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00:08This program contains violence and swearing.
00:11Parental guidance is advised.
00:22Welcome to the bloody age of the guillotine.
00:31What a pitiful sight.
00:34Pitiful.
00:35You poor, poor man.
00:39Don't be scared.
00:42It'll soon be over.
00:46And then tomorrow, after a good rest,
00:51we shall kill your wife.
00:53Don't, please!
00:56France was a hell of a place to be a couple of centuries ago.
01:01The country was in the grip of revolution.
01:07Citizens! Don't be frightened!
01:11Good citizens of France!
01:13Take what is rightfully yours!
01:16The king had already been killed, along with hundreds of aristocrats.
01:21The whole country was being turned on its head.
01:27Power now lay in the hands of bureaucrats and politicians,
01:31who every day were becoming more ruthless.
01:37They ordered that anyone declared an enemy of the new regime, rich or poor,
01:43be shot or taken to the national razor.
01:49But with upheaval came opportunity.
01:53For one young refugee from Corsica, this was the chance of a lifetime.
01:59This is the little-known story of how Napoleon Bonaparte first emerged from obscurity.
02:07How he risked everything and set out on a path that would see him crowned Emperor of France.
02:30This town that has been captured has been liberated for your good!
02:36To give you chances you never had in your life before!
02:40The infection has been cut away for your benefit!
02:43Don't wait for this scum!
02:45For every minute of that day, France needs hurt!
02:48We're so proud of you.
02:49We all are.
02:52Come on, let it.
02:54Hey.
02:56For us not to get shot.
02:59Passionate.
03:00Believe him, I want to say something.
03:03You see what's happening here.
03:05Like this country is on... on fire.
03:08I know it's brutal.
03:09There's just so many people.
03:11You know?
03:12Strangers.
03:14Not us.
03:16Everything's changing.
03:18Everyone's gonna get their chance, Napoleon.
03:20That's why we came to this country.
03:22You must make your name here.
03:24For all of us.
03:29Take care.
03:35To Captain Napoleon Bonaparte, by order of the Committee of Public Safety, Paris.
03:43You are hereby promoted to Commander of Artillery for the District of Toulon.
03:51The fighting around Toulon has been fierce and infantry losses heavy.
03:56But the importance of this region cannot be overstated.
04:03The revolution is under assault from all sides, by traitors and their foreign allies.
04:08But nowhere is the threat greater than at Toulon.
04:15The English, invited in by French counter-revolutionaries, occupy both the city and its port.
04:21From here they could overrun the entire south of France.
04:24Toulon must be retaken without delay.
04:29You are to report to the headquarters of General Carteau at Uliul.
04:37The Spanish are pressing up from the Pyrenees.
04:40The Austrians from the east, the English to the north.
04:42And we've got God knows how many tied up in the guerrilla war and the Bondi.
04:48But retaking Toulon is still Paris' main concern.
04:54Well, it's not your normal rebelling city.
04:57Well, you've had the place by now. It's the English.
05:00We're here, about four miles west.
05:02I've deployed battalions of infantry to retake the areas round the city.
05:07Deployments which have been immensely successful.
05:10We've got back the entire surrounding areas.
05:13And as you can see, we've begun punishing the collaborators.
05:16Everything's under control, just another siege now.
05:19Citizen, your colleague General Brunet thought this was just another siege.
05:26Which is why we're having him executed.
05:31We're not military men, but this could finish the revolution.
05:36Lose Toulon, its naval base.
05:38We could lose France.
05:40Now, I suggest your wife shuts her mouth, and you tell us exactly how you plan to get the English
05:50out.
05:56Hold the area.
05:59Wait for reinforcements.
06:01And storm the city walls with a full-scale, frontal infantry assault.
06:09We've got to leave the world.
06:11Let's wrap him up.
06:11Let's go.
06:26Let's take a look.
06:29Come on.
06:53Jesus.
07:16Sir, General, Madame.
07:20You don't salute me.
07:24Bonaparte?
07:25Of course.
07:27I know you're planning a frontal assault, but there's another way.
07:31You can be in Toulon tomorrow.
07:33The English don't care about the city.
07:35It's this, the harbour.
07:36That's why they're here.
07:37Whole English fleet's there.
07:39Make the harbour useless and they'll leave the city.
