[R_G]

To make a very general question, who was the overall better leader?

Napoleon gets the nod so many times but it was Wellington who got the better of him, twice.

[yiwahikanak]

Yeah but Wellington had Sharpe.

[The Clockwork Rat]

Wellington wasn't an emperor, so the comparison is unbalanced.

[Thompson_NCL]

Wellington wasn't an emperor, so the comparison is unbalanced.

I don't see why the comparison is invalid?

Yeah but Wellington had Sharpe.

Canadians know of Sharpe? Huzzah!

[The Clockwork Rat]

An admiral could be a brilliant naval tactician, but hopeless at running anything more. An emperor could be an excellent all round leader, but still not quite as good a naval tactician as an admiral.

[Potemkin]

The only time Wellington and Napoleon faced each other on the field of battle, Wellington won. Ultimately, that's the only 'comparison' which matters.

[El Gilroy]

I say Napoleon. Wellington was able to concentrate entirely on the N, whereas Buonaparte was distracted by conquering a continent. Switch those positions, and think about who's going to come out on top.

[Potemkin]

I say Napoleon. Wellington was able to concentrate entirely on the N, whereas Buonaparte was distracted by conquering a continent.

...and losing it again.

Switch those positions, and think about who's going to come out on top.

There's no question that Napoleon was the better civil administrator - Wellington's time as Prime Minister was disastrous, whereas Napoleon transformed the way that continental Europe is governed, and created the modern French polity. As a military general, however, Wellington is up there with Napoleon, and actually beat him in the only battle they fought against each other.

[El Gilroy]

...and losing it again.

Totally besides the point. Nothing lasts forever - achieving in the first place is all that matters.

There's no question that Napoleon was the better civil administrator - Wellington's time as Prime Minister was disastrous, whereas Napoleon transformed the way that continental Europe is governed, and created the modern French polity. As a military general, however, Wellington is up there with Napoleon, and actually beat him in the only battle they fought against each other.

I still suspect Napoleon would've beaten him if his attentions hadn't been all over the place; what with having been exiled for so long and brought back in a rather unfavourable time.

[Cookie Monster]

The only time Wellington and Napoleon faced each other on the field of battle, Wellington won. Ultimately, that's the only 'comparison' which matters.

The correct conclusion would be that Wellington and Blücher won at Waterloo. Thereby the question remains unanswered and it suffices to say that they were both brilliant military leaders.

[Oxymoron]

I dont think Wellington bettered Napolean, I think Napolean defeated himself.

[Cookie Monster]

The question is not who defeated Napoleon but who is the better general (between Napoleon and Wellington). But I agree that Napoleon made mistakes that lead to his eventual defeat at battle and beyond. But I can't really blame him, in a way he was too successful to consolidate his military successes. His administrative successes remains though.