The Officer's Manual

Napoleon's maxims of war stand as testament to his military talents and his tactical prowess upon the battlefield. The maxims discuss principles of sound command and optimising effectiveness of an army. Having famously overcome many superior forces thanks to a creative and daring use of tactics to divide and defeat enemy armies, Napoleon was in a position to advise future commanders. Having studied the exploits of generals such as Julius Caesar and Alexander the great, Napoleon was also informed with historical knowledge, psychological warfare tactics, and the importance of surprise and initiative. This textbook contains the translation of Napoleon's maxims by Sir George Charles D'Aguilar, Army officer serving with the British Army as Lieutenant Governor of Hong Kong, along with D'Aguilar's interpretations and explanations of Napoleon's ideals as a general. Illustrations of key battles, painted scenes are contained throughout the book.