10 insights from Napoleon & Russia's Strategy to Bonaparte's Defeat
"He came from nothing. He conquered everything."
Napoleon (2023) has 1 award win & 40 nominations, based on the story of Napoleon Bonaparte's, journey to power, relationship with his wife & final days. The film is certified "P16": violence, gore, profanity, sex, alcohol & intense scenes.
1789 - Revolution in France
"People are driven by misery to revolution... and brought back by revolution to misery."
The film begins with France suffering famine, in a revolution, yet people were throwing food at Marie Antoinette. Such is the way to lower expectation.
Queen of France, Marie Antoinette was found guilty for 3 charges:
1. For loyalty, earn trust, be worthy & mercy for innocent.
British taken Toulon, with French fleet trapped, short of artillery, and a general who lost Toulon, so the French commissioner turn to Captain Bonaparte - 1793.
2. For lost, often fails from leadership & skill.
3. For tips, assess situation, salvage & survey.
"Surprise is my advantage but I will win by fire." - Napoleon
4. For advantage, prepare, innovate & surprise.
5. Use foe's arms against them, doubles our advantage.
"I promised you brilliant successes and I've kept my word." - Napoleon
Napoelon spends his victory with his fallen steed & sends a souvenir to mother.
6. He is loved at home, can protect his people.
Citizen Beauharnais sends her compliments to Napoleon Bonaparte and desires the pleasure of his company. Josephine reveals her indiscretions & vulnerability.
7. Selection is rationalize by reasons when desires have concluded.
With 4,000 troops and civil unrest 20,000 mob, the commissioner turn to his second-in-command, General Bonaparte to deal with royalist insurrection.
8. Crisis presents danger & opportunity . . . to seize.
Napoeloan conquered Italy, without confrontation. France's Directory approves offensive against England through British's eastern empire, in Egypt - July 1798.
9. The highest attainment is to subdue adversary without fighting.
In the battle of Toulon, Napoleon dedicate his victory to his mother.
In the march into Egypt, Napoleon's passion for Josephine moves his forces.
10. "Behind every great man, there's a great woman" . . . or two.
Napoleon steps on a crate to inspect an Egyptian mummy. History records Napoleon at 5 foot 2 inches by French measure, or 5 foot 6 inches by British.
After a meal. "Are there limits to what I can tell you?"
"Should I tell you something at the risk of giving you personal pain?"
11. Take precaution in breaking embarrassing news.
12. Cheat frustrates. Betrayal devastates.
"You want to be great?"
"You are nothing without me."
13. Darkest days followed by finest hours, unites survivors.
Napoleon deflects politicians' accusation of his desertion, by pointing to the elephant in the room, that France is impoverished with enemies at the gates.
14. Corrupt often pose as patriot.
15. The best plan is to strike at their strategy.
Corruption is unjust. Poverty is unfair. Strife is unkind. Such pains justifies outlaw. The coup : 9 November 1799.
16. Strive for right, not gain, promise liberty, unite horde - might makes right.
17. Triump, when the wishes of the high and the low are the same.
"England & France are wasting their prosperity. I am not ashamed to take the initiative. I have, I think sufficiently proven to the whole world that I do not fear the chances of war, but peace is my heartfelt wish for England & France."
"Are you aware of my letter to your king?"
"I am not." (England has boats)
18. "'Tis a shame such a great man should have no manners."
19. Talks may lead to peace, but might ensures peace.
20. General understands war, is the arbiter of people's destiny & state's safety.
"The European families think nothing more of you than a Corsican thug. Therefore, I'm going to suggest something that's been a long time arriving. I suggest that you abandon your role as First Consul of France, in exchange for the title 'Victorious Consul.' by another name, 'king'."
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21. "Opportunities multiply as they are seized." - Sun Tzu.
"May god affirm you on his throne, and Christ give you to rule with him in his eternal kingdom." Coronation : 2 December 1804.
22. "Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by rulers as useful." - Seneca.
On the anniversary of Emperor Napoleon's coronation, France's ally joins a rival. Russia & Austria mobilize in the winter of Austerlitz : 2 December 1805.
23. Position on hills & embankment, keep foes on light terrain.
24. Employ scout for timing & enemy scouts for intelligence.
25. Offer advantage, so ambush strike where he cannot resist.
26. Sparing those who surrendered, they show their courage.
27. Humble in victory & an escape allows gratitude & peace.
"My destiny is more powerful than my will, and my affections must yield to the interest of my people." - Napoleon, 15 years of marriage.
"Your mistaken ambition has ever been and will continue to be the guide of all your actions. Nevertheless, you can never doubt the sincerity of my wishes for your happiness. May it at least afford me some consolation for my sufferings." Yours, Josephine.
28. "You look best when you are happy."
"Once, an English ambassador challenged my reasons for war. He said, 'you French, you fight only for money, while we English, we fight for honor."
29. "Everyone fights for what they lack."
30. Common adversary unites factions.
"Our friendship is built on our mutual distrust of England. When we hold to the Continental blockade, we choke them from the trade, and we fight for our most sacred rights." Treaty of Tilsti : July 1807.
31. Allegiance is as fickle as its fearful members.
32. Marriage with an heir consolidates power.
33. "War is nothing but a continuation of politics."- Karl von Clausewitz.
Russia opens port to England and tax the French despite the Treaty of Tilsti. Invasion of Russia: June 1812 combined France, Austria, Italy, Germany & Poland.
34. Distant transport impoverish nation & peasants.
35. Skirmish disperse, delay, tire, deplete & thins invaders.
36. Glory is made costly, to discourage subsequent campaign.
Borodino : 7 September 1812 - The French lost 28,000 men. Is a battle great because of the victory or the many sacrifices?
37. Army may be lost for want of transport, want of food & want of supplies.
38. He who does not employ guides cannot benefit from the terrain.
39. Ignorant of neighbours plans, is unable to anticipate their combinations.
300,000 evacuates Moscow. Tsar Alexander denies Napoleon a battle victory, and raze the city by fire to deny supplies & warmth in the winter. Instead of refuge in Poland, push to Saint Petersburg with horses not raise for Russian winter.
40. He is stronger, avoid him, denied in anger, he sends his men into risk.
41. Defense retire where attacker cannot pursue, so spirit is removed from troop.
42. Season of famine, cold, sickness, despair & desertion, are unfortunate fate.
600,000 to Russia left 40,000 returned - December 1812. Napoleon is bannished. Elba island : May 1814.
43. Most troublesome of emotions is jealousy corodes friendship.
44. King Louis XVIII troubles the army by ordering it against their hero.
Congress of Vienna : March 1815 - orders 70,000 from England, and 120,000 troops from Prussia, to meet Napoleon. The weather of Waterloo seals his fate. 18 June 1815.
45. Rain hinders fire. Mud hinders speed. Uphill hinders thrust.
46. In war, what is important is victory, and not wasting time.
47. Winning army fights when it has victory, losing army fight to obtain victory.
48. There is nothing so difficult as tactics in confrontation.
49. Victory is won by reserves.
50. Soldiers sacrifice for commander to retreat.
Napoleon is exiled to the island of Saint Helena, Africa - 15 October 1815. Napoleon Bonaparte died on the 5th of May 1821, after 6 years in exile. His final words were... "France... Army... Josephine."
Napoleon (2023) is written by David Scarpa & directed by Ridley Scott.
Napoleon's specialty in the military was artillery. In business, the equivalent of artillery is mass advertising.
Ten Insights from Napoleon for Business