Napoleonic Association

About Us

Since 1975

What is the Napoleonic Association?

Since its formation in 1975, the Napoleonic Association has acted as an umbrella organisation that supports people with a common interest in the Napoleonic period, spanning the French Revolution to the decisive action at the Battle of Waterloo (1793-1815).

Made up of Re-enactors, Researchers and Wargamers, our membership meet regularly to bring to life the social and military activities of this ‘Age of Elegance’, at events across the UK and overseas.

Whether you seek to join us or hire us for your event or film production we invite you to contact us.

Historical Re-enactment

Our events recreate the lives of soldiers and camp followers on campaign during the Napoleonic Wars.

Through exciting battle re-enactments, living history encampments and dramatic performances you will witness one of the most colourful periods of history.

When you walk into the Allied or French encampments you will see for yourselves the commitment and attention to detail paid by the re-enactors who live, eat and sleep there throughout the event.

Chat to them and they will entertain and educate you with their knowledge and experiences. Become one of them and you will discover more about this period in history than any book could ever teach you!

Research

Our researchers strive to explore and understand the social, domestic and military history of the Napoleonic period. Their scope ranges far and wide across the late 18th and early 19th centuries and throughout Europe, the Americas and the Middle East.

Our members frequently publish their work in the association’s quarterly newsletter, The Adjutant. By nature and inclination researchers are voracious readers and collectors of books, and thus book reviews regularly feature in the newsletter too.

In addition to our research activities, which have resulted in the publication of many papers relating to the period, we conduct lectures, study days and conferences.

Wargaming

A spin off from the research are the activities of our wargamers, who use the detailed study of the strategy and tactics of the period to answer many questions on how the battles of the past were won or lost.

Reliving the Napoleonic Wars in miniature allows players to challenge and experiment with ‘what if?’ scenarios, offering a different perspective and a practical approach to finding the answers to theoretical conundrums that would be unfeasible to address at full scale.

Our Wargamers attend shows and meetings throughout the year and publish their findings, contributing to a very popular hobby worldwide.