Many of polish legionnares had mental problems because of that. Fighting for own freedom and be forced by France to destroy another

    • @Altrantis
      @Altrantis 5 років тому +26

      @Viz12345 Well, it's a mixed bag. The French have a long history of supporting Poland, and were involved in 3 attempts at reforming it, Napoleon and both world wars. So it can't be just that they used them. On one hand they did want to help Poland, but on the other hand they did also use them as they saw fit.

    • @zawiszaczarny7876
      @zawiszaczarny7876 5 років тому +28

      Many poles changed side in Haiti and fought with Haitians againt the French, their ancestors live there till this day. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_Haitians

    • @salviniusaugustus6567
      @salviniusaugustus6567 5 років тому +13

      @@zawiszaczarny7876
      What idiots... Now their descendants are forced to live in a shithole...

    • @pawelniesporek7
      @pawelniesporek7 4 роки тому +7

      @@Altrantis FRANCE HELPING POLAND. XDDD that's actually funny, your history knowledge makes me laugh.
      and they were helping us in both wars XD lol hahah yeah, especially in WW2 when they were f***ing chickens, couldn't attack defenceless Germany

    • @petite-beefcakes
      @petite-beefcakes 4 роки тому +6

      @@pawelniesporek7 you're ignoring literal centuries of history between France and Poland in the name of the Politics of WWII.... Don't be stupid.
      France always had a sort of an unspoken secret alliance with Poland because of Germany. It was simple geopolitics and it was necessary. Don't forget the fact that it was mainly France that was pushing for the second Republic of Poland to have more territory. The only time when the actual franco-polish relations came to crumble was during the phoney war period, which on the greater scheme of things was still pretty small.

  • @firstconsul7286
    @firstconsul7286 5 років тому +14

    I actually cheered out loud for that charge! It feels like something you could only achieve in Total War.

  • @Muguratiu
    @Muguratiu 5 років тому +15

    Man, the epicness of the Poles and Corunna...sounds like a proto-Dunkirk. Thanks for the video, guys

  • @KitsuneKai77
    @KitsuneKai77 2 роки тому +12

    Polish song about Somosierra 1808
    The blade flashed through the volley of canister shots
    A charge directly into the abyss at the behest of the emperor
    They fell to the ramparts in an avalanche of fire
    They raised the banner above the captured guns
    The drums stopped and the dust settled in the ravine
    The strange and rough earth will accept us today,
    Play me a trumpet, play me about Poland
    It is so close to me, though so distant
    Eagle, my Eagle, a sign of eternal glory
    Once you come to my home town
    Bow down to the wheat fields and the morning daybreak
    Immerse yourself in the sacred waters of Vistula
    Where I am leaving you are no longer there, my Poland
    You dreamed to army under the Spanish skies
    You were a restless dream, and your strength was
    On the way to a longed-for goal

  • @reveriesend4668
    @reveriesend4668 5 років тому +48

    Well, if one charge of light horsemen can take 4 lines of cannons almost-perfectly positioned on hills, I'd panic, as well.

    • @wiryx1
      @wiryx1 5 років тому +5

      They didn't count the poles into consideration when setting those defences :)

    • @ManWithNoName1980
      @ManWithNoName1980 4 роки тому +4

      And all in couple of minutes

  • @matthewdoliveira9421
    @matthewdoliveira9421 5 років тому +5

    if i had one wish, i'd wish this channel could release a napoleonic wars vid everyday. Keep them coming Kings and Generals, i love it!!!

  • @source1zero
    @source1zero 5 років тому +2

    This is hands down the best channel on UA-cam. Bravo Kings and Generals!!!!!

