1. His first downfall--invasion of Russia. Out of an original invasion force of nearly 600,000 (most of them battle-tested, confident, well-trained forces), the French left Russia with only 40,000 (and these were frost-bitten, sick and starved, demoralized) troops. Additionally, they had to leave behind over 1,000 cannon, all horses were lost (starved or eaten) and their supply train (the loss of wagons proved to be more important than that of the cannon).
2. After his return, sure he lost at Waterloo. But one can argue that several factors produced his loss there--any one of these factors was sufficient to result in defeat:
--inability to seize the farmhouse at Hougoumont which proved to be a bastion that prevented the French from being
2. After his return, sure he lost at Waterloo. But one can argue that several factors produced his loss there--any one of these factors was sufficient to result in defeat:
--inability to seize the farmhouse at Hougoumont which proved to be a bastion that prevented the French from being