23. Challenges to Empire Flashcards
Revise
Why were Spain and France allies and how did France take control?
A joint force was used to take Lisbon. Relations however soured and Napoleon used an attempted coup by the King’s pro-British son to launch a 100,000 troop occupation and forced Charles to abdicate.
The Spanish were divided between the pro-French middle class and the conservative/Catholic population that feared the French secularisation.
How were the main events of the Peninsular War and how was it concluded?
1808 Spanish army defeated Napoleon’s forces and captured 22,000.
Napoleon made his brother King of Spain while Britain supported the Spanish and sent the Duke of Wellington, before Napoleon placed himself in-charge of Spain.
Spanish guerrilla tactics were effective and French troops struggled to live off the land due to the hostility of the Spanish people. The terrain was harsh and supply lines failed.
While the French pushed Britain back to the North of Spain and killed their general, French forced were repulsed and suffered in the harsh winter. Napoleon left in 1809 and after 1/4 of a million troops and huge amounts of money, the French were eventually pushed back and defeated at Toulon.
What was the Austrian Campaign and what were its consequences to France?
In 1809, the Austrian’s re-entered the war. They had a reformed army with improved tactics, coprs structure and developed conscription. However still had old fashioned commanders.
Austria invaded Bavaria before Napoleon lost 20,000 men and was forced to retreat.
Napoleon then returned with 188,000 troops and beat the Austrian’s however had lost 34,000 troops.
Austria collapsed and signed the Treaty of Schonbrunn and took territory from Austria eg Croatia
Consequences: Napoleon had been over-confident and less prepared.
French army had fewer veterans and more raw recruits
Napoleon relied on satellite states and they weren’t loyal
Austria had learnt from the French with ideas around mobility and artillery
What was the cause of the Russia Campaign?
Tsar Alexander broke the trade embargo in 1810. Napoleon then built up his grande armee as the Tsar allied with Sweeden.
What were the events of the Russian campaign and what were the results?
Napoleon invaded through Russian Lithuania and marched on to Muscovy. He was met by a Russian retreat and scorched earth policy. The grande armee had few rations and a lengthening supply line which couldn’t feed the army.
Thousands died of disease and were plagued by the Russian winter.
They met a Russian army, and although Napoleon killed 40,000 to France’s 28,000 the Russian’s were still able to retreat.
They found a deserted Moscow which the governor had set on fire.
They were forced to retreat with the cossacks at their backs.
Napoleon returned alone to Paris and his grande armee was reduced to 10,000.
How was Napoleon eventually defeated?
The 4th Coalition formed of Russia, Prussia, Britain, Austria and Sweden. Defeated the Prussian’s but failed to follow up a retreat.
‘Battle of Nations’ left Napoleon outnumbered and pushed him back into Germany. He issued a decreed for 900,000 conscripts but only received a faction.
The Empire collapsed, leaving only Italy, Belgium and Switzerland and a 60,000 man army.
The English-Spanish force in Spain pushed into Southern France.
At the Treaty of Chaumont 1814, the allies agreed to preserve the coalition until Napoleon was defeated.
They entered Paris 1814 and Napoleon surrendered and was banished to Elba.
