Part of the Batavian Republic's border lay on the southern bank of the Scheldt River. In other words, the Dutch controlled the Scheldt's outlet to the sea. Even if the people of France occupied Antwerp, ships could not reach open water, making it nothing more than an inland port.
The people of ancient Greece pursued four great virtues: wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance.
In his later years, Plato believed temperance was superior to courage, because temperance was the harmony of reason and desire, whereas Sparta's world was never at peace.
Before the scandal of embezzlement at the Royal Navy's timber yard came to light, Britain's war faction had briefly held the upper hand. The ambassador repeatedly provoked Bonaparte over the Malta issue. At this time, Russia formed an Armed Neutrality League with Sweden, Denmark, and Prussia. After bombarding Copenhagen and driving Britain out of the Baltic Sea, the peace faction finally replaced them.
Though the Baltic Sea's gateway had swung wide open after the bombardment of Copenhagen, trade could not be conducted through hegemony alone. Besides, the people at home were unwilling to keep paying income tax.
Norway was probably founded around the tenth century. Olaf Tryggvason, King of Sweden, had once lived in exile in England. Northern Europe was still in the age of the Vikings then. When Olaf tried to disregard the people's wishes and refused to make peace with the people of Norway, a lawman said to him, "This king allows no one to offer him advice. He will listen only to words that please him. He seeks to rule the people of Norway, something no Swedish king would even dare imagine. It will leave many people living in unrest. Therefore, as your countryman, I tell you that you had best make peace with the King of