Very interesting discussion on Napoleon's 'greatest' battles and some bold choices. I agree with another commentator that the 1814 campaign as a whole probably deserves some sort of look in but what about Friedland? Less memorable than Eylau perhaps but an excellent example of the corps system in action. Lannes pinning Bennigsen in place allowing concentration of force, Napoleon arrives, surveys the scene, turns the Russian left and then Lannes and Mortier finish off a crushing victory by punching through the weakened centre. And not forgetting that in the aftermath the French gain the Ionian Islands, Russia joins the Continental System, Prussia is carved up, Napoleon creates Westphalia for his brother and the Duchy of Warsaw. Clobbering victory, big diplomatic pay-off. None of it lasts of course but then again... what does? Finally, big battles are all well and good but what are the really interesting little battles where BIG things happen? I'm thinking of the river assault at Porto, Mortier being surprised by a Russian night attack on the Danube at Dürenstein, Prince Louis Ferdinand of Prussia being killed in single combat at Saalfeld, the British taking their first eagle at Barrosa (which incidentally inspired the naming of the Australian wine region Barossa – misspelled you'll note) and the KGL breaking two French squares at Garcia-Hernandez. Any others?
