I can see it is Dis Napoleon week haha![:p]
For my part I believe he was histories greatest soldier. Both from reading books in my 35 years of military study and more importantly from a practical study of his deployments before all of his major battles and campaigns. For which he had none of the gods eye view or hindsight we have. Deployments are often better for gaining an insight as they are a bit less disputed than the actual course of an action which blurs once the fog of war comes down.
I am wargamer and not a scholar and I think this applied view is more in time with Napoleon's actual practical methods as he was after all a practical genius.
As a result my opinion is that N had an instinct for war and a capability for leadership not seen since ancient times.
I will also add like any high level leader Napoleon relied on his tactical leaders to micro manage the details. When he was able to be more tactical himself in his earlier career and in 1814 he conducted superb campaigns.
Even the recovery in first campaign of 1813 is by no small part a miracle when you consider the results of the 1812 disaster. Had Ney struck at Bautzen as N had intended him too who knows what would have happened. Even 1815 a near run thing to quote Wellington could so easily have ended in French victory. Despite 2-1 odds and Blucher and Wellington on the allied side.
But as has been pointed out here Napoleon was an egotist an enforcer of will through military means as opposed to an Emperor in the mould of Augustus. Hence his ultimate failure to establish a dynasty.
It is a lesson the USA has come to realise (I hope) as the military solution is only ever a means and not an end.
I unfortunately don't have the time to illustrate my thinking in depth like others here perhaps one day it will be the subject of a book. So please treat this just as my opinion but not one reached as an idol after thought.
To confirm this I have built my wargames method 100% on N's techniques and this has come with some successes.
These things said I have enjoyed the opinions hear even if I don't agree with them. Especially nice to see Bill and Anton agreeing on something[:D] for a change.
Also good for Bill to say what he said about N it really made me think about my views.
A great debate just my 5 cents.
Vive l'Empereur!
General de Brigade Knox
Grand Duc d'Austerlitz et Comte de Argentan
Escadron Mamelouks
Chasseurs a'Cheval
Division de Cavalerie la Vieille Garde.
CO. 1er Brigade, II Heavy Cavalry Division, Reserve Cavalry.
http://www.aspire.co.nz/colinknoxnwc.htm
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