Napoleonic era. Relations between Napoleon Bonaparte and Tsar Alexander I

© RIA Novosti Pavel Balabanov

07.06.2012 14:09

At the beginning of 1799

November 9, 1799

February 9, 1801


June 18, 1804

April 11 (March 30 old style), 1805

In July 1806

Autumn 1807

In January 1809

By 1811

24 (12 old style) June 1812

May 30, 1814


(Additional source: Military Encyclopedia. Chairman of the Main Editorial Commission S.B. Ivanov. Military Publishing House, Moscow. 8 vol., 2004)

The Napoleonic Wars are the wars of France during the Consulate of General Napoleon Bonaparte (1799-1804) and the Empire of Napoleon I (1804-1815) against the anti-French (anti-Napoleonic) coalitions of European states and individual countries of the world.1 http://www.rian.ru/docs/ about/copyright.htmlPavel Balabanov. State Historical Museum Napoleon army battle action painting history exposition exhibitFrench troops in Smolensk on October 28, 1812 rian_photovisualrianRIA NovostiReproduction of the drawing "French troops in Smolensk on October 28, 1812". Patriotic War of 1812. State Historical Museum. Reproduction of the drawing "French troops in Smolensk on October 28, 1812". Patriotic War of 1812. State Historical Museum.1French troops in Smolensk on October 28, 1812 Reproduction of the drawing "French troops in Smolensk on October 28, 1812". Patriotic War of 1812. State Historical Museum. French troops in Smolensk on October 28, 1812 Chronicle and diaries Napoleonic wars: history and chronicleNapoleonic wars - French wars during the period of the Consulate of General Napoleon Bonaparte (1799-1804) and the empire of Napoleon I (1804-1815) against anti-French (anti-Napoleonic) coalitions of European states and individual countries of the world. Napoleonic wars: history and chronicle/authors//

The Napoleonic Wars are the wars of France during the Consulate of General Napoleon Bonaparte (1799-1804) and the Empire of Napoleon I (1804-1815) against anti-French (anti-Napoleonic) coalitions of European states and individual countries of the world. Their main goal was to achieve the military-political and commercial and industrial superiority of France in Europe, territorial seizures and the creation of a world empire with a center in France. At first they were directed against the organizer of all anti-French coalitions - England (France's main rival) and its allies on the continent, later turned into a permanent source of income for the Napoleonic government and the bourgeoisie closely associated with it.

At the beginning of 1799 ended a short peace respite of France after the Italian campaign of Bonaparte (1796-1797) and she entered the war with the 2nd anti-French coalition. The hostilities began unsuccessfully, and by the autumn of 1799, the position of France turned out to be difficult. The military expedition of the French troops in Egypt continued, and the expeditionary army cut off from the metropolis under the command of General Jean Kléber after Bonaparte's departure to Paris in 1799 was in a critical situation. The dominance of the French in Italy was lost as a result of the Italian campaign of Suvorov (1799). The Austrian army of 150,000 on the Upper Rhine threatened to invade France. The English fleet blockaded the French ports.

November 9, 1799 As a result of the coup d'etat, Bonaparte became the first consul of the 1st French Republic, effectively concentrating all power in his hands. In an effort to improve the position of France, he decided to defeat the Austrian army in northern Italy, withdraw the Austrian Empire from the war, depriving its ally - England - of support on the continent, and thereby force the allies to peace negotiations. Already in November 1799, Bonaparte began to pull together separately formed units to the southeastern borders of France, which, after joining at the Swiss border, were called the Reserve Army. General Louis-Alexandre Berthier was officially appointed commander-in-chief, who in reality served as chief of staff under Bonaparte. The French managed to achieve absolute secrecy in the formation of the army, which was the main condition for the success of the campaign. In May 1800, the Reserve Army moved into Italy along the most difficult route - through the Alpine ridge, where the Austrians did not expect an attack. Having overcome the Alps, the French troops entered the valley of the Po River - behind enemy lines. On June 14, in a decisive battle near the village of Marengo, Bonaparte defeated the Austrian army. This battle predetermined the outcome of the entire campaign. Austria was forced to ask for a truce. However, in December 1800 hostilities resumed. On December 3, 1800, the French army under the command of General Jean Moreau inflicted a new defeat on the Austrians in Germany near Hohenlinden.


February 9, 1801 between France and Austria, the Treaty of Luneville was concluded, according to which the Austrians left the occupied territories of Lombardy, due to this, the borders of the dependent (daughter) Cisalpine Republic (created under its patronage in the territory of Northern and Central Italy) expanded, the border of France was established along the left bank Reina. In October 1801, France signed peace treaties with Turkey and Russia. England lost allies and on March 27, 1802 was forced to conclude the Treaty of Amiens with France, which completed the collapse of the 2nd anti-French coalition. England returned to France and her allies the colonies seized from them (except for the islands of Ceylon and Trinidad). France pledged to withdraw its troops from Rome, Naples and the island of Elba. There was a short period of peace.

