January 27, 2019 ☼ history ☼ 1807AD ☼ battles
Friedland | the War of the 4th Coalition: a leadership lesson
Batle of Friedland ended the War of the Fourth Coalition (France vs Prussia, Russia, Saxony, Sweden, and Great Britain). A military lesson by one of the most brilliant strategist in the world’s history: Napoleon. One of the most enlightened ruler of Europe, an ambassador of civilization, Napoleon is among the top role models in leadership in our recorded history.
Like all great commanders (Alexander the Great, Caesar, Khalid ibn al-Walid, etc. ), on top of his military and administrative genious, Napoleon had an outstanding gift to inspire people.
( If you have time, read or listen “THE PEASANT STORY OF NAPOLEON” by Honoré de Balzac. )
This charisma, backing up a glorious vision, explains why none of his main generals (Jean Lannes, Michel Ney, Joachim Murat, Eugène Rose de Beauharnais, Louis Alexandre Berthier) ever betrayed him (on the contrary…) - and also explains how few thousands hungry peaseants, from a country surrounded by enemies, became one of the best army of the 19th century.
#vision #strategy #loyalty