The Fall of History’s Most Divisive Emperor
Napoleon was a highly influential military leader who set off across Europe on a quest to become Emperor. He served as Emperor from 1804 to 1814, then was exiled, and then again in 1815 after which he was defeated for good. While many factors, notably military factors, played a role in Napoleon’s eventual downfall, there were other aspects to his overthrow. Although the failed expedition to Russia and Napoleon’s overconfidence in his own victory played a role in his defeat, internal opposition and political betrayals in Napoleon’s vast empire and coalition warfare by other nations that did not support his rule still played a role in vanquishing Napoleon.
Napoleon’s overconfidence, although not a primary cause, was a large part of why he fell. His ill-fated decision to attack Russia while still occupied in Iberia, assuming Russia to be a weak enemy, was a major cause of his downfall. It only exacerbated matters that Napoleon perceived negotiations as terms for opponents who had been beaten. He was unwilling to settle matters peacefully because he thought of war as a first option rather than a last possible resort, even as he dealt with Russia and Britain on both sides. Napoleon initiated a blockade on trade with Britain called the continental system, but the British still controlled the sea, which allowed them to trade off-Continent and block access. Napoleon was overconfident: his perspective was that other countries were lesser and assumed that he would achieve quick victory He stubbornly refused to consider contingencies even when it became increasingly evident that he would not win. Napoleon’s loss in Moscow was one of the worst Europe had ever seen, and had the heavy political impact of many military officials deserting him. Napoleon’s overconfidence and arrogance is a large part of why he fell, and he brought this same aggressive mentality to his political affairs as well.
A political reason for the fall of Napoleon can be evidenced in the coalition warfare by other European nations that resented Napoleon’s popularity and his growing influence over Europe. In 1813, the coalition against Napoleon consisted of Russia, Prussia, Sweden, and the new addition Austria, among other smaller European nations. There were many conflicts between the leaders of the coalition due to the rivalries of nations. Britain was a main proponent of a continued alliance, as it lacked the power to combat France on its own, and France’s increasing power frightened it immensely. However, the fact that they were able to overcome it despite this is due to Scharzenberg and the fear of Napoleon. Despite this rising threat, Napoleon was able to take the internal political struggles of these nations and play off their diplomatic rivalries in order to prevent the formation of an effective alliance as long as possible. Doubtless, these political considerations had to be taken into account, but due to these alliances and changes in governance of the coalition for the greater cause, Napoleon was able to be defeated by this coalition.
While Napoleon’s overconfidence with his military campaign in Russia and his underestimation of them did lead to his military defeat, internal political instability and betrayal within the government of Napoleon’s empire and the diplomacy involved in the coalition warfare that the other nations engaged in against him played a large role to a greater extent in Napoleon’s defeat.