“Why there are monuments to his memory is a mystery to me.”
Because he is the last French general to actually win a war?
Well, there was the Battle of Verdun (1916). The French army distinguished itself at Verdun beyond question. If Napoleon had such determined soldiers at Waterloo, perhaps he would have won.
At any rate, do such Frenchmen exist today?
He was much more than that - a leader who was loved till the end, masterful tactician, artillery genius and more.
His luch ran out finally and he met his match in Wellington though one might argue his illustrious career ended after the retreat from Moscow.
LOL!