Great commanders of modern times and The campaign of 1815

In Short

This collection of biographical essays explores the lives and campaigns of the foremost military leaders of the modern era, from the seventeenth century through the late nineteenth. By analyzing the strategic choices of figures like Turenne, Marlborough, Frederick the Great, Napoleon, and Moltke, the author illustrates the evolution of military science. The text bridges the gap between tactical maneuvering and the broad, decisive strokes of grand strategy. It remains relevant for its rigorous examination of how genius, institutional failure, and sheer fortune interact on the battlefield, offering a detailed, comparative look at the decisive moments that forged the political borders of the Western world.

The Story

The narrative begins with the professionalization of warfare under Turenne, whose work in the Thirty Years' War established early standards for strategic mobility. From there, the book moves to the era of the Spanish Succession, contrasting the methodical, often restrained leadership of the late seventeenth century with the explosive brilliance of the Duke of Marlborough. The author presents Marlborough as a visionary who understood the importance of combined arms and naval support, yet struggled against the limitations of his coalition partners.

The focus then shifts to the rise of Prussia under Frederick the Great, portraying his campaigns as a masterclass in survival against overwhelming odds. The author depicts Frederick as a commander who, despite occasional tactical imperfections, possessed an indomitable will that allowed him to maneuver his smaller forces between divided enemies. This leads into an extensive analysis of Napoleon Bonaparte, who emerges as the central figure of the work. Napoleon represents the zenith of military art, his career marked by a "divine" ability to read ground and seize the initiative. Yet, the author argues that Napoleon’s eventual downfall—rooted in his hubris regarding the Peninsula War, his catastrophic invasion of Russia, and his ultimate betrayal at Fontainebleau—serves as a cautionary tale about the limits of personal power.

The story progresses through the nineteenth century to the rise of Helmuth von Moltke, the architect of German unification. Here, the narrative shifts from the charismatic, individual command style of the Napoleonic age to the cold, scientific efficiency of the Prussian staff system. The author details how Moltke’s systematic approach to mobilization and logistics enabled the swift defeat of the French Empire in 1870–71, marking the end of an era of warfare defined by singular brilliance and the beginning of one defined by institutional rigor.

The final section is dedicated to the Campaign of 1815, a microscopic examination of the Waterloo conflict. The author meticulously reconstructs the days leading to the final defeat of Napoleon, arguing that the Emperor’s failure was not inevitable but rather the result of a series of misadventures, divided commands, and the specific failures of his subordinates, such as Grouchy. The narrative concludes that while Napoleon’s genius transformed the art of war, the tactical integrity and constancy of his opponents—specifically the British and Prussian forces—ultimately proved too resilient for his waning strategic control. The book serves as an autopsy of the Napoleonic age, documenting the transition from the era of the "Great Commander" to the era of industrialized, state-driven conflict.

How It Unfolds

The emergence of professional strategy The book opens by establishing the early military foundations of the seventeenth century, focusing on the rise of Turenne. It highlights his transition from localized engagements to the more complex, theater-wide maneuvers that defined the later stages of the Thirty Years' War.

The era of the great coalitions The narrative transitions to the War of the Spanish Succession, where the limitations of coalition warfare hinder the strategic brilliance of commanders like Marlborough. It demonstrates how political hesitation frequently undermined the potential for truly decisive victories during this period.

The age of the individual genius The middle chapters are dominated by the rise and fall of Napoleon, contrasting his early triumphs in Italy and Austerlitz with his overreach in Spain and Russia. The author uses these chapters to define the "divine" qualities of a commander versus the pedantry of traditional military thought.

The transition to scientific warfare The final historical phase examines the professionalization of the Prussian military under Moltke. This section maps the shift from the charismatic leadership of the early nineteenth century to the rigid, staff-driven logistics that characterized the Franco-Prussian War.

The final autopsy The book concludes with a deep dive into the 1815 campaign, breaking down the defeat at Waterloo day by day. It serves as a forensic analysis, assigning responsibility for Napoleon’s collapse to both structural failures and human error.

The People

The book centers on a pantheon of commanders whose differing temperaments define the history of warfare. Turenne is presented as a profound, if sometimes tactical, thinker who moved away from static defensive lines. Marlborough is portrayed as a strategist of superior insight, hampered by the political lethargy of his era. Frederick the Great appears as a figure of indomitable will, surviving by shifting rapidly between his enemies, though the author critiques his failure to fully crush his opposition when the advantage was his.

Napoleon Bonaparte is the gravitational center of the text. He is characterized as a "prodigious genius" who transformed the scale of war, yet his downfall is attributed to an arrogance that ignored human geography and national sentiment. Masséna and Ney serve as foils to the Emperor; the former is a "spoiled child of victory" who shows tenacity, while the latter displays the "hot and cold fits" of a commander cracking under pressure. Wellington emerges as the steady, capable counterpoint to Napoleon—cautious, methodical, and profoundly resilient. Finally, Moltke represents the new breed of commander: clinical, precise, and detached. He is the master of the "scientific" military age, standing in stark contrast to the romantic, often temperamental, leaders of the previous century.

In Its Own Voice

The author highlights the necessity of studying the masters of the past to understand the fundamental principles of leadership.

“Faites la guerre offensive comme Alexandre, Annibal, César, Gustave Adolphe, Turenne, le Prince Eugène et Fredéric; lisez, relisez l’histoire de leurs quatre vingt trois campagnes; modelez vous sur eux.”

In his analysis of the Napoleonic wars, the author contrasts the calculated brilliance of a master with the routine movements of lesser men.

“The result is complete; only two-thirds of an army rather weaker than its foe in numbers, and much weaker in guns, simply shattered to atoms a more powerful force, with a loss comparatively very small.”

What It's Really About

The central argument of the book is that military history is the record of a constant struggle between the "sublime" art of command and the material realities of the state. The author posits that while the technology of war—roads, weaponry, and logistics—evolved significantly from the 1600s to the 1800s, the human element remained the decisive factor. The book explores the question of whether a single man of genius can override the structural weaknesses of a nation or an alliance. It concludes that while individual brilliance can achieve monumental success, such power is fragile; it is ultimately vulnerable to the "barbarous" or "scientific" methods of adversaries who understand that war, in its modern form, requires a coordination of effort that no single individual, regardless of their talent, can sustain indefinitely.

Why Read It Today

Readers with an interest in military history or the mechanics of leadership will find this book an invaluable, if dense, resource. The prose is precise and evocative, reflecting the scholarly standards of the late nineteenth century, which occasionally results in long, complex sentences that demand close attention. Those who enjoy deep-dives into the "what-if" scenarios of history will appreciate the meticulous dissection of the Waterloo campaign, which remains one of the most balanced assessments of Napoleon’s final days.

There is a distinct, period-specific attitude in the text; the author’s perspective is unabashedly Eurocentric and reflects the military values of the 1890s, where "heroic" action and the "genius" of the commander are held in higher esteem than the social costs of conflict. While the technical aspects of the maneuvers are described with great clarity—aided by a wealth of references to maps and plans—modern readers may find the lack of focus on the common soldier or the civilian experience a limitation. However, for anyone seeking to understand the transition from the era of kings and marshals to the era of the industrial staff officer, the book offers a clear, authoritative, and deeply researched map of that evolution. Its primary value lies in the author’s ability to distill the "divine" logic of the battlefield into readable, human terms.