Napoleon and Europe Flashcards
When did Russia withdraw from the 2nd coalition?
At Zurich, Sept 1799
What happened in the Alps in 1800 May?
1800, Napoleon and 50,000 men almost defeated by the Austrians at Marengo.
When did Austria withdraw from the 2nd coalition?
February 1801, following defeat at Hohenlinden in Dec 1800.
What were the terms of the Treaty of Luneville?
1801 Feb, Austria withdrew from coalition and France kept all former gains as well as more land in Tuscany.
What were the terms of the 1802 Peace of Amiens?
France left United Provinces, Naples. Britain returned overseas territory. Egypt returned. Treaty not honoured.
When did Britain declare war on France following Amiens?
May 1803
When and what was Trafalgar?
Nelson destroyed a Franco-Spanish fleet in Oct 1805.
What was the Army of England?
193,000 men meant to invade England, abandoned after 1805 following Austrian and British threat.
Who was in the 3rd Coaltion?
Britain, Russia and Austria initially. Prussia remained neutral.
What happened at Ulm, and what was the aftermath?
October 1805 Napoleon captured over 50,000 Austrian troops, entered Vienna in November.
What happened at Austerlitz?
Napoleon defeated an Austro-Russian force Dec 1805, forcing Austrian withdrawal and Russian retreat.
When was the Confederation of the Rhine set up, and what was the aftermath?
July 1806, annoyed Prussia so much they joined the Coalition in September.
What happened at Jena?
October 1806, Prussians crushed in battle and Napoleon entered Berlin.
What happened in 1807 with Russia?
Victories at Friedland and Eylau meant Russia was forced to withdraw. Napoleon occupied Warsaw.
What happened with Russia in 1807?
Victories at Eylau and Friedland forced Russian withdrawal, Warsaw taken by French.
When was the peace at Tilsit?
June-July 1807, peace between Russia and France. Got on very well. Joined CS.
What did Prussia give up at the Treaty of Tilsit?
July 1807, Prussia lost about half its territory and paid 120 million francs indemnity.
When was the Papal states annexed?
February 1808, along with much of the rest of Italy.
How large was the population of France under Napoleon?
28 million, largest in Europe.
What advantages did the Napoleonic military have?
Generals promoted on merit, war fervour from rev. propaganda, raw recruits fighting alongside veterans.
What is an example of soldiers’ loyalty to Napoleon?
Loyalty during 1812 Russian disaster and during 100 days - due to rewards and Napoleon’s charisma.
What were pays reunis?
Territories ruled directly by France - all French laws were automatically applies, essentially fully integrated territory.
What were pays allies?
Satellite states, rulers had some choice in how they applied French law and practice.
Which kingdoms did France control at the peak of the Empire?
Spain, Guastalla, Berg, Holland, Westphalia, Italy, Lucca, Naples. All by the Napoleonic dynasty.
What was the population of ‘France’ by 1810?
44 million (!)
How did the Empire damage the economy?
Cost of administration outstripped the benefit provided from tax.
How did the Marshals / dynasty turn against Napoleon?
Despite the patronage the empire offered, loyalty was never guaranteed and Joseph, Louis and Bernadotte Bonaparte all drifted from control.
What effect did the Empire have on the army?
While it provided a stream of conscripts, maintenance needed huge armies - and conscripts weren’t always loyal.
How did the Empire affect French admin?
While it increased the pool of talented administrators, positions given to imperial personnel increased class division.
What effect did the Empire have on rev. values?
Provided an opportunity to export them and destroy feudalism - but that was not always welcomed, and resentment was common.
How much did the Empire unify Europe?
Technically so, but it did impose an alien culture and fostered opposition in nationalist movements.
What did Napoleon bring to client states?
Departements, imperial bureaucracy - prefects, tax-collectors, gendarmes, etc.
How was the Empire’s finance managed?
All followed the French system, with fiscal restructuring and budgeting + accounting.
Who mostly ran administration of the empire?
Men from incorporated territories and French officiers.
Where were gendarmeries set up across the Empire?
Everywhere - to establish control and police previously lawless areas.
How centralised was the Empire?
Very - all rulers reported regularly to Napoleon and deferred major decisions to him.
What was the economic policy of ‘France First’?
Exploitation of occupied areas - paid heavily for French ‘protection’; tax collected in Italy rose 50% between 1805 and 1811.
How did tax in Naples change?