In May 1803, the war between England and France resumed.
June 18, 1804 Napoleon Bonaparte was proclaimed "Emperor of the French" by Napoleon I. Expecting to defeat England, Napoleon concentrated significant forces of the French fleet and expeditionary army in the area of ​​​​the city of Boulogne, where he was preparing to force the English Channel and land on the British coast. But on October 21, at the Battle of Trafalgar (1805), the combined Franco-Spanish fleet was defeated by the English squadron. British diplomacy launched an active work to create the 3rd anti-French coalition in order to divert the attention of the French emperor in the European theater of operations. Russia, worried about French expansion in Europe, despite serious disagreements with England, accepted her proposal for joint action against Napoleon.

April 11 (March 30 old style), 1805 Between Russia and England, the Treaty of St. Petersburg was concluded, which marked the beginning of a coalition, which Austria joined in August. The allied states expected to put up a united army of 500 thousand people against Napoleon. In August, the Russo-Austrian-French War began (1805). Napoleon sought to defeat the Austrians before the Russian troops arrived on their territory. By the end of September 1805, he deployed an army of 220 thousand people on the Rhine, officially called the "Great Army", which, taking advantage of the disunity of the allies, went to the rear of the Austrian Danube army of Field Marshal Karl Mack and defeated it in the Battle of Ulm (1805). The Russian troops that arrived at the theater of operations found themselves face to face with the superior French army. Skillfully maneuvering, the commander of the Russian troops, Infantry General Mikhail Kutuzov, avoided encirclement. In the Battle of Krems (1805), he defeated the French corps of Marshal Edouard Mortier and connected in the Olmutz region with the corps of General of Infantry Fyodor Buxhowden, who approached from Russia, and the remnants of the retreating Austrian army. But in the general battle of Austerlitz (1805), the coalition Russian-Austrian troops were defeated. On December 26, 1805, Austria concluded a separate Treaty of Pressburg with France. Under its terms, the Austrian Empire recognized all French conquests in Italy, Western and Southern Germany, transferred the Venetian region, Dalmatia, Istria to Napoleon and was obliged to pay a significant indemnity. This led to the collapse of the 3rd anti-French coalition and to the strengthening of French positions in Europe. Napoleon's attempts to make peace with Russia ended in failure. The Treaty of Paris, signed on July 20, 1806 by the Russian representative in Paris, Peter Ubri, in violation of the instructions given to him, was rejected by the State Council of Russia.

In July 1806 Napoleon created the Confederation of the Rhine out of 16 small German principalities, headed it as a protector, and stationed French troops on its territory. In response to this, England, Russia, Prussia and Sweden formed the 4th anti-French coalition in September 1806. Prussia, before the end of the military preparations of the allies on October 1, presented an ultimatum to France on the withdrawal of troops beyond the Rhine. Napoleon rejected him and on October 8 ordered the invasion of French troops into Saxony, allied with Prussia. The "Great Army", concentrated before the offensive in Bavaria, crossed the border in three columns. Marshal Joachim Murat moved ahead in the central column with the cavalry, followed by Napoleon himself with the main forces. The French army numbered 195 thousand people, Prussia put up about 180 thousand soldiers. On October 10, in the battle near the city of Saalfeld (Saalfeld), the Prussians lost 1.5 thousand people killed and captured, Prince Ludwig died. On October 14, the French defeated the Prussian army in the Jena-Auerstedt battle (1806) and entered Berlin on October 27. After the first-class Prussian fortress of Magdeburg surrendered on November 8, on November 21 Napoleon signed a decree on the continental blockade (1806-1814) directed against England. Fulfilling allied obligations, on November 16, 1806, Russia again entered the war against France. Having occupied Prussia, Napoleon moved east, towards the Russian troops, and at the end of November entered Poland. At this time, the advanced units of the Russian army approached Warsaw. Napoleon hoped to defeat the Russian army on the territory of Poland and East Prussia and force it to a peace favorable to France. In the bloody, with heavy losses on both sides, the battle of Pultus (1806) and the battle of Preussisch-Eylau (1807), he failed to do this. However, on June 26 (14, old style) June 1807, Russian troops were defeated in the Battle of Friedland, and the French reached the borders of Russia. Napoleon was afraid to cross the Neman, realizing that Russia's military resources were not exhausted. The Russian government, having no allies on the continent and connected by war with Iran and Turkey, was forced to turn to Napoleon with a peace proposal. On July 8, 1807, the Franco-Russian and Franco-Prussian peace treaties were concluded in Tilsit. Fulfilling the conditions of the Treaty of Tilsit (1807), Russia joined the continental blockade of England, and on November 7 (October 26, old style) declared war on her. Napoleon left Prussia in the old borders as part of Pomerania, Brandenburg and Silesia. After Tilsit, the whole of Europe (with the exception of England) was actually under the rule of Napoleon, and Paris became the "capital of the world."

Having set the goal of economically strangling England with the help of a continental blockade, Napoleon intended to conquer the Iberian Peninsula and bring the entire coast of Europe under French customs control.

