Allied Unity as the Main Factor in the Eventual Defeat of Napoleon

Allied Unity as the Main Factor in the Eventual Defeat of Napoleon

During the years of 1812-1815 there was a lot of change and a lot of

conflict in Europe. Napoleon was at the centre of all the change and

conflict and in the end he was sorely beaten. The question asks to

what extent was allied unity responsible for the defeat of Napoleon,

this essay will answer by looking at developments in Europe between

1812 and 1815 and how large a part allied unity played in Napoleon's

defeat. It will also look at how Napoleon himself was a main factor in

his own defeat. During the year 1812 France had control of a major

part of Europe, this was due to about 25 years of conflict which

resulted in a great victory for Napoleon and vast territory for

France. Things were fairly easy for France at that time as there was

minimal resistance from mainland Europe. Britain was the only nation

to be providing any major resistance to them, and Napoleon had set up

a structure to cripple the British economy and bring a halt to their

armies. The structure was that British cargo ships were not allowed to

dock in any European port. It was working, the British economy was

struggling and if things kept up they might have been in real trouble.

France had control of both Austria and Prussia, who were both

impotent. Russia at that time was at war with Turkey, and was also an

ally of France.

However neither nation trusted the other and it was only a matter of

time before their agreement would be breached. Sweden was at war with

Britain, which was costly to both nations, and they were an ally to

Russia as well. Switzerland, Italy and the Low Countries were very

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battle with the allies. He was finally defeated for good this time at

Waterloo in June 1815.c

Allied unity was not the main factor in the defeat of Napoleon.

Certainly it was a major factor, probably the most important factor.

They grew stronger as time went on and in the end they were far too

powerful for him. However Napoleon himself was also a main factor in

his own defeat, he was a brave and good leader, and had more than his

fair share of successes. Bad planning in the invasion of Russia, and

his obsession for victory however caused him to fail in the end. With

odds of no more than 150,000 to750, 000 it takes an obsession for

victory beyond sanity to go into battle, but he did and he lost. In

conclusion allied unity was a major reason for Napoleon's defeat, but

also at times he was his own worst enemy.