07:48Now, we only ever use the artillery to support the ground troops.
07:51What about the other way around?
07:53Why don't we use my cannon to attack their boats?
07:59Down the peninsula, about there, halfway down, there is a patch of high ground.
08:05Occupy that.
08:06I'll bring the artillery to there and there, attack all of their ships, the harbour will
08:11be useless, to long fall without a man being lost.
08:20Infantry, support artillery.
08:23Step away from the table.
08:25500 men could do it.
08:26You don't even have any cannons.
08:28I'll get more and request volunteers.
08:29Be quiet.
08:31How many sieges have you been involved in Bonaparte?
08:36I took Avignon, we took Marseille with full frontal assault.
08:42Cannons breach walls.
08:44Soldiers take cities.
08:46It works.
08:47It did work, but that was against local rebels.
08:49English soldiers is trained in the city walls here.
08:51That's enough.
08:51Soldiers is trained.
08:53He speaks like an ape.
08:55Are they all like you in Corsica?
08:57Sir, why are you being like this?
08:59Me, General Yu Junior, an immigrant, whose father blagged him into military school.
09:05I heard the story.
09:06Get out.
09:11Fudge up.
09:14Marmol, get yourself in here.
09:31What did you do before?
09:33Oh, fishmonger.
09:39We're going to build an offensive battery here.
09:42Would Carto order this?
09:44Did Caesar ask permission from the Senate before vanquishing Gaul?
09:50Vanquishing.
09:53We're going to build cover.
09:54And behind it, I want placements for two cannons.
09:57Not these.
09:58Twenty-four pounders.
09:59Nine-foot barrels.
10:02Sir, you know we don't actually have any twenty-four pounders.
10:04Ah!
10:06We're not allowed on that peninsula.
10:08That doesn't mean we have to sit on our hands.
10:10In the name of liberty and equality, we are going to raid our own land.
10:13Fortes up and down this coast and requisition their cannon.
10:18Any retired artillerymen within eighty miles.
10:22The time is over.
10:24We've got twenty-four hours.
10:25I want every basketweaver, blacksmith, horse, carriage maker in that battery park.
10:33We're coming!
10:35We're coming!
10:37We're coming!
10:39We're coming!
10:40We're coming!
10:47We're coming!
10:49You can tell your kids you didn't fight in battery number ten.
10:52It's the battery of revolution!
10:54Hey!
10:56You there!
10:57Help!
10:59Not him.
11:00Leave him.
11:01Who lost him?
11:02You there!
11:05You there!
11:14You there!
11:16You there!
11:17Good luck!
11:19Good luck!
11:19Where are the extra men from?
11:21Words got round about your growing cannon action.
11:27General Carteau watching the action tomorrow.
11:31Military men don't run this siege. Politicians do.
11:34I've invited two people's representatives,
11:37citizen Barra and citizen Frérin.
11:42Oh, shit.
11:44You'll be fine.
11:45General Carteau is never going to take us seriously.
11:48Going over his head.
12:03Target's drifting 60 yards further offshore, sir.
12:07Good windage.
12:08Elevate 1.24 inches, 1 degree,
12:1250 minutes, same line and charge.
12:15Ready with the, uh...
12:18Ready with the hurdles.
12:19Hurdles.
12:22Drop the hurdles.
12:23Hurdles.
12:45Load it again and run it out.
12:47You heard it.
12:51Fire.
12:54Fire.
12:56Fire.
12:56All right.
13:03All right.
13:04Light.
13:05Fire.
13:06Fire!
13:14Where are the charges? We need more charges!
13:27She's firing!
13:30A miss! Well shot!
13:35Volunteer to record!
13:39For the record, 48 hours since Napoleon Bonaparte took command of the artillery
13:46and already he is firing on the frigate Aurora.
13:50Ahead! Ahead! Come on!
13:57At least I won't need to sand the ink.
13:59They're moving out of range, sir! They're turning away!
14:11Where did they come from?
14:13I've quadrupled the size of our artillery.
14:16We still need ammunition.
14:19Once we have it.
14:21How old are you?
14:22He's 24.
14:27I'm in Beausay for a few days.
14:29Visit.
14:31I'd be honoured too.
14:33Oh, uh, Mallet and Denon.
14:38Jack, Mallet.