Autumn 1807 by secret agreement with the Spanish government, French troops under the command of General Jean Andoche Junot were introduced into Portugal through the territory of Spain. On November 29, the French entered Lisbon, the royal family fled Spain on an English warship. During the winter and spring of 1808, Napoleon's troops crossed the Pyrenees and concentrated in Spain (in March there were up to 100 thousand people). Taking advantage of internal strife in the country between King Charles IV and his son Infante Ferdinand, French troops under the command of Joachim Murat occupied the Spanish capital on March 20-23, 1808. In Spain, the Napoleonic army for the first time encountered a mass popular uprising for the country's independence (guerilla), which began on May 2 with a spontaneous uprising in Madrid. Napoleon's attempt to suppress the resistance of the Spaniards with limited military forces ended in failure (the defeat of the French troops in 1808 at Bailen and Sintra). By this time, the British had landed in Portugal and had driven the French out of Lisbon, turning Portuguese territory into their base. All this forced Napoleon at the end of 1808, at the head of an army of over 200 thousand people, to arrive in Spain. Within two months, most of the country was occupied. However, it was not possible to break the resistance of the Spanish people, who switched to partisan methods of struggle. The Spanish-French war took on a protracted character and fettered the large forces of the Napoleonic army in Spain.


In January 1809 Napoleon returned to France - a new war with Austria was brewing in Central Europe, which the British government managed to involve in the 5th anti-French coalition. Hostilities began in April, and on May 13, Napoleon captured Vienna. After the heavy defeat of the Austrian army at Wagram, the Austrian emperor was forced to sign the Treaty of Schonbrunn with France on October 14, 1809, according to which she lost a huge territory (part of Carinthia and Croatia, Kraina, Istria, Trieste, the county of Hertz, etc.), lost access to sea, paid a large indemnity. Victory in this war required significant efforts from the Napoleonic army: the Austrian troops gained military experience, their fighting qualities improved. During this period, the French had to face the national liberation struggle of the peoples of Central Europe against foreign domination. In April 1809, an uprising of Tyrolean peasants began under the leadership of Andreas Gofer. Anti-French speeches testified to the appearance in Central Europe of popular forces opposed to the Napoleonic yoke.

By 1811 The population of the Napoleonic Empire, together with the vassal states, was 71 million people (out of 172 million people who inhabited Europe). Indemnities, requisitions, direct robbery of European countries, customs tariffs beneficial to France provided a constant income for the Napoleonic empire and made it possible to implement the plan to conquer world domination. However, internal and external contradictions undermined its power. In the country, in connection with the continuous recruitment into the army and the growth of taxes, discontent grew in various sectors of society. The continental blockade caused a crisis in some industries. Russia, wary of the expansion of France, was the main force on the continent, blocking her way to world domination. Napoleon began to carry out diplomatic and military preparations for war with Russia. In February 1812, he forced Prussia to sign an alliance treaty with him; in March, the Franco-Austrian alliance was concluded - both agreements had an anti-Russian orientation. The Allies undertook to put at the disposal of Napoleon for the war with Russia 20,000 Prussian and 30,000 Austrian troops. Napoleon needed alliances with Prussia and Austria not only to replenish the "Great Army", but also to divert part of the Russian forces north and south of the direct road Kovno (Kaunas) - Vilna (Vilnius) - Vitebsk - Smolensk - Moscow, along which he planned an attack. The governments of other states dependent on France were also preparing for a campaign in Russia.

The Russian government, in turn, took measures to strengthen the army and prevent the isolation of Russia in the event of war. In April, Russia signed the Treaty of St. Petersburg (1812) with Sweden, which provided for joint actions against France. The parties recognized the need to bring England to the union, which at that moment was at war with Russia. The peace treaty between Russia and England was signed already during the outbreak of the war between Russia and France. Russia's great political success was the conclusion of the Treaty of Bucharest (1812), which ended the Russian-Turkish war (1806-1812).

24 (12 old style) June 1812 The French crossed the Neman and invaded Russia. To march on Russia, Napoleon gathered an army of over 600 thousand people, 1372 guns. The Patriotic War of 1812 began for the Russian people. The crushing defeat of Napoleon's troops in Russia was the beginning of the liberation of Europe from French domination. The political situation in Europe has changed dramatically. The government of Prussia, under pressure from the national liberation movement in the country, concluded on March 11-12 (February 27-28, old style), 1813, the Kalisz Union Treaty with Russia, which laid the foundations of the 6th anti-French coalition. Despite the success of the French army in the Battle of Bautzen (1813), Napoleon agreed to a truce, which was his strategic mistake, since Austria joined the anti-French coalition. The victory of the French in the Battle of Dresden (1813) did not affect the strategic position of France, it continued to deteriorate. In the Battle of Leipzig (1813), the French troops suffered a serious defeat and began to retreat across the Rhine. In early 1814, the Allied armies invaded France. By this time, the French had suffered a crushing defeat in Spain. By early 1814, Anglo-Spanish troops had crossed the Pyrenees and moved into France from the south. In the course of a short-term military campaign, Napoleon's talent as a commander showed itself in all its splendor. With relatively small forces at his disposal, he inflicted a number of defeats on the repeatedly outnumbered allied armies near Brienne, Montmirail, Montereau, Vauchamp. However, the overwhelming superiority of the Allies decided the outcome of the campaign. After their victories at Laon (Laoen) and Arcy-sur-Aube, the allied armies launched an offensive against Paris and entered the capital of France on March 30. Napoleon abdicated and at the end of April was exiled to the island of Elba.

