Better Chance of Defeating Russia, Napoleon or Charles XII?

Who had a better chance of defeating Russia?

  • Charles XII 1708-9 Campaign

    Votes: 31 52.5%
  • Napoleon 1812 Campaign

    Votes: 28 47.5%

  • Total voters
    59
I went with C XII as Peter was with the Russian Army at Poltava. If Peter catches a bullet, the Russian throne will be thrown into chaos. Whoever comes out on top is likely too weakened to continue the fight.
 

Redhand

Banned
The key for Napoleon is to go into it with a two year patient campaign in mind. Logistics were an issue, but not an insurmountable one if he is patient. He isn't going to be beaten on the battlefield, nor by winter if he has a plan in mind.
 
I reckon it all depends on what you mean by defeat. While having Charles XII seize the Russian crown for himself might make for an interesting story, his overall war goals were not as lofty as Napoleon. It is possible to defeat Russia in a limited war.
 

Redhand

Banned
I reckon it all depends on what you mean by defeat. While having Charles XII seize the Russian crown for himself might make for an interesting story, his overall war goals were not as lofty as Napoleon. It is possible to defeat Russia in a limited war.

Napoleon didn't want to annex Russia or put himself on the throne either. He just wanted to enforce compliance in his alliance, and he probably could have achieved this had he not tried to do it all in one year.

Of course, he might be better off taking that mammoth force and unleashing it on Spain and crushing opposition there. He might not be able to take Lisbon merely because of the navy and fortifications, but taking Cadiz and Gibraltar is quite doable, as well as stomping out anything the Spanish still have and slaughtering the guerillas.
 
Napoleon didn't want to annex Russia or put himself on the throne either. He just wanted to enforce compliance in his alliance, and he probably could have achieved this had he not tried to do it all in one year.

Of course, he might be better off taking that mammoth force and unleashing it on Spain and crushing opposition there. He might not be able to take Lisbon merely because of the navy and fortifications, but taking Cadiz and Gibraltar is quite doable, as well as stomping out anything the Spanish still have and slaughtering the guerillas.

I've seen a lot of scenarios where Napoleon avoids the Peninsular War, but I don't remember reading one where he actually wins it. I guess I just never even considered that it was a possibility.
 
My view is Charles, just because of the terrain on the Poltava battlefield,steep bluffs and a river. If the Swedes manage to win, the Russians will be almost unable to retreat.
 
I voted for Charles. If he had pushed further after the Battle of Narva in 1700, he could have most have beaten Russia. Instead he turned his attention to the "sponge of Poland" and gave Peter the Great several years to reform his army
 
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