How Napoleon got outplayed by the Rothschilds
"The man who controls Britain's money supply controls the British Empire, and I control the British money supply."
That was a quote from Nathan Rothschild.
You see, the Rothschild family has impacted how markets are shaped, how financial policies are made, and even how entire nations operate.
The family's origins can be traced back to Mayer Amschel Rothschild, who was born in 1744 in Frankfurt's Judengasse, a ghetto where over 3,000 Jewish residents lived under restrictive conditions.
Despite his humble beginnings, Mayer's intelligence and hard work laid the foundation for what would become a financial empire.
Mayer initially intended to become a rabbi, but after the death of his parents, he was forced to abandon his studies and take up an apprenticeship in a banking house.
There, he gained extensive knowledge of finance, particularly in the trade of rare coins, a skill that would later prove invaluable.
By the age of 19, Mayer returned to Frankfurt to join his father’s trading business and quickly found success as a dealer in rare coins.
His expertise caught the attention of Crown Prince Wilhelm of Hesse, who appointed Mayer as a court factor—a title given to a Jewish financier under the employ of nobility.
This marked a significant turning point in Mayer’s life, allowing him to escape the confines of Judengasse and expand his business.
Mayer's strategy for the family’s success was rooted in two key principles: doing business with reigning houses and ensuring his sons would father many heirs to manage the family's business affairs across Europe.
This strategy was not only about expansion but also about risk mitigation.
By establishing branches in different regions—Naples, Vienna, Paris, London, and Frankfurt—the Rothschild family spread its influence and safeguarded itself from being overly dependent on any single ruler or economic system.
As the family’s influence grew, so did their involvement in international finance.
The Rothschilds were instrumental in financing wars, most notably the Napoleonic Wars between 1792 and 1815.
They provided loans to warring princes and smuggled and traded essential goods like wheat, cotton, and arms, facilitating international payments despite efforts by Napoleon to block British trade.
By funding both sides of the conflict, the Rothschilds ensured that they would profit regardless of the war's outcome.
When the Rothschilds saw that the British were a better horse to bet on, they started
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