May 30, 1814 in Paris, a peace treaty was signed, under the terms of which France was deprived of all the territories conquered after 1792, the royal Bourbon dynasty (Louis XVIII) was restored to the French throne. In October, the Congress of Vienna (1814-1815) began its work in order to resolve the issues of the post-war political structure of Europe. However, Napoleon, knowing about the deep dissatisfaction of the army and the people of France with the policy of Louis XVIII and the disagreements among the participants in the anti-French coalition at the congress, fled from the island of Elba on March 1, 1815, landed in France with a small detachment of soldiers and officers loyal to him and easily restored his power.
The participants of the Congress of Vienna created the 7th anti-French coalition, putting up a 700,000-strong army against Napoleon. On June 18, 1815, the French army suffered a crushing defeat at the battle of Waterloo, and on July 6, the coalition troops entered Paris. Napoleon abdicated a second time and was exiled to Saint Helena under British supervision. On November 20, 1815, a new treaty was signed in Paris between France and the members of the 7th coalition, the terms of which turned out to be more difficult for France than under the treaty of 1814.

The Napoleonic Wars left a big mark on the history of the development of the armed forces and military art, primarily land armies, since the main hostilities were deployed in the European land theater of operations. At the first stage of the Napoleonic Wars, the French army waged offensive wars. From the second half of 1812, its almost uninterrupted retreat from Moscow to Paris began, with only short transitions to the offensive.

One of the characteristic features of the Napoleonic Wars was a sharp increase in the size of the armies of the warring states. Huge masses of people were involved in wars. During the Napoleonic Wars, the armies of the main European states turned into massive ones. In 1812, the number of the Napoleonic army reached 1.2 million people, the Russian army by the beginning of 1813 - almost 700 thousand people, the Prussian army in 1813 - 240 thousand people. Up to 500 thousand people participated in the largest battles of the Napoleonic Wars. The fighting became fierce. If in all the wars of the XVIII century before the French Revolution, France lost 625 thousand people killed and wounded, then in 1804-1814 1.7 million French people died. The total losses during the Napoleonic Wars, including those killed, who died from wounds, epidemics and starvation, amounted to 3.2 million people.

The emergence of mass armies determined changes in the organization of troops and in the methods of conducting combat operations. The infantry division, which included brigades and regiments, became the main organizational unit of the troops. It united all three types of troops then available (infantry, cavalry and artillery) and was able to independently solve tactical tasks. The creation of corps and armies operating in separate operational areas was finally approved. The organizational structure of the troops ensured the maintenance of interaction in a battle (combat) of both individual elements of the battle order and various branches of the troops. The increase in the size of the armies, the increased scale of hostilities determined the need for further improvement in command and control and the implementation of larger preliminary measures to prepare the state and the army for war (campaign). All this served as an impetus for the development of general staffs in the armies of European states.

The material was prepared on the basis of information from open sources

(Additional

Na-po-leo-nov wars are commonly called wars, which were waged by France against European countries in the period of the reign of Na-po-leo-on Bo- on-par-ta, that is, in 1799-1815. European countries created anti-Napoleonic coalitions, but their forces were insufficient to break the power of the Napoleonic army. Napoleon won victory after victory. But the invasion of Russia in 1812 changed the situation. Napoleon was expelled from Russia, and the Russian army launched a foreign campaign against him, which ended with the Russian invasion of Paris and Napoleon's loss of the title of emperor.

Rice. 2. British Admiral Horatio Nelson ()

Rice. 3. Battle of Ulm ()

On December 2, 1805, Napoleon won a brilliant victory at Austerlitz.(Fig. 4). In addition to Napoleon, the emperor of Austria and the Russian emperor Alexander I personally participated in this battle. The defeat of the anti-Napoleonic coalition in central Europe allowed Napoleon to withdraw Austria from the war and focus on other regions of Europe. So, in 1806, he conducted an active campaign to capture the Kingdom of Naples, which was an ally of Russia and England against Napoleon. Napoleon wanted to put his brother on the throne of Naples Jerome(Fig. 5), and in 1806 he made another of his brothers King of the Netherlands, LouisIBonaparte(Fig. 6).

Rice. 4. Battle of Austerlitz ()

Rice. 5. Jerome Bonaparte ()

Rice. 6. Louis I Bonaparte ()

In 1806, Napoleon managed to radically solve the German problem. He liquidated a state that had existed for almost 1000 years - Holy Roman Empire. Of the 16 German states, an association was created, called Confederation of the Rhine. Napoleon himself became the protector (defender) of this Confederation of the Rhine. In fact, these territories were also placed under his control.

feature these wars, which in history have been called Napoleonic Wars, was that the composition of the opponents of France changed all the time. By the end of 1806, the anti-Napoleonic coalition included completely different states: Russia, England, Prussia and Sweden. Austria and the Kingdom of Naples were no longer in this coalition. In October 1806, the coalition was almost completely defeated. In just two battles, under Auerstedt and Jena, Napoleon managed to deal with the Allied troops and force them to sign a peace treaty. Near Auerstedt and Jena, Napoleon defeated the Prussian troops. Now nothing prevented him from moving further north. Napoleonic troops soon occupied Berlin. Thus, another important rival of Napoleon in Europe was taken out of the game.

