How can we explain the multinational composition of Napoleon's army: causes and consequences

The famous emperor of France, wise general, resolute statesman and ambitious politician Napoleon Bonaparte became famous all over the world thanks to his desire to expand the borders of France, turn it into a great empire, subordinating the political and economic interests of the country to European monarchies.

Napoleon commanded a huge army, distinguished by multinationality.

How can you explain the multinational composition of the army of Napoleon?

The army of the French emperor was called the "army of twelve languages". Conquering more and more new territories, Napoleon Bonaparte forced the conquered peoples to pay the tax with blood, supplying their soldiers to his army.

This fact is what can explain the multinational composition of the army of Napoleon.

Some soldiers entered the army voluntarily, some were subjects of satellite states or allied countries. However, most foreigners were forced into the army, so they were hostile to the French command, its actions and orders. This significantly influenced the discipline, not allowing it to maintain its proper level. But, despite this, the military commander's army had experienced commanders, was distinguished by good combat skills and was a formidable force for neighboring states.

In the army of Napoleon, the Italians, Poles, and a part of the Germans had good training (the fighting ability of the representatives of this nation depended on the region of residence).

The national composition of the army of Napoleon Bonaparte

1806 was marked by the defeat of Austria at Austerlitz, and the Kingdom of Bavaria joined the alliance with Napoleon. In this regard, the army of Napoleon replenished with 10 linear regiments, the number of which increased to 13 in 1811. However, in 1813 Bavaria took the anti-Napoleonic position by joining the coalition of countries hostile to France because of its defeat near Leipzig. Thanks to this, Bavaria managed to save most of the newly annexed territories.

By 1812, the composition of the great army of Napoleon included Polish regiments, which were perhaps the most bellicose and loyal to the commanders of another nationality. This fact is explained by the fact that, having split into separate territories because of internal strife and divided by Russia, Prussia and Austria, the Grand Duchy of Warsaw sought to restore statehood and sought support from the French emperor. Unlike many allies, the Poles did not leave Napoleon until the very end, until his last battle at Waterloo. The desire to restore a single state (which can explain the multinational composition of the army of Napoleon) is one of the important reasons for the joining of troops of different nationalities.

In addition to Germans and Poles, the army of the emperor also included representatives of Italy, Prussia, Austria, Saxony, Baden, Westphalia, Württemberg, the Kingdom of Naples, Spain, Holland, Hesse-Darmstadt.

All of them had definite goals or were simply forced to join the ranks of the army, obeying the onslaught of Napoleon.

The French army at the beginning of the Patriotic War of 1812 differed in a motley national composition, which, on the one hand, weakened it, and on the other hand it allowed the expansion of the ranks with more and more soldiers, bringing the emperor closer to achieving the goal.

The role of multinationalism in the army of Napoleon

Thanks to a strong multi-national army, the Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte conquered the countries of Western Europe (except England), and 1807-1812 years were the heyday of France. However, despite numerous successes, the ambitious emperor was never able to conquer his main opponent - standing on the way to the rule of France over the world of Russia.

All the same as can explain the multinational composition of Napoleon's army, gives an explanation to another fact - defeat at the decisive stage of the war.