The French Connection

From Yorktown to The Count of Monte Cristo, France steals the scene.

Of all the stories to come out of the age of Napoleon Bonaparte, my favorite has always been The Count of Monte Cristo.

It has everything a great tale needs: betrayal, prison, hidden fortune, reinvention, and revenge. A young man is falsely accused, locked away, and nearly erased, only to return transformed and determined to settle old scores. This spring, a new version of Alexandre Dumas’s classic is airing on PBS, giving audiences another chance to step into that world of danger, ambition, and dramatic reversals.

What makes the story even more fascinating is that it did not appear out of thin air. Dumas drew from real events, real grievances, and a France still living in the long shadow of revolution and empire. The world behind Monte Cristo was shaped by upheaval, shifting loyalties, and the rise and fall of Napoleon himself. It was an era when fortunes could be made overnight, when political winds changed suddenly, and when a man’s life could be overturned by forces far larger than himself.

If you had lived in the early 19th century, one of the most awe-inspiring sights in Europe would have been Napoleon’s army. Its officers were resplendent, its eagle standards unmistakable, and its battlefield reputation unmatched. From Italy to Poland, Napoleon’s forces marched across the continent with a speed and confidence that reshaped Europe and stunned both enemies and admirers alike.

Marching Orders

Long before Napoleon’s armies swept across Europe, France had already played another world-changing role, one much closer to home. French support for the American cause went far beyond goodwill. It meant money, troops, ships, and military experience at a moment when the young republic desperately needed all four.

At Yorktown in 1781, the British surrender came only after American and French forces, supported by French naval power, closed in together. It was one of the defining moments of the Revolutionary War, and it could not have happened in the same way without France.

Names like Rochambeau and de Grasse may not be as familiar to Americans as Washington or Lafayette, but their role in the victory was enormous.

Philadelphia, too, has its place in that story. In 1781, French troops passed through the city and camped in Centre Square before continuing south along the route that would help lead to victory at Yorktown.

In Good Company

We tend to remember the Revolution through our own local landmarks, our own founders, and our own familiar stories. But the road to American independence was not traveled by Americans alone.

That is part of what makes The Count of Monte Cristo such a fun and fitting springtime hook. It reminds us that France was not only a nation of emperors, marshals, and dramatic novels. It was also a crucial ally in America’s founding. The same country that later gave the world Napoleon and inspired Dumas’s grand tale of betrayal and revenge had earlier helped secure the freedom of a new republic across the Atlantic.

For those of us who enjoy Philadelphia history, that connection still feels worth celebrating.

As America marks its 250th anniversary, it is a good moment to remember that our independence was not won in isolation. French troops marched through this city. French commanders stood beside American ones. French support helped make victory possible.

That may not be quite as dramatic as treasure, disguises, and vengeance, but it is a story with lasting power all the same.

Merci Beaucoup

A few of the French figures who helped America win its independence, plus one very worthy honorary mention.

Comte de Rochambeau
The steady professional. Rochambeau commanded the main French expeditionary force that arrived in 1780, bringing thousands of trained troops to support the American war effort. His cooperation with Washington was crucial to the campaign that ended at Yorktown.

Comte de Barras
The underrated support act. Barras does not always get top billing, but he brought French naval strength and siege equipment into the Yorktown campaign. By joining forces in the Chesapeake, the French fleet gained the weight it needed to keep the British out.

Marquis de Lafayette
The celebrity volunteer. Lafayette was still very young when he came to America, but he quickly became one of the Revolution’s best-known international champions. He fought alongside Washington, pushed for more French support, and helped make the American cause feel like more than a colonial rebellion. Washington later called him his “adopted son.”

Admiral de Grasse
The closer. If Yorktown was the decisive trap, de Grasse helped slam it shut. His fleet blocked British naval relief in the Chesapeake, making it far harder for Cornwallis to escape or be reinforced. That French control of the water was one of the keys to victory.

Honorable Mention: Baron von Steuben
Not French, but French-adjacent enough to earn a spot here. The Prussian officer was recruited in Paris by Benjamin Franklin, spoke French, and even drafted his training manual in the language. Franklin also gave his credentials a helpful shine on the way to Congress, and the gamble paid off: von Steuben helped turn Washington’s ragtag troops into the disciplined fighting force that won the war.

📺 WATCH IT! 👀

PBS’s new MASTERPIECE adaptation of The Count of Monte Cristo airs Sundays at 10/9c through May 10. In the Philadelphia region, viewers can also catch it on WHYY-TV, Channel 12. Starring Sam Claflin as Edmond Dantès, the eight-part series brings Alexandre Dumas’s classic tale of betrayal, imprisonment, hidden fortune, and revenge to the screen in grand style. If you’re a fan of epic revenge stories and drama with spectacular visuals, you will be swept away by this immersive adaptation.

Episodes are available to stream for 14 days after their national broadcast on pbs.org and the free PBS App, while PBS Passport members can watch the full series anytime. The series is also available through PBS Masterpiece on Prime Video.

Thoughts? Questions? My friends, I love your feedback! Please click the links for more information, and reach out in the comments below. If you enjoyed this history, please see my previous piece on women in the American Revolution, and the story of Lydia Barrington Darragh.