Many of the best French troops and all his ablest generals had survived.

His Guard could therefore be formed again, and the brains of his army were also intact.

The war had brought to light no military genius among the Russians; and all his past experience of the "old coalition machines" warranted the belief that their rusty cogwheels, even if oiled by English subsidies, would clank slowly along and break down at the first exceptional strain.

Such had been the case at Marengo, at Austerlitz, at Friedland.

Why should not history repeat itself?
While he was guiding his steps solely by the light of past experience, events were occurring that heralded the dawn of a new era for Central Europe.