the revolutionary and napoleonic wars. initially europe resisted war russia britain austria prussia
TRANSCRIPT
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 1792. By then, Francis II is Austria’s emperor.
First Coalition 1792-1797(Enemies of France)
• Austria (1792 – 1797) – attacked by France• Prussia (1792 - 1795) – supported Austria
• Holland (The Independent Netherlands) -- worried that the French would take them over next
• Great Britain (1793 – right into the second coalition of 1799) – supported the Netherlands
• Spain (1793 - 1795) – opportunistic motives, also angry Louis XVI was guillotined
The Battle against the First Coalition 1792-1797
• Initially the war did not go well for the French– French forces fled from the initial battles in the
Austrian Netherlands (Spring 1792), Austria and Prussia on the verge of invading France
– Before invading Austria and Prussia issued the Brunswick Manifesto warning the French not to hurt Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.
– Parisian mobs respond with anger and violence, attacking the Tuileries Palace
The Battle against the First Coalition 1792-1797
• But then the tide began to turn in favor of the revolutionaries who were motivated by their Nationalism– In September French forces won a moral
victory at Valmy, keeping the Prussians from invading France
– French volunteer recruits were able to capture some of northern Italy, the German Rhineland and the Austrian Netherlands by November 1792. They are welcomed by revolutionary sympathizers.
The Battle against the First Coalition 1792-1797
• But it’s not over for the French who suffer yet another setback– By July 1793 only the areas around Paris and on the
eastern frontier were firmly held by the central government. Regions of France were in open revolt. Defeat for France seemed imminent.
• France responds with the Reign of Terror, using force to harness the French economy and population to fuel the war effort. – By January 1794, there are 800,000 men in the
French army. They are quickly trained, highly nationalistic and led by young generals who rose through the ranks.
Outcome of the Battle against the First Coalition 1792-1797
• The French have victory in their grasp by July 1794– The Austrian Netherlands and the Rhineland are
again controlled by France. – The French set up a republic in the Netherlands.
Others follow in Italy and Switzerland– Napoleon is victorious in Northern Italy against the
Austrians in 1796-7.
• Treaty of Campo Formio is signed by Austria in late 1797, only Britain remains to fight (with its navy, not army).
Second Coalition 1798-1802Enemies of France
• Austria (1798 – 1801) wanted land back
• Great Britain (1798 – 1802) still at war
• Russia (1798 – 1801) concerned about France’s growing interest in Egypt. Russia wanted to dominate the Ottoman Turks.
Battle against the Second Coalition 1798-1802
• France loses its early battles due to its terribly disorganized government (the Directory)
• Napoleon returns from Egypt and takes over the government of France early on during the fight with the Second Coalition
• With Napoleon’s leadership the French are able to cross the Alps (which was unexpected) and decisively defeat Austria
Second Coalition 1798-1802Outcome
• Russia withdrew its forces
• Treaty of Luneville (1801) Austria accepted the loss of almost all its Italian possessions and the west bank of the Rhine
• Treaty of Amiens (1802) Britain acknowledges France’s control of all the lands she has conquered and allows Napoleon to reshape Germany
During the “Peace” 1802-3
• Napoleon, demonstrating his increasing power, reorganizes the Italian and Swiss Republics as well as the Confederation of the Rhine
• Napoleon unsuccessfully tries to reassert authority in Haiti. After realizing he is not going to reinvigorate France’s American colonies he sells Louisiana to the US.
• Napoleon crowns himself emperor
Third Coalition 1805Enemies of France
• Britain (longtime rivals had re-started the conflict with France in 1803)
• Austria (entered into an alliance with Britain)• Russia (concerned about Napoleon’s abuses of
power)• Sweden (attempting to gain former glory,
concerned about Napoleon’s abuse of power)
Third Coalition 1805
• Napoleon prepared his armies for an invasion of Britain – massing them along the English channel, then moving them to the Danube where they defeated the Austrians at Ulm and occupied their capital, Vienna. He then defeated the Austrians and Russians at Austerlitz.
• His navy, along with Spain’s navy was defeated at the Battle of Trafalgar. Napoleon never again tried to invade England. Instead he “attacked” the British by restricting British trade with Europe.
Ulm
Third Coalition Plus Prussia
• The Russian army retreats back to Russia after Austerlitz. Austria signs a peace treaty giving up more land (the Treaty of Pressburg).
• Prussia starts getting nervous about Napoleon’s power in Germany and attacks independently (though with Russian support). Prussia is defeated at Jena and Auerstadt.
• Tired of war, Russia signs a peace treat at Tilsit, becoming an ally of France and agreeing to enforce the blockade of Britain. (The same treaty takes away half of Prussia and makes Prussian an ally of France.) Now France and Russia (and Prussia) are allies against Britain.
Iberian Uprising 1807 - 1813Enemies of France
• Spanish Catholics, monarchists and patriots (against Napoleon’s brother Joseph becoming king of Spain)
• Portuguese (punished for trading with the British even though they were a neutral country)
• United Kingdom (1807-1809 willing to assist anyone who was fighting France
• 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.
Effect of the Iberian Uprising 1807 - 1813
• The other European powers begin to believe that Napoleon is beatable.
• German states also experiencing nationalism.
Austrian War of Liberation 1809
• After more skirmishes between Austria and France, Napoleon sought harsher terms from the Austrians than in prior agreements. Austria lost much territory and one-fifth of her population to the French.
• Austria must now be an ally of France. This alliance is “cemented” by Napoleon marrying Marie Louise, daughter of the Austrian emperor.
• Napoleon is at the height of his power
Invasion of Russia – 1812
• Napoleon attacked because Russia Czar Alexander I was not upholding the Continental System
Invasion of Russia – 1812Outcome
• 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 in the “Battle of the Nations”
• The powers of Europe were quickly organizing to fight the weakened emperor.
Fourth Coalition 1813-1814Enemies of France
• Austria (deserting her alliance with France)
• Prussia (also deserting her allianc with France)
• Russia• Britain
FYI the Fourth Coalition is also called the “Quadruple Alliance”
Fourth Coalition 1813-1814Outcome
• 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).
• French borders were not redrawn, France did not have to pay an indemnity
1815 – The Hundred Days Enemies of France
• Britain
• Russia
• Prussia
• The Netherlands
• Austria
• Spain
• Portugal
• Some German states
The Hundred Days 1815Cause of Conflict
• 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.
• Napoleon defeated by the British and Prussians at Waterloo
The Hundred Days 1815Outcome
• 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 1821.
• Napoleon was first buried on St. Helena, but his body was returned to France for a state funeral in 1840.
