The victor of Fleurus was now fifty-one years of age, and his failing health quite unfitted him for the Herculean tasks of guiding refractory generals, and of propping up a tottering monarchy.
For Jourdan's talents Napoleon had expressed but scanty esteem, whereas on many occasions he extolled the abilities of Suchet, who was now holding down Valencia and Catalonia.

Certainly Suchet's tenacity and administrative skill rendered his stay in those rich provinces highly desirable.

But the best talent was surely needed on Wellington's line of advance, namely, at Valladolid.

To the shortcomings and mishaps of Joseph and Jourdan in that quarter may be chiefly ascribed the collapse of the French power.
In fact, the only part of Spain that now really interested Napoleon was the north and north-east.

So long as he firmly held the provinces north of the Ebro, he seems to have cared little whether Joseph reigned, or did not reign, at Madrid.