November 21, 1806 Napoleon signed the most important for the history of France continental blockade decree(a ban on all countries subject to him to trade and in general to conduct any business with England). It was England that Napoleon considered his main enemy. In response, England blockaded French ports. However, France could not actively resist England's trade with other territories.

Russia was the rival. In early 1807, Napoleon managed to defeat the Russian troops in two battles on the territory of East Prussia.

July 8, 1807 Napoleon and AlexanderIsigned the Treaty of Tilsit(Fig. 7). This agreement, concluded on the border of Russia and French-controlled territories, proclaimed good neighborly relations between Russia and France. Russia pledged to join the continental blockade. However, this treaty meant only a temporary softening, but in no way overcoming the contradictions between France and Russia.

Rice. 7. Peace of Tilsit 1807 ()

Napoleon had a difficult relationship with Pope PiusVII(Fig. 8). Napoleon and the Pope had an agreement on the division of powers, but their relationship began to deteriorate. Napoleon considered church property to belong to France. The Pope did not tolerate this and after the coronation of Napoleon in 1805 he returned to Rome. In 1808, Napoleon brought his troops to Rome and deprived the pope of secular power. In 1809, Pius VII issued a special decree in which he cursed the robbers of church property. However, he did not mention Napoleon in this decree. This epic ended with the fact that the Pope was almost forcibly transported to France and forced to live in the Fontainebleau Palace.

Rice. 8. Pope Pius VII ()

As a result of these campaigns of conquest and the diplomatic efforts of Napoleon, by 1812, a huge part of Europe was under his control. Through relatives, military leaders or military conquests, Napoleon subjugated almost all the states of Europe. Only England, Russia, Sweden, Portugal and the Ottoman Empire, as well as Sicily and Sardinia, remained outside his zone of influence.

June 24, 1812 Napoleon's army invaded Russia. The beginning of this campaign for Napoleon was successful. He managed to pass a significant part of the territory of the Russian Empire and even capture Moscow. He could not hold the city. At the end of 1812, the Napoleonic army fled from Russia and again fell into the territory of Poland and the German states. The Russian command decided to continue the pursuit of Napoleon outside the territory of the Russian Empire. It went down in history as Foreign campaign of the Russian army. He was very successful. Even before the beginning of the spring of 1813, Russian troops managed to take Berlin.

From October 16 to October 19, 1813, the largest battle in the history of the Napoleonic Wars took place near Leipzig., known as "Battle of the Nations"(Fig. 9). The name of the battle was due to the fact that almost half a million people took part in it. Napoleon at the same time had 190 thousand soldiers. His rivals, led by the British and Russians, had about 300,000 soldiers. The numerical superiority was very important. In addition, Napoleon's troops did not have the readiness in which they were in 1805 or 1809. A significant part of the old guard was destroyed, and therefore Napoleon had to take into his army people who did not have serious military training. This battle ended unsuccessfully for Napoleon.

Rice. 9. Battle of Leipzig 1813 ()

The allies made Napoleon an advantageous offer: they offered him to keep his imperial throne if he agreed to cut France to the borders of 1792, that is, he had to give up all conquests. Napoleon indignantly refused this offer.

March 1, 1814 members of the anti-Napoleonic coalition - England, Russia, Austria and Prussia - signed Chaumont treatise. It prescribed the actions of the parties to eliminate the Napoleonic regime. The parties to the treaty pledged to field 150,000 soldiers in order to resolve the French question once and for all.

Although the Treaty of Chaumont was only one in a series of European treaties of the 19th century, it was given a special place in the history of mankind. The Chaumont treaty was one of the first treaties aimed not at joint campaigns of conquest (it did not have an aggressive orientation), but at joint defense. The signatories of the Treaty of Chaumont insisted that the wars that shook Europe for 15 years should finally end and the era of the Napoleonic wars should end.

Almost a month after the signing of this agreement, March 31, 1814, Russian troops entered Paris(Fig. 10). This ended the period of the Napoleonic Wars. Napoleon abdicated and was exiled to the island of Elba, which was given to him for life. It seemed that his story was over, but Napoleon tried to return to power in France. You will learn about this in the next lesson.

Rice. 10. Russian troops enter Paris ()

Bibliography

1. Jomini. Political and military life of Napoleon. A book covering Napoleon's military campaigns up to 1812

2. Manfred A.Z. Napoleon Bonaparte. - M.: Thought, 1989.

3. Noskov V.V., Andreevskaya T.P. General history. 8th grade. - M., 2013.

4. Tarle E.V. "Napoleon". - 1994.

5. Tolstoy L.N. "War and Peace"

6. Chandler D. Napoleon's military campaigns. - M., 1997.

7. Yudovskaya A.Ya. General history. History of the New Age, 1800-1900, Grade 8. - M., 2012.

Homework

1. Name the main opponents of Napoleon during 1805-1814.

2. Which battles from the series of Napoleonic wars left the greatest mark on history? Why are they interesting?

3. Tell us about Russia's participation in the Napoleonic Wars.

4. What was the significance of the Treaty of Chaumont for European states?

The Russian Empire entered into a coalition against Napoleon as early as 1804, and over the next nine years was involved in numerous skirmishes with French troops. Wanting to prove his power and political insight, Napoleon attacked neighboring European states, forcing the whole world to live in anticipation of an approaching war.

