Final answer:
Napoleon made three big mistakes that led to his downfall. He overextended his empire, alienated conquered nations, and failed to adapt his military strategy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Napoleon made several key mistakes that led to his downfall. Firstly, his insatiable thirst for victory and conquest led him to overextend his empire, stretching his resources and military forces too thin. This was evident in his disastrous invasion of Russia, where his army was decimated due to the harsh winter and guerilla warfare tactics employed by the Russians. Secondly, Napoleon's megalomaniacal tendencies and desire for personal power led him to appoint his family members as puppet rulers in conquered territories, disregarding the beliefs and sentiments of the people. This alienated both his subjects and the conquered nations, weakening his rule. Lastly, Napoleon's refusal to trust anyone other than a handful of loyal generals and his failure to adapt his military strategy ultimately worked against him. As the coalition forces learned to anticipate French strategy and equipped themselves along French lines, Napoleon lost the element of surprise and faced stronger opposition.