The first modern war
War of the Fifth Coalition is called the first modern war because it marked a particular innovation that is characteristic of the late 19th century: symmetrical army mobilized troops exceptional in number, very well-organized corps, under the decentralized command in separate areas of action and maneuvering at very wide fronts. In a word, war and large-scale maneuvers, but the decisive factor was the gradual weakening of the opponent, instead of more days of fierce battles.
In Germany, the central area ofaction, Napoleon slipped through and expelled the Archduke Karl on the north of the Danube. First he won at Eckmühl, and then conquered Vienna. This was followed by failures at the Aspra and Esslingen which the French emperor attributed to the raising the level of the Danube, but the truth is that their attacks were refused from superior Austrian Infantry tactics, and the Austrians were able to destroy the only bridge that the French managed to build over the Danube. In this way, half of the French army remained trapped on a river island Lobauu.
The situation quickly turned into Napoleon's favor. On the front line in Italy, his stepson viceroy Eugene de Beauharnais banish the Austrians from Italy and arrived in time to help Napoleon in the final battle on the Danube at Wagram 5 and 6 July 1809. The battle was fought on a much larger space and far more numerous forces than in earlier Napoleon's battles. Both sides had many casualties and Austria asked for peace terms only for diplomatic reasons. This battle represents the last great Napoleon's victory against the Austrians.
Traty was signed in Schönbrunn, and according to its provisions Austria left to Salzburg and the valley of the River Inn to Bavaria, and part of the west and the coastal province to France. Austrian properties in Galicia (Poland) were shared between the Duchy of Warsaw and Russia.
Habsburg’s Empire in four Napoleonic wars has lost more than a quarter of the territory and population. It was forced to reduce the army to 150,000 troops, to declare war on Great Britain, to join the continental blockade of Great Britain and pay reparations of 85 million francs. Strict conditions were this, but what is most important is that Austria now turned into a close ally of the French.
Empire is finally legalized?
Napoleon was anxious to legitimate the throne. As Josephine could not give birth, he obtained the annulment of his marriage to her and went in search of a new woman worthy of his position. Of course, he wanted to connect with the most prominent royal houses to confirm and legitimize his imperial power.
First he proposed the sister of Russian Emperor Ana, but Alexander I, in spite of their alliance, avoid that. The Habsburgs took the opportunity, those fresh allies that wanted to consolidate their situation. Diplomats were worthy and the choice fell on the daughter of Emperor Francis I, the Grand Duchess Marie Louise. At the wedding in March 1810 Napoleon was represented by his attorney, Marshal Alexandre Berthier. With the arrival of the new empress in Paris at the Louvre is prepared wedding ceremony.
Although she never honestly loved Napoleon, she filled all her imperial duties. This obedience was more the result of fear than loyalty. However, she gave birth to a son, Napoleon Francois Joseph Charles Bonaparte on 20 March 1811. Immediately he was given the title of King of Rome. Emperor finally got a successor!
Why year of 1812 is the key year
In order to understand the beginning of Napoleon's collapse, we need to go through the context that surrounds it.
Already after the peace in Schönbrunn, it was evident that peace will not last long. Even Napoleon's foreign minister Talleyrand wrote in his memoirs: “Each new triumph, including Wagram, was an obstacle for the consolidation of Emperor’s [government]."
Although he brought order and peace in a divided France during the Directory, the same will and the ability he will not show internationally. Will not significantly reduce reparations to Prussia although Frederick William's insistence on that amount indicated that he puts all the effort in the quest for revenge. He will not hesitate to pander Poland by the expansion of the Grand Duchy of Warsaw despite Russian disapproval, thus risking that Alexander I terminate an alliance with him. Implacable attitude towards diplomatic affairs is expressed Napoleon's temperament, but also caused many troubles that will follow.
And on the domestic front were problems: people were angry because of constant French wars, even broke out the rebellion. 1809 in alpine part of the Tyrol, which the Austrians left in 1806 to Bavaria, was the big peasant rebellion, against the Bavarians themselves, but also the French, their allies. It was suppressed after six months of brutal repression.
