The Impact of Napoleon's Rule on Europe 1799 - 1815 - CHAPTER 21 - THE ARMY AND CONQUEST DURING THE CONSULATE AND EMPIRE

When was the battle of Marengo

June 1800

What coalition was Marengo in

2nd

What were the main events of Marengo?

• Napoleon’s aim to march across the alps and relieve the Austrian siege of Genoa

• Napoleon thought von Melas was at Turin with his troops not Alessandria

• Napoleon’s troops were seperated when Melas attacked and pushed back 4 miles

• Melas believed he had won but Napoleon had waited for reinforcements from Desaix adn was able to force the Austrians into retreat

What were the outcomes/consequences of Marengo?

• secured Napoleon’s military authority in Paris

• Propaganda presented it as a mythologised victory - when acc it was a lucky victory

• secured French authority in Italy

When was the battle of Trafalgar

21st October 1805

What coalition was Trafalgar in?

3rd coalition

What were the main events of the battle of Trafalgar>

• napoleon wanted to invade Britain but could only happen if France gained control of the English channel

• the franco - spanish fleet outnumbered the British but not as skillled

• British sent bait ships and then brought out the other ships and shot at them in two lines taking a victory

What were the consequences/outcomes of Trafalgar?

• Marked a decisive end to Napoleon’s ambition to invade Britain

• Highly celebrated in Britain

• But not too bad as majority of battles fought on land and France is still teh biggest power on land

When was the battle of Ulm?

1805

What coalition was Ulm in?

3rd coalition

What are the main events of the battle of Ulm?

• Napoleon ordered Murat to make feint attacks in black forest while the rest of his army enveloped Mack’s army

• Mack → Bavaria and waited near Ulm for Russian reinforcements

• Napoleon shifted main battleground to Germany

• French forces then cut of Austrian retreat routes, encircling Mack at Ulm

• Mack forced back into Ulm 15th October

• 20th October - Mack surrendered

What happened when Mack surrendered on 20th October?

• 50/60k troops made prisoners of war

• Russian forces still 100 miles away

• French only lost 2000

When was the battle of Austerlitz?

2nd December 1805

What coalition was Austerlitz part of?

3rd coalition

What were the main events of the battle of Austerlitz?

• There was fog that day that Napoleon used to his advantage to surprise the Russians

• Napoleon deliberately weakened his right flank so that the enemy would attack there

  • Tsar Alexander was inexperienced and sent the army out even though Kuschev said not to

• They did and then he reinforced his weaker flank with Davout

  • French army marched 68 miles in 24 hours in order to provide more support

When was the battle of Jena Auerstadt?

14th October 1806

What coalition was Jena Auerstadt part of?

4th coalition

What were the main events of Jean Auerstadt?

• Frederick William III of Prussia signed a secret alliance with Russia in July 1806

• October → moved westward to threaten Napoleon’s communications to the West

• Napoleon went Northward, cutting off the Prussians before their Russian allies could join them

  • Brunswick saw the trap and split his army and defeated each half

• Napoleon defeated first wave at Auerstadt

• Davout fought against main Prussiain army

What were the consequences/outcomes of Jena Auerstadt?

• Defeat of the Prussian army resulted in the reduction of Prussia to half its former size

• Davout made Duke d’Auerstadt

• Napoleon completed conquest in six weeks before Russia could help Prussia

• Took Berlin with minimal resistance

When was the battle of Eylau?

7th - 8th February 1807

What coalition was Eylau part of?

4th coaliton

What were the main events of Eylau?

• After Jena Auerstadt Russian army went on offensive in east prussia

What were the casualties of Eylau?

• france → 15 - 30k

• russia → 15k

• prussia → 26

What were the consequences/outcomes of Eylau?

• inconclusive bloody battle after which the Russians retreated

• French were left in possession of nothing but the battlefield

• Napoleoni offered Frederick William III genereous peace terms and withdrawal from Prussia

  • But he wished to continue his alliance with Tsar Alexander so he rejected it

When was the battle of Friedland?

14th June 1807

What coalition was Frieland in?

4th coalition

What were the main events of Friedland?

• Strageic win necessary after Eylau

• French victory with considerable Russian casualties

What were the casualties from Friedland?

