shockedcanadian
Diamond Member
- Aug 6, 2012
- 43,970
- 43,004
- 3,605
Since Scott didn't do a good job I think Netflix or Amazon should run a Series covering Napoleon battle by battle. I bet it would be a huge hit if done well.
His first few years as general were perhaps the greatest in human warfare history, (as far as warfare goes, I am not a fan of war but respect the history of those who fought). A small man (he was not 5'2 as was reported, he was closer to 5'7 since the French used a different measurement system, average height for that time) who came from Corsica and changed all former tactics and even in defeat (as in Russia), they wouldn't attack them in retreat out of fear of the French countering again.
He overcame his fall from former aristocratic to poverty to rise to general (and ultimately Emperor), thanks in great part to the French Revolution which got rid of the nepotism that wouldn't allow a military genius to rise.
He lead his soldiers from the front, he wasn't obsessed with core control but in fluent thought, speed and mobility for which his contemporaries were rigid and outmanovered. He used his knowledge of military school to counter the tactics he knew his opponents would use. Most importantly, he had immense morale with soldiers and they fought for each other. He famously said that he preferred poor soldiers best because they just appreciated having a pair of boots to wear and would go through a wall to stay a soldier.
If not for his poor timing of attacking Russia (again a victim of the winter( and a full coalition of European nations merging to defeat him late in his career (and his own hubris and change with age), France would today probably be significantly larger.
Consider how many words used in the military to this day are French in origin and it is impressive how dominant his tactics and military structures survived over the last two centuries. Even the word "army" arose from the French word "armee".
His first few years as general were perhaps the greatest in human warfare history, (as far as warfare goes, I am not a fan of war but respect the history of those who fought). A small man (he was not 5'2 as was reported, he was closer to 5'7 since the French used a different measurement system, average height for that time) who came from Corsica and changed all former tactics and even in defeat (as in Russia), they wouldn't attack them in retreat out of fear of the French countering again.
He overcame his fall from former aristocratic to poverty to rise to general (and ultimately Emperor), thanks in great part to the French Revolution which got rid of the nepotism that wouldn't allow a military genius to rise.
He lead his soldiers from the front, he wasn't obsessed with core control but in fluent thought, speed and mobility for which his contemporaries were rigid and outmanovered. He used his knowledge of military school to counter the tactics he knew his opponents would use. Most importantly, he had immense morale with soldiers and they fought for each other. He famously said that he preferred poor soldiers best because they just appreciated having a pair of boots to wear and would go through a wall to stay a soldier.
If not for his poor timing of attacking Russia (again a victim of the winter( and a full coalition of European nations merging to defeat him late in his career (and his own hubris and change with age), France would today probably be significantly larger.
Consider how many words used in the military to this day are French in origin and it is impressive how dominant his tactics and military structures survived over the last two centuries. Even the word "army" arose from the French word "armee".
Last edited:
