If you build an army of 100 lions
and their leader is a dog, in any fight, the lions will die like a dog. But if
you build an army of 100 dogs and their leader is a lion, all dogs’ will fight
as a lion.
- Napoleon Bonaparte
Alexander
the Great, Hannibal, Julius Cesar, Genghis Khan, F. Pizarro, S. Bolivar,
Lord Nelson, George Washington, Otto von Bismarck,General Patton…
By Elizabeth H. Elys: Through
3000 years of history “standout” military commander’s whose battlefield impact
on conduct of war in their respective eras, or significant contributions to the
development of warfare helped create the world we live today.
Every man is maker of history. There are those that transcend
this belief. Some men not only leave a mark on those they knew throughout life,
but they leave a lasting impression on the entire world. Some leaders are best known
for a single significant battle, others are famous for their consistent
excellence in numerous encounters and campaign.
The leader is the brain, the motive power of
command, upon which subordinates rely for guidance and wisdom, and depend upon
for good judgement. The leader must be determined, unflappable and charismatic,
confident in delegation of authority, able to combine the various strands of
commands into a common thread, intelligent and thoughtful.
Leadership is defined as the ability to accomplish a
set goal(s) due to the act of inspiring and motivating a group of your peers.
Former US president Dwight D. Eisenhower made famous
a quote that stated: “Leadership consists of nothing but taking responsibility for
everything that goes wrong and giving your subordinates credit for everything
that goes well”
Some leaders not only leave a mark in history, but
they leave a lasting impression on the entire world. On such man is Napoleon
Bonaparte. He will long be revered as one of the greatest leaders of all time. Napoleon
Bonaparte is one of the most recognized names in world history, having led
France to the control of most of continental Europe. His victories were decisive,
powerful and brought greatness to a suffering France. His military power reigned
supreme for over 15 years until the drive that got him to where he was brought him
to ruin.
Napoleon I Bonaparte (1769 – 1821)
Emperor of the French 1804 – 1814 and 1814 – 1815
He was a general from 1796 in the Revolutionary Wars;
in 1799 he overthrew the ruling directory and made himself Dictator.
Napoleon was born at Ajaccio on the island of Corsica on August 15, 1769. His father was a lawyer and he came from ancient Tuscan nobility, and his family had immigrated to Corsica in the 16th century.
Napoleon was born at Ajaccio on the island of Corsica on August 15, 1769. His father was a lawyer and he came from ancient Tuscan nobility, and his family had immigrated to Corsica in the 16th century.
Napoleon was educated at three schools: briefly at Autun,
for five years at the military college of Brienne, and finally for one year at
the Military Academy of Paris. He was made second lieutenant of artillery in
the regiment of La Fere. Napoleon continued his education, reading works on
strategy and tactics, he believed that a political change was imperative, but
as career officer he seems not to have seen any need for radical social
reforms.
In 1789 began the Revolution in France, Napoleon
asked for leave and in September joined Paoli’s group. But Paoli had no sympathy
for the young man whose father had deserted his cause and whom he considered to
be a foreigner. Disappointed, Napoleon returned to France, where in 1799 he was
appointed first lieutenant to the regiment of artillery. He at once joined the
Jacobin Club, a debating society, favoring a constitutional monarchy, and soon
became its president, making speeches against nobles, monks and bishops. In
September 1791 he got leave to go back to Corsica, elected lieutenant coronel
in the National Guard. Napoleon soon fell out with Paoli, its commander in
chief. On August 10, 1793 when Luis XVI was dethroned, and taken to jail,
Napoleon was in Paris, he was 24 years old, promoted to brigadier general.
Napoleon’s career, like his character had hitherto
been somewhat erratic, but he seemed now to have a clear road ahead. He was
sent to the army of Italy with a secret mission. Napoleon had no profound
political conviction; in February 1794 Bonaparte was appointed commandant of
the artillery in the French army of Italy.
In May 1795 the National Convention submitted the
new constitution of the year III of the First Republic to a referendum. The
royalists, hoping that they would soon be able to restore the monarchy,
instigate a revolt in Paris. It was Napoleon who shot down the columns of
rebels marching against the National Convention on October 5, 1795, saving the
National Convention and Republic. Bonaparte became commander of the army of the
interior and was aware of every political development in Paris.
Italian Campaign was one of the three great achievements
in Napoleon’s military career. The second was the campaign of Austerlitz in
1805 – the perfect Victory, and the third was magnificent struggle on France’s
own soil in 1814. Between March 1796 and April 1797 the Italian campaign
produced a dazzling series of victories. The campaign was a great epic,
complete with Napoleon’s ringing addresses to his soldiers, which were masterpieces
of martial eloquence.
The idea of attacking Britain through Egypt has originated
with the Comte de Talleyrance, but the idea was preposterous. Napoleon captured
Alexandria, marched on to Cairo, and defeated the corps of Mamelukes from the
Turkish army within sight of the Pyramids.
When Lord Nelson finally caught up with the French
fleet and destroyed it at Abukir (Battle of Nile), Napoleon was already
organizing Egypt as a French protectorate. The Egyptian expedition was and
utter failure-the army Napoleon left behind could not be relieved and was
doomed to capitulation-and yet it added to the glamour of Napoleon’s career.
Napoleon return to France on October 1799.He was
elected consul, and his task was the internal governmental reconstruction of
France. He retained of those elements of the Ancien Regime which had survived
the Revolution and adapted them in a general way to the principles of the
Enlightenment and the Revolution. Napoleon realized the dream of Cardinal
Richelieu and French kings: centralized bureaucracy, untrammeled by the privileges
or liberties of orders, guilds, crafts, provinces or cities.
Napoleon introduced the system of prefects and
sub-prefects. He took a personal interest in the work and presided over a
number of committee meetings. His contributions were on the reactionary side:
the subjection of women, the restoration of slavery in the French colonies, a
legal advantage for employers over their employees.
It took many decades to eradicate
Napoleon’s contributions from the Napoleonic Code.
Napoleon’s Concordat with the pope on July 15, 1801 restored the Union of
the Church and State.
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