Preview

Napoleon Bonaparte's Failure At Waterloo

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
408 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Napoleon Bonaparte's Failure At Waterloo
Being most well known as Napoleon Bonaparte’s biggest military blunder, but the damage was far worse than that of just the Emperor’s pride. It forced France to surrender to the Allies almost a month later and led to Bonaparte being exiled for the remaining years of his life.
To truly understand Napoleon’s failure at Waterloo, his previous military defeats that led up to the battle. The Emperor had already attempted a horrendous invasion of Russia in which he lost around four hundred thousand troops, while also losing Spain to the Duke of Wellington. It was at this time that Bonaparte was exiled to the island of Elba, located in the Mediterranean. However, he escaped back to France in 1815 and raised a brand new Grand Army. He intended to march

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    PARA 1: Britain’s consistent and continuing opposition towards Napoleon was certainly a major cause, in the long-term, for his downfall. Britain had been an enemy of France since the brief period of peace caused by the Treaty of Amiens collapsed, in 1803, and continued to oppose Napoleon until 1814, the end of his reign. The British Navy was far superior to that of the French, as while Napoleon was a brilliant leader of the army, he knew little of ships or the sea, and so was rather incompetent as the head of the French navy.…

    • 569 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Napoleon Bonaparte was the first emperor of France from 1804 to 1814. He is famous for his efforts to form a connected Europe that France would lead. His career as a military and political leader led to many big accomplishments, but unfortunately he became too greedy over time leading to his exile.…

    • 373 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    After the French Revolution, not only were many of the French population against the new government, but also many foreign countries feared the spread of the revolution and tried to stop it. Toulon like many other towns suffered a federal revolt, and the British got involved to try and keep Toulon away from the new French government. The French government at the time saw this as an obvious threat, and tried to retake control. After becoming the commander of artillery in Toulon after the former commander was injured, Napoleon gained his first chance to administer his military talent. His skill and talent at being able to easily use the terrain to his advantage and capturing key positions led to his ultimate victory on 19th December 1793. Although this victory was not necessarily all down to him, Napoleon was more than willing to accept all the credit for this, showing a new talent he was developing.…

    • 1402 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Napoleon's once unequaled army was now diminishing. After defeats in Spain and misfortune in Russia, countries began to realize that Napoleon's "invincible" reputation was tainted. For the first time people saw that this "unstoppable" general could, in fact, be stopped. Momentum and hope were gained by all of Napoleon's enemies. In 1813, Napoleon was in his German campaign. However, because of the Peninsular war, he was unable to send troops causing them to be 200,000 troops short. This created even more casualties and death for Napoleon, as he could just stand and watch his empire fall. Even more enemies were gathering against Napoleon, sensing his newfound weakness. Austria, Britain, Russia, Prussia and Sweden all joined forces to fight against Napoleon. Napoleon's forces were now by far outnumbered by this new alliance and he was barely holding on. Eventually, the allies would attack Paris and take the city. When Napoleon returned and heard of the defeat he knew it was the end. Finally realizing that his unstoppable armies had been stopped for good he abdicated on April 11th, 1814. The Peninsular War has helped diminish Napoleon's armies and expose his weaknesses. His enemies had finally caught on and in the end it was the great Napoleon who finally gave…

    • 1709 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Ideals of the Enlightenment and the French Revolution were both rooted from the desire to abolish absolute authority, ensure the natural rights of men, and develop a stable government. Napoleon Bonaparte, a prominent military general and French Emperor, strived for these political ideologies, but was corrupt in his way of approaching them. He was strictly egotistical and selfish; these characteristics served only as a catalyst to his abolition. Mohandas Gandhi, a pacifistic revolutionary that led India’s emancipation, stated that “power based on love is a thousand times more effective and permanent then the one derived from fear of punishment”. Napoleon, however, seized control over France by ruling oppressively and ruthlessly; citizens followed him only in fear of his boundless power. Although Napoleon did help establish political and social equality in France, his uncontrollable desire for personal supremacy suppressed the ideals of the revolution and violated the basic principles of the enlightenment.…

    • 1033 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In my onion, Napoleon was the creator of his time and not the creation of his time because he made most of his opportunities from his hard work. Napoleon started it all by working hard in school when he was young. He was given the task of defending delegates from a government official in 1795. Napoleon along with gunners successfully defended the delegates. They made the attackers panic and confused. Napoleon was the hero of the hour and in Paris was the savior of the French Republic. After that event was thought of as a great leader. In 1796, after proving himself, the directory told Napoleon to be in charge of the French army when the fought the Kingdom of Sardinia and Austria. During that…

    • 991 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Napoleon Bonaparte was born Napoleone di Buonaparte in Corsica, August 15, 1769. He was a small child, and often was teased by his classmates when he was enrolled in military college at a very early age in 1777, and it is believed that this influenced the determination he had to win later in life. Later, he went to Ecole Militaire (also known as military school) from 1784 to 1785. Also in 1785, he graduated with the rank of second lieutenant. Great things were expected of Napoleon. However, no one could have guessed that he would go on to make history. Napoleon was a rising star in the French military. A general at the age of 27, he had won the admiration of France thanks to his leadership, military talents, and personal talents. Yet his talents lay not in originality but in his stunningly innovative adaptations of military strategies and tactics developed in the eighteenth century and during the Revolution. While in the military, he won many battles over Austria. In 1795, the people of France tired of the Reign of Terror, revolted, executing many leaders of the Terror. The Directory took power. On Napoleon's return to France, he found that many people were very dissatisfied with the Directory. With the support of his troops, he overthrew them and became France's new dictator, naming himself First Consul for life. The votes of the public approved of this move. He was determined to succeed in life. His first real military action was a great success. He was captain of artillery during the siege of Toulon, where he captured several important strongholds, and forced the retreat of British naval fleets. He became Brigadier General while campaigning in…