I must emphasize that this dissatisfaction had nothing to do with national issues, but they were a synthesis of a number of reasons: fatigue French warfare, taxes, social discontent to the local nobility and dignitaries (closely associated with the French), the injured Catholic pride in religious reform...
It's no wonder since the new father of a small King of Rome had increasingly restricted view on many things. In the first years of the Empire were implemented many important reforms and integration, but all were subordinate to French interests: there wasn’t too much solidarity, or thought about peace and equality. With the passage of time, Napoleon is increasingly thinking only about confiscation, its rulership and tightening the Continental system.
Interesting was Bonaparte’s look at other rulers: watching them as leaders of the parties or some kind of currents conspiring against the “legitimate” government, whose work they make impossible and destroy the peace of the man who rules, Emperor of the French. Seemingly he was very different, but Napoleon was very similar. Like them, he thought that in reign only matter the rivalry, habits and dynastic tradition.
France's allies and satellites started to be ingratitude and unwillingness to cooperate because of that. Russia was no exception, although according to Treaty of Tilsit Russia was not entirely dependent but has been equal ally to some extent. Her distrust Napoleon observed like this: “Your Majesty expressed a lack of perseverance, confidence, and (if I may) honesty.”
Russian compliance of continental blockade trade hit the Russian pocket and ruined their credit capacity and trade (because she had to buy French products). In late 1810 the emperor had to lift the ban on goods from neutral countries and impose customs to the French products due to the poor economic situation. Napoleon was also not innocent: he violated the Tilsit treaty by annexation of the German Duchy of Oldenburg, which Russian Emperor gave to his brother- in-law.
These are all legitimate reasons for a new conflict, but the monarchic pride and vanity of rulers who are trying to impose their will to one another will be in the center of things. Both of them were not going to avoid war, in fact, Alexander began to prepare for war in 1810, before Napoleon did.
Onslaught!
Despite the opposition of former ambassador to Russia, Armand-Augustin de Caulaincourt which is seven hours continuously urged Napoleon to give up the attack, Napoleon decided to go on confrontation with Russia. He doubted that Alexander will dare to be in warfare as Prussia and Austria are on the French side, and if there's a war, considered the French emperor, all will be very quick. Of course, it was a disastrous miscalculation.
France Great Army which by some historians countered 437,000 soldiers, while others even 600,000, crossed the river Neman on June 24. The army was made up of 60% non-French soldiers: Belgian, German, Dutch, Polish, Spanish, Italian, Croatian and Lithuanian. In Vilnius they entered without a fight (June 26) and Napoleon established operational headquarters there.
Initially the French were numerically too powerful, and Russian generals were unable to agree on a fight but the Russians repeatedly used the tactic of withdrawal. And so it was at the city of Vitebsk, where he didn’t find anyone from the opposing army. Then the angry Napoleon started to yell on captured Russian general Balashov: “Are not you ashamed? Since the time of Peter the Great ... the enemy did not get into your territory that much ... you need to fight, if for no other reason, then out of respect for the Emperor'
s honor. "
Six-week march to Smolensk by the heat of summer, shorten the emperor's army for 190,000 people – because of desertion, disease or keeping communication lines. Thus weakened the Great army welcomed the Battle of Borodino on September 7 which was one of the bloodiest of the time. Napoleon used the tactic of direct attack but did not manage to destroy the enemy. Both sides had big losses, but the winner is unknown. Russian general Kutuzov performed a successful withdrawal. Another one.
Bonaparte was able to go to Moscow, but found it empty. Russian nobility accepted St. Petersburg as the imperial capital, and now made easier to their emperor his fight against the hated enemies. Count Rostopčin organized hundreds arsonist who burned the whole city and all 295 churches in it. Tsarist propaganda blamed, of course, French.
