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I am currently studying Napoleon Bonaparte.

He was rightly considered a genius, in many fields.

Thread/primer on some of my findings on Napoleon and tactics

(the picture is of napoleon studying alone)
If you study him you will realise he is extremely rare.

43 battles, he won 38 and lost 5
Napoleon overcame odds in 17 of his victories
commanded at disadvantage in all 5 losses

No other general is close to Napoleon in total battles. hes in the top right

Caesar was the closest.

Napoleon had a huge impact on history and will go down as one of if not the best military commanders, it is vital to study him if you appreciate anything close to glory or myth or legend, he was a hero in many senses of the word. A great man according to carlyle.

He was rightly called a military genius, he re-organised the army and introduced many new innovations , from quickly rising up the ranks of the military to a general at 24 years old at the time of great peril and tragedy of the forsaken french revolution.
One of the key reasons why Napoleon was considered a military genius was his ability to outmaneuver his opponents on the battlefield.

He was a master of the art of maneuver warfare, and he often used clever and NEW tactics to gain the upper hand in battle

napoleon was CREATIVE
Austerlitz

Is a famous example of Napoleon's tactical brilliance was his victory at the Battle of Austerlitz, December 2 1805. its held in the same level as the battle of cannae.

Some say it was his greatest batle abd a definite turning point in history
Facing a larger and better-equipped enemy force.

He was determined to move FAST.

Some say Napoleon was always best when he was FORCED to be creative against larger enemies...

Napoleon lured the Austrians and Russians into a trap and then attacked them from multiple sides, achieving a decisive victory

This victory was particularly impressive because Napoleon was outnumbered and outgunned by his enemies. 65000 men, 157 guns to their 95000 men, 315 guns
He used his superior knowledge of the battlefield and his ability to read his opponents' movements to gain the upper hand

He was able to outmaneuver them despite their superior numbers.

He deliberately weakened a right flank

goaded them to attack.

Faked his own weaknesses.
The battle was notable for its use of what is now called Napoleonic tactics, such as feigning retreat and then counterattacking, which allowed the French to overcome their numerical disadvantage.

it is taught in military school all around the world
The french army was better trained and reorganized into the corps system that is now widely adopted. Armies made up of mini armies

This allowed him to move faster and be more decentralised.

The allied army broke up and retreated.

Napoleon won. - As he did many times.
Although he was forced into exile multiple times, and he died abroad and was not of native french origin...

His resting place is now in france, and is decorated, he is seen as one of the key frenchmen in history, he bought a huge amount of glory to france

Another example of Napoleon's tactical brilliance was his use of artillery

He was one of the first commanders to fully grasp the power of artillery

He used it in new and novel ways often to disrupt the flow of his enemies. turning the tide and creating confusion
Napoleon used his artillery to support his infantry and cavalry, and he was able to coordinate their movements in a way that allowed him to quickly gain the upper hand in battle.

He was skilled at using his artillery to disrupt his enemies' formations and demoralize their troops
Napoleon was a master of psychological warfare.

He understood the importance of morale and motivation in battle

He used a variety of tactics to demoralize his enemies and boost the confidence of his own troops.

One of the ways that Napoleon used psychological warfare was by

Emphasizing his own successes and exaggerating the weaknesses of his enemies

Napoleon created his own myth, its why there are so many paintings of him, he created himself as an emperor, he also wrote a lot.
He also controlled the press, and he was disgusted by journalists, he sought of them as to be most detrimental to society and to be very demoralising.

I still often read many of his quotes, and there are so many to choose from

YOU NEED TO READ NAPOLEON
He was a master of propaganda and was able to use it to create an aura of invincibility around himself and his troops.

He had an overwhelming sense of his own importance. Among the images he fostered, were those of the man of destiny and the great man who masters luck.
His Quotes are legendary:

"Yes, imagination rules the world.

The defect of our modern institutions is that they do not speak to the imagination.

By that alone can man be governed

without it he is a brute."

(diary of napoleon 1800)
Napoleon was also skilled at using his own soldiers as a psychological weapon.

He was known for his ability to inspire loyalty and devotion among his troops, and he was able to use their enthusiasm and determination to gain a psychological advantage over his enemies.
In addition to his military and psychological tactics

Napoleon was also a master of logistics and supply

He understood the importance of having a reliable supply chain

This allowed him to sustain his armies over long periods of time, and to outlast his enemies.
Leadership:

He was able to gain the loyalty and devotion of his troops, and he used this to his advantage on the battlefield.

He was a skilled politician and statesman, and he was able to use his charisma and cunning to rise to power and consolidate his authority.
He reorganised parliament the government introducing reforms to the French legal system and the educational system.the impacts of his vision still last until today.
Overall, Napoleon's tactical brilliance was a key factor in his military successes

He was able to outmaneuver his opponents,
use his artillery and psychological warfare to devastating effect,
maintain a reliable supply chain
All of the above contributed to his reputation as a military genius. but the man himself was complex, a genius from humble origins who crowned him self an emperor.
That's a wrap!

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