Without Napoleon, Bavaria would look different today. His era saw the elevation to a kingdom, enormous territorial gains, and internal reforms. Thomas Schuler embarks on a quest for traces and narrates the history of Bavaria during the time of the French Revolution based on the testimonies that still exist today. "We are on a volcano," summarized Crown Prince Ludwig, the later King Ludwig I and a great hater of Napoleon, the situation in Bavaria under the Corsican. Indeed, Bavaria changed at an unprecedented pace during this time. At the same time, Napoleon ruthlessly drew on the country's resources for his campaigns. Numerous Bavarians lost their lives in Russia. This book excitingly and vividly guides the reader through the eventful years between 1789 and 1815, bringing to life battles, diplomatic maneuvers, and the often bitter experiences of the people.