What was the best army during the Napoleonic Wars? La Grande Armée of Napoleon, was of course considered the topmost Army, like the Romans before them, and the German Wehrmacht of 1940 – 1942, they swept all before them, with superior tactics and strategies. Down to the spirit de corps of the fighting soldier to the genial service strategy of the generals in charge. And, it always took a great coalition of nations to defeat them.
In the Napoleonic wars one could argue that the British Army under the command of the Duke of Wellington, was more, because, he beat Napoleon was beaten numerous times by Wellington, in the Peninsula war, also subsequently at Waterloo. still, Wellington, introduced new tactics, analogous as ‘ light child ’ or the ‘ green jackets ’ who, you could argue the first military unit that operates, similar to modern day army.
firstly, wearing rifle herbage for disguise, and being largely mobile, using small, platoon/ company/ legion size groups to move snappily and beat the slow and large columns of the French. also, there was the Prussians, who were famed for their discipline and fighting capability, especially the Elite mounted Prussian Uhlans, mounted cavalry that struck fear into the heart of the adversary, these of course saved the day at Waterloo, and were still used in World War One.
still, the aggregate of Spain had been enthralled, and also Wellington, If you take the Peninsula Wars this was a great win for the British.
still, in summary, utmost Armies of this period, took the French model as a design for their own, down to the association of units and chain of command. utmost modern military expressions analogous as ‘ platoon ’ and ‘ assistant ’ are French words, so like cinema and food, the French also told modern military tactics and armies. So, indeed however, they were eventually beaten by large European alliances and coalitions,( and the Russian time-out) I would still have to say the La Grande Armée.