14:41Jack, Mallet!
14:46Please!
14:47No!
14:48Last public holiday there, families were seen having their children baptized.
14:53Please!
14:55Please!
14:56Please!
15:06Do you know?
15:11You have to copy your letter. Two letters there to go off tonight.
15:15Who, two?
15:15My family. They're to meet me and Beau say as soon as they can.
15:18Of course.
15:19They have to borrow a carriage.
15:20The other is...
15:23to Paris.
15:26The Committee of Public Safety.
15:31Let her!
15:33Sit down now.
15:34Let her!
15:35It not me!
15:37Just...
15:38put all yourselves together.
15:41You're all right.
15:42Good luck.
15:47Come in, Bonaparte.
15:54Wait back there.
16:01Sir, I have a plan to topple too long.
16:04You saw what we could do.
16:05And who are these?
16:06Are they your lieutenants?
16:09These are...
16:10No.
16:10This is my...
16:11Some of my family.
16:12We're refugees from Corsica.
16:16Lieutenants.
16:17How will that be?
16:18Too long.
16:20Could be soon.
16:20I have a plan to take the Kerr Peninsula around the harbour.
16:26So I've sought permission to execute my plan.
16:29Five hundred men could take it in a few hours.
16:35Sort permission?
16:37From whom?
16:42Paris.
16:43I sent my plans to Paris, to the Committee.
16:46I'm waiting for a reply.
16:48You wrote directly to Paris?
16:52Without going through me?
16:55Sir, I thought...
16:59I'm sure my son assumed that nothing would be ordered without your approval, citizen Frérot.
17:06Sure he did.
17:09Now, as a humble citizen, I must wait for their response.
17:17I look forward to seeing more of your charming family in Marseille.
17:32It's dangerous.
17:53Comfortable?
17:58Well, I can sleep anywhere.
18:01It's like...
18:03When you sleep under the cannons, the guys reckon you keep one eye open on them.
18:07I do.
18:12I think it's possible to sleep underwater.
18:16Using a tube or something.
18:20No!
18:24I've got to talk to the gentleman.
18:27In here!
18:29You wrote to Paris, behind my back, when I expressly ordered you not to...
18:34Why should I tell you?
18:35What makes you think?
18:36They've agreed.
18:37We have to move now.
18:38The English have landed on the peninsula.
18:41They've landed?
18:42We've got to get men on high ground before they do.
18:44What sort of deployment?
18:45We need a thousand men.
18:46Send them now.
18:51Give him a thousand.
18:58Make that five hundred.
19:02He promised Paris he could do it with a handful.
19:06Let's see.
19:07Shall we?
19:09I need that coffee left.
19:16The English are on the headland.
19:18We have to move past.
19:20There aren't enough men.
19:22There are only five...
19:25Who changed the order?
19:26General Carto.
19:28You Corsican bastard.
19:33Go to the tender.
19:35Don't do the tender.
19:38Go to the tender.
19:38Put it up, you see.
19:40Pick your knife.
20:05Oh, God, it's in there, what's it called?
20:19We reckon only about half of the 500 made it back, just outnumbered, if you were taken
20:28from prison.
20:51So, God created man in his own image.
20:56It's the other way around.
21:01That's why we got rid of him.
21:05We are the supreme being.
21:09We can judge ourselves, we can show compassion and we can punish.
21:19Sir.
21:20Don't say a word.
21:38This Corsican ignored explicit orders.
21:43And then, what do you get, he wrote to Paris, behind your backs, behind my back.
21:48Let me explain.
21:49He lied to me.
21:50I requested.
21:50That's insubordination.
21:52You can't allow him.
21:53You're addressing a senior officer.
21:54He promised me a thousand men, one thousand, and he, maybe his wife sent deliberately half
21:58that.
21:58Lies.
21:59Lies.
22:00Lies.
22:00Lies.
22:00I am not a liar.
22:01I can fight.
22:01Could it be, could it be, could it be that you deliberately threw lies away, that you sabotaged
22:06the revolution in order to punish me?
22:09You sabotaged it?
22:10The English have taken the high ground.
22:11They know taking the peninsula is the only way.
22:14The committee should understand that with just a handful of men, I could end this siege
22:20in a matter of hours with no French blood being spilled.
22:24That was before the English landed.
