The defining elements in Napoleon's defeat were: British funding, Austrian (and Prussian) armies, and Russian doggedness. If it wasn't for Tsar Alexander's insistence, Napoleon's stellar campaign in France following Leipzig would have driven off the Prussians and Austrians quite handily.Originally Posted by Brenus
But as far as the fleet is concerned, you are correct. The entire institution was simply ignored, an unimportant, almost cumbersome relic to Napoleon following Trafalgar, it seems. It is my belief that had he simply taken the time to build up something like he had done with the Grande Armée even the British fleet would have had to bow down before the French advantage in population (and thus in industrial output at the time).
Without constant British insistency and funding, Napoleon could have easily kept the other Allies divided -- provided he didn't make mistakes like the Russian invasion.
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