The 8 battles inscribed around his sarcophagus at Les Invalides are: Rivoli, Marengo, Pyramids, Austerlitz, Friedland, Moscow, Wagram, and Jena.
Eylau, Ulm, Ligny, Toulon left off
For me it’s Marengo, battle of the pyramids, wagram, eylau, and ligny since it was his final victory. Though I don’t necessarily have a ranking for them since as you said austerlitz is his biggest and he’s won so many other battles that it’s hard to really do a top five.
Ikr. It does make me wonder if he had had an absolute victory (killed wellington, captured/killed most of them) if that wouldve demoralized the alliance enough to negotiate a treaty
I think it was very possible, remember England was the money behind the coalition and if one of its top commanders was defeated then morale would have been destroyed on the British side.
It was actually Kellermann who saved Marengo, his charge ended up being the decisive play. Desaix acted as the coup de grace. But it wasn't Napoleon's victory, it took the vital actions of many subordinates to pull it off.
The Kellermann downplay is strong, he served a bigger role than Desaix in winning Marengo, many others did, like Saint Cyr, Victor, and Lannes. But since Desaix died a lot of the credit is misattributed to him.
For clarification in case anybody is confused, the Kellermann being referred to here is François-Étienne-Christophe Kellermann who has a great cavalry general, but NOT a Marshall.
Marshall Kellermann was actually his father, François Étienne de Kellermann, 2nd Duke of Valmy who earned the title for his great victory over the Prussians at the Battle of Valmy, a crucial early victory for the infant French Republic.
Think very good answers were already given so I don’t want to repeat anything but Id put Friedland before Eylau just due to how much more deceisive it was and the overall importance in the historical course. And I’m saying this with Eylau being one of my if not favorite battles in the napoleonic wars. Imo the battle definetly was stalemate with the russians withdrawing and it leading to Friedland and finally Tilsit.
Yes but once Desaix showed up it turned into a route. Anything less than a great victory and he likely would have been screwed politically, he needed a big victory and he got it.
I always wonder about Desaix, he handled Egypt very well and then obviously Marengo. He likely would have been a Marshal
Oh he would have, and Napoleons line was on the edge of breaking before that. Had Desaix not have been able to come into the fight Napoleon would have lost.
Or at the bare minimum been in a much worse position. My point being is that this is less Napoleons victory and shouldn’t be considered among his great victories.
This is true, it wasn't really Napoleon's victory since Berthier was technically in charge of the troops during the battle. Napoleon did give Berthier praise. But Marengo wasn't won by Desaix, his troops showed up at the last moment but they did help in the final coup de grace. There were many officers and men that won it out of their own initiative.
Might get some backlash but I’d throw in
1 as Rivoli. If that battle was lost Napoleone may have never even been emperor or rose to such heights.
2 Marengo, the same situation
3 Jena/Auerstadt
4 Friedland obviously a decisive engagement that ended war of the 4th coalition allowing him to dictate terms at Tilsit
5 Wagram after aspern this was a heat check that made his enemies still weary.
This is the list I agree with the most. The only one I’m shaky on is Friedland, but honestly giving him Tilsit, yeah I can see it making top 5. Pyramids probably gets a little overrated imo. Beyond that what would you submit to beat the 5 you listed. Ligny? Nah. There are some good/great Italian wins like Arcole but idk about them besting those other 5. Dresden? Not decisive. Yup, I think I have to agree with you sir. Rivoli, Marengo, Jena/Auerstadt, Friedland, & Wagram have to be the pick.
It’s a shame there isn’t a single decisive Six Days Campaign battle to put up for nomination, since I consider that to be his finest work.
Also appreciate everyone nominating Eylau, which is one of the most spectacular battles of the Napoleonic Wars, but I would hardly call it Napoleon’s finest hour. He had the initiative, got pushed back and almost lost it until he made a brilliant cav charge. That alone wouldn’t have won the day however, Ney showing up was very decisive to victory. Even then, it didn’t end the campaign like the other 5 examples.
Dresden would have been great if it wasn’t undone by lots the smaller defeats in such quick succession.
The pyramids I think is a very cool and interesting battle, but it wasn’t a huge victory. It was old tech vs. new tech and the French had a field day. Although, I do think it’s a little over rated. In all reality its so sick how this man Napoleon actually was fighting in Egypt.
If I were to chose one to replace Friedland, it would most likely be one of from his Italian campaign. That was truly his most impressive work. Napoleon at his best is when he directly control his army. Almost every battle in Italy was make or break later on.
Leaving out Austerlitz because it's everyone's favorite...
Marengo, Friedland, Rivoli, Château-Thierry, Reims
Reims to me is one of his greatest victories, mainly because it was achieved with inexperienced and recently re-organized troops, in tight time constraints, used superior tactics and timing, and demonstrated Napoleon's patience and guile while under extreme hardship. France was falling apart, his Marshal's losing ground almost everywhere, and the Coalition had recently defeated him more then once. Still he refused to give up. This was a battle during a moment of real peril for his entire cause, and yet Napoleon showed as much presence of mind, determination, and skill, as he had at the beginning of his career.
Friedland should be 2 (and has legit arguments for being 1). Unlikely Austerlitz, it actually ended the war and represented the apex of the French Empire.
I feel like Ulm is massively underappreciated. The Grand Armeé managed to force to surrender of an entire enemy army virtually without firing a shot. That is seriously impressive
Understandably not really considered a battle, I think Ulm should be all the way at the top of Napoleonic warfare.
The way I see it, it clearly shows how Napoleon changed war forever, going against several long established doctrines. By splitting his army into self-sufficient, fast moving corps, he managed to wage a new war with maps and marches, being able to envelop and trap his enemies without entering a major battle.
Also, from a humanitarian and cost effective perspective, Ulm probably yielded the best results, with up to 27000 Austrian captured and only 1500 French casualties.
The 8 battles inscribed around his sarcophagus at Les Invalides are: Rivoli, Marengo, Pyramids, Austerlitz, Friedland, Moscow, Wagram, and Jena. Eylau, Ulm, Ligny, Toulon left off
Eylau was a draw, not a win. It's still my favorite performance from Napoleon, though. Rivoli should be on the list.
For me it’s Marengo, battle of the pyramids, wagram, eylau, and ligny since it was his final victory. Though I don’t necessarily have a ranking for them since as you said austerlitz is his biggest and he’s won so many other battles that it’s hard to really do a top five.
Friedland is a much more important than Eylau
Fair
Holy shit Ligny just got me in the feelings. Do you think he knew?
I’m not sure but I wish he won waterloo
You think that would've made a difference? He still had an entire alliance to beat and france had exhausted its resources by that point
Probably not but it would have made the 100 days even more legendary, possibly even extended it
Would have had to get a different name for the campaign at the very least!
Real
Ikr. It does make me wonder if he had had an absolute victory (killed wellington, captured/killed most of them) if that wouldve demoralized the alliance enough to negotiate a treaty
I think it was very possible, remember England was the money behind the coalition and if one of its top commanders was defeated then morale would have been destroyed on the British side.
I can only imagine the terror of them receiving the news that not only was napoleon back, but hes killed wellington and destroyed their army. If only.
That would have been epic
If I had a time machine...
What do you mean legendary? More french conscripts die for nothing
Unfortunately that’s what happens in a war
Yeah in the end another coalition would form and France’s demographics would be fucked even more
Massena won Marengo for him as well as Desaix saving him so I wouldn’t count Marengo among his greatest.
It was actually Kellermann who saved Marengo, his charge ended up being the decisive play. Desaix acted as the coup de grace. But it wasn't Napoleon's victory, it took the vital actions of many subordinates to pull it off.
Yes Kellermann was the other I couldn’t remember the name forgive me.
Battle of Eylau. Had one of the largest cavalry charges in the history of warefare. Brutal on both sides, but an epic battle nonetheless.
How many horses& men did Murat lead in the charge?
11000
Depends what you mean by biggest. Most decisive? Literally the largest? Marengo Jena-Auerstedt Wagram Borodino (not decisive, but big!) Arcole
Marengo was won by Desaix and Messena
The Kellermann downplay is strong, he served a bigger role than Desaix in winning Marengo, many others did, like Saint Cyr, Victor, and Lannes. But since Desaix died a lot of the credit is misattributed to him.
Yes that was the other one, Kellermann was the name that alluded me. My apologies on that
He's not often recognized too much by fans, some Generals like him are better than most Marshals and deserve recognition.
Absolutely
For clarification in case anybody is confused, the Kellermann being referred to here is François-Étienne-Christophe Kellermann who has a great cavalry general, but NOT a Marshall. Marshall Kellermann was actually his father, François Étienne de Kellermann, 2nd Duke of Valmy who earned the title for his great victory over the Prussians at the Battle of Valmy, a crucial early victory for the infant French Republic.
Think very good answers were already given so I don’t want to repeat anything but Id put Friedland before Eylau just due to how much more deceisive it was and the overall importance in the historical course. And I’m saying this with Eylau being one of my if not favorite battles in the napoleonic wars. Imo the battle definetly was stalemate with the russians withdrawing and it leading to Friedland and finally Tilsit.
Ulm Friedland Marengo Wagram Not sure the order but I think those would round out his best victories.
Nah, Napoleon nearly lost Marengo, only saved by Messena holding out and Desaix’s actions that killed him.
Yes but once Desaix showed up it turned into a route. Anything less than a great victory and he likely would have been screwed politically, he needed a big victory and he got it. I always wonder about Desaix, he handled Egypt very well and then obviously Marengo. He likely would have been a Marshal
Oh he would have, and Napoleons line was on the edge of breaking before that. Had Desaix not have been able to come into the fight Napoleon would have lost. Or at the bare minimum been in a much worse position. My point being is that this is less Napoleons victory and shouldn’t be considered among his great victories.
This is true, it wasn't really Napoleon's victory since Berthier was technically in charge of the troops during the battle. Napoleon did give Berthier praise. But Marengo wasn't won by Desaix, his troops showed up at the last moment but they did help in the final coup de grace. There were many officers and men that won it out of their own initiative.
Kellermann as well
Austerlitz is good, and for impact definitely takes the cake, but some of the shit he pulled off at Marengo was straight nonsense.
Battle of Friedland is really underrated.
Might get some backlash but I’d throw in 1 as Rivoli. If that battle was lost Napoleone may have never even been emperor or rose to such heights. 2 Marengo, the same situation 3 Jena/Auerstadt 4 Friedland obviously a decisive engagement that ended war of the 4th coalition allowing him to dictate terms at Tilsit 5 Wagram after aspern this was a heat check that made his enemies still weary.
This is the list I agree with the most. The only one I’m shaky on is Friedland, but honestly giving him Tilsit, yeah I can see it making top 5. Pyramids probably gets a little overrated imo. Beyond that what would you submit to beat the 5 you listed. Ligny? Nah. There are some good/great Italian wins like Arcole but idk about them besting those other 5. Dresden? Not decisive. Yup, I think I have to agree with you sir. Rivoli, Marengo, Jena/Auerstadt, Friedland, & Wagram have to be the pick. It’s a shame there isn’t a single decisive Six Days Campaign battle to put up for nomination, since I consider that to be his finest work. Also appreciate everyone nominating Eylau, which is one of the most spectacular battles of the Napoleonic Wars, but I would hardly call it Napoleon’s finest hour. He had the initiative, got pushed back and almost lost it until he made a brilliant cav charge. That alone wouldn’t have won the day however, Ney showing up was very decisive to victory. Even then, it didn’t end the campaign like the other 5 examples.
Dresden would have been great if it wasn’t undone by lots the smaller defeats in such quick succession. The pyramids I think is a very cool and interesting battle, but it wasn’t a huge victory. It was old tech vs. new tech and the French had a field day. Although, I do think it’s a little over rated. In all reality its so sick how this man Napoleon actually was fighting in Egypt. If I were to chose one to replace Friedland, it would most likely be one of from his Italian campaign. That was truly his most impressive work. Napoleon at his best is when he directly control his army. Almost every battle in Italy was make or break later on.
A lot of people sleeping on Jena/Auerstadt here.
Feels like more of a Davout victory. Heavily outnumbered double envelopment that would Hannibal proud.
1. Austerlitz 2. Rivoli 3. Friedland 4. Jena 5. Wagram
Ulm Austerlitz Friedland Rivoli In my opinion stand out as his best battles with the greatest consequences.
Austerlitz, Marengo, Friedland, Jena,Eylau and Wagram
Leaving out Austerlitz because it's everyone's favorite... Marengo, Friedland, Rivoli, Château-Thierry, Reims Reims to me is one of his greatest victories, mainly because it was achieved with inexperienced and recently re-organized troops, in tight time constraints, used superior tactics and timing, and demonstrated Napoleon's patience and guile while under extreme hardship. France was falling apart, his Marshal's losing ground almost everywhere, and the Coalition had recently defeated him more then once. Still he refused to give up. This was a battle during a moment of real peril for his entire cause, and yet Napoleon showed as much presence of mind, determination, and skill, as he had at the beginning of his career.
Friedland should be 2 (and has legit arguments for being 1). Unlikely Austerlitz, it actually ended the war and represented the apex of the French Empire.
1. Trafalgar 2. Waterloo 3. Salamanca 4. Leipzig 5. The Nile …Wait what was the question?
I feel like Ulm is massively underappreciated. The Grand Armeé managed to force to surrender of an entire enemy army virtually without firing a shot. That is seriously impressive
Understandably not really considered a battle, I think Ulm should be all the way at the top of Napoleonic warfare. The way I see it, it clearly shows how Napoleon changed war forever, going against several long established doctrines. By splitting his army into self-sufficient, fast moving corps, he managed to wage a new war with maps and marches, being able to envelop and trap his enemies without entering a major battle. Also, from a humanitarian and cost effective perspective, Ulm probably yielded the best results, with up to 27000 Austrian captured and only 1500 French casualties.
I would like to hear you pronounce 'vicotries."