Strengths and Weaknesses of Napoleon as a Military Leader (research Essay

Strengths and Weaknesses of Napoleon as a Military Leader (research paper) - Essay Example There is a volume of academic material on his military legacies that are studied as examples in military colleges (Abbott 23). The simple argument of Napoleon Bonaparte swirls feelings. He was indeed one of the ‘greatest army minds’ in the record of combat. The activities of his life have motivated the creativeness of researchers, fictional numbers, instructing authorities, filmmakers and learners as well. Both the limitless compliment and highly effective criticisms placed on such a famous determine have provided considerably to the development of the Napoleonic legend. The available historical material touching on the life of Napoleon Bonaparte reveals lack of consensus among historians concerning his qualities as a military leaver. While others commend him for his extraordinary skills as an organizer and a charismatic leader, on the other hand, others have argued that he was not a schemer and strategic thinker. This line of argument has it that Napoleon was over-dependent on the strategies of his predecessors, and only managed to improvise military strategies rather than effectively plan war schemes (Antonmarchi 34). Those who hold this line of thought further suggest that his eventual downfall can be directly attributed to his weakness, although those who disagree argue that it is his characteristics that propelled him to dominating much of Europe. This paper seeks to assess the strengths and characteristics of Napoleon Bonaparte that made him a successful military leader. The paper also draws on his weakness and failures, in order to come up with a balanced analysis of his military legacy. In doing the analysis, evidence from some of his expeditions will be used together with empirical evidence from scholarly materials. Armed with an unending ambition and cunningness, Napoleon came into power in 1799 through a military coup d’Ã ©tat, and in 1804, he crowned himself emperor of France in a ceremony that was