    • 1522 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    England, Austria, and Prussia then formed an alliance with Russia against Napoleon, who rebuilt his armies and won several minor victories over the Allies, but was soundly defeated in a three-day battle at Leipzig. On March 30, 1814, Paris was captured by the Allies. Napoleon then lost the support of most of his generals and was forced to abdicate on April 6, 1814. In the courtyard at Fontainebleau, Napoleon bid farewell to the remaining faithful officers of the Old Guard...…

    • 680 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    When Napoleon moves forward to Moscow, the Russians burn the city, so Napoleon can no longer conquer it. In an effort to fight Napoleon, Britain, Russia, Prussia, and Sweden join forces. After these events, he is exiled to the island of Elba, after having been forced to give up his throne due to his heavy losses. Napoleon continuously tries to regain power in a number of unsuccessful attempts, the biggest of which is the Battle of Waterloo in Belgium, where he fought, and lost against, the British and Prussian forces. Finally, Napoleon is exiled to St. Helena, where he dies due to a stomach ailment.…

    • 932 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    But, it also allowed him to continue fighting when he should have surrendered. Napoleon was a skilled general and in the beginning of his career, conquered most of central Europe. Despite his extreme talent in battle, eventually the Allies-- Russia, Austria, Prussia, and Britain--beat Napoleon at the Battle of Leipzig in 1813. After his defeat, the Allies exiled Napoleon to the island of Elba, but he did not stay there long. He soon came back to France to try to restore his reputation and regain power during what is now known as The Hundred Days. This was a mistake as he is defeated again and exiled once more to St. Helena. Napoleon’s determination to climb the ranks and improve once he was at the top made him an extremely successful and notable general, arguably one of the best in history. Without his determination, he would never have had control over most of central Europe. However, it was his determination that brought him into battles that he had no chance of winning. He was too determined to win that he was blind to the fact that continuing to fight would be worse than surrendering. His excessive determination allowed him to make the mistake of returning to France after he was exiled and fight again during The Hundred Days, which only led to him being exiled once more to the island of St. Helena, where he would die six years…

    • 1483 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Napoleon's career and policies both destroyed and preserved aspects of the Revolution. Napoleon gave the people rhetoric about liberty, rather than giving it to them. This is best seen through his using of the plebiscite and crowing himself emperor. By taking all of the power for himself, Napoleon went against certain ideals of the Revolution. However, Napoleon did make efforts to preserve some aspects of the Revolution. This is shown through his creation of the lycées, which gave the people equal opportunities in the government.…

    • 648 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    He would later name himself First Consul for life in 1802 and within two years he would “crowned himself emperor” (641). Napoleon conquests was another form of that lead him to being one on the great emperor of his time: “By 1812, he was ruling a European empire more extensive than any since ancient Rome” (646). The impact of French victories, including the spread of French-style reforms in many countries in Europe and colonies in which is demonstrate today in French specking countries in the Americas and Caribbean. Napoleon’s Empire continue to grow but he could conquer Great Britain or Russia. Napoleon was be defeated at Waterloo and exiled to the island of St. Helena, where he would dies in…

    • 485 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Assisted Suicide

    • 416 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Did you know that about 9% of all deaths were a result of physician-assisted suicide or euthanasia in 1990? And based on a recent study, 57% of physicians practicing today have received a request for physician-assisted suicide in some form or another?…

    • 416 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Sometimes when I'm feeling down, I retreat to my room and draw, which expresses the emotions which I feel at that moment.The pictures I draw express and help understand myself better. As I understand the question, the way I express myself influences on my understanding of others. What is expression for me then? It is the freedom to be your own person. No inhibitions, no limits, just yourself.I am going to find out to what extend does my own interpretation of me influences on my internal representation of other people. The question is really important as all of us find it difficult to cognize ourselves and of course much more difficult to interpret our own expression to the way we perceive others. However, the question has got some limits such as are individuality of each person, hence each person’s expression influences understanding of others differently and I can’t exactly know how deeply does it influence. So, I have chosen the main fields to discuss: expressing oneself, understanding of others, influence and the ways we can express ourselves in. This question implies that the way in which we express ourselves does influence our understanding of others. But how do we express ourselves? What are the obstacles in gaining knowledge about ourselves and others? Are we always judging others based on how we see ourselves? Does this mean that if we can see ourselves more clearly, then we can see others more clearly?…

    • 1245 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    College Level Essay

    • 617 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In writing a college level essay, you must make sure that you first understand the topic that you are writing about. After you pick a topic that you are comfortable writing about, you have to research the topic thoroughly and most importantly know the definition of what you are writing about. Without doing those two steps, you cannot start a college level paper. After doing this, you must write a thesis opening up your essay with important facts that can get your readers attention and keep your readers attention. Without grabbing their attention, or grabbing their attention then loyou need…

    • 617 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays