Napoleon Vs. Louis XIV

[Winterhaze13]

I hope to debate which of the two I mentioned or another one of your choice is the greatest French leader in their history. I encourage you to consider both domestic and foreign factors in order to determine which leader was of greater influence on France.

Consider that Napoleon transformed the society from chaos to global powerhouse while Louis XIV (Not to be confused with Louis XVI) built the Palace of Versailles and probably spearheaded France into becoming the greatest power in the European continent in the 17th century.

[Ben Burgess]

My vote has to go to Napoleon. As conceited as he was to become his policies and actions transformed France from a feudal power into what was arguably one of the first 'modern' societies. Outside of France he introduced the world to the concept of Total War, whereby a countries entire population is deployed in an effort to attain victory. Using what Clausewitz would later describe as the Trinity of Warfare he perfected the harmonious use of the military, government and population not only to introduce a levee en masse but to reinvigorate a previously restless France with a forgotten sense of patriotism. In waging war he provided his nation with a sense of pride not recently experienced and, for those against which he fought, a long needed reminder that France was a power to be reckoned with.