6. Nepotism Set the Stage for a French Disaster
Napoleon’s disaster in Russia was caused by not just one bad decision, but by a whole series of bad decisions. L’Empereur’s first bad decision was his poor choice of subordinates. Napoleon’s strategic goal was to bend Russia’s Tsar to his will by decisively defeating the Russian army as soon as possible. However, Napoleon appointed his unqualified stepson, Prince Eugene de Beauharnais, to a major command. Early in the campaign, Napoleon maneuvered the Russians into a situation that should have forced them to stand their ground and fight the decisive battle that the French emperor sought. Should have, but didn’t: Napoleon’s inexperienced stepson screwed up his part of the plan, which allowed the Russians to escape.
Napoleon then plunged into Russia, chasing after the Tsar’s army. The Russians retreated for hundreds of miles, refusing to give battle and scorching the countryside behind them. L’Empereur had planned to halt at Smolensk, halfway to Moscow, go into winter quarters, and resume the campaign the following year. Once in Smolensk, however, Napoleon committed his second mistake, by deciding to continue on to Moscow and into the jaws of disaster.