[Palpatine]

How did these people conquerer the whole of Europe (plus Egypt) just a few short generations ago?

well... for starters... Napoleon was a Corsican, and most Corsicans do not consider themselves to be French!

[Emmet Fitzhume]

Precisely.

In Napoleon's day, it was practically sinful behavior to speak French on his native island.

The French were as incompetent then as they are today.

Their military success was brought about by a FOREIGNER, not one of their own.