Left without food and accommodation, the French army was waiting in Moscow next move of the enemy. How he wanted to believe that the Russians needed peace, to Emperor Alexander Napoleon sent the numerous envoys seeking a cease-fire, but remained unanswered. The famous Napoleon was sentenced to a shameful retreat towards the west where the army suffered a severe Russian winter and hunger, and hostile bombardment when crossing the army across the river Berezina. Great army remained at 30,000 troops.
Napoleon will say something at St. Helen several times that best describes the next three years of his reign: “I should have died in Moscow. Then I would probably have a reputation as the greatest conqueror of all time. After Moscow, the happiness stopped smiling at me.”
The sixth coalition: Alone against all
Now that the whole Europe saw that the all-powerful Emperor of the French is not invincible, European royal courts saw their chance. Russia was ready to move to Eastern Europe after its army cross the river Neman, but the Alexander I hesitated a bit: However, with anti-French associates ventured on the war with the so far invincible Emperor.
Prussian King Frederick William III, formally ally of Napoleon, at first did not want to even think about the war. But to the public opinion there were a lot of lost wars and degrading peace agreements so that began to affect on the moves of King of Prussians. What's rushed decision to join Russia in the war against Bonaparte is the desertion of General Yorck, commander of a small Prussian contingent, which moved to the Russian side. Finally, an agreement was reached in Kalisz against the French between Russia and Prussia in 1813.
That the war will not be easy at all, Napoleon showed in May during the military conflict in Saxony. Victories at Lutzen and Bautzen showed he still has the strength, skill and will and does not want to retire. Defeat of one of the best Prussian General Blucher, the Allies was brought in an awkward position. Neutral Austria has proposed a peace, but decisively Russo-Prussian leadership continued the war.
Lutzen and Bautzen were great victories, but were not a guarantor for long-term Napoleon's victory because, as always when he would winning, he believed that he was going great, but he was wrongly interpreting the thoughts of his enemies. Russians and Prussians held that these losses are not that important and they decided to fight until Napoleon realizes that his era is over. Even Austria decided to join the coalition led by
Napoleon led the discussions with Klemens Metternich, the Foreign Minister of Austria. Napoleon had not realized that Austria wants peace. He could not have because a lasting peace that would be based on the active agreement of the great powers, it was not acceptable to him. That would mean political consensus, conflict resolution according to the rules and through negotiations, and not by his favorite medium - warfare.
The final drop
Allies wanted on Prague Congress to offer peace to Napoleon, which was based on the French “natural borders”. He did not want to accept it because he did not want to give up any conquered country, so in the summer of 1813 military campaigns begun. In mid-August war was fought in Germany that culminated in the Battle of Leipzig (October 17 to 19), the largest and bloodiest battle to that day in all previously European history. 180.000 French and Germans against 320,000 Allied soldiers. The coalition has achieved a spectacular victory. This battle of the nations as it is called is forced Napoleon to after long 14 years of war abroad comes back to France defeated.
The final hit to Napoleon Allies inflicted with invasion of France in which was completely destroyed his regime. Until the last day he fought, as always, very skillfully and cleverly with small army. Napoleon wanted to come behind his enemies who marched in Paris. The idea was top-notch, but it was feasible only if Paris provide great resistance. But the tired Frenchmans had enough and Paris to surrender without a fight. In these circumstances, the Allies easily defeated Napoleon's army and entered Paris on March 31, 1814.
Emperor abdicated in favor of his son, Napoleon II, King of Rome, by the Treaty of Fontainebleau on April 6. Historical karma was ruthless as ever: the Allies were looking for a complete and unconditional surrender, just what he asked for them all previous years of his ruler ship. Napoleon held his imperial title, received a pension in the amount of two million francs a year and sovereignty over Elba, a small Mediterranean island northwest of Corsica, on which he was expelled.
