Was it not for this reason that we lost our status as an international power in the 17th century, and began to slide down, all the way to the bottom? Was it not in turn the joint mistakes of political and military leaders that brought about the loss of the Republic’s independence in the 18th century? ###>Alors, est-ce que la défaite n'est pas aussi l’oeuvre commune des hommes politiques maladroits et des commandants médiocres?