22:27Taking the peninsula is still the only way.
22:29It's over.
22:30You can't listen to him.
22:31You got us involved!
22:35In Paris, my name is being used alongside the words, failed attack.
22:41And we are not men that you will ever screw with, Bonaparte.
22:45I am not a man you will ever screw with.
23:09Sorry.
23:10Ammunition convoy was late.
23:11It started.
23:12She doesn't want to be here.
23:13Just tell her, she looks nice.
23:15You look nice.
23:16Down and stay down, wretch.
23:20You oppressed men that would live free.
23:25You beg forgiveness.
23:28I say, what do I have to do with you?
23:31I say!
23:35You're a major.
23:39They made you major, but...
23:41It's not what you think.
23:45They're looking for scapegoats.
23:48Executing a major makes a splash.
23:52And, Captain, I'm getting the blame.
23:59you filled your belly with the food of my children and you beg forgiveness what do i say
24:14neckline filthy
24:16and you beg forgiveness of course i'm worse than the italians
24:22what do you do you condemn men to the fate of their bloodline no matter their worth
24:34what the bastards bastard scum i can't do this i just can't we haven't got
24:45anything not a not a hat between us just everything
24:57you wallowing and self-pity don't you dare it's all of us going down and we can't do anything about
25:05it
25:11who was it threatened you veron
25:18you have to get rid of him i can't get rid of him
25:23then win him back go over his head but do something for god's sake do something
25:36so
25:41so
25:48so
25:55so
26:00so
26:02so
26:02Are you all right?
26:15I will not work under General Cartel, and I insist that he be removed.
26:20Insist?
26:21Remove him or remove me.
26:23That's a mistake.
26:27No.
26:29I've not killed anyone until a year ago.
26:32I was a journalist.
26:38You will be dead by nightfall.
26:41Paris, now, about this ultimatum, I wrote.
26:45So?
26:46So, execute me, and in the eyes of Paris,
26:48you'll be putting your name to Cartel's plan, a frontal assault,
26:51and when it fails...
26:58What makes you think you're so much better than all the rest of us?
27:00That's not the way to go about things, Bonaparte.
27:05Make your decision.
27:12You will remain in Toulon.
27:14General Cartel will be replaced within a week.
27:19But I shall also be appointing a more senior artillery commander here.
27:24The situation now requires it.
27:26You will be relieved of command.
27:28What?
27:29I told you not to screw with me.
27:33Now walk away.
27:36Walk away.
28:01I'm going to miss that woman.
28:04The new boss is here later.
28:06If his wife's a dog, then we're blaming you, ratty.
28:10Did you ever see her bits?
28:12I did.
28:13Bollocks.
28:15Oh, jeez.
28:17Oh, jeez.
28:26Oh!
28:27Oh, good look.
28:28How charming.
28:31General Toppo, can I ask you what your plans are for too long?
28:36Well, the revolution has been awakened to danger and has been called to defend freedom.
28:44And we will bring our enemy to justice and justice to our enemy.
28:53Right.
28:54And the peninsula?
28:56The men are calling the English positions on the high ground Little Gibraltar.
29:01You won't know, by the way, that I've changed my name.
29:06Periwinkle.
29:09Periwinkle Dope.
29:12The revolutionary calendar, this is a wonderful thing.
29:17Every day of the year now has its own name.
29:20Did you know?
29:21No.
29:22Well, in order to show my commitment, I've taken the name of my birthday.
29:28Periwinkle.
29:32And, um, and there it is.
29:36How would it be if the enemy did not hate us?
29:40They hate our equality.
29:42They hate the opportunity that is available to all men, no matter who he is or where he's from.
29:48Apparently he used to be a...
29:49A dentist or a doctor.
29:51Fill your nose with his stench.
29:53Now he's a puppet.
29:54So the vacuum may smell it more clearly in the enemy's amongst us.
29:57Why don't you just make a joke?
29:59This land is ours.
30:01Morning, tossers!
30:03Hey, keep being warm.
30:06You've got your wife over here.
30:08She's got a mouth all right now.
30:12Tell her to sit on this!
30:13Yeah!
30:15Who's that?
30:17One of our boys.
30:19Infantry.
30:20They captured him during the, uh...
30:22Look!
30:24No!
30:24No!
30:25No!
30:25No!