A little empire for the great Emperor
During negotiations in Fontainebleau many competed who will go with him to Elba, yet are only three Bonaparte’s associates went with him: Cambronne, Drouot and Bertrand, and none of them was important personality. On island also came Napoleon's favorite sister Paulina, and his mother Letizia, while Mary Louise and his son Napoleon II were not allowed to go up to the Elba.
Accustomed to the constant events, action and power, he used what he had been left of with: the island of Elba. He began with full zeal to manage, operate large-scale projects and with everything that has marked his ruler ship. He ran projects of cultivation, construction, irrigation, exploitation and - spreading. Extraction of iron ore has become more profitable and workers have access to the social services, the streets were paved, large fountain was built ... A large number of plans is not even started due to lack of time and money, but even so, among 12,000 inhabitants of Elba there were no longer antipathy and mistrust towards the new ruler. As soon as they saw the positive changes, growth of earnings, activity and excitement they began to give him affection.
We can not know with certainty what his physical and mental state was because there is no written evidence of it. Numerous issues like abdication and the journey from Fontainebleau to the coast, which was particularly stressful for the venting of anger people, can not cause anything other than an enormous sadness. People who communicated with him on the Elbe told that he got back the usual energy and vivacity with the periods of lethargy, letting brooding. Napoleon himself briefly about it said: “When you're on a small island and once you start on civilization machinery, there is nothing more to do but die of boredom ..."
Beginnings of turnaround
Most allies are constantly worried and wanted to change the terms of the agreement concluded with Napoleon. At the Congress of Vienna, among other things, they discussed the ways in which will remove the ruler ship of Napoleon on Elba. By then Louis XVIII has not been paying two million francs, and at the same time, nowhere is it said that Napoleon has to stay on the Elbe.
Italian patriots were his loyal visitors on the Elbe begging him to join Joachim Murat and to begin a national uprising. With disgust he refused such proposals. A special case was when he heard what the situation in France was.
The French throne returned to Bourbon dynasty and to Louis XVIII as king. They would not only establish absolute monarchy, but they would want to completely restore the regime that was before 1789. This has created a lot of opponents of monarchical government, and the people were dissatisfied and began to regret for Napoleon. When the news reached to him that Allies intend to move him to a distant island in the Atlantic Ocean, there was a key moment: Napoleon again springs into action and secretly leaving Elba and disembark on the French mainland on March 1st 1815. In fact it is particularly encouraging mother saying: �
��Come, my son, fulfill your destiny. You were not born to die on this island.”
One hundred days
King Louis XVIII sent the Fifth Regiment to arrest a fugitive. In Grenoble in southeastern France welcomed him on March 7. Napoleon then approached them, dismounted his horse, and exclaimed: “Soldiers of the Fifth, you recognize me! If any of you wants to shoot his emperor, he shall do it now!” It did not take long for the old habit to appear: “Long lives the Emperor!” Already on March 20, Napoleon was in Paris, and the king had fled. Thus began his famous one hundred days.
Existing Europe was shocked by the news that Napoleon returned. While the French people run to the army, the other European countries were (Russia, Great Britain, Sweden, Prussia, Austria) at the Congress of Vienna creating the seventh coalition. Napoleon sincerely wanted peace, but his enemies didn’t trust him anymore.
The final and definitive fall of the Emperor of the French took place near the town of Waterloo (today's Belgium). Napoleon's plan was unimaginative same as that of Borodin 1812: the focus is placed on the use of force in direct attack instead of trying to outmaneuver or attack from the side allied forces. Initial successes were on 16 June when he defeated the Prussians. June 18 he attacked the British, and when it seemed that they were beaten, on the evening Prussian troops under Gebhard Leberecht von Blucher came to the rescue and decided the winner.
Napoleon returned to Paris, offering his services as general to the temporary government, but they rejected it. The official surrender was signed on 15 July 1815 on the English ship Bellerophon in the port of Rochefort. Some English notables proposed that Napoleon should be sent into exile in Scotland, but the British government has decided to be imprisoned in the island of St. Helen under strict control, in the South Atlantic.
Confusion, Confession and Conviction Page 31