The Rest Is History – Episode 608: Nelson: Slaughter in Naples (Part 1)

Date: October 12, 2025
Hosts: Tom Holland & Dominic Sandbrook

Episode Overview

This gripping episode marks the start of a new series chronicling the dramatic, bloody, and controversial years that followed Admiral Horatio Nelson’s triumph at the Nile, focusing on his descent into the political and personal maelstrom of Naples in 1798–99. Tom and Dominic set the scene for Nelson’s most debated actions, his infamous relationship with Emma Hamilton, and the political chaos that would both elevate and tarnish his legacy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene: Nelson’s Arrival in Naples

• Naples in 1798: A city of vibrant contrasts—scholars and thieves, opulent palaces and grim slums, lurking violence and endless pleasure, always under the eye of Mount Vesuvius.
• Following his smashing victory at Aboukir Bay (the Battle of the Nile), Nelson arrives in the city as a celebrated hero, his ship Vanguard limping into the harbor after a storm ([02:59]).
• The episode begins with an atmospheric reading from Dominic's own biography of Nelson.

Quote:
"Naples was one of the most glamorous and violent cities on Earth... as the Vanguard sailed into the harbor... one of the darkest chapters in his life was about to begin."
—Tom Holland, [02:59]

2. Recapping Nelson's Rise & Series Continuity

• The hosts recap their previous coverage: Nelson’s rise from a Norfolk vicarage to naval superstardom, his courage at Cape St. Vincent, and his spectacular defeat of the French fleet ([05:45]–[08:52]).
• After the Battle of the Nile, Nelson is celebrated in Britain but is disappointed with his lowly baronial title—his money problems and thirst for recognition will be recurring themes ([09:35]).

3. Naples: Political and Social Powder Keg

• The Monarchy: King Ferdinand IV is portrayed as a buffoon; his wife Maria Carolina (Marie Antoinette’s sister) is the true power behind the throne, fiercely anti-French and haunted by her sister’s execution ([13:25]–[14:14]).
• Naples is a city split: a reactionary, monarchist underclass (the Lazzaroni) versus an enlightened elite inspired by revolutionary France. Tensions simmer just below the surface ([15:12]–[16:40]).
• The Royal Navy and British political interests depend on fragile alliances with Italy’s powers.

Humorous moment:
"He forces his coachman to eat live frogs. He chases people around with an overflowing chamber pot... He's Franz Ferdinand without all the good bits."
—Dominic Sandbrook, [13:25]

4. The Hamiltons and Emma’s Meteoric Social Rise

• Recap of previous episode: Emma Hamilton’s path from London slums and sex work to Neapolitan palaces as the wife of diplomat Sir William Hamilton.
• Emma is now positioned to greet Nelson, setting off the triangle between Nelson, Emma, and William that will define the drama in Naples ([19:45]).
• Emma’s theatrical adulation flatters Nelson—who is still suffering from wounds, head injury, and psychological turmoil post-Battle of the Nile ([20:51]–[22:30]).
• Nelson writes effusively and innocently to his wife Fanny about Emma, unaware of the emotional implications ([28:44]–[29:16]).

5. The Seeds of Political Disaster: Neapolitan Gambles

• Maria Carolina has grand ambitions: with Napoleon’s defeat, she wants to drive the French from Italy. She hopes to rally Austria and restore monarchy across Europe ([31:37]).
• Nelson’s Blind Spot: Legendary at sea, Nelson's land war judgments are shaky; he trusts the poorly trained Neapolitan army, which is soon found wanting ([32:06]–[34:51]).
• Tom notes Nelson’s orders from London stress protecting the Neapolitan royals above all, which shapes his decisions ([33:31]).

6. The Bungled Campaign and Royal Flight

• Neapolitans briefly march into Rome, but collapse at the first threat from the French. King Ferdinand flees in panic ([39:09]–[40:00]).
• Naples descends into chaos with mobs, refugees, and rival gangs; the King, Queen, and Hamiltons prepare a secret Christmas Eve flight to Palermo, escaping the city as it burns ([42:10]–[43:54]).
• During the stormy sea escape, Prince Carlo dies in Emma’s arms, with Emma showing remarkable composure ([44:43]).

Quote:
"Refusing to let the experience of being sick defeat her... she tried to comfort peevish courtiers who had never known hardship."
—Tom Holland, quoting Kate Williams, [45:23]

7. Nelson, Emma & the Growth of an Affair

• Safe in Palermo, the trio (Nelson and the Hamiltons) settle into a palace festooned with erotic art. Nelson is emotionally and physically spent, his letters full of lament ([47:03]–[48:35]).
• Nelson and Emma become emotionally enmeshed, indulging each other’s need for adulation, recognition, and comfort ([49:07]–[50:31]).

Quote:
"If I was King of England, I would make you the most noble puissant Duke Nelson, Marquis Niall, Earl Alexander, Viscount Pyramid, Baron Crocodile, and Prince Victory..."
—Emma Hamilton to Nelson, [49:07]

• Rumors about their relationship swirl among British officers, with growing criticism from figures like Admiral Lord Keith ([52:18]).
• Tom and Dominic debate whether these criticisms are motivated by sexism, snobbery, or justified annoyance at Nelson’s flagrant favoring of Emma over his officers ([53:11]–[54:36]).

8. The Counter-Revolution: Slaughter in Naples

• Cardinal Ruffo: Sent by the royal family, Ruffo rallies the “Sanfedisti”—a rabble of outlaws and peasants—who retake Naples with brutal violence, lynching republicans by the hundreds ([59:02]–[61:07]).
• The last republicans and French forces take refuge in Naples’s castles; Ruffo offers a deal to spare their lives in exchange for surrender and exile ([62:23]).

9. Nelson’s Most Controversial Decision

• At Maria Carolina's urging, Nelson sails to retake Naples. As the Jacobins surrender for safe passage (per Ruffo's deal), Nelson betrays them: he orders their imprisonment and eventual execution ([65:05]–[66:10]).

• Two of Nelson's own captains protest, calling it dishonorable:
  "Either we should let them go to Toulon as agreed, or... let them go back to the castles... This is not honorable... he says, 'I see you're all against me. I'm determined to obey my orders, right or wrong. It shall be done. I will be obeyed.'"
  —Dominic Sandbrook, recounting events, [68:02]

• Admiral Caracciolo is singled out, swiftly tried, hanged from a British ship, and dumped at sea to the horror of many British officers ([68:22]–[69:19]).

• Mass trials and executions follow; the Neapolitan monarchy rewards Nelson with bling and the Dukedom of Bronte ([70:37]–[71:56]).

10. Moral Reckoning and Lasting Fallout

• The story of the executions spreads rapidly in Britain, with many (including some of Nelson’s own officers) regarding it as a stain on Nelson’s honor ([72:24]).
• Historians and contemporary figures are divided:
  • Andrew Lambert: Nelson acted appropriately—rebels got what they deserved ([73:40]).
  • John Sugden: Nelson was trapped by circumstances ([73:40]).
  • Roger Knight & Jonathan North: Nelson failed morally and honorably; North calls it a war crime ([75:20]).
• Tom and Dominic note that even Nelson’s hagiographer, Robert Southey, called it “a stain on the memory of Nelson and the honour of England” ([77:19]).

Quote:
"Even heroic and impressive people have feet of clay. In wartime, impossible decisions can lead to dishonor..."
—Dominic Sandbrook, [77:53]

11. Blame and the "Lady Macbeth" Trope

• The blame quickly shifts to Emma Hamilton, depicted as the manipulative Lady Macbeth behind the bloodshed—a notion the hosts agree is rooted in sexism and hyperbole ([78:26]).
• Emma, in reality, often plead for clemency as well as celebrating loyalists’ victories; her emotional extremes make her an easy scapegoat ([80:01]–[80:35]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "[Nelson] always had a susceptibility to flattery and a thirst, an insatiable thirst for attention." —Dominic Sandbrook, [20:56]
• "Nelson at sea is unbeatable. Nelson on land is always a fiasco." —Dominic Sandbrook, [32:06]
• "He forces his coachman to eat live frogs." —Dominic Sandbrook, [13:25]
• "He is genuinely a man of honour... And what happens in Italy is a drag on that reputation." —Tom Holland, [58:18]
• "This is a stain on the memory of Nelson and upon the honour of England." —Robert Southey, quoted by Tom Holland, [77:19]
• "Blame everything on a woman. And there is a convenient woman to hand who can be blamed." —Tom Holland, [78:17]
• "This was set up to be a massive argument and actually we've both ended up taking much more measured positions. We've basically turned into The Rest Is Politics after all." —Dominic Sandbrook, [80:35]

Timeline of Major Segments

• [02:59] – Dramatic introduction to Naples; Nelson’s arrival.
• [05:45] – Recap of Nelson’s previous exploits and their earlier series.
• [13:25] – The Neapolitan monarchy: colorful character sketches, Maria Carolina’s driving motives.
• [20:51] – Nelson’s reception in Naples, introduction of Hamiltons.
• [28:44] – Nelson writes to Fanny about Emma; psychological state.
• [34:51] – Naples’s land campaign, ominous build-up to their military disaster.
• [39:09] – The Neapolitans’ collapse and the royal escape on Christmas Eve.
• [45:23] – Emma Hamilton’s steadfastness during the storm and Prince Carlo’s tragic death.
• [49:07] – Intensification of the Nelson–Emma relationship.
• [52:18] – British officers and contemporaries voice growing concern.
• [59:02] – Counter-revolution: Rufo, the Sanfedisti, and the sacking of Naples.
• [65:05] – The surrender of the Jacobins and Nelson’s controversial betrayal.
• [68:22] – Execution of Admiral Caracciolo; escalation of violence.
• [72:24] – Fallout and British scandal: the news spreads, Nelson’s legacy first questioned.
• [73:40–77:53] – Historical verdicts, debate, and the moral complexity of judgment.

Conclusion & Next Episode

The episode closes with Tom and Dominic—buttressing their trademark banter—acknowledging the storm at Nelson’s back, as the admiral prepares to return to England to a country now uneasy with both his political actions and burgeoning public scandal over his affair with Emma Hamilton. The stage is set for Nelson’s next chapter: not only future naval heroics, but social disgrace and tabloid infamy.

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End of summary.