NAP365
First Legion
Serving as a general of cavalry at the Battle of Auerstadt, he led ferocious charges against Davout's squares, but with little success. After the capitulation of Prussia shortly after, he was a constant voice of continued action against the French. In 1813-1815 he was the Commander-in-Chief of the Prussian armies and was a constant voice of aggressive military action in the face of his less than enthusiastic allies, the Austrians, who saw the preservation of their army as first priority. He finally achieved a battlefield victory against Napoleon in 1813 at the Battle of Leipzig, having been defeated by the Emperor at three previous engagements.
With the French capitulation in 1814, he retired, but was drawn back to active service to once again take command of the Prussian field armies when Napoleon returned from exile to take up arms again. In the 100 days his legend would truly be born as he faced the French alone at Ligny and then, against the advice of Gneisenau, sent two full corps to aid the British at Waterloo. Without these forces, no doubt the battle would have been won by the French and the war would have gone on. He died only four years later in 1819 but with a legacy firmly set as one of the key players in the downfall of Napoleon.
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