Napoleon Bonaparte, known for his military genius, was also a "boss from hell" whose compulsive micromanagement of his marshals ultimately contributed to his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, according to historian Andrew Roberts. Roberts, in examining a recently compiled 15-volume collection of Napoleon's letters, discovered a pattern of obsessive control over the minutiae of his commanders' operations.

This micromanagement extended to trivial matters such as the uniform buttons of soldiers, the eligibility of an adjutant to wear a medal, and even the ventilation of a military hospital. Roberts argues that this behavior alienated his marshals, many of whom were talented military leaders in their own right. The Duke of Wellington is quoted as saying, "Nothing was too great or too small for his proboscis," highlighting Napoleon's pervasive attention to detail.

Roberts' new book, "Napoleon And His Marshals: Victory, Rivalry, Betrayal," delves into how Napoleon's leadership style fostered a "team of rivals" that devolved into a "nest of vipers." The emperor intentionally cultivated jealousy among his commanders, believing it would reveal their individual weaknesses to him. However, this strategy often resulted in spectacular disagreements and a refusal to cooperate when Napoleon was not personally present.

During the Peninsular War in Spain and Portugal, for instance, marshals point-blank refused to coordinate their efforts. The historian suggests that despite the immense rewards of wealth, fame, and status that Napoleon bestowed upon them—including titles, estates, and vast sums of money—their tolerance for his demanding and belittling management style eventually waned.

Roberts notes that by the time of the Battle of Waterloo on June 18, 1815, only two of Napoleon's 26 marshals were on the field with him. While four had died by then, the absence of the remaining 20 is significant. Even after a period of exile on Elba, Napoleon managed to raise a large army upon his return to France, yet few marshals rallied to his cause.

Roberts concludes that the marshals had simply "had enough" of working for an "exhausting individual." Napoleon's correspondence, particularly with his chief of staff Louis-Alexandre Berthier, is peppered with phrases expressing dissatisfaction and displeasure. This pattern of expecting criticism without resentment, as Napoleon stated, "When he does something well, I will not say anything; when he does something that displeases me, I will tell him. That is my way of doing things," proved to be a detrimental leadership technique.

Ultimately, Napoleon paid the price for his management style with his defeat at Waterloo and subsequent exile to the island of St. Helena. Roberts posits that a better understanding of people management could have altered the course of European history.