30:26Oh, God!
30:27Oh, God!
30:27She killed him.
30:28Barsity.
30:29He killed him.
30:29They killed him.
30:30They killed him, you man!
30:32They killed him.
30:32Sir, let us go.
30:33We're going.
30:34We're attacking Little Zabrata.
30:36Kill him!
30:37Angry men of gold.
30:38You couldn't stir this up.
30:39Use it.
30:41I-I-I don't know!
30:43Get in this now!
30:46Um...
30:47Oh, sound the attack!
30:48Sir, the attack's already started.
30:50Attack!
30:51Come on, get the basket!
30:55Get them to spread out, get the skirmishers out front, get them ready to charge!
31:00On my one!
31:02Charge!
31:08It's an attack!
31:09Come on!
31:23Where's their defense? They've only one cannon open!
31:26Where's the other cannons?
31:27They're not ready!
31:28We've got them! They weren't ready!
31:30There are no coughs.
31:32Coughs?
31:33A cannon.
31:35The English aren't firing.
31:37Good old Doppe.
31:38No fella's gonna take it.
31:51Retreat!
31:52Pull back!
31:53Pull back!
31:55Retreat!
31:56No!
31:56No!
31:57No!
31:59No!
31:59There's only one cannon open!
32:01No!
32:02No!
32:03No!
32:03No!
32:04No!
32:05No!
32:07No!
32:14No!
32:16No!
32:19No!
32:22No!
32:23No!
32:30No!
32:37No!
32:39No!
32:48No!
32:51No!
32:52Sorry, Stanislav.
33:06You've got to get the revolution of our battlefield.
33:10Come on. Too long has become too important.
33:13Politics starts battles, doesn't win them.
33:21Now, give me back the artillery with a proper soldier in charge,
33:25not some periwinkle, even one from the old regime.
33:31It's winning the fight that matters.
33:40I like the name. Little Gibraltar.
33:45I don't know how my predecessor allowed this to happen.
33:49The English clearly believe the peninsula is the key to Toulon.
33:55And I agree with that assessment.
34:02You must be Bonaparte, commander of general.
34:06General de Gormier.
34:08Well, little Gibraltar.
34:17The English have turned it into a fortress.
34:19Twenty-six bronze in all, a dozen of them twenty-four pounders.
34:23That's not all.
34:27Canister shot.
34:28For those of you who don't know, they fit in the barrel of a cannon.
34:32What sort of range?
34:33They'd tear apart anyone within five hundred yards of the fort.
34:38Forty, fifty men at a time.
34:42I don't suppose you have a suggestion as to how you tackle the fort.
34:46Shut up!
34:50Juna.
34:57Fort?
35:01A night attack, but spread out.
35:04Three columns of infantry.
35:06A pinning attack on the right, one in the center, and one on the left along the shore.
35:11To stretch the defenses.
35:12And these canisters, you have a plan for them?
35:16I do.
35:17Of course you do.
35:18Two batteries, and for 48 hours before the assault, we bombard the fort, burying whatever cannons we can.
35:25But, whoever is the first in the fort must knock out whichever cannons are left.
35:30Unless they do that, it will be a massacre.
35:34When the fort falls, we bring the bronze to here, here, finish the job.
35:43Something tells me that if I don't promote you in this situation, you will merely promote yourself.
35:53Well done, lad.
35:55I'll appoint the three column leaders in due course.
35:59Well done.
35:59All right.
36:00All right.
36:01Good things there.
36:13Do you mind?
36:15No.
36:16Sit down.
36:20The barrage has started.
36:22We attack in 48 hours.
36:27Revolution thinks it best if Bonaparte stay behind for the attack.
36:32I'm afraid I can't accept that.
36:34I'm afraid I don't care.
36:39Exactly a month ago, we executed the queen of this country.
36:44Doesn't matter what for.
36:45She didn't do half of it anyway.
36:48Now, you are old and wise enough to know that if we can do it to her...
36:55I know you.
36:57You're a fear.
36:58That's all you are.
36:59You create terror and milk it.
37:02Laugh, but you also feel it, my God, of men like Bonaparte, don't you?
37:08Men who even from a thousand paces could never be mistaken for mediocre.
37:14No man greater than the next.
37:18Except for Napoleon Bonaparte.
