Napoleon’s Gambit is an historical adventure, which blends facts and fiction.
The facts are:
Napoleon signed the Treaty of Valençay with King Ferdinand VII of Spain, on December 11th, 1813. Its goal was to restore Ferdinand to the throne that he was forced to abdicate to Napoleon’s brother, Joseph, in 1808.
The Battle of Vittorio occurred on [...]
Heave-to. To stop a boat in the water and to ‘hover’ in this position.
Impérieuse’s Course. A point was roughly 11.25 degrees of compass angle.
Impérieuse’s Purpose was to move a big barrage of guns from one place to another, and bring it to bear quickly, effectively and accurately.
Prize Money was paid by the Admiralty as a means of encouraging zeal in their Captains. The amount was calculated by the Navy Board and was shared by the crew and other officials according to a formula based on rank.
The Orlop Hold was located in the bottom of the ship, near the cockpit and magazine.
Rochefort is a commune in western France and a seaport on the southern Atlantic Coast. Used as a nautical term, Roads are simply the approaches to a harbor.
Impérieuse was originally the Medea, captured from Spain in 1804. She was the fastest ship of her class in the Navy. At the time of The Battle of Aix-Roads, she mounted 40 guns and carried a crew of 284 men and 35 marines.
A modern sailor is recruited by the Royal Navy and finds himself on the deck of HMS Impérieuse in 1813, as she sails into battle against overwhelming odds. At stake are $5 billion in gold and the fate of the modern world.