Napoleonic wars

Napoleon wars refers to the war that broke out in 1803-18 15, which can be said to be the continuation of the war triggered by the French Revolution in 1789. It has brought about great changes in the European army and artillery, especially in the military system. Because of the national conscription system, the scale of the war is huge and unprecedented. France's national strength rose rapidly and dominated Europe; However, after the disastrous invasion of Russia in 18 12, the national situation plummeted. The empire established by Napoleon was finally defeated, and the Bourbon Dynasty was restored twice in 18 14 and 18 15. With Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo and the signing of the Paris Treaty by the belligerents, the Napoleonic War ended on1815438+065438+1October 20th.

No one knows when the Napoleonic Wars actually started. There are three main arguments today:

1.1799165438+1On October 9th, Napoleon seized power through a coup in foggy month.

2.1803 On May 13, Britain and France ended the only short peace from 1792 to 18 14.

1804 65438+ On February 2nd, Napoleon proclaimed himself emperor.

With Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo and the signing of the Paris Treaty by the belligerents, the Napoleonic War ended on1815438+065438+1October 20th.

/kloc-In the late 8th century, all countries except Holland were still under absolute monarchy, especially France.

1789 After the French Revolution broke out, European countries sent troops to intervene.

1793, Austria, Belgium, Britain, the Netherlands, Spain, Sardinia, Naples and other countries formed the first anti-French alliance, and sent troops to attack France, which met with tenacious resistance from the French civilian army.

1797, the first anti-French alliance disintegrated.

1798 12, Britain, Russia, Austria, Portugal, Turkey, Naples and other countries formed the second anti-French alliance. The Russian army entered Italy and defeated the French army. Austria not only recovered its territory in Italy, but also attempted to invade France. The British army blocked the French ports and once landed in the coastal areas of the Netherlands. Although the anti-French alliance led the Russian army to withdraw from the battle because of internal division, France still faced the grim situation of great pressure on the army and domestic political turmoil.

In this situation, ambitious Napoléon Bonaparte came to power in June. Since then, France has entered a new period, namely the Napoleonic period. During this period, the war between France and the anti-French alliance was called the Napoleonic War.

War reparations undertaken by defeated countries and taxes levied on supply troops. The direct plunder of European countries and the favorable tariff rate for France-all these ensured the fixed income of Napoleon's government, the French bourgeoisie and the warlord class. But at the same time, the internal and external contradictions of Napoleon's empire also weakened his own strength. Due to frequent conscription and tax increases, the dissatisfaction of residents from all walks of life in France is growing. The blockade of French ports by the British navy made it difficult for France to transport colonial goods into the country, which caused crises in some industrial sectors. Russia's vigilance against France's expansion is the backbone of the mainland to prevent Napoleon from realizing his plan to compete for world hegemony. Napoleon's aggressive policy was increasingly directed against Russia. He began to actively carry out diplomatic and military preparations for the Russian war.

18 12 In the spring, France formed a military alliance with Prussia and Austria respectively. According to the Covenant, in order to fight against Russia, 20,000 Pujun troops and 30,000 Austrian troops were commanded by Napoleon. The governments of other French vassal countries also began to train their troops to explore Russia. After learning that France was preparing for war, the Russian government took measures to strengthen the army and prevent it from being isolated in wartime.

1812 in April, Russia and Sweden concluded the Petersburg Covenant, stipulating that both sides would act together against France. Both sides believe that Britain, which is at war with Russia, must be brought into the alliance. After the war broke out, Russia and Britain concluded a peace treaty. Ending the war with Turkey and concluding the Bucharest Peace Treaty is a great political victory for Russia.

The contradiction between France and Russia has a long history. On the surface, the two countries live in peace, but in fact, the competition between Osman, Poland and Central Europe is fierce. In order to dominate the European continent, Napoleon gathered more than 600,000 people (including more than 440,000 people in the first echelon) on the grounds that Russia destroyed the "continental blockade" and invaded Russia on June 24, 2002. At the beginning of the war, the French army occupied an absolute advantage and the Russian army was forced to retreat. After the Battle of Borodino on September 7th, the French army entered Moscow. Russian commander-in-chief Kutuzov (M.I) led his troops to Kaluga, about 0/60km southwest of Moscow, threatening the traffic lines behind the French army. Russian soldiers and civilians fight guerrilla warfare. Napoleon's situation went from bad to worse, and he was forced to make peace with the czar and was rejected. In June 5438+10, the French army braved the cold and retreated, followed by the Russian army. 165438+1From October 26 to 28, the French army suffered heavy losses when crossing the Berezine River in the west, and almost all the troops were wiped out (see the Franco-Russian War). At the same time, the French army suffered repeated failures in Spain and was forced to withdraw from Madrid.

The defeat of Napoleon's army in Russia became the signal of European anti-Napoleon national uprising. 1865438+In February 2003, Russia and Prussia formed an alliance. Britain, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland and Austria joined in succession to form the sixth anti-French alliance. Napoleon formed a new "army" to meet the challenge, and defeated the allied forces of Russia and Prussia in May through the battles of Lutzen and Bautzen. After that, Napoleon divided his forces to defend the fortress on the Elbe River from Hamburg to Dresden. The French army won the battle of Dresden on August 26~27, but suffered heavy losses. 65438+1October 16~ 19, the two sides fought in Leipzig, the Saxon army defected to join the Coalition forces, the French army was defeated, and Napoleon led the remnants to flee the battlefield. The anti-French Coalition forces advanced to the French border. 18 14 in June, more than 200,000 allied troops entered France. Napoleon assembled about 80,000 people to stop the allied forces, stayed in the Seine River basin for two months, and led his troops eastward to the Marne River on March 2 1, in an attempt to lead the allied forces away from Paris. The allies ignored it and pushed all out to Paris, forcing the defenders in Paris to surrender on the 30th. 13 April, Napoleon signed the abdication edict in Fontainebleau Palace in Paris, that is, two days after Napoleon announced his unconditional surrender. Napoleon himself was exiled to the Mediterranean island of Elba after he abdicated. Napoleon kept the title of "Emperor", but his territory was limited to that small island.

Napoleon was almost assassinated on his way to the island of Elba and tried to commit suicide. In Paris, Louis Stanislas Xavier returned to France, became the king of France again, and the Bourbon Dynasty was restored. Napoleon's wife and son were imprisoned by the Austrian Empire, and it was rumored that Napoleon would be exiled to an island in the Atlantic Ocean. All this left Napoleon with no choice. Finally, he escaped from the island on February 26th 18 15, and led 1000 people back to the kingdom of France on March 1 day. The French army sent to stop him continued to support Napoleon. On March 20th, Napoleon returned to Paris. By this time, his regular army10.4 million people, volunteers 200 thousand people. Louis Stanislas Xavier escaped and the Hundred Days Dynasty began.

However, the good times did not last long, and European countries quickly formed the seventh anti-French alliance. 181June 0518 Napoleon's army was completely annihilated in the Battle of Waterloo, Belgium, and he formally surrendered. The First Empire of France fell, and Louis Stanislas Xavier was restored again. Napoleon was exiled to St. Helena. The war is over.

An era ended and the Napoleonic Wars lasted 15 years. The direct result was the victory of the anti-French alliance and the restoration of the dynasty, but it shook the foundation of European monarchy, aroused the national awakening in Europe and accelerated the historical process in Europe.