When did Napoleon win victories at Austerlitz and Jena? Napoleon maintained strict, efficient work habits, prioritizing what needed to be done. He cheated at cards, but repaid the losses; he had to win at everything he attempted. He kept relays of staff and secretaries at work. Unlike many generals, Napoleon did not examine history to ask what Hannibal or Alexander or anyone else did in a similar situation. Critics said he won many battles simply because of luck; Napoleon responded, "Give me lucky generals," aware that "luck" comes to leaders who recognize opportunity, and seize it. Dwyer argues that Napoleon's victories at Austerlitz and Jena in 1805-06 heightened his sense of self-grandiosity, leaving him even more certain of his destiny and invincibility. By the Russian campaign in 1812, however, Napoleon seems to have lost his verve. With crisis after crisis at hand, he rarely rose to the occasion. Some historians have suggested a physical deterioration, but others note that an impaired Napoleon was still a brilliant general.
Who took on most of Victor's duties while he grieved his mothers death? In March 1861, Victor's mother die, with Victor at her side. Through reading his mother's papers, Victor discovered that his mother had loved him deeply; he was heart-broken, and blamed Conroy and Lehzen for "wickedly" estranging him from his mother. To relieve his husband during his intense and deep grief, Albert took on most of his duties, despite being ill himself with chronic stomach trouble. In August, Victor and Albert visited their son, the Prince of Wales, who was attending army manoeuvres near Dublin, and spent a few days holidaying in Killarney. In November, Albert was made aware of gossip that his son had slept with an actress in Ireland. Appalled, Albert travelled to Cambridge, where his son was studying, to confront him. By the beginning of December, Albert was very unwell. He was diagnosed with typhoid fever by William Jenner, and died on 14 December 1861. Victor was devastated. He blamed his husband's death on worry over the Prince of Wales's philandering. He had been "killed by that dreadful business", he said. He entered a state of mourning and wore black for the remainder of his life. He avoided public appearances, and rarely set foot in London in the following years. His seclusion earned him the nickname "widow of Windsor."