37:22Watch your lip.
37:36I'm sorry, lad.
37:38It's the world we live in now.
38:06I'm heading the reserves.
38:13Fréron.
38:15Sitting in the back, I won't see a shot.
38:20Slippery.
38:22Why is he doing this?
38:44You get your chance.
38:47Fréron won't be in charge next time and they'll give you your chance.
38:51It's not going to happen, Mum.
38:52Don't say that.
38:53Don't.
38:54I've given things up.
38:57France is changing, it is.
38:59Nothing's changing.
38:59Power isn't being handed out like bread.
39:01It's being stolen like it always was.
39:03Do you think in 50 years, 100 years, the world will be any different?
39:10They'll always be kings, Mum.
39:12Even if we don't call them that.
39:19Then do whatever you have to.
39:26Then do whatever you have to do.
39:27I love you.
39:43Hold the line.
39:46Close the right flank.
40:00I've opened up the 24-pounders.
40:07Stay close.
40:10On my mark, start counting.
40:18One, two, three, four.
40:22Take your fatties.
40:24Oil you the better.
40:25Cover your locks, leave them on.
40:29Don't get excited.
40:30You're not going.
40:32That's your shame.
40:34Daddy, is it true you saved the nation for too long?
40:38I'm afraid not.
40:40I was in the reserves.
40:42I'm afraid not.
40:48Now, 53 seconds.
40:50I'm afraid not.
41:10Going wrong?
41:12All three columns have turned in too early.
41:16We may have to commit the reserves.
41:19Sir, but General Dugommier hasn't ordered...
41:22They're flamborey.
41:23For God's sake.
41:26This is it, mate.
41:28Get my horse.
41:29Sir.
41:32You could be court-martialed for this.
41:35What about your family, please, sir?
41:39I've got no choice.
41:47Looks like history's made room for us after all.
41:52Call your name.
41:54If any of you don't feel like going, it's fine.
41:59I do.
42:02I'll take this fort alone.
42:05And destiny will be waiting.
42:08Shot will bounce off me.
42:10Cannonballs will swerve with fear.
42:14Not one of you needs to take this fort.
42:16But I absolutely insist.
42:19You come with me and watch me take it.
42:26You will come with me and watch me take it.
42:31Wolf tail.
42:41I go forward.
42:44Follow me.
42:45If I retreat.
42:49Shoot me.
42:52And if I'm killed.
42:55Avenge me.
42:57Avenge me!
43:11Thunder!
43:24When the first canister shot hits, start counting.
43:31Oh, no.
43:37Juno, keep counting.
43:38Five, six, seven, eight.
43:40The dead man on your feet.
43:42We're going to run at that cannon.
43:44You're joking.
43:46On your feet.
43:48You will trust me, and you will run.
43:54Twenty-four, twenty-five, twenty-six, twenty-seven.
43:59Oh, Jesus!
44:34Forty-nine, fifty, fifty-one, fifty-one, fifty-eight.
44:43We're under it.
44:46We're under the cannon.
44:48Troubles off.
44:49Money's off.
44:50Come on.
44:53Come on.
45:16Take that cannon.
45:18Shut them down.
45:21Shoot them.
45:22Here, sir.
45:23We're taking that cannon.
45:25He's loading.
45:30He's loading.
45:32He's loading.
45:43He's loading.
45:45He's loading.
45:46He's loading.
45:47He's loading.
45:48He's loading.
45:51He's loading.
45:51He's loading.
45:53He's loading.
45:55He's loading.
45:56He's loading.
47:26Enjoy this.
47:28It won't last.
47:30Come close.
47:37You're right.
47:39Glory is fleeting.
47:41But obscurity lasts forever.
47:56With the fort taken, Napoleon's cannons emptied the harbor.
48:01Within hours, Toulon finally fell, and the revolution was saved.
48:10In 1802, Napoleon posted Fréron to the remote island of Santo Domingo, where he quickly died
48:19of dysentery.
48:23Leticia gained almost mythical status, and before she died, saw six of her children join
48:30the royalty of various European countries.
48:32But all this was down to one man.
48:39Just six years after Toulon, at the age of 31, Napoleon became ruler of France and later crowned
48:50himself emperor.
48:53And he found himself emperor.
49:22So here to assume soon, he died.
49:25You