Post by steffen on Mar 26, 2018 16:20:41 GMT
Napoleon was very smart and - esp. a very great leader of his army.
Compared to L14 he was vastly superior in any areas, basically in ANY area of that time.
What could happen if you move the greatest military genius of the 19th century (or early 19th century) 150 years back in time, with his knowledge about history?
As i mentioned, he will build up all the engineers corps and cadett universities, he will open em for the "commoners", he will train his army to order HIS direct orders, he will remove officers who are not to his standard.
Beeing an absolut regent they could wonder, but do nothing. He would bribe the aristocracy into his plans and sometimes he will strike. If he strikes he will crush his enemies with an efficency you would not hope to see in the 17th century.
That is the time 20 years AFTER the 30-year-war, what do you think will his speeches before a battle have an effect on HIS troops? A king that lead his army will push him beyond "godlike" support by the commoners. His demands to his officers (aristocratics suddenly risk their personal life!) will cause the deadwood removed quickly.
The french fleet is interesting, esp. with the british so "weak" compared to OTL 1805.
So basically i see this development:
1.) build-up to short war: here his impact is not so big, but i think big enough for him to win a short war.
2.) build-up for a quality-change, also identity-change of his country. The "new" improved france will be changed in the next 10 years, also some milestones to improve the quality of the leadership of his army. Maybe he needs 15 years, but i see him beeing busy for some times.
3.) "great" war. Napoleon will sometimes strike with his full army and crush his enemies... similar to his lightning 1805 and 1806 campagin, i see the austrians and british got crushed in the worst possible way... after this event there will be some alliance, unfortunatly with Napoleons understanding that this great coalition broke his neck he will have done countermoves to this.
So, around 1700 i see france controlling all of continental europe till the "1919-polish border", with large areas taken completly or vassalized.
He also could enlarge his fleet, work with the dutch and - after crushing the british fleets, taking out the dutch and invading (succsessfully) great britain. This could get him northern america and huge sums of british gold, we also do need to understand that in 1680 the british empire wasn´t as big and strong as 1815. Lots of bases could change its nationality (to french), i see poland enlarged (he seemed to have symphathy to them), prussia reduced (it was quite small at this time)
I have no clue if he would try to establish some more "liberal" stuff, similar to post1789... butif he does this he even could be the darling of the intelligencia, not understanding that this is just a method to take over countries.
After his death i think his system would crush, because he never was able to produce a stable system, just him operating everything.
Compared to L14 he was vastly superior in any areas, basically in ANY area of that time.
What could happen if you move the greatest military genius of the 19th century (or early 19th century) 150 years back in time, with his knowledge about history?
As i mentioned, he will build up all the engineers corps and cadett universities, he will open em for the "commoners", he will train his army to order HIS direct orders, he will remove officers who are not to his standard.
Beeing an absolut regent they could wonder, but do nothing. He would bribe the aristocracy into his plans and sometimes he will strike. If he strikes he will crush his enemies with an efficency you would not hope to see in the 17th century.
That is the time 20 years AFTER the 30-year-war, what do you think will his speeches before a battle have an effect on HIS troops? A king that lead his army will push him beyond "godlike" support by the commoners. His demands to his officers (aristocratics suddenly risk their personal life!) will cause the deadwood removed quickly.
The french fleet is interesting, esp. with the british so "weak" compared to OTL 1805.
So basically i see this development:
1.) build-up to short war: here his impact is not so big, but i think big enough for him to win a short war.
2.) build-up for a quality-change, also identity-change of his country. The "new" improved france will be changed in the next 10 years, also some milestones to improve the quality of the leadership of his army. Maybe he needs 15 years, but i see him beeing busy for some times.
3.) "great" war. Napoleon will sometimes strike with his full army and crush his enemies... similar to his lightning 1805 and 1806 campagin, i see the austrians and british got crushed in the worst possible way... after this event there will be some alliance, unfortunatly with Napoleons understanding that this great coalition broke his neck he will have done countermoves to this.
So, around 1700 i see france controlling all of continental europe till the "1919-polish border", with large areas taken completly or vassalized.
He also could enlarge his fleet, work with the dutch and - after crushing the british fleets, taking out the dutch and invading (succsessfully) great britain. This could get him northern america and huge sums of british gold, we also do need to understand that in 1680 the british empire wasn´t as big and strong as 1815. Lots of bases could change its nationality (to french), i see poland enlarged (he seemed to have symphathy to them), prussia reduced (it was quite small at this time)
I have no clue if he would try to establish some more "liberal" stuff, similar to post1789... butif he does this he even could be the darling of the intelligencia, not understanding that this is just a method to take over countries.
After his death i think his system would crush, because he never was able to produce a stable system, just him operating everything.