The wars between 1792 and 1815 saw the making of the modern world, with Britain and Russia the key powers to emerge triumphant from a long period of bitter conflict. In this innovative book, Jeremy Black focuses on the strategic contexts and strategies involved, explaining their significance both at the time and subsequently. Reinterpreting French Revolutionary and Napoleonic warfare, strategy, and their consequences, he argues that Napoleons failure owed much to his limitations as a strategist. Black uses this framework as a foundation to assess the nature of warfare, the character of strategy, and the eventual ascendance of Britain and Russia in this period. Rethinking the character of strategy, this is the first history to look holistically at the strategies of all the leading belligerents from a global perspective. It will be an essential read for military professionals, students, and history buffs alike.

Jeremy Black is professor emeritus of history at Exeter University. His recent books includeThe World at War andWar and Its Causes.

Abbreviations

Preface

1Introduction

2Strategic Contexts

3The Shock of the New? 179297

4To Global Strategies, 17981803

5Central Europe at Stake, 18049

6New Wars, 181014

7War without a Viable French Strategy? 1815

8Strategic Assessment

9Later Strategic Scrutiny

10Conclusions

Selected Further Reading