How to Stage a Coup (2017) Movie Script
George Orwell once wrote
No one ever seizes power with
the intention of relinquishing it
No one ever seizes power with
the intention of relinquishing it
Human history suggests
that this is certainly true
But some people have been much more
successful at seizing control than others
But some people have been much more
successful at seizing control than others
And their audacious power grabs
have shaped the modern world
The problem of a coup detat
Is once youve actually got into power
how do you stay in power?
Thats often much more difficult
than getting power in the first place
Its a question of
proprietary and legitimacy
Its a question of
proprietary and legitimacy
A coup succeeds if it can be
presented as legitimate
Where do you derive your authority from?
Where do you derive your authority from?
It cant be just from the crowd
It must be from legitimate
power holders in society
It must be from legitimate
power holders in society
If you want to become a dictator
people skills are very important
If you no longer control the levers
of power you are vulnerable
If you no longer control the levers
of power you are vulnerable
So you have this
kind of unending incentive
So you have this
kind of unending incentive
To sort of stick around
for as long as you can
Many countries that we know and love today
were born by outrageous means
And new countries
may be born in the future
And new countries
may be born in the future
In this show we will be racing through
historys greatest coups
From Julius Caesar to the strong men
that rule parts of the globe today
From Julius Caesar to the strong men
that rule parts of the globe today
When the chaos was so bad
and the situation deteriorating
When the chaos was so bad
and the situation deteriorating
That a lot of the population felt if
anyone grabs power and puts an end to this
That a lot of the population felt if
anyone grabs power and puts an end to this
It doesnt matter who they are
Whether its an extreme right wing general
or whether its a mad Bolshevik
But as long as someone imposes their will
But as long as someone imposes their will
There is one big beast in town now, There
arent sort of lots of ravenous jackals
There is one big beast in town now, There
arent sort of lots of ravenous jackals
Roaming the streets ready to take
your business and your property from you
Well cover the most
Machiavellian takeovers
From Napoleon to Catherine the Great
From Napoleon to Catherine the Great
I dont think any ruler in history
has ever managed to combine
His or her sex life with their
political life so successfully
His or her sex life with their
political life so successfully
To have as your lover
The most effective foreign ministers
the most effective generals
The most effective foreign ministers
the most effective generals
That is extraordinary
We hope to uncover the keys to success
From charismatic leaders
to devious behind the scenes schemers
Most coups fail
but the effect on history is vast
They have established many regimes
They have established many regimes
Which have changed time
and again the course of history
The world we live in
has been shaped by coups
The world we live in
has been shaped by coups
Many of our political systems
have been shaped by largely men
Wresting control and taking power
Wresting control and taking power
And whos to say that that wont continue
Theyll well see in the future
a new state of coups
Its time to answer an age old riddle
How to stage a coup?
"How to stage a coup"
"How to stage a coup"
But where to begin? Well
its hard not to start with Julius Caesar
But where to begin? Well
its hard not to start with Julius Caesar
Caesar is the alpha and omega of coups
He was the prototype for many reasons
He was the prototype for many reasons
He had this fanatically loyal army, and
the charisma arising from great success
He had this fanatically loyal army, and
the charisma arising from great success
The influence of Caesar is everywhere
I think on coup detats
Hes even given words to our language
Hes even given words to our language
Kaiser and tsar both of course
derive from the name Julius Caesar
Kaiser and tsar both of course
derive from the name Julius Caesar
They are direct replications of Caesar
The echo is very conscious
that youre not just a king
The echo is very conscious
that youre not just a king
Being a king is rather boring, they exist
in all cultures in all parts of the world
Being a king is rather boring, they exist
in all cultures in all parts of the world
But a Caesar has those Roman echoes
Which endows it with credible dignity
One reason they wanted
to call themselves Caesar
One reason they wanted
to call themselves Caesar
Was after the capture of
Constantinople by the Turks
It was considered
the Second Rome had fallen
It was considered
the Second Rome had fallen
And the only large orthodox country
thats independent left was Russia
So Russia must be the Third Rome
So Russia must be the Third Rome
And therefore its Grand Duke
was not just a grand duke
He must be a Caesar
So, they would use this word Caesar
He must be a Caesar
So, they would use this word Caesar
Which became shorted
and more easier to pronounce in Russia
As tsar
So it stuck as tsar
So, Julius Caesars name
has echoed throughout history
So, Julius Caesars name
has echoed throughout history
With numerous rulers
adopting it as a title of prestige
But Caesar himself was also
quite keen on elevating his own status
He claimed that his family had descended
from the goddess Venus no less
He claimed that his family had descended
from the goddess Venus no less
Nothing quite beats divine blood pumping
in your veins for a successful coup
Nothing quite beats divine blood pumping
in your veins for a successful coup
But just like the tsars
and kaisers that followed him
Caesar felt insignificant
compared to his predecessor
Caesar felt insignificant
compared to his predecessor
Its said that when he encountered
a state of Alexander the Great
Caesar realised that he had
achieved little in comparison
Caesar realised that he had
achieved little in comparison
Alex is the gold standard of coups
Having claimed the titles
of Pharaoh of Egypt
Having claimed the titles
of Pharaoh of Egypt
King of Macedon, and King of Asia
during his lifetime
That was an impossible bar to reach
Caesar would soon
make his own bid for glory
In 49 BC
In 49 BC
Julius Caesar provided a role
for so many would be dictators
His master stroke really was to have
a string of magnificent military victories
His master stroke really was to have
a string of magnificent military victories
And on the back of the fame
and fortune that that brought you
And on the back of the fame
and fortune that that brought you
You then go for political power
He was the prototype for many reasons
He was the prototype for many reasons
But specifically the key thing
is to be a successful general
And to have an army loyal to you
He crossed the Rubicon
And to have an army loyal to you
He crossed the Rubicon
That was the sign of civil war
because you couldnt cross the Rubicon
That was the sign of civil war
because you couldnt cross the Rubicon
And so, always in coup
you have a general with an army
Power comes out of a barrel of a rifle
as Mao said
Power comes out of a barrel of a rifle
as Mao said
Julius Caesar had showed
success on the battlefield
Julius Caesar had showed
success on the battlefield
And this counted for absolutely
everything in ancient Rome
It meant that his name
was known to everyone
It meant that his name
was known to everyone
It had brought him fame
and it was that fame
The fact that everyone knew
who he was and hed been so successful
The fact that everyone knew
who he was and hed been so successful
That then enabled him to
edge his way into political power
Caesars enormous success
Meant that he was bestowed the title
of dictator by the Roman Republic
Meant that he was bestowed the title
of dictator by the Roman Republic
But he always had to face off
the powerful Senate
You have to have major wedges
You have to have major wedges
Of the power structure in society
of the social structure
Of the power structure in society
of the social structure
Veering towards you
And of course although hed alienated
a lot of the blowhards of the Senate
And of course although hed alienated
a lot of the blowhards of the Senate
He offered the new men and women
The proles and the plebis a lot
The proles and the plebis a lot
He offered them more participation
In the Roman Republic
if it was going to be a Republican
In the Roman Republic
if it was going to be a Republican
Which of course his enemies denied
that was his plan
That hed turn it into
in fact a monarchy, and he did
That hed turn it into
in fact a monarchy, and he did
Caesar achieved
a remarkable seizure of power
Caesar achieved
a remarkable seizure of power
He eliminated his rivals
And even managed to find time to have
an affair with Cleopatra in the process
And even managed to find time to have
an affair with Cleopatra in the process
He became a new benchmark for all
military rulers in the years that followed
In the early 9th century, Charlemagne
was able to recreate Caesars achievements
When he was crowned
the first Holy Roman Emperor
And earned the title of Father of Europe
On the other side of the globe
Genghis Khan managed to conqueror half
the world through his sheer force of will
And an uncanny ability
to unify the Mongol tribes
But one man saw himself exactly
in the model of Julius Caesar
But one man saw himself exactly
in the model of Julius Caesar
And shaped himself in his idols image
Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon fits almost exactly
the Caesar model for a coup detat
He came from nowhere
from a little village in Corsica
He came from nowhere
from a little village in Corsica
But he built an army
he had a string of victories
He came to the attention of France
He came to the attention of France
Everyone knew him
It is a direct comparison. They were both
on the fringes of the nobility
It is a direct comparison. They were both
on the fringes of the nobility
Napoleon was hardly a self-made man
But Napoleon replicated it in every way
But Napoleon replicated it in every way
Head of the Army of the Interior
head of the Army of Italy
Head of the Army of the Interior
head of the Army of Italy
Making his reputation militarily
But establishing again a triumvirate
Napoleon moved quite gradually
and Napoleon moved through the army
He just proved his extraordinary
competence as a general
And came to power in much the same way
as General de Gaulle came to power later
He was obviously the most competent
person to deal with a nation in chaos
He was obviously the most competent
person to deal with a nation in chaos
Just emerging from a civil war
and a war with its neighbours
He did one other very important thing
If youre going to be
successful in staging a coup
If youre going to be
successful in staging a coup
At least have a couple of
newspapers under your belt
Thats what Napoleon had
Thats what Napoleon had
He could spread the word himself
about just how brilliant he was
Napoleon was one of the first rulers
To truly master the art of media
in his political ascension
To truly master the art of media
in his political ascension
Not only did he have two newspapers
of his own covering all his exploits
He commissioned a series of medallions
which featured his greatest hits
These medallions showcased
Napoleon himself of course
These medallions showcased
Napoleon himself of course
But also featured Roman soldiers
and tales from mythology
Including Hercules slaying the Hydra
Including Hercules slaying the Hydra
He had an intuitive grasp of its
importance, that you cannot just act
He had an intuitive grasp of its
importance, that you cannot just act
The act has to be articulated
It has to be surrounded by a narrative
a mystique, an imagery, a mythology
It has to be surrounded by a narrative
a mystique, an imagery, a mythology
In fact, in the view
of one English statesman
In fact, in the view
of one English statesman
His newspaper, the Moniteur of Paris
did far more damage than all his armies
Which is an extraordinary thing to say
In many ways visually he was the anti-hero
How does a small fat man do become
charismatic? Well Napoleon tells you
How does a small fat man do become
charismatic? Well Napoleon tells you
By the stylisation
the very distinctive clothes
By the stylisation
the very distinctive clothes
The brooding brow, the way
this is replicated through pictures
Through lithography
Through lithography
And so forth, He creates a whole
symbol set associated with him
A whole super charged mythology
A whole super charged mythology
Of greatness and grandeur
and indeed Caesarism
And this is where Caesar comes
in in fact to the Napoleon story
And this is where Caesar comes
in in fact to the Napoleon story
Because hes constantly
making references to Caesar
Because hes constantly
making references to Caesar
And the idea of Caesar was
the common background of all Europeans
And the idea of Caesar was
the common background of all Europeans
Napoleons extraordinary rise
Was not only down to a clever replication
of the exploits of Julius Caesar though
Was not only down to a clever replication
of the exploits of Julius Caesar though
He also benefited from
extremely good timing
Which will make or break even
the most well planned coup detat
Which will make or break even
the most well planned coup detat
When Napoleon turned 20, France was thrown
into the chaos of the French Revolution
When Napoleon turned 20, France was thrown
into the chaos of the French Revolution
Which saw the beheading of the Royal
Family and the infamous Reign of Terror
Which saw the beheading of the Royal
Family and the infamous Reign of Terror
The nation was more than ready for someone
Anyone to bring back
some semblance of order
This situation would be repeated once more
just over a century later in Russia
This situation would be repeated once more
just over a century later in Russia
Once again a monarchy came crumbling down
And a man named Lenin saw an opportunity
And a man named Lenin saw an opportunity
Lenin has to be one of the most unlikely
leaders of a revolution, of a coup detat
He was a bald, rather boring, and wrote
very long impenetrable political tracts
He was a bald, rather boring, and wrote
very long impenetrable political tracts
But, Lenin got his timing right
Lenin was the prototype
left-wing radical agitator
He spent an awfully long time
writing pamphlets and books
He spent an awfully long time
writing pamphlets and books
And addressing empty meetings
It was a very frustrating life actually
Write a pamphlet, whos going to read it?
