Assess the reasons for Napoleon’s military defeat after 1808.
Weaknesses of Napoleon’s army
o Peninsular war – Nap. Invaded Spain in 1808 – series of battles and gradual depletion of men and
resources in the ‘Spanish ulcer’. Found his tactic of ‘living off the land’ difficult due to hostility of
the Spanish peasants and ceaseless guerrilla warfare. Didn’t end till 1813, and this long-drawn-
out campaign eroded military prestige and about ½ French soldiers who fought were lost. It also
encouraged other countries to renew efforts to resist Napoleon.
o The Austrian campaign revealed how Napoleon was over-confident and less prepared. The
French army had contained fewer veterans and more raw recruits than in the past.
o Failure of Russian campaign – destruction of Grande Armee – encouraged general diplomatic
realignment among European powers.
o Divided and many deserted during the Russian campaign.
Growing strength of Napoleon’s enemies’ armies
o Austrian army – had improved tactics and corps structure – had learned from the French, e.g.,
built up size and mobility of its armies. Its artillery was also improved.
o Prussian army – weapons, training, and tactics = improved.
o Battle of Nations (Leipzig) 16 and 19 October 1813 – allies won, and outnumbered Napoleon was
defeated and forced back to the Rhine. Shows how allies armies were strengthening, allowing
them to defeat Napoleon.
o Waterloo – 18 June 1815. Wellington had strategically positioned some of his army, so they were
on the other side of the hill, meaning the French army were unaware of their numbers. This
meant Napoleon entered the battle over-confidently and with misplaced confidence.
Furthermore, the unity of the allies’ armies, with Prussia joining later, secured Napoleons defeat.
Wellington had used tactics he had perfected during the Peninsular war.
Strength of Napoleon’s enemies – diplomacy
o In the past, Napoleon’s enemies were never a united front, which allowed Napoleon to exploit
these divisions. However, the treaty of Chaumont and the creation of the Quadruple Alliance in
1814 showed how the relationship between members of the collation was strengthened, and
therefore Napoleon was more easily defeated.
o By the Treaty of Chaumont, it committed the four powers, being Britain, Prussia, Austria, and
Russia, to not concluded separate peace, but to fight on until Napoleon was defeated. This
alliance shows how the allies were now bound to each other in a common purpose.
o Russians had developed scorched earth policy which made it difficult to live off the land.
Napoleon’s mistakes
o Didn’t sign the Treaty of Chaumont (March 1814), possibly because he was over-confident. The
allies offered Napoleon a ceasefire, and in return he had to give up all his conquests and restore
France to its pre-revolution 1791 borders. Napoleon rejected the allied terms and ended any
possibility of a negotiated settlement. His decision to fight in 1914 can be seen as a mistake and
may show his irresponsibility as a national leader.
o Napoleon had misjudged the situation in Spain – had assumed that the substantial middle class in
Spain would welcome French reform, but this was a costly assumption. The resistance in Spain
diverted French troops and demoralised the soldiers, and therefore weakened his army.
Weaknesses of Napoleon’s army
o Peninsular war – Nap. Invaded Spain in 1808 – series of battles and gradual depletion of men and
resources in the ‘Spanish ulcer’. Found his tactic of ‘living off the land’ difficult due to hostility of
the Spanish peasants and ceaseless guerrilla warfare. Didn’t end till 1813, and this long-drawn-
out campaign eroded military prestige and about ½ French soldiers who fought were lost. It also
encouraged other countries to renew efforts to resist Napoleon.
o The Austrian campaign revealed how Napoleon was over-confident and less prepared. The
French army had contained fewer veterans and more raw recruits than in the past.
o Failure of Russian campaign – destruction of Grande Armee – encouraged general diplomatic
realignment among European powers.
o Divided and many deserted during the Russian campaign.
Growing strength of Napoleon’s enemies’ armies
o Austrian army – had improved tactics and corps structure – had learned from the French, e.g.,
built up size and mobility of its armies. Its artillery was also improved.
o Prussian army – weapons, training, and tactics = improved.
o Battle of Nations (Leipzig) 16 and 19 October 1813 – allies won, and outnumbered Napoleon was
defeated and forced back to the Rhine. Shows how allies armies were strengthening, allowing
them to defeat Napoleon.
o Waterloo – 18 June 1815. Wellington had strategically positioned some of his army, so they were
on the other side of the hill, meaning the French army were unaware of their numbers. This
meant Napoleon entered the battle over-confidently and with misplaced confidence.
Furthermore, the unity of the allies’ armies, with Prussia joining later, secured Napoleons defeat.
Wellington had used tactics he had perfected during the Peninsular war.
Strength of Napoleon’s enemies – diplomacy
o In the past, Napoleon’s enemies were never a united front, which allowed Napoleon to exploit
these divisions. However, the treaty of Chaumont and the creation of the Quadruple Alliance in
1814 showed how the relationship between members of the collation was strengthened, and
therefore Napoleon was more easily defeated.
o By the Treaty of Chaumont, it committed the four powers, being Britain, Prussia, Austria, and
Russia, to not concluded separate peace, but to fight on until Napoleon was defeated. This
alliance shows how the allies were now bound to each other in a common purpose.
o Russians had developed scorched earth policy which made it difficult to live off the land.
Napoleon’s mistakes
o Didn’t sign the Treaty of Chaumont (March 1814), possibly because he was over-confident. The
allies offered Napoleon a ceasefire, and in return he had to give up all his conquests and restore
France to its pre-revolution 1791 borders. Napoleon rejected the allied terms and ended any
possibility of a negotiated settlement. His decision to fight in 1914 can be seen as a mistake and
may show his irresponsibility as a national leader.
o Napoleon had misjudged the situation in Spain – had assumed that the substantial middle class in
Spain would welcome French reform, but this was a costly assumption. The resistance in Spain
diverted French troops and demoralised the soldiers, and therefore weakened his army.