  • @JcLazy1
    @JcLazy1 5 років тому +12

    That Cavalry Just made my week ! 😇

  • @Fenniks-
    @Fenniks- 5 років тому +64

    lol what a lucky day you and bazBattles uploaded at the same time

    • @shrishchauhan3390
      @shrishchauhan3390 5 років тому +4

      Yeah brother I came here after watching BB's upload

    • @Fenniks-
      @Fenniks- 5 років тому +2

      @@shrishchauhan3390 same for me :)

    • @billdehappy1
      @billdehappy1 5 років тому +2

      @@shrishchauhan3390 im goin there now lol

    • @worsethanjoerogan8061
      @worsethanjoerogan8061 5 років тому +1

      The creators actually hate that because it competes for views lol. Nice for us history junkies though

    • @vguyver2
      @vguyver2 5 років тому

      Far too many of us did. History readers all sharing the same interests.

  • @theobush439
    @theobush439 5 років тому +25

    “General San Juan tried to restore order, *expects him to say something like “he couldn’t do it”* HE WAS HANGED BY HIS TROOPS”

    • @VRichardsn
      @VRichardsn 5 років тому +8

      Haha yes it is a bit suprising. To be fair, though, the hanging didn't take place during the rout, but severak weeks later during a mutiny.

  • @justalunatic4268
    @justalunatic4268 4 роки тому +12

    "Impossible? I don't know the meaning of the word..."
    Horsemen Of The Apocalypse buff applied on Polish Cavarly.

  • @GeneralGiffel
    @GeneralGiffel 5 років тому +27

    I started crying when i heard what the poles did.. Most manly tears ever.

  • @robin_5099
    @robin_5099 5 років тому +8

    What an extraordinary cavalry charge! The courage it must have taken to repeatedly charge against prepared canon is astonishing! More so because of its success.

    • @SantomPh
      @SantomPh 5 років тому

      Well they lost all their officers and the majority of their number, so the only reason this succeeded is because the Spanish did not react well enough to it and the French eventually supported their cavalry charge with infantry.

    • @robin_5099
      @robin_5099 5 років тому

      Agreed.

    • @Hope-om1kc
      @Hope-om1kc 2 роки тому

      @@SantomPh jealous knowing that the british charges are not close to this magnificent charge

  • @wiryx1
    @wiryx1 5 років тому +16

    Poles and their cavalry... I've heard a few times the translated saying of polish neighbours (mostly from the east) that "Pole is born and dies on horseback". Could there be a better statement of the cavalry prowess than from its opponents?

  • @kayt9627
    @kayt9627 5 років тому +89

    Surely this invasion won’t backfire on us. Surely.

  • @grimmech4268
    @grimmech4268 5 років тому +71

    hears cavalry and polish. Mind starts thinking: THEN THE WINGED HUSSARS ARRIVED!
    Jesus Christ polish cav is op.

    • @mareksicinski3726
      @mareksicinski3726 3 роки тому

      a bit of a different scenario than the one you refer to

  • @brokenbridge6316
    @brokenbridge6316 4 роки тому +6

    Fun video. Always enjoy finding out more about Napoleon and the battles he fought against his enemies. My thanks to those who made this video a reality.

  • @generaltom6850
    @generaltom6850 3 роки тому +15

    The poles were undoubtedly the most cavalrymen who deserved to be part of the imperial guard

  • @alexbednarz8085
    @alexbednarz8085 3 роки тому +18

    Sobieski was probably smiling down on those cavalrymen

  • @blumetzy8405
    @blumetzy8405 5 років тому +41

    I have to comment on this one... I always knew our brothers, the Poles were brave... but what happened here is unbelievable... didn't they have families? Didn't they have children? Why did they do it? Noone knows... they are the best... I am honored to be brothers of the Poles..
    Polak Wegier dva bratanki!!

    • @heretyk_1337
      @heretyk_1337 5 років тому +2

      @@damianb8322 Something along these lines i suspect...
      Blu Metzy- why are you trying to look from today`s perspective? You are talking about people who were told stories of Polish- Lituhanian Commonwealth, and you talk about people who were sure their deaths would be for a greater cause. You talk about people who were great grandsons of all kind of daredevils, ready to risk their life just to impress others... In other words: you talk about crazy motherfuckers... And i am happy to announce, we ain`t much changed to this day :) maybe we`ll go smarter about next war, but we still are fucked in the head.

    • @twisters999
      @twisters999 5 років тому +3

      Lengyel, Magyar... Bro... We are brothers and will be!

  • @jtasgl88
    @jtasgl88 5 років тому +3

    I love the new single rifle icon for infantry units as the old triple rifle looked like a set of claws, great video!

  • @sidetracker3496
    @sidetracker3496 5 років тому +38

    Its amazing to see just how loyal the Polish where to Napoleon given the fact that Napoleon personally forced Prussia and Russia to release previously polish lands and reformed an independent polish nation.

    • @EndOfSmallSanctuary97
      @EndOfSmallSanctuary97 5 років тому +11

      They were among his most loyal soldiers. Even after his massive defeat at Leipzig in 1813 they still stayed loyal even when all of his other allies betrayed him, and they were still intent on fighting on.

    • @alekjanowski9847
      @alekjanowski9847 5 років тому +3

      @@EndOfSmallSanctuary97 It is said some of them came back to fight for him even in his last battle, as volunteers O_o

    • @carlito571
      @carlito571 5 років тому +13

      @@EndOfSmallSanctuary97 I read somewhere that a British soldier at Waterloo.Witnessed the last French trumpet to have been blown... by a Polish cavalry rearguard,not French.

    • @zerguskotus2648
      @zerguskotus2648 2 роки тому

      he reformed a bootleg puppet state

  • @ukaszheil6672
    @ukaszheil6672 Рік тому +6

    Funny anegdote about that charge: legend says, that night before the battle, most of Napoleon's cavalry (including Poles) were drunk, and in the morning, only Poles were able to charge. After the battle, Napoleon told his officers "I want you to drink like Poles" (or to be drunk like Poles - it is hard to me to translated it from Polish)

  • @HxH2011DRA
    @HxH2011DRA 5 років тому +26

    Legends, all my respect to that calvary

  • @wingedhussar5528
    @wingedhussar5528 3 роки тому +8

    Spanish: Yeah we got cannons up in here.. No one is nuts enough to charge us.
    Polish: You call it nuts we call it just another Wednesday.

  • @rafalx1717
    @rafalx1717 5 років тому +20

    The other great Polish-French victory in Spanish campaign was the Battle of Fuengirola 1810. Until today we have in Poland the sabre of British general captured by Polish troops. And it was infantry, not cavalry. About 400 Poles and 50 French defeated about 4000 British and Spanish troops.
    www.napolun.com/mirror/napoleonistyka.atspace.com/Fuengirola.htm

  • @ordinaryhuman2511
    @ordinaryhuman2511 5 років тому +29

    Those damn poles and their light cavalry... 2nd to none I say

  • @burnsboysaresoldiers
    @burnsboysaresoldiers 5 років тому +33

    zero surprise that the creme of cavalry of the imperial army were POLES. with eagles wings

  • @OttomanHistoryHub
    @OttomanHistoryHub 5 років тому +1

    I love the feeling of waking up on Sundays to a Kings and Generals video. Love you guys!

    • @Hussar-bt8sv
      @Hussar-bt8sv 5 років тому

      British, spanish, portugese, french and russian empire Dwarfed "Ottoman empire" in size, Our empires controlled entire continents. While ottoman empire controlled mostly sand wasteland, lik arabia. So i dont understand when turks says they controlled the world for 600 years.

    • @OttomanHistoryHub
      @OttomanHistoryHub 5 років тому

      Leo luster was right I don’t believe in that statement at all about the Turks ruling the world. I think Turks use that statement more as way to say that the Ottomans were a superpower during the 1500s rather then a actual factual statement. It’s unfair to say the Ottoman Empire was mostly desert as well, it controlled diverse types of lands like the plains of Hungary, mountains in Anatolia, huge Forests in Serbia and Bosnia. If I were you I would keep your nationalism to yourself because you look like a fool.