And so much of his intellectual
and emotional, indeed visible energy
And so much of his intellectual
and emotional, indeed visible energy
Had gone into that
He has established himself as the
unquestioned leader of the Bolshevik party
He has established himself as the
unquestioned leader of the Bolshevik party
And I think thats a product of his
intellect, his phenomenal energy
And I think thats a product of his
intellect, his phenomenal energy
His kind of capacity for organisation
I would say he had a few things
in common with Peter the Great
Ivan the Terrible too
Ivan the Terrible too
Absolute ruthlessness
Only trusting people
he had appointed himself
But there was something
monomaniac and pedantic about him
But there was something
monomaniac and pedantic about him
He loved micromanaging
He came back to Russia when the
provisional government was falling apart
He came back to Russia when the
provisional government was falling apart
Russia was in chaos
the war was going badly
And he was there at the right moment
And he was there at the right moment
Lenin came from nowhere
The trouble was when he
first came back from Switzerland
The government didnt know
what he looked like
The government didnt know
what he looked like
The provisional government failed to
do what it knew it ought to have done
Which is to arrest him and if not hang him
at least lock him up very securely
Which is to arrest him and if not hang him
at least lock him up very securely
Lenin I think grasps
almost this kind of tectonic shift
Lenin I think grasps
almost this kind of tectonic shift
That is happening
in Russian politics in 1917
That is happening
in Russian politics in 1917
Basically the October Revolution
is a coup, which triggers a revolution
Basically the October Revolution
is a coup, which triggers a revolution
So, the Bolsheviks seize power
Although one historian says, you know
they didnt so much seize power
As just pick it up after it had
been dropped in the street
Quite a lot of Russian plays
about the Bolshevik takeover
Quite a lot of Russian plays
about the Bolshevik takeover
Do end up with a tsarist officer saying
Oh let the Bolsheviks take over, at least
it will put an end to all this chaos
There was that failure to resist
Partly because people
couldnt stand any more of the chaos
It had been going on for nearly a year
It had been going on for nearly a year
Partly because Lenin promised
The three things he was
certainly not going to deliver
he promised peace
he promised bread, he promised liberty
he promised peace
he promised bread, he promised liberty
There is an extent to which
the population believes
that anything is
preferable to chaos, right
that anything is
preferable to chaos, right
So, I mean thats something thats
animated Russian history for centuries
that, you know, better the tsar
that, you know, better the tsar
who rules with strong hand
that just total social collapse
Lenin is unique, He was absolutely
determined, he wasnt afraid
Lenin is unique, He was absolutely
determined, he wasnt afraid
he was prepared to get himself killed
and his associates killed too
he was prepared to get himself killed
and his associates killed too
Lenin expected to be grabbed and hanged
Actually ending up
in command of all of Russia
Actually ending up
in command of all of Russia
must have come as enormous surprise
because this is actually someone who lived
through a verbal and verbalising medium
because this is actually someone who lived
through a verbal and verbalising medium
He was not a man of action
he was an agitator in an orator
he was an agitator in an orator
quite literally in exile of the time
in Siberia, in Europe
in Siberia, in Europe
Pouring out these diatribes
and apparently getting nowhere
Constantly maneuvering
against the Mensheviks
But never knowing that the Bolshevik
destiny was in some way predetermined
But never knowing that the Bolshevik
destiny was in some way predetermined
Lenins ascent from obscure polemicist
To ruler of the worlds largest nation
Was perhaps the most
inexplicable coup in history
Not only did it change a nation forever
It helped facilitate a whole series
of coups soon afterwards
It helped facilitate a whole series
of coups soon afterwards
That had an incalculable effect
on the world we know today
With Russia having fallen to a communist
takeover, who was to be next?
One man who took advantage
of this tremendous uncertainty
Was Benito Mussolini
He had created the National Fascist Party
And won election
to the Italian Parliament in 1921
By 1922 he had taken control
of the country, following a march on Rome
Lenin seizing power
caused alarm across Europe
Lenin seizing power
caused alarm across Europe
And nowhere more so than in Italy
Which was in a terrible
political situation
The First World War had come to an end
The First World War had come to an end
Millions of people unemployed
And Mussolini saw this and he chose it
as his moment to strike
And Mussolini saw this and he chose it
as his moment to strike
Why not gather up
those unemployed soldiers
Build them into your own
black shirt movement
Build them into your own
black shirt movement
And then march on the capital
Saying that youre going to save
the country from the sort of thing
Saying that youre going to save
the country from the sort of thing
That was taking place inside Russia
Its really easy actually to forget
Its really easy actually to forget
How soon after the unity of Italy
Mussolini actually comes
So there is still
So there is still
A great need for national unity
and the symbols of national unity
And to create that unity you look
elsewhere, to a conflict to empire
And to create that unity you look
elsewhere, to a conflict to empire
To bind the country together
you look for symbols
You look for means, you looks for myths
To knit a new Italy out of all
these ancient fragments
To knit a new Italy out of all
these ancient fragments
Mussolini marched on Rome with 30,000 men
Not a lot of people
to carry out a coup detat
Not a lot of people
to carry out a coup detat
But the center was very weak
The prime minister of the time
Thought that the King would intervene
would allow the army
Thought that the King would intervene
would allow the army
To smash this army of black shirts
But the King did nothing
But the King did nothing
Effectively the King sanctioned Mussolini
to come in and take control
It wasnt inevitable but it was probable
Because of the enormous fear
of communism, of socialism
Because of the enormous fear
of communism, of socialism
Among the ruling elite
All over Europe essentially
it was fleeing terror
All over Europe essentially
it was fleeing terror
And they were fleeing
into the open arms of the fascist
Its possible the King
was afraid that the communists
Its possible the King
was afraid that the communists
Would do in Italy
what theyd done in Russia
Its possible also
that he half admired Mussolini
Its possible also
that he half admired Mussolini
And felt that now was the time
for a strong man to take control
It was a marvelous operatic gesture
in fact the King had sided with him
And invited him to form a government
so this merely lubricated
And invited him to form a government
so this merely lubricated
What was actually
a constitutionally enabled coup
What was actually
a constitutionally enabled coup
Mussolinis rise from a solder
of World War I to the leader of a nation
Mussolinis rise from a solder
of World War I to the leader of a nation
Proved hugely inspirational
to another nationalist of the same era
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Just a year after Mussolini came to power
Just a year after Mussolini came to power
Hitler attempted a coup of his own
with the infamous Beer Hall Putsch
Mussolini if you like
lead the way for Hitler
Mussolini if you like
lead the way for Hitler
On staging a nationalistic coup
Mussolini had 33,000 men, Hitler
tried it with just 2,000 men in Munich
Mussolini had 33,000 men, Hitler
tried it with just 2,000 men in Munich
He was pretty much unknown
and it was a miserable failure
He was pretty much unknown
and it was a miserable failure
He managed to successfully take the
beer hall, the famous beer hall in Munich
But he didnt get much further than that
So, Hitler shows that with a small group
of men perhaps you cant achieve very much
So, Hitler shows that with a small group
of men perhaps you cant achieve very much
And also Hitler was
completely unknown at the time
Unlike Mussolini, who had already
made his name in Italy
Unlike Mussolini, who had already
made his name in Italy
So, do your groundwork
before you stage your coup detat
Mussolini is a dictator
for ten years longer than Hitler
And Hitler had this huge awe of him
Hes inspired by him
He gives him every honour he can, every
dignity he can, he worships Mussolini
He gives him every honour he can, every
dignity he can, he worships Mussolini
Hed failed essentially
because of German legalism
Hed failed essentially
because of German legalism
They were not going to tolerate
a South American style coup
They were not going to tolerate
a South American style coup
This was not the German way
they wanted things properly done
And the real theater was his trial
Where he was able to make
of course this great case
For the fragility of the state
against the state
For the fragility of the state
against the state
This whole idea could be articulated
In brilliant court room oratory
And carried by all the media of the world
And then of course
And then of course
The prison where he had the time to
dictate his great testament, Mein Kampf
It gave him time to write Mein Kampf
to set out his political agenda
It gave him time to write Mein Kampf
to set out his political agenda
And to make a name for himself in Germany
So by the time he went to the ballot box
everyone in Germany had heard of him
So by the time he went to the ballot box
everyone in Germany had heard of him
Everyone bought it
In a proper German house in the Hitler era
you had to have Mein Kampf
In a proper German house in the Hitler era
you had to have Mein Kampf
But it was regarded really as unreadable
But it was regarded really as unreadable
This is actually an error
Because the chapter on propaganda is quite
a remarkable manual of the persuasion
Because the chapter on propaganda is quite
a remarkable manual of the persuasion
And shows that Hitlers power
as a theoretician of persuasion
And shows that Hitlers power
as a theoretician of persuasion
And shows really the basis of his rule
anchored in ideas on propaganda
And shows really the basis of his rule
anchored in ideas on propaganda
Whats fascinating about coup detats is
You dont always know
theyre happening at the time
You dont always know
theyre happening at the time
So, Hitler came to power
through the ballot box
He came to power on a platform
of locking up political enemies
He came to power on a platform
of locking up political enemies
Of tearing up everything
that the previous government had done
He actually becomes chancellor
at the beginning of 1933
He actually becomes chancellor
at the beginning of 1933
But he doesnt become president
Thats only when Hindenburg dies in 34
It was pseudo legal
in other words none of it is legal
But its always creating
a facade of legality
But its always creating
a facade of legality
It was very, very important to Hitler
To preserve a facade
of proprietary and legalism
To preserve a facade
of proprietary and legalism
And a lot of the propaganda
was directed towards that end
And a lot of the propaganda
was directed towards that end
Caesar, Napoleon, Mussolini
and Hitler all shared one trait
Caesar, Napoleon, Mussolini
and Hitler all shared one trait
That is common to many
successful leaders of coup detats
Personal charisma
that captivates an audience
Personal charisma
that captivates an audience
Even Vladimir Lenin
a man who never served in the military
Was able to entrance
his followers when necessary
Was able to entrance
his followers when necessary
Lenin was apparently never
a particularly formidable speaker
Lenin was apparently never
a particularly formidable speaker
But he certainly had a sort of
bureaucratic charisma
But he certainly had a sort of
bureaucratic charisma
This was a man who was
able to sort of brow beat
You know, rivals into submission
You know, rivals into submission
We think of Lenin as being rather boring
But those outsiders who saw him speak
said that he could electrify a crowd
But those outsiders who saw him speak
said that he could electrify a crowd
Certainly a crowd of his own supporters
Certainly a crowd of his own supporters
Who although small were clever
They were brutal in what
they wanted to achieve
And they set out to achieve that
And they set out to achieve that
Disregarding everyone else
in the capital at the time
At key moments Lenin rose to the occasion
At key moments Lenin rose to the occasion
The famous speech at Finland Station
Other speeches he made, political
speeches, at absolutely crucial times
Other speeches he made, political
speeches, at absolutely crucial times
He got the tone just right
Charismatic leaders can see
a spectacular rise to the top
But its often followed by
a dramatic fall from grace
A charismatic almost by definition
Is extending his or indeed her
appeal beyond a ruling elite
Is extending his or indeed her
appeal beyond a ruling elite
And arousing enormous jealously in
traditional power holders within society
And arousing enormous jealously in
traditional power holders within society
If they fail they lose their charisma
So, charisma is not only something
which is easily lost
So, charisma is not only something
which is easily lost
Its also something
which easily visibly destroyed
Of course in Caesars case
it was partly in a sense a family dispute
Because Brutus mother
was one of the Caesars lovers
Because Brutus mother
was one of the Caesars lovers
So many people have followed that
Mussolini, Napoleon
Theyve all gone for that model
Theyve all gone for that model
And it works very well
for as long as it lasts
The problem is, it doesnt always last
The problem is, it doesnt always last
Look what happened to Caesar, he was
assassinated famously on the Ides of March
Look what happened to Caesar, he was
assassinated famously on the Ides of March
You too, Brute?
Then fall, Caesar!
Mussolinis body was strung up
in a square in Milan
Mussolinis body was strung up
in a square in Milan
Sometimes the Caesar model
its great for achieving power
But not so great for holding onto it
In the cases of Napoleon and Hitler
Their downfall was due to the hubris
often shown by charismatics
Their downfall was due to the hubris
often shown by charismatics
They broke what became known
as rule one on page one of the book of war
They broke what became known
as rule one on page one of the book of war
Never march on Moscow
Certainly after Napoleon
the famous theoretician of war
Certainly after Napoleon
the famous theoretician of war
Von Clausewitz, who was on that march
Said the first rule
is never march on Moscow
Said the first rule
is never march on Moscow
Hitler of course ignored it
Nobody believes the weather reports
Even Hitler didnt believe his meteorologists
on how old cold it gets and how early
Even Hitler didnt believe his meteorologists
on how old cold it gets and how early
And they dont believe
that Russians can operate at minus 30
And they dont believe
that Russians can operate at minus 30
But Germans and French generally
dont operate at minus 30
Where its a horse or a tank
Napoleon, who made the right
preparations for invading Egypt
And other climatic hostile environments
Didnt take this into account
I suppose if you come from Corsica
you cant believe it
The Russian Emperor said
My two best generals
The Russian Emperor said
My two best generals
And of course the Russian
Emperor spoke French
Were Generals Janvier and Fvrier
Were Generals Janvier and Fvrier
This is extraordinary
how Napoleon fell into that trap
It is one of the great epics of history
It is one of the great epics of history
The great epic of failure and disaster
Its also really the Greek idea of hubris
Its also really the Greek idea of hubris
That Napoleon had had so much success
It blinded him to key dangers,
climatic among them
It blinded him to key dangers,
climatic among them
And astonishingly and very similarly
arrogant hubristic man made the same error
And astonishingly and very similarly
arrogant hubristic man made the same error
In 1941, 42, Adolf Hitler
In 1941, 42, Adolf Hitler
An intensely charismatic persona
can come in handy
An intensely charismatic persona
can come in handy
But it is an essential for a coup detat
One doesnt need to be a
skilled orator to take over a nation
One doesnt need to be a
skilled orator to take over a nation
Sometimes you can ride off
the abilities of charismatics around you
Sometimes you can ride off
the abilities of charismatics around you
As you plot your way to the top
Welcome to the world of the schemer
Vidkun Quisling was a politician
who took power in Norway in a coup in 1940
Vidkun Quisling was a politician
who took power in Norway in a coup in 1940
After collaborating with the Nazis
Just like Julius Caesar
his name entered the lexicon
Just like Julius Caesar
his name entered the lexicon
But not as an emperor, but one who allies
themselves with an enemy occupying force
But not as an emperor, but one who allies
themselves with an enemy occupying force
In Spain, General Francisco Franco
In Spain, General Francisco Franco
Was part of a failed coup in 1936
That sparked the Spanish Civil War
After nearly three years of battle
Franco was able to come out
on top in the conflict
Franco was able to come out
on top in the conflict
Franco was a short, dumpy
little man with a funny mustache
Not someone who is cut
from the cloth of heroes
It was simply the power of his hatred and
fanaticism, which eventually won through
It was simply the power of his hatred and
fanaticism, which eventually won through
People were attracted to his determination
People were attracted to his determination
Although Francos success
was partly down to
Although Francos success
was partly down to
His organisational skills
and sheer determination
He also benefited from military assistance
He also benefited from military assistance
Provided by the two most
powerful charismatics of his era
Mussolini and Hitler
But while they would both die
during World War Two
But while they would both die
during World War Two
Franco would rule Spain for 36 years
Franco would rule Spain for 36 years
But when it comes to schemers
Joseph Stalin is the gold standard
Stalin for me is the ultimate
schemer, the man thats
Always keeping one eye on his own future
Always keeping one eye on his own future
From the very outset he was planning
his own coup within a coup, within a coup
He was determined that one day
he would master of all of Russia
He was determined that one day
he would master of all of Russia
Stalin was the back room boy
he was the administrator
Hed always been the one behind
the organisation of demonstrations
Hed always been the one behind
the organisation of demonstrations
The organisation
of polemics and publication
The organisation
of polemics and publication
He is a very, very ruthless power broker
Hes clearly deeply paranoid
Hes clearly deeply paranoid
About the possibility of enemies
and opposition within society
And that paranoia has of course
devastating consequences
And that paranoia has of course
devastating consequences
For millions of Soviet citizens
When he was a student at the seminary
He wrote an essay on Sejanus
the Roman conspirator
He wrote an essay on Sejanus
the Roman conspirator
Which received top marks
it was absolutely a brilliant essay
And he wrote it as a school boy
And he wrote it as a school boy
So, already, long before
hed even left school
He was preparing for this role, he
got it, He got the idea of the Machiavel
He was preparing for this role, he
got it, He got the idea of the Machiavel
The sinister idea of the
back room shadowy figure
The sinister idea of the
back room shadowy figure
Who gradually accumulates
all of the power and then strikes
Who gradually accumulates
all of the power and then strikes
When Lenin died in 1924
it was uncertain who would succeed him
When Lenin died in 1924
it was uncertain who would succeed him
In the end it came down a battle
between a charismatic in Leon Trotsky
In the end it came down a battle
between a charismatic in Leon Trotsky
And a schemer in Joseph Stalin
Its fascinating if you see
Trotsky and Stalin in action
Its fascinating if you see
Trotsky and Stalin in action
Because either of these two men
could have been Lenins successor
Trotsky the great charismatic
his wonder speeches to the Red Army
Trotsky the great charismatic
his wonder speeches to the Red Army
Stalin the schemer
And Stalin I think
was always going to win that battle
And Stalin I think
was always going to win that battle
Stalin had a very, very
clever way of dealing Trotsky
Stalin had a very, very
clever way of dealing Trotsky
Which was not to confront him too often
and not to argue with him too often
Although they had some major quarrels
Although they had some major quarrels
But as Secretary of the Central Committee
He draw up the agenda, he decided
when and where the meetings were
He draw up the agenda, he decided
when and where the meetings were
And he authorised
people to take sick leave
When Lenin was dying
Trotsky was offered a little rest
When Lenin was dying
Trotsky was offered a little rest
So he wasnt informed in time
to attend the funeral
If youre not seen as
one of the pallbearers
Then youre in line for succession
So, Trotsky made these terrible mistakes
He underestimated Stalin of course
that was the main thing
Trotsky doesnt have the
kind of people skills that Stalin has
Trotsky doesnt have the
kind of people skills that Stalin has
He doesnt suffer fools gladly, his manner
is often quite sort of haughty and offhand
He doesnt suffer fools gladly, his manner
is often quite sort of haughty and offhand
He dominates people by his intellect
rather than with his charm
He dominates people by his intellect
rather than with his charm
Stalins I think great strength
is that hes a people person
Stalins I think great strength
is that hes a people person
And Trotsky is not as
has no real interest in bureaucracy
And Trotsky is not as
has no real interest in bureaucracy
Stalin, he is the consummate
bureaucratic operator
Stalin, he is the consummate
bureaucratic operator
Trotsky delivers these great
rhetorical flourishes at party congresses
But hes making arguments increasingly
But hes making arguments increasingly
To people who owe their position
within the party hierarchy to Stalin
To people who owe their position
within the party hierarchy to Stalin
The present crisis
will mean a new era in history
Stalin had the support
of the secret police
And when Lenin died
and you had a new economic policy
It was clear that Russia
was not going to fight any wars
It was clear that Russia
was not going to fight any wars
Trotsky wanted to fight wars
with Germany and China
And it was perfectly clear
And it was perfectly clear
that Stalin would want to
eliminate all forms of opposition
So, there were jobs for the secret police
but no jobs for the Red Army
So, there were jobs for the secret police
but no jobs for the Red Army
He didnt keep his eye on the ball
the way that Stalin did or Lenin had
He was the silent looming presence
He was the silent looming presence
At a Stalin meeting you had to clap
at the end of it when he was dictator
And if you stopped clapping
you might be hauled off and shot
And so the clapping
could last half an hour
And so the clapping
could last half an hour
This was the way he operated
And so it is a kind of anti-charisma
And so it is a kind of anti-charisma
If you like. The plain dress
the silent presence, the stare
If you like. The plain dress
the silent presence, the stare
You read into it
what you will this part of the role
People could believe
he was evangelical figure
People could believe
he was evangelical figure
People could believe he was
a benevolent figure, he just didnt say
Leon Trotsky learned the hard way
Not to underestimate
a devious schemer like Stalin
But he wasnt the first Russian
to make such a mistake
Russian history is filled with schemers
who have plotted their way into power
Russian history is filled with schemers
who have plotted their way into power
The most incredible of all being the
Catherine I, wife of Peter the Great
Who became Empresses in her own right
Some coups are really extraordinary
Some coups are really extraordinary
And the one that for me is the most
extraordinary is perhaps Catherine I
An example of social climbing that Ive
never witnessed any time else in history
An example of social climbing that Ive
never witnessed any time else in history
Catherine I there was various stories
The most likely one
Is that she was a small girl
captured by the Russian Army
Is that she was a small girl
captured by the Russian Army
When they invaded the Baltic
And she was handed
over to a Lutheran pastor
Shes believed to be a sort of
semi literate Lithuanian peasant
Shes believed to be a sort of
semi literate Lithuanian peasant
Who sort of caught Peters eye
I mean I think thats probably
a fairly undistinguishing characteristic
I mean I think thats probably
a fairly undistinguishing characteristic
Cos an awful lot of women
caught Peters eye
She saved Peter the Great
she saved the entire Russian Army
She saved Peter the Great
she saved the entire Russian Army
She probably saved Russia
When Peter the Great
had one his big disasters
When Peter the Great
had one his big disasters
He was fighting the Ottoman
and at the River Prut
In what is today Moldova
In what is today Moldova
The Turks encircled the Russian Army
And it was completely finished
Peter the Great and 100,000 Russians
Were in the Turkish hands
And Catherine first went
to see the Turkish vizier
What she did with him
is a matter of rumour
She certainly gave away all her jewels
And she promised him
an enormous number of very fine horses
And she promised him
an enormous number of very fine horses
And the Turkish commander
let the Russian Army escape
And the Turkish commander
let the Russian Army escape
That vizier paid for it
via the Sultan cut off his head for that
But, Peter the Great
was so grateful to Catherine
But, Peter the Great
was so grateful to Catherine
That she was the one person
whom he never ever hit
He was totally infatuated with her
and so he made her his heir
He was totally infatuated with her
and so he made her his heir
Even though she was
a peasant girl by origin
And she never really learnt
to read and write Russian
And she never really learnt
to read and write Russian
She married Peter the Great
Who had instigated numerous reforms
Who had instigated numerous reforms
Getting rid of the feudal aristocracy
and bringing in his own men
Now when he died, Catherine carried
on that she supported those men
Now when he died, Catherine carried
on that she supported those men
The horror of the feudal aristocrats
Who thought theyd be back in power
as soon as Peter was gone"
Who thought theyd be back in power
as soon as Peter was gone"
It was a very odd takeover
a very clever one, a very scheming one
And for someone who came
from absolutely nowhere
It really is extraordinarily surprising
But Catherine Is successors
as remarkable as they were
Would eventually be
overshadowed by a second Catherine
Would eventually be
overshadowed by a second Catherine
Who also married as tsar called Peter
In her case, Peter III
But his rule would only last six months
As Catherine the Great
as came to be known,
Claimed the throne for herself
in a daring coup
Claimed the throne for herself
in a daring coup
I regard Catherine as one of
the most remarkable monarchs
When you think where she came from
She came from this tiny
little German principality