In 1809, after the conclusion of the Tilsit peace, Alexander I was forced to demonstrate loyalty to Napoleon. Over the next three years, the Russian Empire tried to delay hostilities. However, despite all the efforts of Alexander I, the Patriotic War of 1812 proved inevitable. From June 1812 until December 1812, constant battles were fought on the territory of the Russian Empire, and thanks to the efforts of the Russian army, defeat from the French was avoided.

During these months, many historical events took place, and each of them had weight in the world concluded in the end. The table below tells about all the historical events that took place, presenting an analysis of the participation of the Russian Empire in a protracted confrontation with Napoleon.

Russia adjoins the anti-French coalition of England, Austria, Sweden and the Kingdom of Naples.

The infamous defeat at Austerlitz.

With the mediation of Great Britain, a new coalition was hastily put together with the participation of Prussia, Russia, and Sweden. Prussian troops are defeated by Napoleon at Jena and Auerstadt, Prussia capitulates.

The French are rebuffed by Russian forces in the battle of Preussisch-Eylau.

In the battle of Friedland, the French take over.

Tilsit peace with France was imposed on Russia. Britain's accession to the continental blockade hit the Russian economy hard.

Demonstrating loyalty to Napoleon, Alexander 1 is forced to go on a military campaign against Austria. The fighting was purely decorative in nature: the Russian command notified the Austrians in advance of the offensive, giving time to withdraw the troops ("orange war").

The invasion of the Napoleonic army in Russia.

Connection of the 1st army of M.B. Barclay de Tolly and the 2nd army of P.I. Bagration near Smolensk.

The defeat of Russian troops in the battle for Smolensk and a new retreat.

Appointment of M.I. Kutuzov commander-in-chief.

26.08(7.09). 1812

Battle of Borodino: the losses of both sides were huge, but neither Russia nor France gained an overwhelming advantage.

Council in Fili: it was decided to leave Moscow without a fight in order to save the army.

4-20.09(16.09-2.10).

Tarutinsky maneuver of Russian troops. At the same time, a “small” (guerrilla) war flares up. The Moscow underground makes anti-French sorties.

Napoleon realizes that he has fallen into a trap, and is facing the threat of a complete blockade of Moscow by Russian troops. He backs away quickly.

Battle of Maloyaroslavets. The Napoleonic troops are forced to continue their retreat along the Smolensk road they had previously devastated.

14-16(26-28). 11.

Crossing the Berezina River. Feverish retreat of the French and their allies.

The final expulsion of Napoleon from Russia. Alexander I makes a controversial decision to wage war with Napoleon to the bitter end and contribute to the liberation of Europe. The beginning of foreign campaigns of the Russian army.

Napoleonic forces were defeated in the famous "Battle of the Nations" near Leipzig (Austrian and Prussian troops fought on the side of Russia).

Russian troops entered Paris.

The Vienna Congress of the victorious countries, at which Russia did not receive sufficient reward for its contribution to the defeat of Napoleon. Other participating countries were jealous of Russia's foreign policy successes and were not averse to contributing to its weakening.

The Napoleonic Wars of 1799-1815 were fought by France and its allies during the years of the Consulate (1799-1804) and the Empire of Napoleon I (1804-1814,1815) against coalitions of European states.

The nature of wars

Chronologically, they continued the wars of the French Revolution of 1789-99 and had some common features with them. Being aggressive, they, nevertheless, contributed to the spread of revolutionary ideas in Europe, the undermining of the feudal order and the development of capitalist relations. They were carried out in the interests of the French bourgeoisie, which sought to consolidate its military-political and commercial-industrial dominance on the continent, pushing the British bourgeoisie into the background. The main opponents of France during the Napoleonic Wars were England, Austria and Russia.

2nd anti-French coalition (1798-1801)

The conventional date for the start of the Napoleonic Wars is the establishment in France during the coup of 18 Brumaire (November 9), 1799, of the military dictatorship of Napoleon Bonaparte, who became the first consul. At this time, the country was already at war with the 2nd anti-French coalition, which was formed in 1798-99 by England, Russia, Austria, Turkey and the Kingdom of Naples (the 1st anti-French coalition consisting of Austria, Prussia, England and a number of other European states fought against revolutionary France in 1792-93).