  • @Muhammed552
    @Muhammed552 5 років тому +25

    Huge salute and respect for the polish Calvary
    you earned our respect gentleman

  • @lealsaciensdu6774
    @lealsaciensdu6774 5 років тому +26

    BRAVE POLES 🇵🇱🇵🇱

  • @waggie
    @waggie 5 років тому +23

    Polish Cavalry always badass to the core!

  • @mcMarcin6
    @mcMarcin6 5 років тому +2

    FINALLY. YOU PROMISED ME THIS ONE BACK IN 2017

  • @fuser312
    @fuser312 5 років тому +17

    I didn't know that winged hussars arrived in Spain too, TIL.

  • @carmelobasco3369
    @carmelobasco3369 5 років тому +2

    OH YES. *You guys do not disappoint*
    I love you.

  • @Esterhazy1973
    @Esterhazy1973 3 роки тому +7

    4:49 - I don't think they misunderstood anything. In those times french was commonly spoken - certainly among polish officers.

    • @Esterhazy1973
      @Esterhazy1973 2 роки тому +1

      @Casual Club You don't have a clue what you are talking about. The whole polish state was to be reinstated - not just some pathetic Duchy of Warsaw. On top of that polish soldiers were supposed to fight Russia, Prussia and Austria - not Spain or Haiti. Napoleon lied to those who, despite everything, stayed with him to the end..

  • @pawelt5683
    @pawelt5683 5 років тому +13

    Battle of Chocim 1673 please

  • @amitabhakusari2304
    @amitabhakusari2304 5 років тому +14

    Poles and their cavalry stronk, no wonder elite cavalry in Europe would call themselves Hussars.
    I have noticed all the greatest generals basically teleport all around the map- Caesar, Alexander, Napoleon etc. Did they organise the logistics and such themselves or something?
    It is really interesting to study Napoleon's campaign in this form without having to deal with a 'lies' episode. I don't think narratives and history go well together.
    The Spanish General did what he could with what little he had. I think he would done much better if he had a second chance.
    The English charging bravely backwards had me in tears, but for a different reason.

    • @SoulReaperIsHere
      @SoulReaperIsHere 5 років тому +3

      Fairly sure the original hussars were Hungarian

    • @Artur_M.
      @Artur_M. 5 років тому +2

      Yeah, the hussar formations came to Poland-Lithuania from Hungary in the early 16th century, then developed differently in both realms. In Polish language the Hungarian and the Polish-Lithuanian style hussars are even called by a slightly different names. In the 18th and 19th centuries most of the light cavalry units all over the Europe became modelled after the Hungarian and Polish ones and called hussars in the first case or uhlans (or simply lancers) in the second.

    • @aleksandersokal5279
      @aleksandersokal5279 5 років тому +1

      @@SoulReaperIsHere But Poles made them famous with the Polish Winged Hussars, who were formed from the Polish nobility and were by far the best edition of the hussars.

  • @danielconde13
    @danielconde13 5 років тому +7

    Didn't know the story of Somosierra Battle; I was in awe, trully amazing achievement.
    After Coruña, Soult invaded Portugal, in what is known here as the 2nd French Invasion - with its most significant episodes being the Defesa da Ponte de Amarante (Defense of the Amarante Bridge), and the Tragédia da Ponte das Barcas (The Boats Bridge Tragedy), in Porto city.

  • @chtisponytail538
    @chtisponytail538 5 років тому +7

    Most amazing history !! 👍 👍 Thx !!

  • @randomuser6175
    @randomuser6175 5 років тому +1

    Those turning points of battles are so interesting

  • @WhiteZorin
    @WhiteZorin 5 років тому +16

    Oh yes, Polish Somosierra, sweet spot hit, nicely done :)
    And yes, I feel again like Empire Total War.

  • @cassiusijeomah4239
    @cassiusijeomah4239 11 місяців тому

    Well Documented And Narrated Versions Of Two Great Battles

  • @gianlucaborg195
    @gianlucaborg195 5 років тому +10

    These glorious 17mins of bliss, I don’t watch them when out. I save them, for special occasions.
    Napoleon clearly here proved his skills, the superiority of the Grand Army, and the genius he and his followers had.
    The Polish cavalry also proved it was still the best! #1683! #WhenTheWingedHussursArrived
    Long live the Kings and Generals!!!!!!

  • @rizkyardan5760
    @rizkyardan5760 5 років тому +2

    Amazing video as always!. Cant wait for the Ottoman Wars series.

  • @HistoryandOtherStuffwithBV
    @HistoryandOtherStuffwithBV 5 років тому +4

    Kurzgesagt, BazBattles and Kings&Generals release one video each ON THE SAME DAY? What good have I done to deserve this gift?

  • @Daruliable
    @Daruliable 5 років тому +3

    Great video! I've never heard about this battle before, so I've learned something new today 👍🏽

  • @hugod2000
    @hugod2000 5 років тому +3

    great video. thanks for posting.

  • @matanbaruch7728
    @matanbaruch7728 5 років тому +5

    Continue this and the ottomans these videos are actually so good

  • @Darth_Enigma
    @Darth_Enigma 5 років тому +3

    "I've been looking forward to this"-Count Dooku

  • @jopastajopiter6844
    @jopastajopiter6844 5 років тому +1

    Excellent video as always

  • @joshualuna9186
    @joshualuna9186 4 роки тому +2

    Man that cavalry charge have moral and courage of steel

  • @WildBillCox13
    @WildBillCox13 5 років тому +1

    Very well presented. Easy to follow. Thanks, again, Kings and Generals!

  • @ryszardkilinski1238
    @ryszardkilinski1238 4 роки тому +8

    Napoleon is said to have said before the battle: "Impossible, you say? Just leave it to Poles then".

  • @4sakenreaper42
    @4sakenreaper42 5 років тому +2

    I love this soundtrack its epic! Amazing video to, I love these penninsular war videos

  • @juliuszgodek6514
    @juliuszgodek6514 5 років тому +7

    Viva la Napoleón!!! He’s finally back. Loved the vid

  • @williambilltran3528
    @williambilltran3528 5 років тому +2

    Beautiful

  • @VforArt
    @VforArt 5 років тому +7

    some of paintings of batttle of samosierra:
    1.
    static.epodreczniki.pl/portal/f/res-minimized/RVpjugv3Bit7d/4/960/8QlgIWEflG0v5rTPuqTOKc9Ua2jRfDKB.jpg
    2.
    www.pinakoteka.zascianek.pl/Kossak_Jerzy/Images/Somosierra_szarza.jpg
    3.
    upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/70/WKossak024.jpg
    4.
    upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/WKossak025.jpg/1920px-WKossak025.jpg
    5.
    upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8e/WKossakBateria.jpg
    6.
    desa.pl/media/img/cms/auction_objects/18770/b8abe69621bd15a673b39c80306071d2.jpg

  • @Dylan-hy2zj
    @Dylan-hy2zj 5 років тому

    Just like to take a minute to say I LOVED the music in this one.

  • @TheTariqibnziyad
    @TheTariqibnziyad 5 років тому +38

    POLES !!! GIVE THEM YOUR LIKES !!!

  • @shou9246
    @shou9246 5 років тому +2

    Quality content as usual

  • @Holsp
    @Holsp 5 років тому +12

    Some say they are fighting at Zaragoza to this day

  • @MMartec
    @MMartec 4 роки тому +1

    I am loving to watch your videos!

  • @elenagarcia222
    @elenagarcia222 5 років тому +7

    Poles + cavalry = unstoppable

    • @ericgrace9995
      @ericgrace9995 5 років тому

      Unless it's 1940 and you are in a panzer.....

  • @Truewooper
    @Truewooper 5 років тому +5

    that...was epic