PIVOTAL BATTLES OF THE NAPOLEONIC WARS

1805-1807

The Napoleonic Wars represented a continuation of the conflict that arose between the French revolutionaries and the coalitions of countries that opposed the French Revolution.

Although membership in the various coalitions change with each war, Great Britain and France will always be at the center of the conflict.

The War of the First Coalition 1793-1797

Austria, Sardinia, Naples, Prussia, Spain and Great Britain

Ended with the Treaty of Campo Formio

The War of the Second Coalition 1798-1801

Austria, Naples, Ottoman Empire, Portugal, Russia, Sweden, Papal States and Great Britain.

Ended with the Peace of Amiens

PRIOR TO 1805

PRIOR TO ULM

Between 1801 and 1805, both France and GB was busy violating the Peace of Amiens. These violations would eventually lead GB to form the third coalition (Austria, GB, Russia, Naples, Sicily, Portugal and Sweden) and Napoleon to pre-emptively attack it.

September - October 1805

Napoleon invades Austrian territory by entering Bavaria in Southern “Germany.”

Through quick movements and sweeping maneuvers, the Grand Army of Napoleon were able to capture 60,000 Austrian troops off guard.

Speed was essential so they could dispatch with Austrians before Russian help could arrive.

With the Austrian Army destroyed, Napoleon marches into Vienna (Austrian capital) uncontested.

THE BATTLE OF ULM

With a substantial Russian Army finally arriving, the remaining Austrian forces organized themselves Northeast of Vienna. Instead of waiting to be attacked, Napoleon went on the offensive.

December 2, 1805

73,000 French troops met 87,000 combined Russian and Austrian troops in modern-day Czech Republic.

Napoleon tricked the Allies into believing he was much weaker than he was – This caused the Russian generals to over extend and Napoleon to quickly defeat them.

Napoleon forced the Austrians to sign the Treaty of Pressburg (1806)

This treaty gave Napoleon all Austrian holdings North of Rome and the title “King of Italy.” This defeated also effectively marked the end of the Holy Roman Empire.

French organization of the Confederation of the Rhine and its army’s proximity in Southern “Germany” provoked Prussian forces to end their neutrality and declare war on France.

THE BATTLE OF AUSTERLITZ

The Fourth Coalition included: Prussia, Russia, Saxony, Sweden and

Great Britain. King Frederick William III immediately declared war on Napoleon before his allies had sent forces.

Napoleon immediately obliged the Prussian King and set the full force of his Army on Jena and Auerstadt on October 14, 1806

The battle was quick and decisive – by the end of the day 150,000 of the 250,000 Prussian soldiers were prisoners of Napoleon.

On October 27th, Napoleon occupied the Prussian capital of Berlin.

November 21 – Napoleon announces the Berlin Decrees forbidding his allies from trading with Great Britain.

THE BATTLE OF JENA

Once again the slow Russia Army missed the battle and had to fight the French on their own.

Napoleon once again attacked into Russian territory (present-day Poland) with swift assaults. The Russian army immediately found themselves in a massive retreat.

The French forces pursued and trapped the Russia army against the banks of the Lyna River on June 13, 1807

On July 7th Napoleon met with Czar Alexander I to negotiate peace on a raft in the Nieman River.

Treaty of Tilsit – France and Russia agreed divide Europe between both nations – with France getting most of it, but Russia controlling the East.

Napoleon signed a separate peace with Prussia which had more to do with humiliation than power

THE BATTLE OF FRIEDLAND

EUROPE IN 1807

In an effort to helped the third coalition, Great Britain enacted a naval blockade of French and Spanish ports. This hurt Napoleon’s war effort by hampering his supply lines and trade with his Caribbean colonies.

A combined French and Spanish naval force was amassed to break the blockade.

A British fleet of 27 ships, led by Adm. Horatio Nelson, trapped a 33-ship French and Spanish flotilla in the port of Cadiz.

Contrary commands and orders sent from Napoleon caused Adm. Villanueva to be indecisive and ultimately exposed.

On October 21, 1805, Nelson engaged the unfocused French-Spanish fleet with a daring unconventional tactic.

Although Nelson is mortally wounded, his fleet remained unharmed, not losing one ship. Villanueva however was not as lucky.

Ends Napoleon’s plans to invade Great Britain. Must find another way.

THE BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR