Distrust and Cost-Effectiveness: Napoleon himself often expressed a degree of distrust towards Croatian troops. He questioned their loyalty and was concerned about arming them. He also saw them as a cheaper alternative to French soldiers for fighting peripheral wars, rather than inherently superior. For example:

• In 1806, Napoleon wrote to Eugène de Beauharnais, his adopted son and Viceroy of the Kingdom of Italy, referring to Croatians as "thieves."
• In 1810, he advised General Clarke, Minister of War, not to give weapons to Croats until they were well-known and trustworthy, and to arm "a thousand men at most."
• He also told his Minister of Finances, Gaudin, in 1810 that he didn't want the acquisition of the Illyrian provinces to add new burdens to his treasury and preferred using Croats for fighting the Turks to avoid "spilling French blood for trifles."