The Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars

Initially Europe Resisted War Russia Britain Austria Prussia

Declaration of Pillnitz Austria’s new emperor Leopold II gives in to émigré pressure and states that he (and Prussia) will take military steps to restore order in France IF all the other powers – especially Britain - would join him. (August 1791) France sees this as an aggressive move and declares war on Austria in April of By then, Francis II is Austria’s emperor.

Austria Part of 1 st Coalition - Attacked by France in 1792 as a response to the Declaration of Pillnitz. Initially defeated French forces who ran from the battlefield, but eventually surrendered to Napoleon in 1797 losing land in Northern Italy. Attacked France again as part of 2 nd Coalition in Defeated so had to sign the Treaty of Luneville in Austria accepted the loss of almost all its Italian possessions and the west bank of the Rhine Tried again to defeat France beginning in 1803 as part of the 3 rd Coalition. Defeated at Austerlitz. Signed a peace treaty giving up even more German states, Croatia, plus paying 40 million francs to France. After a few more small battles post 3 rd alliance Austria forced to be an ally of France. This alliance is “cemented” by Napoleon marrying Marie Louise, daughter of the Austrian emperor. In the end, Austria ditched this alliance with France to be part of the 4 th Coalition in 1813 which eventually defeated Napoleon.

Austerlitz

Prussia Joined First Coalition in 1792 to support Austria in the 1 st Coalition, stopped from invading France at the battle of Valmy. Eventually surrendered to France in 1795 Stayed out of 2 nd and 3 rd Coalitions Prussia starts getting nervous about Napoleon’s power in Germany and attacks independent of the 3 rd Coalition (though with Russian support) in Prussia is defeated and half of Prussia taken away by the Treaty of Tilsit in Prussia is forced to be an ally of France Ditched this alliance with France in 1813 to be part of the 4 th Coalition which defeated Napoleon.

Independent Netherlands Attacked France as part of the 1 st Coalition in 1793 because it was afraid France was going to attack first Power see-sawed back and forth but the Netherlands surrendered in 1795 Became part of France

Great Britain France declared war on Britain in 1793, Britain became part of the 1 st Coalition. Only member of 1 st Coalition to fight right on into the 2 nd Coalition. Treaty of Amiens (1802) ends the 2 nd Coalition. Britain acknowledges France’s control of all the lands she has conquered and allows Napoleon to reshape Germany Restarted conflict with France in 1803 – Third Coalition Defeated France at the naval battle of Trafalgar Part of victorious 4 th Coalition Fought France until 1815 with the exception of a short truce in 1802

Spain Attacked France as part of the 1 st Coalition in 1793 hoping to gain wealth, also angry the Bourbon Louis XVI had been executed. Surrendered in 1795 Allies with France against Britain hoping to get Gibraltar Pressured into giving Louisiana to France in Napoleon sells Louisiana to US in 1803 after losing Haiti. Navy defeated alongside France in Battle of Trafalgar Napoleon’s brother Joseph made king of Spain in 1808 First use of guerilla warfare. Napoleon himself can’t figure out how to respond effectively. French slaughtered thousands of Spanish but the Spanish kept resisting. Spanish Bourbon King reinstated in 1813 (So conservative, he was called “the monster”, but at least he was Spanish

Russia Part of the 2 nd Coalition against France in 1799 to limit French influence in the Ottoman Empire, withdrew in 1801 Attacked as part of the 3 rd Coalition over concern with Napoleon’s growing power. Defeated at Austerlitz, Russian army retreats back to Russia. Tired of war, Russia signs a peace treat at Tilsit, becoming an ally of France and agreeing to enforce the blockade of Britain. Napoleon attacked in 1812 because Russia Czar Alexander I was not upholding the Continental System Napoleon’s troubles in Russia are the beginning of his defeat. Russia becomes part of the victorious 4 th Coalition which defeated Napoleon

France Unified, nationalistic army defeated 1 st, 2 nd and 3 rd coalitions Had greatest difficulty defeating the 1 st Coalition, the upper hand see-sawed back and forth several times. Eventually victorious, took over the Netherlands and eastern bank of the Rhine in 1794, Napoleon took Northern Italy in 1797 – French initially welcomed as liberators, eventually seen as suppressors Napoleon comes into political power in 1799, early on in the fight against the 2 nd Coalition, emperor by 1804 Never able to invade Britain. Instead relied on a trade blockade – the Continental System Ended the Holy Roman Empire and created the German Confederation of the Rhine Defeated by the 4 th Coalition or Grand Alliance

The Grand Empire

Defeat of Napoleon In June of 1812 Napoleon started with almost 500,000 soldiers (some sources say 600,000 and even 700,000), two-thirds were non-French Napoleon marched all the way to Moscow. The Russians used a slow, orderly retreat to weaken French forces before the battle of Borodino which was a draw. Napoleon expected that the Muscovites would billet (provide room and board) his tired and hungry troops, but most residents left and the city mysteriously burned the evening the French army arrived. Napoleon waited 5 weeks in Moscow for Alexander I to sue for peace, but he did not. Napoleon ordered a retreat, but the Russian army, an early Russian winter and starvation did in the French army Russian soldiers forced the French army to take the same burned out road they took into Russia

Defeat of Napoleon Napoleon, hearing about a potential coup in Paris hurried back ahead of his surviving troops (making the trek in 13 days!) Napoleon was offered terms by Austria which would have reduced France to its historical size – Napoleon refused Napoleon raised another army which was defeated at Leipzig by the 4 th Coalition in the “Battle of the Nations” The powers of Europe were quickly organizing with the Treaty of Chaumont to fight the weakened emperor.

First Abdication Napoleon abdicated in April, 1814 Allies gave Napoleon the island of Elba as his own small country Bourbon dynasty restored to France, Louis XVIII, brother of Louis XVI was crowned as a constitutional monarch with legal equality and an elected legislature (but only a limited number of people could vote) which was outlined in a Constitutional Charter presented by Louis XVIII French borders were not redrawn, France did not have to pay an indemnity

The Hundred Days 1815 After 9 months and 21 days, Napoleon saw his chance to escape from Elba and sailed for France Napoleon collected an army as he marched toward Paris. The French army deserted Louis XVIII. The 4 th Coalition came together again and Napoleon was defeated by the British and Prussians at Waterloo

The Hundred Days 1815 Outcome Louis XVIII was again restored to the throne French borders were trimmed, France had to pay an indemnity and endure an army of occupation Napoleon was exiled to St. Helena, where he died, most likely of stomach cancer in Napoleon was first buried on St. Helena, but his body was returned to France for a state funeral in 1840.