6. The Berlin Decree: Trade Wars Out of Spite
Napoleon’s Berlin Decree of 1806 set up the Continental System, a sweeping embargo against British goods. While meant to cripple Britain’s economy, it ended up wreaking havoc on France’s own allies and occupied territories, causing shortages and resentment across Europe. Historians argue this was as much about personal vengeance as strategy—Napoleon couldn’t stand being outdone by British commerce. In the end, his stubborn trade war hurt those he claimed to protect far more than his intended enemy.
