Question 8

Why was Napoleon Defeated?

• He took on too many countries
• Megalomaniac – could not curb his ambitions
• Wanted to be accepted as royal – married into royalty (Marie-Louise of Austria)
• Wanted to set up his own dynasty – put his brothers on thrones of Europe e.g. Holland, Spain and Naples
• Thwarted nationalism in other countries –led to resentment and revolt in Spain, Austria, Prussia and Russia
• Consistent resistance from Great Britain who was industrially and economically superior to any other country
• British navy reigned supreme – thus trade was able to continue , and forces could be landed and supplied e.g. in Portugal and Spain
• Battle of Trafalgar was the turning point of the war at sea
• 1813 France had 71 ships of the line; Great Britain had 235
• Great Britain thus able to blockade French ports
• Continental System failed – although Great Britain had economic difficulties in 1811, Napoleon allowed French grain to be sold to Britain to help French farmers and traders
• Military mistakes after 1808 – Spain and Russia
• He was successful at first because of his military genius and his enemies were poorly equipped, unprepared e.g. Italy (1796-7), Austria (1805), Prussia 1806)
• His ability was matched by that of Wellington – Peninsula War and of course Waterloo
• Need to get more troops led to conscription of foreigners – by 1814, 60% of the army was made up of foreigners – led to disunity
• Parallel to this, his enemies were expanding their armies
• He refused to delegate to his marshals – e.g. the war in Spain – took too long for his orders to get there so that circumstances had changed
• Also ran France’s domestic affairs while fighting the war in the field – too much even for him
• The Fourth Coalition brought his enemies into alliance – remained intact unlike previous ones – this proved decisive