"Napoléon’s Final Triumph" Topic

"At Wagram in 1809, Bonaparte's Grand Armée outsmarted, outmaneuvered, outfought and outguessed the Austrian army.

In the summer of 1808, news of the Battle of Bailén and the humiliating capture of an entire French army by a second-rate Spanish army hit Europe like a thunderbolt. The Austrians, whom Napoléon had repeatedly defeated since 1796, saw fresh hope: If that Spanish army could beat a French army, why couldn't they?

Austria in 1808–09 was split between opposing political parties— a peace party and a war party. While the peace party wanted revenge for both the territory stripped from the empire since 1796—Italy, parts of Germany and Poland—and the Austrian defeat at the 1805 Battle of Austerlitz, Archduke Charles, leader of the peace party, did not think his army ready to take on Napoléon again. Emperor Francis I ultimately tipped in favor of the war party, deciding that since Napoléon's commitment of troops in Spain meant he could muster only 200,000 men in Germany, the odds were even…"
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Amicalement
Armand

"To have one peace party is unfortunate. To have two looks like carelessness."

"Final" might be questioned?

(smile)

Amicalement
Armand

Deadhead, I suspect there's a reason they didn't use victory. I think the word triumph (in its original meaning) is appropriate in this case, because it's Napoleon's last decisive victory which he can celebrate on his return to France, having knocked Austria out of the 5th Coalition.

After this, there are no strategic victories, they're operational or tactical ones.

What an interesting point. Yes, thanks indeed!

Well said….

Amicalement
Armand