A Sixth Coalition was assembled to face Bonaparte’s France in 1813. The coalition included Russia, Prussia, Austria, Britain, Sweden, Spain plus several minor players. It was the largest coalition yet organized to face Napoleon.
The French Emperor responded by raising what was to be known as the ‘New Army'. His forces acted swiftly defeating a Russia/Prussia army at the Battle of Lützen, however the French failed to take strategic advantage of this win . Later victories followed at Bautzen and Dresden. This momentum ground toa halt though in the days between October 16th and 19th when the French were decisively defeated at the pivotal Battle of Leipzig (also known as the Battle of Nations). The New Army suffered 38,000 casualties with over 100,000 soldiers taken prisoner in the aftermath.
Battle of Leipzig (1813) source: emperornapoleon.com
With confidence the Coalition forces pressed forward into France winning fights at Brienne, Champaubert, Montereau and Rheim. Paris would eventually fall on May 31st. Napoleon was now in the hands of his captors who sent him to exile on the island of Elba. Soon afterward the process leading to the signing of Treaty of Paris was initiated with the intent of restoring the pre-1793 borders.
However Napoleon’s exile was only temporarily. On the 20th March 2015 he returned with a hero’s welcome to Paris. The Little Corporal was back but he would face an even more daunting task if he sought to recover his previous status. A Seventh Coalition that included most of Europe - other than France and Naples - was established to fight against him. Coalition forces were led by Peninsular War veteran the Duke of Wellington and the Prussian general Gerhard Leberecht von Blücher. It was in Belgium that the forces of both sides would collide. The early skirmishes at Ligny and Quatre-Bras though were inconclusive.
Napoleon’s final defeat occurred on the June 18th, 1815 at the very significant Battle of Waterloo. The French went on the offensive immediately with a force of 71,000 troops but they failed to break the British/Dutch line that was 66,000 strong. This brave defense earned the coalition enough time until they were relieved by the arrival of 45,000 Prussians. A Prussian/British counterattack drove forward and broke the French line. There was no recovery. France had been defeated.
Field Marshal Prince Von Blücher source: ageofrevolution.org
Battle of Waterloo source: battleofwaterloo.org
Soon afterward Napoleon was forced to abdicate and this time he would be exiled to the British controlled island of St. Helena in the South Atlantic. The Treaty of Paris was signed on Nov 20th ending the era of the Napoleonic wars. Re-drawing the map of Europe would be given priority. This was the ultimate purpose of the Congress of Vienna that followed. Looking backwards historians classify the period from Napoleon's return to Paris to the restoration of the Bourbon monarch Louis XVIII on the 8th of July as the Hundred Days
As for Napoleon he would die in exile on St. Helena on May 5th, 1821. Some have suggested that he was murdered by his enemies who were ever fearful of his return to the continent
Death of Napoleon source: shannoneslin.com
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