Napoleon’s Continental System

Napoleon Bonaparte

Great Britain was never able to field an army that could match in size most of those that fought for or against Napoleon on Continental Europe during the Napoleonic Wars. She did, however, gain mastery of the seas that, particularly following the Battle of Trafalgar in October 1805, remained largely unchallenged until the First World War over 100 years later. Britain also had enormous wealth – thanks to well-developed trade with her colonies abroad and elsewhere – which ena...