• france → 8 - 10k

• russia → 20 - 40k

What were the consequences/outcomes of Friedland?

• Alexander reluctantly joins Continental system

When was the peace of Tilsit?

• first meeting 25th June

• then 9th July

What were the outcomes of Tilsit?

• Prussia had to give up its share of Poland

  • Enabling the French to create a Grand Duchy of Warsaw

• Lost its other territory whcih was incorporated into the Kindgom of Westphalia

• French army of occupation until an indemnity of 120 million francs was paid

When was the Peace of Amiens?

1802 - 1805

What was the Peace of Amiens?

• After batte between France and Britain this was the peace treaty

What was agreed at the Peace of Amiens for France?

• France agreed to leave the United Province, Naples and Papal states

Wha

What was agreed at the Peace of Amiens for Britain?

• All overseas territories to be returned to France

• Minorca back to Spain and Cape Colony to the Dutch

• Egypt to the Turks

• Malta to Knights of Saint John

Why did the Peace of Amiens not last?

• Neither side fully honoured its terms

  • France remained in the united provinces and Britain stayed in Malta

• Napoleon declared war on Britain in 1803

When was Napoleon’s invasion in Austria?

May 1800

What were the main events of the Austrian invasion?

• May → 50,000 men through Swiss Alps

• crossing took longer than expected and Austrians were waiting for him

• Nap’s troops tired and outnumbered at Marengo

When was the battle of Hohenlindon?

December 1800

What were the events of Hohenlinden?

• Second army sent against the Austrians travelling north of the Alps towards Vienna

What were the consequences/outcomes of Hohenlinden?

• Austria forced to sign treaty of Luneville in february 1501

What were the terms of the treaty of luneville?

• france allowed to keep former gains

• taking new lands in tuscany

• austria lost all lands in Italy except venice and dalmation coast

When was the confederation of the rhine?

• July 1806

What did the confederation of the rhine entail?

• provoked the prussians

  • who were also angered by French attempts to put a stop to all trade with Britain

• Prussia joined Britain and Russia in 1806

• however further defeats led to both Prussians and Russians to seek peace

How was the grand armee reformed to be a successfull unit?

• became more professional

  • promotion by merit increased no. of talented officers

  • greater emphasis on military training and study

• advances in weaponary - e.g. lighter field artillery

• change in recruitment

  • recruits conscripted - no volunteers

  • could call upon satelitte states

  • convincing propagada

  • new recruits fought alongside veterans - morale increased

• corps

  • seperate routes

  • lived off the land

How did Napoleon’s military leadership help his success?

• as head of state and head of gov. he had absolute authority to draw on any resources he needed

• took a personal role in directing battles once troops were engaged

• planned good strategies specific to enemies

• had lots of confidence and devised plans that he could adapt

How did Napoleon ensure loyalty?

• adressed his men directly

• reported their valour in bulletins

• recieved rewards for their efforts

• sharing his hardships with his men

how did the weaknesses of France’s enemies contribute towards Napoleon’s success?

• suffered from the traditional approaches to war

  • e.g. appointing generals due to status not skill

  • e.g. use of supply wagons

• early years

  • French ‘tricked’ them into bad positions, fresh reserves from French during battle

• french enemies never united in their fight

  • napoleon quick to exploit divisions

Define pays reunis

territories ruled by france directly

• all french legislation

define pays conquis

conquered territories

• switzerland, rhine, spain, italy and naples

Definei pays allies

allied territories - rulers had soem choice in the application of Napoleonic legislation and practices

• austrian empire, prussia, denmark, russia

What were Napoleon’s motivations behind wanting an Empire?

• wanted to provide the people of Europe with a common fatherland

• europe that coexists peacefully with a shared code of law and jurisdiction

• spreading enlightenment and getting rid of absolute rule

• replacing old roman empire - replaced with confederation of the rhine

Where did Joseph Bonaparte rule?

• spain

• naples

where did Pauline bonaparte rule?

• guastalia

Where did Murat rule?

• Grand Duchy of Berg

Where did Louis bonaparte rule?

• holland

Where did Jerome bonaparte rule?

• westphalia

Where did eugene beauharnais rule?

• italywhe

where did Elisa bonaparte rule?

• Lucca