She came from this tiny
little German principality
Catherine the Great took some of the
tricks from her namesake, Catherine I
Catherine the Great took some of the
tricks from her namesake, Catherine I
Although she went
very few steps further than Catherine I
An extraordinary takeover
of a vast Russian Empire
It must be said
that her accession to power
Was helped paradoxically
by her husbands own blundering
Peter accedes to the throne
upon the death of his mother in 1761
And then manages to alienate most of
the key constituencies within the Empire
And then manages to alienate most of
the key constituencies within the Empire
From Catherines point of view, the big
disaster was he might put her in a nunnery
From Catherines point of view, the big
disaster was he might put her in a nunnery
She decided he had to be got rid of
Her skill is less in toppling her husband
Than in ensuring she, herself
becomes his successor
Than in ensuring she, herself
becomes his successor
So, whilst most of the conspiracy seems to
have been organised by the Orlov brothers
So, whilst most of the conspiracy seems to
have been organised by the Orlov brothers
Catherine certainly plays her part
you know, with aplom
She does this tour of the guards regiments
She does this tour of the guards regiments
Which really actually are the seat
of actual power in Russia
Which really actually are the seat
of actual power in Russia
She very skilfully presents herself
as a defender of Russian orthodoxy
She very skilfully presents herself
as a defender of Russian orthodoxy
And Russian interest against the Prussians
She sort of positions herself
as a national figurehead
She sort of positions herself
as a national figurehead
And someone who is
prepared to accept the throne
In order to defend Mother Russia
from forces that are trying to undo
In order to defend Mother Russia
from forces that are trying to undo
You are my citizen
I come for you
As the mother of all Russia
Its extraordinarily sordid
That she forced her husband
to sign an abdication
That she forced her husband
to sign an abdication
And a few days later he was murdered
Catherine the Great denied
that she had any foreknowledge
Catherine the Great denied
that she had any foreknowledge
Of what was going to happen her husband
There are various accounts, There is one
interesting document from her favourite
There are various accounts, There is one
interesting document from her favourite
Alexander Orlov
As he was taking Peter III
away to a safe place
As he was taking Peter III
away to a safe place
Hes had a very attack of colic"
"Im afraid he may die, Im even
more afraid he might come back to life
"Im afraid he may die, Im even
more afraid he might come back to life
Which wouldnt look good in the court of
law, but thats the nearest we have to it
Which wouldnt look good in the court of
law, but thats the nearest we have to it
She rather maneuvered to be called a great
with a direct echo of Peter the Great
She rather maneuvered to be called a great
with a direct echo of Peter the Great
She wanted to be seen
in the same reformist trajectory
She wanted to be great in many senses
She wanted to be great in many senses
militarily of course
as a patriot, as a reformer
But culturally too
But culturally too
Catherine the Great illustrates one of the
curious facts about many successful coups
Catherine the Great illustrates one of the
curious facts about many successful coups
Throughout history
they have often been carried out
By people born and raised
outside of the nation
They would eventually control
They would eventually control
Catherine hailed from Germany
Stalin was a native son of Georgia
Hitler was famously from
the Austro-Hungarian Empire
And Napoleon spent his formative
years on the island of Corsica
And Napoleon spent his formative
years on the island of Corsica
These future leaders
of the worlds greatest coups
These future leaders
of the worlds greatest coups
Also often had vastly different
political views in their youth
Napoleon was a Corsican nationalists
Napoleon was a Corsican nationalists
Who wanted to completely break free
of the influence of the French motherland
Stalin was a Georgian nationalist, who
battled Russian influence in his homeland
Mussolini started out in the Italian
Socialist Party, before he was thrown out
Mussolini started out in the Italian
Socialist Party, before he was thrown out
So, a successful coup
So, a successful coup
Does not require a leader
with a lifelong political commitment
Views can change in a quest for power
Views can change in a quest for power
I think most coups that are successful
are born out of a weak center
I think most coups that are successful
are born out of a weak center
That when the central government
is on the point of collapsing
Or theres social unrest
Or theres social unrest
And if there is someone there
at the time to take advantage of that
Thats when it can work
Mussolini, Lenin, Napoleon
Thats when it can work
Mussolini, Lenin, Napoleon
All took advantage of a catastrophic
situation in their countries at the time
All took advantage of a catastrophic
situation in their countries at the time
So, if youre going to stage a coup
That has got to be one of your basic
prerequisites for success
That has got to be one of your basic
prerequisites for success
A coup succeeds if it can be
presented as legitimate
In countries which have
strong pre-existing institutions
In countries which have
strong pre-existing institutions
Like the papacy, like the monarchy
Like the papacy, like the monarchy
Its rather more difficult unless
the monarchy sides with the conspirators
Its really all governed by that
This is why for example modern Africa
has been so subject to coups
This is why for example modern Africa
has been so subject to coups
Because there really isnt
a source of legitimacy
Inherited, ancestral, or otherwise
Inherited, ancestral, or otherwise
Obviously over time
Such legalism will be created
The same in South America
Such legalism will be created
The same in South America
Which similarly was a
post-colonial society of course
With the overthrow of the
Spanish Empire in the early 19th century
With the overthrow of the
Spanish Empire in the early 19th century
So, you have no monarchy
no imperial power
So, you have no monarchy
no imperial power
Where do you derive your legitimacy?
in the end from the army
Some countries do seem
much more susceptible
Some countries do seem
much more susceptible
To sudden takeovers than others
Britains last successful coup
came in the 17th century
Britains last successful coup
came in the 17th century
With Oliver Cromwell declaring a republic
On the other side of the globe
Japan has seen several coup attempts
in the last century
Japan has seen several coup attempts
in the last century
But none of them has
managed to seize power
There is something in the
national character that anarchy
Is the last quality
you look for in the Japanese
Is the last quality
you look for in the Japanese
The way they run their households
the way they run their governments
The precision, cleanliness
order, tradition, and subordination
The precision, cleanliness
order, tradition, and subordination
Whereas, there are various
explanations of whats wrong with Russia
Whereas, there are various
explanations of whats wrong with Russia
One is that the Mongolian explanation
That Genghis Khan left behind an extremely
efficient post and telegraph system
That Genghis Khan left behind an extremely
efficient post and telegraph system
But they left behind the idea
that everything could be destroyed
And then rebuilt, it didnt matter
And then rebuilt, it didnt matter
And that the most humble shepherd
could rise up to be the king
Russias tendency towards dramatic
coups showed up yet again in 1991
Russias tendency towards dramatic
coups showed up yet again in 1991
When Mikhail Gorbachev
was leader of the Soviet Union
When it was falling apart at the seems
The coup is precipitated
by an old guard within the regime
The coup is precipitated
by an old guard within the regime
Which has become deeply alarmed that
the entire project is sort of unraveling
Which has become deeply alarmed that
the entire project is sort of unraveling
In a sense, their diagnosis
is probably fairly accurate
Its this attempt
to kind of ditch the leader
Its this attempt
to kind of ditch the leader
And to get a new guy in the role
And to get a new guy in the role
Who is going to stabilize the situation
or reverse these dangerous policies
But thats the moment
where the regime just collapses
But thats the moment
where the regime just collapses
It just sort of haemorrhages
support and authority
Gorbachev and his family went to Foros
nice villa had been built for him
Gorbachev and his family went to Foros
nice villa had been built for him
Lots of chandeliers, by the sea
And these five men cut his telephone lines
And these five men cut his telephone lines
And he realised
something was very, very wrong
And then a delegation turned up
having forced their way past the guards
And then a delegation turned up
having forced their way past the guards
By threatening to sack them all
if they didnt let them through
By threatening to sack them all
if they didnt let them through
And they gave Gorbachev an ultimatum
sign or accept the state of emergency
And empower them to reverse everything
And empower them to reverse everything
The coup coming from
the liberal side, Boris Yeltsin
Who loathed Gorbachev
humiliated at one point
Who loathed Gorbachev
humiliated at one point
And certainly loathed the KGB
who had the Russian parliament
And all the younger politicians behind him
And all the younger politicians behind him
Yeltsin managed to bring the
population out on the streets
And this hadnt been seen
in Russia since 1917
And this hadnt been seen
in Russia since 1917
The population coming
out on the streets genuinely
To try and change the political scene
They were very clever the population
they fraternised with the soldiers
And soldiers being Russian
conscripts, boys of 18, 19
And soldiers being Russian
conscripts, boys of 18, 19
They were easily brought round with
gifts of cake from old grandmothers
And roses from girls and so on
And roses from girls and so on
As a result only three people
were crushed to death by a tank
Poor Gorbachev was left in the middle
but Russia does not remember him fondly
Poor Gorbachev was left in the middle
but Russia does not remember him fondly
Partly of the chaos he unleashed
with his reforms
Partly of the chaos he unleashed
with his reforms
A lot of these regimes really do recreate
history and create new trajectories
A lot of these regimes really do recreate
history and create new trajectories
Our world, the world we live in
is in fact unthinkable without coups
Our world, the world we live in
is in fact unthinkable without coups
Coups have determined
a lot of our reality for us
Coups have determined
a lot of our reality for us
And theyve also had a very dark side
They also continue to toxify
the political agenda
They also continue to toxify
the political agenda
The legacy of coups in many countries
if you take modern Greece for example
The Colonels of the late 1960s
The Colonels of the late 1960s
A very unimaginative, brutal
reverently right-wing regime
A very unimaginative, brutal
reverently right-wing regime
Has toxified Greek politics ever since
Its led to an extraordinary
level of radicalisation
Its led to an extraordinary
level of radicalisation
Amongst sectors of the Greek public
which persist to this day
The classic successful coup
comes on the back of military success
This is what we see often in
sort of tin-pot African dictatorships
They storm into the capital
often on a wave of popular support
They storm into the capital
often on a wave of popular support
And they carve out
a power niche for themselves
But the problem for all
of these would be dictators
But the problem for all
of these would be dictators
As for even the great ones like Napoleon
and like Caesar, is clinging onto power
As for even the great ones like Napoleon
and like Caesar, is clinging onto power
I think its easier to
seize power than to hold it
Of course Sub-Saharan African
We have quite a few colorful
characters like Emperor Bokassa
We have quite a few colorful
characters like Emperor Bokassa
Like Idi Amin, who overthrows Milton Obote
and establishes the unique
Like Idi Amin, who overthrows Milton Obote
and establishes the unique
The last King of Scotland
Amin regime in Uganda
Audacious coups have shaped
the world that we know today
Audacious coups have shaped
the world that we know today
They have molded countries
inspired revolutions
And turned unknown figures into legends
And turned unknown figures into legends
Whos to say that there arent men
and women walking the earth right now
Who will drastically change
the course of human history
Who will drastically change
the course of human history
After all, with a dash of charisma
or a dose of Machiavellian scheming
After all, with a dash of charisma
or a dose of Machiavellian scheming
Even the most robust of nations
can be transformed for better or worse
Even the most robust of nations
can be transformed for better or worse
No one ever seizes power with
the intention of relinquishing it
No one ever seizes power with
the intention of relinquishing it
Human history suggests
that this is certainly true
But some people have been much more
successful at seizing control than others
But some people have been much more
successful at seizing control than others
And their audacious power grabs
have shaped the modern world
The problem of a coup detat
Is once youve actually got into power
how do you stay in power?
Thats often much more difficult
than getting power in the first place
Its a question of
proprietary and legitimacy
Its a question of
proprietary and legitimacy
A coup succeeds if it can be
presented as legitimate
Where do you derive your authority from?
Where do you derive your authority from?
It cant be just from the crowd
It must be from legitimate
power holders in society
It must be from legitimate
power holders in society
If you want to become a dictator
people skills are very important
If you no longer control the levers
of power you are vulnerable
If you no longer control the levers
of power you are vulnerable
So you have this
kind of unending incentive
So you have this
kind of unending incentive
To sort of stick around
for as long as you can
Many countries that we know and love today
were born by outrageous means
And new countries
may be born in the future
And new countries
may be born in the future
In this show we will be racing through
historys greatest coups
From Julius Caesar to the strong men
that rule parts of the globe today
From Julius Caesar to the strong men
that rule parts of the globe today
When the chaos was so bad
and the situation deteriorating
When the chaos was so bad
and the situation deteriorating
That a lot of the population felt if
anyone grabs power and puts an end to this
That a lot of the population felt if
anyone grabs power and puts an end to this
It doesnt matter who they are
Whether its an extreme right wing general
or whether its a mad Bolshevik
But as long as someone imposes their will
But as long as someone imposes their will
There is one big beast in town now, There
arent sort of lots of ravenous jackals
There is one big beast in town now, There
arent sort of lots of ravenous jackals
Roaming the streets ready to take
your business and your property from you
Well cover the most
Machiavellian takeovers
From Napoleon to Catherine the Great
From Napoleon to Catherine the Great
I dont think any ruler in history
has ever managed to combine
His or her sex life with their
political life so successfully
His or her sex life with their
political life so successfully
To have as your lover
The most effective foreign ministers
the most effective generals
The most effective foreign ministers
the most effective generals
That is extraordinary
We hope to uncover the keys to success
From charismatic leaders
to devious behind the scenes schemers
Most coups fail
but the effect on history is vast
They have established many regimes
They have established many regimes
Which have changed time
and again the course of history
The world we live in
has been shaped by coups
The world we live in
has been shaped by coups
Many of our political systems
have been shaped by largely men
Wresting control and taking power
Wresting control and taking power
And whos to say that that wont continue
Theyll well see in the future
a new state of coups
Its time to answer an age old riddle
How to stage a coup?
"How to stage a coup"
"How to stage a coup"
But where to begin? Well
its hard not to start with Julius Caesar
But where to begin? Well
its hard not to start with Julius Caesar
Caesar is the alpha and omega of coups
He was the prototype for many reasons
He was the prototype for many reasons
He had this fanatically loyal army, and
the charisma arising from great success
He had this fanatically loyal army, and
the charisma arising from great success
The influence of Caesar is everywhere
I think on coup detats
Hes even given words to our language
Hes even given words to our language
Kaiser and tsar both of course
derive from the name Julius Caesar
Kaiser and tsar both of course
derive from the name Julius Caesar
They are direct replications of Caesar
The echo is very conscious
that youre not just a king
The echo is very conscious
that youre not just a king
Being a king is rather boring, they exist
in all cultures in all parts of the world
Being a king is rather boring, they exist
in all cultures in all parts of the world
But a Caesar has those Roman echoes
Which endows it with credible dignity
One reason they wanted
to call themselves Caesar
One reason they wanted
to call themselves Caesar
Was after the capture of
Constantinople by the Turks
It was considered
the Second Rome had fallen
It was considered
the Second Rome had fallen
And the only large orthodox country
thats independent left was Russia
So Russia must be the Third Rome
So Russia must be the Third Rome
And therefore its Grand Duke
was not just a grand duke
He must be a Caesar
So, they would use this word Caesar
He must be a Caesar
So, they would use this word Caesar
Which became shorted
and more easier to pronounce in Russia
As tsar
So it stuck as tsar
So, Julius Caesars name
has echoed throughout history
So, Julius Caesars name
has echoed throughout history
With numerous rulers
adopting it as a title of prestige
But Caesar himself was also
quite keen on elevating his own status
He claimed that his family had descended
from the goddess Venus no less
He claimed that his family had descended
from the goddess Venus no less
Nothing quite beats divine blood pumping
in your veins for a successful coup
Nothing quite beats divine blood pumping
in your veins for a successful coup
But just like the tsars
and kaisers that followed him
Caesar felt insignificant
compared to his predecessor
Caesar felt insignificant
compared to his predecessor
Its said that when he encountered
a state of Alexander the Great
Caesar realised that he had
achieved little in comparison
Caesar realised that he had
achieved little in comparison
Alex is the gold standard of coups
Having claimed the titles
of Pharaoh of Egypt
Having claimed the titles
of Pharaoh of Egypt
King of Macedon, and King of Asia
during his lifetime
That was an impossible bar to reach
Caesar would soon
make his own bid for glory
In 49 BC
In 49 BC
Julius Caesar provided a role
for so many would be dictators
His master stroke really was to have
a string of magnificent military victories
His master stroke really was to have
a string of magnificent military victories
And on the back of the fame
and fortune that that brought you
And on the back of the fame
and fortune that that brought you
You then go for political power
He was the prototype for many reasons
He was the prototype for many reasons
But specifically the key thing
is to be a successful general
And to have an army loyal to you
He crossed the Rubicon
And to have an army loyal to you
He crossed the Rubicon
That was the sign of civil war
because you couldnt cross the Rubicon
That was the sign of civil war
because you couldnt cross the Rubicon
And so, always in coup
you have a general with an army
Power comes out of a barrel of a rifle
as Mao said
Power comes out of a barrel of a rifle
as Mao said
Julius Caesar had showed
success on the battlefield
Julius Caesar had showed
success on the battlefield
And this counted for absolutely
everything in ancient Rome
It meant that his name
was known to everyone
It meant that his name
was known to everyone
It had brought him fame
and it was that fame
The fact that everyone knew
who he was and hed been so successful
The fact that everyone knew
who he was and hed been so successful
That then enabled him to
edge his way into political power
Caesars enormous success
Meant that he was bestowed the title
of dictator by the Roman Republic
Meant that he was bestowed the title
of dictator by the Roman Republic
But he always had to face off
the powerful Senate
You have to have major wedges
You have to have major wedges
Of the power structure in society
of the social structure
Of the power structure in society
of the social structure
Veering towards you
And of course although hed alienated
a lot of the blowhards of the Senate
And of course although hed alienated
a lot of the blowhards of the Senate
He offered the new men and women
The proles and the plebis a lot
The proles and the plebis a lot
He offered them more participation
In the Roman Republic
if it was going to be a Republican
In the Roman Republic
if it was going to be a Republican
Which of course his enemies denied
that was his plan
That hed turn it into
in fact a monarchy, and he did
That hed turn it into
in fact a monarchy, and he did
Caesar achieved
a remarkable seizure of power
Caesar achieved
a remarkable seizure of power
He eliminated his rivals
And even managed to find time to have
an affair with Cleopatra in the process
And even managed to find time to have
an affair with Cleopatra in the process
He became a new benchmark for all
military rulers in the years that followed
In the early 9th century, Charlemagne
was able to recreate Caesars achievements
When he was crowned
the first Holy Roman Emperor
And earned the title of Father of Europe
On the other side of the globe
Genghis Khan managed to conqueror half
the world through his sheer force of will
And an uncanny ability
to unify the Mongol tribes
But one man saw himself exactly
in the model of Julius Caesar
But one man saw himself exactly
in the model of Julius Caesar
And shaped himself in his idols image
Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon fits almost exactly
the Caesar model for a coup detat
He came from nowhere
from a little village in Corsica
He came from nowhere
from a little village in Corsica
But he built an army
he had a string of victories
He came to the attention of France
He came to the attention of France
Everyone knew him
It is a direct comparison. They were both
on the fringes of the nobility
It is a direct comparison. They were both
on the fringes of the nobility
Napoleon was hardly a self-made man
But Napoleon replicated it in every way
But Napoleon replicated it in every way
Head of the Army of the Interior
head of the Army of Italy
Head of the Army of the Interior
head of the Army of Italy
Making his reputation militarily
But establishing again a triumvirate
Napoleon moved quite gradually
and Napoleon moved through the army
He just proved his extraordinary
competence as a general
And came to power in much the same way
as General de Gaulle came to power later
He was obviously the most competent
person to deal with a nation in chaos
He was obviously the most competent
person to deal with a nation in chaos
Just emerging from a civil war
and a war with its neighbours
He did one other very important thing
If youre going to be
successful in staging a coup
If youre going to be
successful in staging a coup
At least have a couple of
newspapers under your belt
Thats what Napoleon had
Thats what Napoleon had
He could spread the word himself
about just how brilliant he was
Napoleon was one of the first rulers
To truly master the art of media
in his political ascension
To truly master the art of media
in his political ascension
Not only did he have two newspapers
of his own covering all his exploits
He commissioned a series of medallions
which featured his greatest hits
These medallions showcased
Napoleon himself of course
These medallions showcased
Napoleon himself of course
But also featured Roman soldiers
and tales from mythology
Including Hercules slaying the Hydra
Including Hercules slaying the Hydra
He had an intuitive grasp of its
importance, that you cannot just act
He had an intuitive grasp of its
importance, that you cannot just act
The act has to be articulated
It has to be surrounded by a narrative
a mystique, an imagery, a mythology
It has to be surrounded by a narrative
a mystique, an imagery, a mythology
In fact, in the view
of one English statesman
In fact, in the view
of one English statesman
His newspaper, the Moniteur of Paris
did far more damage than all his armies
Which is an extraordinary thing to say
In many ways visually he was the anti-hero
How does a small fat man do become
charismatic? Well Napoleon tells you
How does a small fat man do become
charismatic? Well Napoleon tells you
By the stylisation
the very distinctive clothes
By the stylisation
the very distinctive clothes
The brooding brow, the way
this is replicated through pictures
Through lithography
Through lithography
And so forth, He creates a whole
symbol set associated with him
A whole super charged mythology
A whole super charged mythology
Of greatness and grandeur
and indeed Caesarism
And this is where Caesar comes
in in fact to the Napoleon story
And this is where Caesar comes
in in fact to the Napoleon story
Because hes constantly
making references to Caesar
Because hes constantly
making references to Caesar
And the idea of Caesar was
the common background of all Europeans
And the idea of Caesar was
the common background of all Europeans
Napoleons extraordinary rise
Was not only down to a clever replication
of the exploits of Julius Caesar though
Was not only down to a clever replication
of the exploits of Julius Caesar though
He also benefited from
extremely good timing
Which will make or break even
the most well planned coup detat
Which will make or break even
the most well planned coup detat
When Napoleon turned 20, France was thrown
into the chaos of the French Revolution
When Napoleon turned 20, France was thrown
into the chaos of the French Revolution
Which saw the beheading of the Royal
Family and the infamous Reign of Terror
Which saw the beheading of the Royal
Family and the infamous Reign of Terror
The nation was more than ready for someone
Anyone to bring back
some semblance of order
This situation would be repeated once more
just over a century later in Russia
This situation would be repeated once more
just over a century later in Russia
Once again a monarchy came crumbling down
And a man named Lenin saw an opportunity
And a man named Lenin saw an opportunity
Lenin has to be one of the most unlikely
leaders of a revolution, of a coup detat
He was a bald, rather boring, and wrote
very long impenetrable political tracts
He was a bald, rather boring, and wrote
very long impenetrable political tracts
But, Lenin got his timing right
Lenin was the prototype
left-wing radical agitator
He spent an awfully long time
writing pamphlets and books
He spent an awfully long time
writing pamphlets and books
And addressing empty meetings
It was a very frustrating life actually
Write a pamphlet, whos going to read it?
And so much of his intellectual
and emotional, indeed visible energy
And so much of his intellectual
and emotional, indeed visible energy
Had gone into that
He has established himself as the
unquestioned leader of the Bolshevik party
He has established himself as the
unquestioned leader of the Bolshevik party
And I think thats a product of his
intellect, his phenomenal energy
And I think thats a product of his
intellect, his phenomenal energy
His kind of capacity for organisation
I would say he had a few things
in common with Peter the Great
Ivan the Terrible too
Ivan the Terrible too
Absolute ruthlessness
Only trusting people
he had appointed himself
But there was something
monomaniac and pedantic about him
But there was something
monomaniac and pedantic about him
He loved micromanaging
He came back to Russia when the
provisional government was falling apart
He came back to Russia when the
provisional government was falling apart
Russia was in chaos
the war was going badly
And he was there at the right moment
And he was there at the right moment
Lenin came from nowhere
The trouble was when he
first came back from Switzerland
The government didnt know
what he looked like
The government didnt know
what he looked like
The provisional government failed to
do what it knew it ought to have done
Which is to arrest him and if not hang him
at least lock him up very securely
Which is to arrest him and if not hang him
at least lock him up very securely
Lenin I think grasps
almost this kind of tectonic shift
Lenin I think grasps
almost this kind of tectonic shift
That is happening
in Russian politics in 1917
That is happening
in Russian politics in 1917
Basically the October Revolution
is a coup, which triggers a revolution
Basically the October Revolution
is a coup, which triggers a revolution
So, the Bolsheviks seize power
Although one historian says, you know
they didnt so much seize power
As just pick it up after it had
been dropped in the street
Quite a lot of Russian plays
about the Bolshevik takeover
Quite a lot of Russian plays
about the Bolshevik takeover
Do end up with a tsarist officer saying
Oh let the Bolsheviks take over, at least
it will put an end to all this chaos
There was that failure to resist
Partly because people
couldnt stand any more of the chaos
It had been going on for nearly a year
It had been going on for nearly a year
Partly because Lenin promised
The three things he was
certainly not going to deliver
he promised peace
he promised bread, he promised liberty
he promised peace
he promised bread, he promised liberty
There is an extent to which
the population believes
that anything is
preferable to chaos, right
that anything is
preferable to chaos, right
So, I mean thats something thats
animated Russian history for centuries
that, you know, better the tsar
that, you know, better the tsar
who rules with strong hand
that just total social collapse
Lenin is unique, He was absolutely
determined, he wasnt afraid
Lenin is unique, He was absolutely
determined, he wasnt afraid
he was prepared to get himself killed
and his associates killed too
he was prepared to get himself killed
and his associates killed too
Lenin expected to be grabbed and hanged
Actually ending up
in command of all of Russia
Actually ending up
in command of all of Russia
must have come as enormous surprise
because this is actually someone who lived
through a verbal and verbalising medium
because this is actually someone who lived
through a verbal and verbalising medium
He was not a man of action
he was an agitator in an orator
he was an agitator in an orator
quite literally in exile of the time
in Siberia, in Europe
in Siberia, in Europe
Pouring out these diatribes
and apparently getting nowhere
Constantly maneuvering
against the Mensheviks
But never knowing that the Bolshevik
destiny was in some way predetermined
But never knowing that the Bolshevik
destiny was in some way predetermined
Lenins ascent from obscure polemicist
To ruler of the worlds largest nation
Was perhaps the most
inexplicable coup in history
Not only did it change a nation forever
It helped facilitate a whole series
of coups soon afterwards
It helped facilitate a whole series
of coups soon afterwards
That had an incalculable effect
on the world we know today
With Russia having fallen to a communist
takeover, who was to be next?
One man who took advantage
of this tremendous uncertainty
Was Benito Mussolini
He had created the National Fascist Party
And won election
to the Italian Parliament in 1921
By 1922 he had taken control
of the country, following a march on Rome
Lenin seizing power
caused alarm across Europe
Lenin seizing power
caused alarm across Europe
And nowhere more so than in Italy
Which was in a terrible
political situation
The First World War had come to an end
The First World War had come to an end
Millions of people unemployed
And Mussolini saw this and he chose it
as his moment to strike
And Mussolini saw this and he chose it
as his moment to strike
Why not gather up
those unemployed soldiers
Build them into your own
black shirt movement
Build them into your own
black shirt movement
And then march on the capital
Saying that youre going to save
the country from the sort of thing
Saying that youre going to save
the country from the sort of thing
That was taking place inside Russia
Its really easy actually to forget
Its really easy actually to forget
How soon after the unity of Italy
Mussolini actually comes
So there is still
So there is still
A great need for national unity
and the symbols of national unity
And to create that unity you look
elsewhere, to a conflict to empire
And to create that unity you look
elsewhere, to a conflict to empire
To bind the country together
you look for symbols
You look for means, you looks for myths
To knit a new Italy out of all
these ancient fragments
To knit a new Italy out of all
these ancient fragments
Mussolini marched on Rome with 30,000 men
Not a lot of people
to carry out a coup detat
Not a lot of people
to carry out a coup detat
But the center was very weak
The prime minister of the time
Thought that the King would intervene
would allow the army
Thought that the King would intervene
would allow the army
To smash this army of black shirts
But the King did nothing
But the King did nothing
Effectively the King sanctioned Mussolini
to come in and take control
It wasnt inevitable but it was probable
Because of the enormous fear
of communism, of socialism
Because of the enormous fear
of communism, of socialism
Among the ruling elite
All over Europe essentially
it was fleeing terror
All over Europe essentially
it was fleeing terror
And they were fleeing
into the open arms of the fascist
Its possible the King
was afraid that the communists
Its possible the King
was afraid that the communists
Would do in Italy
what theyd done in Russia
Its possible also
that he half admired Mussolini
Its possible also
that he half admired Mussolini
And felt that now was the time
for a strong man to take control
It was a marvelous operatic gesture
in fact the King had sided with him
And invited him to form a government
so this merely lubricated
And invited him to form a government
so this merely lubricated
What was actually
a constitutionally enabled coup
What was actually
a constitutionally enabled coup
Mussolinis rise from a solder
of World War I to the leader of a nation
Mussolinis rise from a solder
of World War I to the leader of a nation
Proved hugely inspirational
to another nationalist of the same era
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Just a year after Mussolini came to power
Just a year after Mussolini came to power
Hitler attempted a coup of his own
with the infamous Beer Hall Putsch
Mussolini if you like
lead the way for Hitler
Mussolini if you like
lead the way for Hitler
On staging a nationalistic coup
Mussolini had 33,000 men, Hitler
tried it with just 2,000 men in Munich
Mussolini had 33,000 men, Hitler
tried it with just 2,000 men in Munich
He was pretty much unknown
and it was a miserable failure
He was pretty much unknown
and it was a miserable failure
He managed to successfully take the
beer hall, the famous beer hall in Munich
But he didnt get much further than that
So, Hitler shows that with a small group
of men perhaps you cant achieve very much
So, Hitler shows that with a small group
of men perhaps you cant achieve very much
And also Hitler was
completely unknown at the time
Unlike Mussolini, who had already
made his name in Italy
Unlike Mussolini, who had already
made his name in Italy
So, do your groundwork
before you stage your coup detat
Mussolini is a dictator
for ten years longer than Hitler
And Hitler had this huge awe of him
Hes inspired by him
He gives him every honour he can, every
dignity he can, he worships Mussolini
He gives him every honour he can, every
dignity he can, he worships Mussolini
Hed failed essentially
because of German legalism
Hed failed essentially
because of German legalism
They were not going to tolerate
a South American style coup
They were not going to tolerate
a South American style coup
This was not the German way
they wanted things properly done
And the real theater was his trial
Where he was able to make
of course this great case
For the fragility of the state
against the state
For the fragility of the state
against the state
This whole idea could be articulated
In brilliant court room oratory
And carried by all the media of the world
And then of course
And then of course
The prison where he had the time to
dictate his great testament, Mein Kampf
It gave him time to write Mein Kampf
to set out his political agenda
It gave him time to write Mein Kampf
to set out his political agenda
And to make a name for himself in Germany
So by the time he went to the ballot box
everyone in Germany had heard of him
So by the time he went to the ballot box
everyone in Germany had heard of him
Everyone bought it
In a proper German house in the Hitler era
you had to have Mein Kampf
In a proper German house in the Hitler era
you had to have Mein Kampf
But it was regarded really as unreadable
But it was regarded really as unreadable
This is actually an error
Because the chapter on propaganda is quite
a remarkable manual of the persuasion
Because the chapter on propaganda is quite
a remarkable manual of the persuasion
And shows that Hitlers power
as a theoretician of persuasion
And shows that Hitlers power
as a theoretician of persuasion
And shows really the basis of his rule
anchored in ideas on propaganda
And shows really the basis of his rule
anchored in ideas on propaganda
Whats fascinating about coup detats is
You dont always know
theyre happening at the time
You dont always know
theyre happening at the time
So, Hitler came to power
through the ballot box
He came to power on a platform
of locking up political enemies
He came to power on a platform
of locking up political enemies
Of tearing up everything
that the previous government had done
He actually becomes chancellor
at the beginning of 1933
He actually becomes chancellor
at the beginning of 1933
But he doesnt become president
Thats only when Hindenburg dies in 34
It was pseudo legal
in other words none of it is legal
But its always creating
a facade of legality
But its always creating
a facade of legality
It was very, very important to Hitler
To preserve a facade
of proprietary and legalism
To preserve a facade
of proprietary and legalism
And a lot of the propaganda
was directed towards that end
And a lot of the propaganda
was directed towards that end
Caesar, Napoleon, Mussolini
and Hitler all shared one trait
Caesar, Napoleon, Mussolini
and Hitler all shared one trait
That is common to many
successful leaders of coup detats
Personal charisma
that captivates an audience
Personal charisma
that captivates an audience
Even Vladimir Lenin
a man who never served in the military
Was able to entrance
his followers when necessary
Was able to entrance
his followers when necessary
Lenin was apparently never
a particularly formidable speaker
Lenin was apparently never
a particularly formidable speaker
But he certainly had a sort of
bureaucratic charisma
But he certainly had a sort of
bureaucratic charisma
This was a man who was
able to sort of brow beat
You know, rivals into submission
You know, rivals into submission
We think of Lenin as being rather boring
But those outsiders who saw him speak
said that he could electrify a crowd
But those outsiders who saw him speak
said that he could electrify a crowd
Certainly a crowd of his own supporters
Certainly a crowd of his own supporters
Who although small were clever
They were brutal in what
they wanted to achieve
And they set out to achieve that
And they set out to achieve that
Disregarding everyone else
in the capital at the time
At key moments Lenin rose to the occasion
At key moments Lenin rose to the occasion
The famous speech at Finland Station
Other speeches he made, political
speeches, at absolutely crucial times
Other speeches he made, political
speeches, at absolutely crucial times
He got the tone just right
Charismatic leaders can see
a spectacular rise to the top
But its often followed by
a dramatic fall from grace
A charismatic almost by definition
Is extending his or indeed her
appeal beyond a ruling elite
Is extending his or indeed her
appeal beyond a ruling elite
And arousing enormous jealously in
traditional power holders within society
And arousing enormous jealously in
traditional power holders within society
If they fail they lose their charisma
So, charisma is not only something
which is easily lost
So, charisma is not only something
which is easily lost
Its also something
which easily visibly destroyed
Of course in Caesars case
it was partly in a sense a family dispute
Because Brutus mother
was one of the Caesars lovers
Because Brutus mother
was one of the Caesars lovers
So many people have followed that
Mussolini, Napoleon
Theyve all gone for that model
Theyve all gone for that model
And it works very well
for as long as it lasts
The problem is, it doesnt always last
The problem is, it doesnt always last
Look what happened to Caesar, he was
assassinated famously on the Ides of March
Look what happened to Caesar, he was
assassinated famously on the Ides of March
You too, Brute?
Then fall, Caesar!
Mussolinis body was strung up
in a square in Milan
Mussolinis body was strung up
in a square in Milan
Sometimes the Caesar model
its great for achieving power
But not so great for holding onto it
In the cases of Napoleon and Hitler
Their downfall was due to the hubris
often shown by charismatics
Their downfall was due to the hubris
often shown by charismatics
They broke what became known
as rule one on page one of the book of war
They broke what became known
as rule one on page one of the book of war
Never march on Moscow
Certainly after Napoleon
the famous theoretician of war
Certainly after Napoleon
the famous theoretician of war
Von Clausewitz, who was on that march
Said the first rule
is never march on Moscow
Said the first rule
is never march on Moscow
Hitler of course ignored it
Nobody believes the weather reports
Even Hitler didnt believe his meteorologists
on how old cold it gets and how early
Even Hitler didnt believe his meteorologists
on how old cold it gets and how early
And they dont believe
that Russians can operate at minus 30
And they dont believe
that Russians can operate at minus 30
But Germans and French generally
dont operate at minus 30
Where its a horse or a tank
Napoleon, who made the right
preparations for invading Egypt
And other climatic hostile environments
Didnt take this into account
I suppose if you come from Corsica
you cant believe it
The Russian Emperor said
My two best generals
The Russian Emperor said
My two best generals
And of course the Russian
Emperor spoke French
Were Generals Janvier and Fvrier
Were Generals Janvier and Fvrier
This is extraordinary
how Napoleon fell into that trap
It is one of the great epics of history
It is one of the great epics of history
The great epic of failure and disaster
Its also really the Greek idea of hubris
Its also really the Greek idea of hubris
That Napoleon had had so much success
It blinded him to key dangers,
climatic among them
It blinded him to key dangers,
climatic among them
And astonishingly and very similarly
arrogant hubristic man made the same error
And astonishingly and very similarly
arrogant hubristic man made the same error
In 1941, 42, Adolf Hitler
In 1941, 42, Adolf Hitler
An intensely charismatic persona
can come in handy
An intensely charismatic persona
can come in handy
But it is an essential for a coup detat
One doesnt need to be a
skilled orator to take over a nation
One doesnt need to be a
skilled orator to take over a nation
Sometimes you can ride off
the abilities of charismatics around you
Sometimes you can ride off
the abilities of charismatics around you
As you plot your way to the top
Welcome to the world of the schemer
Vidkun Quisling was a politician
who took power in Norway in a coup in 1940
Vidkun Quisling was a politician
who took power in Norway in a coup in 1940
After collaborating with the Nazis
Just like Julius Caesar
his name entered the lexicon
Just like Julius Caesar
his name entered the lexicon
But not as an emperor, but one who allies
themselves with an enemy occupying force
But not as an emperor, but one who allies
themselves with an enemy occupying force
In Spain, General Francisco Franco
In Spain, General Francisco Franco
Was part of a failed coup in 1936
That sparked the Spanish Civil War
After nearly three years of battle
Franco was able to come out
on top in the conflict
Franco was able to come out
on top in the conflict
Franco was a short, dumpy
little man with a funny mustache
Not someone who is cut
from the cloth of heroes
It was simply the power of his hatred and
fanaticism, which eventually won through
It was simply the power of his hatred and
fanaticism, which eventually won through
People were attracted to his determination
People were attracted to his determination
Although Francos success
was partly down to
Although Francos success
was partly down to
His organisational skills
and sheer determination
He also benefited from military assistance
He also benefited from military assistance
Provided by the two most
powerful charismatics of his era
Mussolini and Hitler
But while they would both die
during World War Two
But while they would both die
during World War Two
Franco would rule Spain for 36 years
Franco would rule Spain for 36 years
But when it comes to schemers
Joseph Stalin is the gold standard
Stalin for me is the ultimate
schemer, the man thats
Always keeping one eye on his own future
Always keeping one eye on his own future
From the very outset he was planning
his own coup within a coup, within a coup
He was determined that one day
he would master of all of Russia
He was determined that one day
he would master of all of Russia
Stalin was the back room boy
he was the administrator
Hed always been the one behind
the organisation of demonstrations
Hed always been the one behind
the organisation of demonstrations
The organisation
of polemics and publication
The organisation
of polemics and publication
He is a very, very ruthless power broker
Hes clearly deeply paranoid
Hes clearly deeply paranoid
About the possibility of enemies
and opposition within society
And that paranoia has of course
devastating consequences
And that paranoia has of course
devastating consequences
For millions of Soviet citizens
When he was a student at the seminary
He wrote an essay on Sejanus
the Roman conspirator
He wrote an essay on Sejanus
the Roman conspirator
Which received top marks
it was absolutely a brilliant essay
And he wrote it as a school boy
And he wrote it as a school boy
So, already, long before
hed even left school
He was preparing for this role, he
got it, He got the idea of the Machiavel
He was preparing for this role, he
got it, He got the idea of the Machiavel
The sinister idea of the
back room shadowy figure
The sinister idea of the
back room shadowy figure
Who gradually accumulates
all of the power and then strikes
Who gradually accumulates
all of the power and then strikes
When Lenin died in 1924
it was uncertain who would succeed him
When Lenin died in 1924
it was uncertain who would succeed him
In the end it came down a battle
between a charismatic in Leon Trotsky
In the end it came down a battle
between a charismatic in Leon Trotsky
And a schemer in Joseph Stalin
Its fascinating if you see
Trotsky and Stalin in action
Its fascinating if you see
Trotsky and Stalin in action
Because either of these two men
could have been Lenins successor
Trotsky the great charismatic
his wonder speeches to the Red Army
Trotsky the great charismatic
his wonder speeches to the Red Army
Stalin the schemer
And Stalin I think
was always going to win that battle
And Stalin I think
was always going to win that battle
Stalin had a very, very
clever way of dealing Trotsky
Stalin had a very, very
clever way of dealing Trotsky
Which was not to confront him too often
and not to argue with him too often
Although they had some major quarrels
Although they had some major quarrels
But as Secretary of the Central Committee
He draw up the agenda, he decided
when and where the meetings were
He draw up the agenda, he decided
when and where the meetings were
And he authorised
people to take sick leave
When Lenin was dying
Trotsky was offered a little rest
When Lenin was dying
Trotsky was offered a little rest
So he wasnt informed in time
to attend the funeral
If youre not seen as
one of the pallbearers
Then youre in line for succession
So, Trotsky made these terrible mistakes
He underestimated Stalin of course
that was the main thing
Trotsky doesnt have the
kind of people skills that Stalin has
Trotsky doesnt have the
kind of people skills that Stalin has
He doesnt suffer fools gladly, his manner
is often quite sort of haughty and offhand
He doesnt suffer fools gladly, his manner
is often quite sort of haughty and offhand
He dominates people by his intellect
rather than with his charm
He dominates people by his intellect
rather than with his charm
Stalins I think great strength
is that hes a people person
Stalins I think great strength
is that hes a people person
And Trotsky is not as
has no real interest in bureaucracy
And Trotsky is not as
has no real interest in bureaucracy
Stalin, he is the consummate
bureaucratic operator
Stalin, he is the consummate
bureaucratic operator
Trotsky delivers these great
rhetorical flourishes at party congresses
But hes making arguments increasingly
But hes making arguments increasingly
To people who owe their position
within the party hierarchy to Stalin
To people who owe their position
within the party hierarchy to Stalin
The present crisis
will mean a new era in history
Stalin had the support
of the secret police
And when Lenin died
and you had a new economic policy
It was clear that Russia
was not going to fight any wars
It was clear that Russia
was not going to fight any wars
Trotsky wanted to fight wars
with Germany and China
And it was perfectly clear
And it was perfectly clear
that Stalin would want to
eliminate all forms of opposition
So, there were jobs for the secret police
but no jobs for the Red Army
So, there were jobs for the secret police
but no jobs for the Red Army
He didnt keep his eye on the ball
the way that Stalin did or Lenin had
He was the silent looming presence
He was the silent looming presence
At a Stalin meeting you had to clap
at the end of it when he was dictator
And if you stopped clapping
you might be hauled off and shot
And so the clapping
could last half an hour
And so the clapping
could last half an hour
This was the way he operated
And so it is a kind of anti-charisma
And so it is a kind of anti-charisma
If you like. The plain dress
the silent presence, the stare
If you like. The plain dress
the silent presence, the stare
You read into it
what you will this part of the role
People could believe
he was evangelical figure
People could believe
he was evangelical figure
People could believe he was
a benevolent figure, he just didnt say
Leon Trotsky learned the hard way
Not to underestimate
a devious schemer like Stalin
But he wasnt the first Russian
to make such a mistake
Russian history is filled with schemers
who have plotted their way into power
Russian history is filled with schemers
who have plotted their way into power
The most incredible of all being the
Catherine I, wife of Peter the Great
Who became Empresses in her own right
Some coups are really extraordinary
Some coups are really extraordinary
And the one that for me is the most
extraordinary is perhaps Catherine I
An example of social climbing that Ive
never witnessed any time else in history
An example of social climbing that Ive
never witnessed any time else in history
Catherine I there was various stories
The most likely one
Is that she was a small girl
captured by the Russian Army
Is that she was a small girl
captured by the Russian Army
When they invaded the Baltic
And she was handed
over to a Lutheran pastor
Shes believed to be a sort of
semi literate Lithuanian peasant
Shes believed to be a sort of
semi literate Lithuanian peasant
Who sort of caught Peters eye
I mean I think thats probably
a fairly undistinguishing characteristic
I mean I think thats probably
a fairly undistinguishing characteristic
Cos an awful lot of women
caught Peters eye
She saved Peter the Great
she saved the entire Russian Army
She saved Peter the Great
she saved the entire Russian Army
She probably saved Russia
When Peter the Great
had one his big disasters
When Peter the Great
had one his big disasters
He was fighting the Ottoman
and at the River Prut
In what is today Moldova
In what is today Moldova
The Turks encircled the Russian Army
And it was completely finished
Peter the Great and 100,000 Russians
Were in the Turkish hands
And Catherine first went
to see the Turkish vizier
What she did with him
is a matter of rumour
She certainly gave away all her jewels
And she promised him
an enormous number of very fine horses
And she promised him
an enormous number of very fine horses
And the Turkish commander
let the Russian Army escape
And the Turkish commander
let the Russian Army escape
That vizier paid for it
via the Sultan cut off his head for that
But, Peter the Great
was so grateful to Catherine
But, Peter the Great
was so grateful to Catherine
That she was the one person
whom he never ever hit
He was totally infatuated with her
and so he made her his heir
He was totally infatuated with her
and so he made her his heir
Even though she was
a peasant girl by origin
And she never really learnt
to read and write Russian
And she never really learnt
to read and write Russian
She married Peter the Great
Who had instigated numerous reforms
Who had instigated numerous reforms
Getting rid of the feudal aristocracy
and bringing in his own men
Now when he died, Catherine carried
on that she supported those men
Now when he died, Catherine carried
on that she supported those men
The horror of the feudal aristocrats
Who thought theyd be back in power
as soon as Peter was gone"
Who thought theyd be back in power
as soon as Peter was gone"
It was a very odd takeover
a very clever one, a very scheming one
And for someone who came
from absolutely nowhere
It really is extraordinarily surprising
But Catherine Is successors
as remarkable as they were
Would eventually be
overshadowed by a second Catherine
Would eventually be
overshadowed by a second Catherine
Who also married as tsar called Peter
In her case, Peter III
But his rule would only last six months
As Catherine the Great
as came to be known,