Having come to power, Bonaparte sent the English king and the Austrian emperor a proposal to start peace negotiations, which was rejected by them. France began to form a large army on the eastern borders under the command of General Moreau. At the same time, on the Swiss border, in secrecy, the formation of the so-called "reserve" army was going on, which dealt the first blow to the Austrian troops in Italy. Having made a difficult transition through the St. Bernard Pass in the Alps, on June 14, 1800, at the Battle of Marengo, Bonaparte defeated the Austrians operating under the command of Field Marshal Melas. In December 1800 Moreau's army of the Rhine defeated the Austrians at Hohenlinden (Bavaria). In February 1801, Austria was forced to conclude peace with France and recognize her seizures in Belgium and on the left bank of the Rhine. After that, the 2nd coalition actually broke up, England agreed in October 1801 to sign the terms of the preliminary (i.e., preliminary) agreement, and on March 27, 1802, the Treaty of Amiens was concluded between England, on the one hand, and France, Spain and the Batavian Republic - - with another.

3rd Anti-French Coalition

However, already in 1803 the war between them resumed, and in 1805 the 3rd anti-French coalition was formed, consisting of England, Russia, Austria and the Kingdom of Naples. Unlike the previous ones, it proclaimed as its goal the struggle not against revolutionary France, but against the aggressive policy of Bonaparte. Becoming Emperor Napoleon I in 1804, he prepared the landing of a French expeditionary army in England. But on October 21, 1805, in the Battle of Trafalgar, the English fleet, led by Admiral Nelson, destroyed the combined Franco-Spanish fleet. This defeat forever deprived France of the opportunity to compete with England at sea. However, on the continent, Napoleon's troops won one victory after another: in October 1805, the Austrian army of General Mack capitulated at Ulm without a fight; in November, Napoleon marched victoriously into Vienna; On December 2, in the battle of Austerlitz, he defeated the combined forces of the Russians and Austrians. Austria was again forced to sign peace with France. Under the Treaty of Pressburg (December 26, 1805), she recognized the Napoleonic seizures, and also pledged to pay a huge indemnity. In 1806, Napoleon forced Franz I to resign as Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation.

4th and 5th anti-French coalitions

The war against Napoleon was continued by England and Russia, which were soon joined by Prussia and Sweden, concerned about the strengthening of French domination in Europe. In September 1806, the 4th anti-French coalition of European states was formed. A month later, during two battles, on the same day, October 14, 1806, the Prussian army was destroyed: near Jena, Napoleon defeated parts of Prince Hohenlohe, and at Auerstedt, Marshal Davout defeated the main Prussian forces of King Frederick William and the Duke of Brunswick. Napoleon solemnly entered Berlin. Prussia was occupied. The Russian army moving to help the allies met with the French first near Pultusk on December 26, 1806, then at Preussisch-Eylau on February 8, 1807. Despite the bloodshed, these battles did not give an advantage to either side, but in June 1807 Napoleon won the battle of Friedland over the Russian troops commanded by L. L. Benigsen. On July 7, 1807, in the middle of the Neman River, a meeting of the French and Russian emperors took place on a raft and the Peace of Tilsit was concluded, according to which Russia recognized all Napoleon’s conquests in Europe and joined the “Continental blockade” of the British Isles proclaimed by him in 1806. In the spring of 1809, England and Austria again united into the 5th anti-French coalition, but already in May 1809 the French entered Vienna, and on July 5-6, the Austrians were again defeated in the battle of Wagram. Austria agreed to pay an indemnity and joined the continental blockade. A significant part of Europe was under the rule of Napoleon.

Reasons for France's military success

France possessed the most perfect military system for its time, born back in the years of the French Revolution. New conditions for recruiting into the army, the constant attention of military leaders, and above all Napoleon himself, to the fighting spirit of soldiers, maintaining their high military training and discipline, a guard formed from veteran soldiers - all this contributed to the victories of France. An important role was played by the military talent of the famous Napoleonic marshals - Bernadotte, Berthier, Davout, Jourdan, Lannes, Macdonald, Massena, Moreau, Murat, Ney, Soult and others. Napoleon Bonaparte himself was the greatest military leader and theoretician of military affairs.

The needs of the Napoleonic army were provided by the conquered countries of Europe and the states that were politically dependent on France - they, for example, formed parts of the auxiliary troops.

The first defeat of France. End of French expansion

The national liberation movement, which was growing in Europe, acquired the greatest scope in Spain and Germany. However, the fate of Napoleon's empire was decided during his campaign in Russia. During the Patriotic War of 1812, the strategy of the Russian army, led by Field Marshal M. I. Kutuzov, the partisan movement contributed to the death of more than 400,000 "Great Army". This caused a new upsurge in the national liberation struggle in Europe, in a number of states people's militia began to be created. In 1813, the 6th anti-French coalition was formed, which included Russia, England, Prussia, Sweden, Austria, and a number of other states. In October 1813, as a result of the "battle of the peoples" near Leipzig, the territory of Germany was liberated from the French. The Napoleonic army withdrew to the borders of France, and then was defeated on its own land. On March 31, Allied troops entered Paris. On April 6, Napoleon I signed the abdication of the throne and was expelled from France to the island of Elba.

End of the Napoleonic Wars

In 1815, during the famous "Hundred Days" (March 20 - June 22), Napoleon made his last attempt to regain his former power. The defeat in the Battle of Waterloo (Belgium) on June 18, 1815, inflicted on him by the troops of the 7th coalition under the command of the Duke of Wellington and Marshal Blucher, completed the history of the Napoleonic wars. The Congress of Vienna (November 1, 1814 - June 9, 1815) decided the fate of France, fixing the redistribution of the territories of European countries in the interests of the victorious states. The wars of liberation that were waged against Napoleon were inevitably associated with the partial restoration of the feudal-absolutist order in Europe (the “Holy Alliance” of European monarchs, concluded with the aim of suppressing the national liberation and revolutionary movement in Europe).

