National Finance is a specialist subject I know very little about so I throw this open for anyone who does know.

1) Given that much of the money taken from occupied territories throughout Revolution and Empire was needed to pay for the army, should this be regarded as a gigantic pyramid (Ponzi) scheme?
2) given that most of the grants made to army officers, military pensions, Legion d'honneur funds etc under the Empire were drawn from the occupied territories, can this explain Napoleon's obstinacy over making peace in 1813/14 since a withdrawal to within France would have left him with a very disgruntled army on his hands once the financial reality sank in?

Susan