Claimed the throne for herself
in a daring coup
Claimed the throne for herself
in a daring coup
I regard Catherine as one of
the most remarkable monarchs
When you think where she came from
She came from this tiny
little German principality
She came from this tiny
little German principality
Catherine the Great took some of the
tricks from her namesake, Catherine I
Catherine the Great took some of the
tricks from her namesake, Catherine I
Although she went
very few steps further than Catherine I
An extraordinary takeover
of a vast Russian Empire
It must be said
that her accession to power
Was helped paradoxically
by her husbands own blundering
Peter accedes to the throne
upon the death of his mother in 1761
And then manages to alienate most of
the key constituencies within the Empire
And then manages to alienate most of
the key constituencies within the Empire
From Catherines point of view, the big
disaster was he might put her in a nunnery
From Catherines point of view, the big
disaster was he might put her in a nunnery
She decided he had to be got rid of
Her skill is less in toppling her husband
Than in ensuring she, herself
becomes his successor
Than in ensuring she, herself
becomes his successor
So, whilst most of the conspiracy seems to
have been organised by the Orlov brothers
So, whilst most of the conspiracy seems to
have been organised by the Orlov brothers
Catherine certainly plays her part
you know, with aplom
She does this tour of the guards regiments
She does this tour of the guards regiments
Which really actually are the seat
of actual power in Russia
Which really actually are the seat
of actual power in Russia
She very skilfully presents herself
as a defender of Russian orthodoxy
She very skilfully presents herself
as a defender of Russian orthodoxy
And Russian interest against the Prussians
She sort of positions herself
as a national figurehead
She sort of positions herself
as a national figurehead
And someone who is
prepared to accept the throne
In order to defend Mother Russia
from forces that are trying to undo
In order to defend Mother Russia
from forces that are trying to undo
You are my citizen
I come for you
As the mother of all Russia
Its extraordinarily sordid
That she forced her husband
to sign an abdication
That she forced her husband
to sign an abdication
And a few days later he was murdered
Catherine the Great denied
that she had any foreknowledge
Catherine the Great denied
that she had any foreknowledge
Of what was going to happen her husband
There are various accounts, There is one
interesting document from her favourite
There are various accounts, There is one
interesting document from her favourite
Alexander Orlov
As he was taking Peter III
away to a safe place
As he was taking Peter III
away to a safe place
Hes had a very attack of colic"
"Im afraid he may die, Im even
more afraid he might come back to life
"Im afraid he may die, Im even
more afraid he might come back to life
Which wouldnt look good in the court of
law, but thats the nearest we have to it
Which wouldnt look good in the court of
law, but thats the nearest we have to it
She rather maneuvered to be called a great
with a direct echo of Peter the Great
She rather maneuvered to be called a great
with a direct echo of Peter the Great
She wanted to be seen
in the same reformist trajectory
She wanted to be great in many senses
She wanted to be great in many senses
militarily of course
as a patriot, as a reformer
But culturally too
But culturally too
Catherine the Great illustrates one of the
curious facts about many successful coups
Catherine the Great illustrates one of the
curious facts about many successful coups
Throughout history
they have often been carried out
By people born and raised
outside of the nation
They would eventually control
They would eventually control
Catherine hailed from Germany
Stalin was a native son of Georgia
Hitler was famously from
the Austro-Hungarian Empire
And Napoleon spent his formative
years on the island of Corsica
And Napoleon spent his formative
years on the island of Corsica
These future leaders
of the worlds greatest coups
These future leaders
of the worlds greatest coups
Also often had vastly different
political views in their youth
Napoleon was a Corsican nationalists
Napoleon was a Corsican nationalists
Who wanted to completely break free
of the influence of the French motherland
Stalin was a Georgian nationalist, who
battled Russian influence in his homeland
Mussolini started out in the Italian
Socialist Party, before he was thrown out
Mussolini started out in the Italian
Socialist Party, before he was thrown out
So, a successful coup
So, a successful coup
Does not require a leader
with a lifelong political commitment
Views can change in a quest for power
Views can change in a quest for power
I think most coups that are successful
are born out of a weak center
I think most coups that are successful
are born out of a weak center
That when the central government
is on the point of collapsing
Or theres social unrest
Or theres social unrest
And if there is someone there
at the time to take advantage of that
Thats when it can work
Mussolini, Lenin, Napoleon
Thats when it can work
Mussolini, Lenin, Napoleon
All took advantage of a catastrophic
situation in their countries at the time
All took advantage of a catastrophic
situation in their countries at the time
So, if youre going to stage a coup
That has got to be one of your basic
prerequisites for success
That has got to be one of your basic
prerequisites for success
A coup succeeds if it can be
presented as legitimate
In countries which have
strong pre-existing institutions
In countries which have
strong pre-existing institutions
Like the papacy, like the monarchy
Like the papacy, like the monarchy
Its rather more difficult unless
the monarchy sides with the conspirators
Its really all governed by that
This is why for example modern Africa
has been so subject to coups
This is why for example modern Africa
has been so subject to coups
Because there really isnt
a source of legitimacy
Inherited, ancestral, or otherwise
Inherited, ancestral, or otherwise
Obviously over time
Such legalism will be created
The same in South America
Such legalism will be created
The same in South America
Which similarly was a
post-colonial society of course
With the overthrow of the
Spanish Empire in the early 19th century
With the overthrow of the
Spanish Empire in the early 19th century
So, you have no monarchy
no imperial power
So, you have no monarchy
no imperial power
Where do you derive your legitimacy?
in the end from the army
Some countries do seem
much more susceptible
Some countries do seem
much more susceptible
To sudden takeovers than others
Britains last successful coup
came in the 17th century
Britains last successful coup
came in the 17th century
With Oliver Cromwell declaring a republic
On the other side of the globe
Japan has seen several coup attempts
in the last century
Japan has seen several coup attempts
in the last century
But none of them has
managed to seize power
There is something in the
national character that anarchy
Is the last quality
you look for in the Japanese
Is the last quality
you look for in the Japanese
The way they run their households
the way they run their governments
The precision, cleanliness
order, tradition, and subordination
The precision, cleanliness
order, tradition, and subordination
Whereas, there are various
explanations of whats wrong with Russia
Whereas, there are various
explanations of whats wrong with Russia
One is that the Mongolian explanation
That Genghis Khan left behind an extremely
efficient post and telegraph system
That Genghis Khan left behind an extremely
efficient post and telegraph system
But they left behind the idea
that everything could be destroyed
And then rebuilt, it didnt matter
And then rebuilt, it didnt matter
And that the most humble shepherd
could rise up to be the king
Russias tendency towards dramatic
coups showed up yet again in 1991
Russias tendency towards dramatic
coups showed up yet again in 1991
When Mikhail Gorbachev
was leader of the Soviet Union
When it was falling apart at the seems
The coup is precipitated
by an old guard within the regime
The coup is precipitated
by an old guard within the regime
Which has become deeply alarmed that
the entire project is sort of unraveling
Which has become deeply alarmed that
the entire project is sort of unraveling
In a sense, their diagnosis
is probably fairly accurate
Its this attempt
to kind of ditch the leader
Its this attempt
to kind of ditch the leader
And to get a new guy in the role
And to get a new guy in the role
Who is going to stabilize the situation
or reverse these dangerous policies
But thats the moment
where the regime just collapses
But thats the moment
where the regime just collapses
It just sort of haemorrhages
support and authority
Gorbachev and his family went to Foros
nice villa had been built for him
Gorbachev and his family went to Foros
nice villa had been built for him
Lots of chandeliers, by the sea
And these five men cut his telephone lines
And these five men cut his telephone lines
And he realised
something was very, very wrong
And then a delegation turned up
having forced their way past the guards
And then a delegation turned up
having forced their way past the guards
By threatening to sack them all
if they didnt let them through
By threatening to sack them all
if they didnt let them through
And they gave Gorbachev an ultimatum
sign or accept the state of emergency
And empower them to reverse everything
And empower them to reverse everything
The coup coming from
the liberal side, Boris Yeltsin
Who loathed Gorbachev
humiliated at one point
Who loathed Gorbachev
humiliated at one point
And certainly loathed the KGB
who had the Russian parliament
And all the younger politicians behind him
And all the younger politicians behind him
Yeltsin managed to bring the
population out on the streets
And this hadnt been seen
in Russia since 1917
And this hadnt been seen
in Russia since 1917
The population coming
out on the streets genuinely
To try and change the political scene
They were very clever the population
they fraternised with the soldiers
And soldiers being Russian
conscripts, boys of 18, 19
And soldiers being Russian
conscripts, boys of 18, 19
They were easily brought round with
gifts of cake from old grandmothers
And roses from girls and so on
And roses from girls and so on
As a result only three people
were crushed to death by a tank
Poor Gorbachev was left in the middle
but Russia does not remember him fondly
Poor Gorbachev was left in the middle
but Russia does not remember him fondly
Partly of the chaos he unleashed
with his reforms
Partly of the chaos he unleashed
with his reforms
A lot of these regimes really do recreate
history and create new trajectories
A lot of these regimes really do recreate
history and create new trajectories
Our world, the world we live in
is in fact unthinkable without coups
Our world, the world we live in
is in fact unthinkable without coups
Coups have determined
a lot of our reality for us
Coups have determined
a lot of our reality for us
And theyve also had a very dark side
They also continue to toxify
the political agenda
They also continue to toxify
the political agenda
The legacy of coups in many countries
if you take modern Greece for example
The Colonels of the late 1960s
The Colonels of the late 1960s
A very unimaginative, brutal
reverently right-wing regime
A very unimaginative, brutal
reverently right-wing regime
Has toxified Greek politics ever since
Its led to an extraordinary
level of radicalisation
Its led to an extraordinary
level of radicalisation
Amongst sectors of the Greek public
which persist to this day
The classic successful coup
comes on the back of military success
This is what we see often in
sort of tin-pot African dictatorships
They storm into the capital
often on a wave of popular support
They storm into the capital
often on a wave of popular support
And they carve out
a power niche for themselves
But the problem for all
of these would be dictators
But the problem for all
of these would be dictators
As for even the great ones like Napoleon
and like Caesar, is clinging onto power
As for even the great ones like Napoleon
and like Caesar, is clinging onto power
I think its easier to
seize power than to hold it
Of course Sub-Saharan African
We have quite a few colorful
characters like Emperor Bokassa
We have quite a few colorful
characters like Emperor Bokassa
Like Idi Amin, who overthrows Milton Obote
and establishes the unique
Like Idi Amin, who overthrows Milton Obote
and establishes the unique
The last King of Scotland
Amin regime in Uganda
Audacious coups have shaped
the world that we know today
Audacious coups have shaped
the world that we know today
They have molded countries
inspired revolutions
And turned unknown figures into legends
And turned unknown figures into legends
Whos to say that there arent men
and women walking the earth right now
Who will drastically change
the course of human history
Who will drastically change
the course of human history
After all, with a dash of charisma
or a dose of Machiavellian scheming
After all, with a dash of charisma
or a dose of Machiavellian scheming
Even the most robust of nations
can be transformed for better or worse
Even the most robust of nations
can be transformed for better or worse