4 ms·

Only as much as the Brits feels the need to over emphasizing "theirs" victories: ad nauseum. The only other nation on Earth that like this kind of ultra nationa

Only as much as the Brits feels the need to over emphasizing "theirs" victories: ad nauseum. The only other nation on Earth that like this kind of ultra nationalist celebration is the USofA as far as I can tell, in this part of the hemisphere. There are certainly bad and good parts in Napoleon's legacy, and reducing it to a single battle is kind of insulting. Just remember one thing: the context of the late 18th century and early 19th century was the struggle of the old monarchies fighting against the seed of democracy. Napoleon was a tyrant, but he was still regarded as the "enfant terrible" of the French Revolution. He had to be suppressed by the monarchic powers in Europe.

mercurial 11y ago
As far as I am concerned (I'm French), Napoleon's positive contributions are his administrative reforms and his destruction of old European power structure, which paved the way for modern station-states. However, these are overshadowed, IMHO, by his going back to a monarchic system, his unfettered imperialism, the numerous war crimes of the regime, the organized looting, and of course the restoration of slavery. That said, I agree with you that morally, the Coalition was little different.
- SixSigma 11y ago
  I'm English and I feel the same. Waterloo was a disater for the people of Europe but a day of wonder for the Elite.
pbhjpbhj 11y ago
FWIW I'm British and over-30 years old and had until this week no idea what happened at Waterloo. Waterloo is a song by ABBA. I've heard the phrase "that was his Waterloo" but never known really what it meant. My knowledge of Napoleon changed when this week I watched a TV program on the BBC praising him as a great leader, and another kids program which seemed even handed merely telling his history. I didn't even know that it was Wellington['s army] who faced off against Napoleon, despite Wellington being a name I've known since my earliest years [rubber boots which nearly all UK kids have are called 'Wellington boots']. I've never seen Waterloo lauded or celebrated in Britain. YMMV I'd be interested to hear other perspectives, perhaps I've missed out? By chance I happened to watch a recent show, again on the BBC this week, that included an aspect of the Battle of Waterloo - there I learnt 2 things: it was in Belgium and the British were surprised to win, the battle being extremely close. It was a fictional work but presented the battle as a very narrow victory and without celebration. For my part I see now in Britain an undercurrent of feeling that the disparity between the haves and the have-nots is too great that seems to me like a continuation of the feeling that fomented the French revolution. As an ordinary Brit coming to this topic afresh I kinda see Napoleon as "our man" to some extent. The French Revolution has definitely been painted in our popular culture as nothing more than a violent and uncivilised scourge motivated more by blood lust and power hunger than anything else.
- pbhjpbhj 11y ago
  http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jun/17/napoleon-dream-died-waterloo-200th-anniversary-triumph-reaction http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jun/17/napoleo...

mercurial 11y ago

As far as I am concerned (I'm French), Napoleon's positive contributions are his administrative reforms and his destruction of old European power structure, which paved the way for modern station-states. However, these are overshadowed, IMHO, by his going back to a monarchic system, his unfettered imperialism, the numerous war crimes of the regime, the organized looting, and of course the restoration of slavery. That said, I agree with you that morally, the Coalition was little different.

SixSigma 11y ago
I'm English and I feel the same. Waterloo was a disater for the people of Europe but a day of wonder for the Elite.

pbhjpbhj 11y ago

FWIW I'm British and over-30 years old and had until this week no idea what happened at Waterloo. Waterloo is a song by ABBA. I've heard the phrase "that was his Waterloo" but never known really what it meant. My knowledge of Napoleon changed when this week I watched a TV program on the BBC praising him as a great leader, and another kids program which seemed even handed merely telling his history. I didn't even know that it was Wellington['s army] who faced off against Napoleon, despite Wellington being a name I've known since my earliest years [rubber boots which nearly all UK kids have are called 'Wellington boots']. I've never seen Waterloo lauded or celebrated in Britain. YMMV I'd be interested to hear other perspectives, perhaps I've missed out? By chance I happened to watch a recent show, again on the BBC this week, that included an aspect of the Battle of Waterloo - there I learnt 2 things: it was in Belgium and the British were surprised to win, the battle being extremely close. It was a fictional work but presented the battle as a very narrow victory and without celebration. For my part I see now in Britain an undercurrent of feeling that the disparity between the haves and the have-nots is too great that seems to me like a continuation of the feeling that fomented the French revolution. As an ordinary Brit coming to this topic afresh I kinda see Napoleon as "our man" to some extent. The French Revolution has definitely been painted in our popular culture as nothing more than a violent and uncivilised scourge motivated more by blood lust and power hunger than anything else.

pbhjpbhj 11y ago
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jun/17/napoleon-dream-died-waterloo-200th-anniversary-triumph-reaction http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jun/17/napoleo...