1) What agreements were reached at the signing of the Treaty of Amiens?

2) What was the "Continental Blockade"?

3) Explain the meaning of the concept of "battle of nations"?

History table. Subject: Conquests of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Five columns: 1. Years; 2. Anti-French coalitions; 3. major events; 4. Results;5. Meaning.

Thank you.

Answers and solutions.

In the early years of the Directory, France won a number of victories in the war with the coalition. The war, begun as a liberation war, turned into a war of conquest. Clear signs of this appeared during the military campaign in 1796-1797.
The French army led by General Bonaparte in 1796 invaded Italy. In 1797-1799. The French formed the Ligurian, Cisalpine, Roman, and Neapolitan republics in Italy.
The Napoleonic Wars had a strong influence on the fate of the German people. Napoleonic hegemony was established in Germany. In 1795, France signed the Basel Agreement with Prussia.
In 1798, in connection with French expansion in Europe and the Middle East, a new coalition was formed against France.
After the failure of the Egyptian campaign, French rule in Northern Italy was temporarily replaced by Austrian. In 1800, in the city of Marengo, the French army again defeated the Austrian army and captured Northern Italy. For ten years, Italy was subject to Napoleon's empire. Part of its northern territories was directly incorporated into France.
The map of Germany was constantly redrawn. In 1803, a decree was signed, according to which 112 states with a population of 3 million were decided to be abolished. Their lands were attached to large states. The lands of the spiritual principalities were secularized.
Napoleonic rule was accompanied by robberies, violence and at the same time contributed to bourgeois transformations. The number of churches and monasteries was reduced, and many feudal privileges were abolished. At the same time, the French government introduced new indemnity taxes and a recruitment system. In 1806, Prussia, opposed to the formation of the Confederation of the Rhine, launched a war against France, but lost it. The greatest humiliation for her was the Peace of Tilsit in 1807, which made her dependent on France.
The wars of the Austrian Empire against France ended in defeat for the empire. In 1806, under the pressure of Napoleon, the Habsburg dynasty forever lost its status as emperors of the Holy Roman Empire. The monarchy became known as the Austrian Empire.
Immediately after coming to power, Napoleon forced Spain to participate in the wars of the anti-English coalition. This war ended with the defeat of the Spanish fleet at the Battle of Cape Trafalgar. In the context of the economic crisis, financial confusion and decline in the army in 1807, Napoleon forced Spain to enter a new war with Portugal. However, after its completion, the French troops did not leave the territory of Spain.
The Spanish people, in protest on May 2, 1808, first in Madrid and then in other cities, raised an uprising. The declaration of a foreigner as king, military intervention, the violation of folk traditions - all this raised the population of Spain to fight for their independence. The Spanish provinces one by one declared war on the French. Rebel and armed detachments were formed, vested with great powers. Napoleon sent a 200,000-strong army to Spain, which with great difficulty managed to restore order in large cities. Napoleon, who managed to subjugate all of Europe, met with fierce resistance from the Spanish army. The defenders of the city of Zaragoza fought for their city to the last drop of blood. The heroic struggle of the Spaniards for their independence ended in the fall of 1813. Spain was defeated, and the French troops won another victory.

1. 1791 - 1797 First coalition. Composition: England, Prussia, the Kingdom of Naples, the Duchy of Tuscany, Austria, Spain, Holland, since 1795 Russia. Revolutionary wars and the Italian campaign. France expelled foreign troops from its territory and invaded northern Italy.
2. 1799 - 1802 Second coalition. Composition: England, Russia, Turkey, Austria, Kingdom of Naples. Second Italian campaign. Peace of Luneville, Peace of Amiens. The beginning of domination in Italy and a peace treaty with Great Britain (the War of the Second Coalition ended).
3. 1805 Third coalition. Composition: Austria, Russia, Great Britain, Sweden, Kingdom of Naples and Portugal. War of the Third Coalition, Ulm, Austerlitz. Peace of Pressburg. The defeat of the Third Coalition, the collapse of the Holy Roman Empire, the creation of the Confederation of the Rhine.
4. 1806 - 1807 Fourth Coalition. Composition: England, Russia, Prussia, Saxony, Sweden. Jena, Auerstedt, Friedland. Tilsit world. The defeat of Prussia, the defeat of Russia.
5. 1809 Fifth Coalition. Composition: Austria, England and Spain. Regensburg, capture of Vienna. Schönbrunn world. Austria was deprived of access to the Adriatic Sea and lost Illyria, Salzburg, Western Galicia.
6. 1812 - 1814 Sixth Coalition. Composition: Russia, Sweden, Great Britain, Austria and Prussia. Smolensk, Borodino, Leipzig, the capture of Paris. Parisian world. The return of France to the borders of 1792 and the restoration of the monarchy.

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