100 different taxes were replaced by the French with a single tax on land and industry.
What were dotations?
From 1806, supporters of the regime could be given a right to collect revenue from seized land. 25% of Warsaw income lost this way.
How did France distinguish between states?
States under direct control preferred, satellites only allowed to produce food/raw materials and not rival French industry.
What areas prospered and suffered under the Empire?
Belgian textiles and Rhine mining boomed; Berg and Genoa suffered with trade.
Why did trade slump 1810-1811?
Disappearance of overseas trade, not a large enough internal market
Why did Empire policy become less consistent after 1808?
Pressures on the Empire
What was the reaction to the 1801 Concordat and the seizure of the Pope?
1809 popular disturbances, 1808 Spanish peasant rising
How were nobles treated under the Empire?
Retained positions of power, usually had influence in local govt.
When was serfdom abolished in Warsaw?
1807
Did the Empire succeed in changing European society long-term?
No - while serfdom was never reintroduced, social structures stayed mostly the same
When was there rebellions against conscription under the Empire?
1808
How young were Napoleonic soldiers by 1813?
As young as 15
What and when was the Berlin Decree?
November 1806, forbade any French client states/allies from buying British goods
What was the Orders in Council?
Nov 1807 British response to blockade, Britain would not buy from France or allies. Ships could be seized.
What was the Milan Decree?
December 1807, France could capture neutral ships going to British ports.
What became unobtainable under the Blockade?
Tea, coffee, sugar and tobacco`
When and why did Napoleon invade Spain?
1808, as Portugal was not complying with the Blockade
When did Russia drop out of the CS?
1810, leading to 1812 war
When did Napoleon invade Spain, and what happened?
March 1808 with 100,000 soldiers, Charles abdicated in March and Ferdinand abdicated in May.
What happened at the Battle of Bailen?
July 1808, Spanish rebels defeated a French army and captured 22,000
When did Napoleon personally enter Spain?
December 1808 with 80,000 troops.
When was Joseph Bonaparte made King of Spain, and what happened?
August 1808, British sent Duke of Wellington to aid the Spanish
How much of Spain did France control by 1809?
The north, but a British withdrawal at Galicia ensured the south was still dangerous.
When did Napoleon leave Spain, and what happened?
January 1809, Wellington returned in April with 30,000 men and entrenched.
How many French troops ended up in Spain?
250,000 - so a major drain on resources.
When were the French defeated in Spain?
1813, Wellington defeated French at Vitoria and took Madrid. Joseph fled.
When were the French defeated at Toulouse?
1814 by a British army from Spain.
When did Austria re-enter the war, due to the Peninsula?
February 1809. Reformed but still had old-fashioned commanders.
What happened at Eckmuhl?
22nd April 1809, French army defeated Austria. 12,000 Austrian casualties, double that of France.
What happened at Essling?
May 1809, France defeated by Austria, losing 20,000 men and retreating. First personal defeat of Napoleon.
What happened at Wagram?
July 1809, 188,000 French troops defeated Austria in a hard-fought battle where they lost 34,000 men.
What and when was the Treaty of Schonbrunn?
14th Oct 1809, Austria made peace and lost 1/6 of its population. Most of the coast.
What were the reasons for the difficulty of the 1809 Austrian campaign?
Growing competence of enemies, French army was mostly raw recruits, overconfidence of Napoleon.
Why did Russia leave the Continental System?
31st Dec 1801. Economic hardship, Napoleon married an Austrian princess rather than a Russian one.
When did Napoleon invade Russia?
July 1812. Beelined to Moscow.
What was the Russian tactic in the campaign?
Withdrawal and a scorched earth policy - Grande Armee only had 4 day’s rations.
Why was Napoleon unprepared for a long campaign in Russia?
Army had poor maps, inadequate winter clothing and little medical supplies.
Why did the Russian campaign fail?
Usual tactics of speed useless against such a large foe, raw conscripts hampered army, hunger and disease rampant.
How many men did Napoleon invade Russia with, and how many returned?
650,000; only 10,000 returned - with only 1,000 fit for further service.
When and what was the Battle of Borodino?
7th Sept battle with Russia and France, French victory but not completely decisive.
When did Napoleon enter Moscow, and when did he leave?
14th September, left on 18th October. Only 180,000 soldiers left.
What did Napoleon find in Moscow?
The city abandoned and set on fire by the governor.
What happened at Kaluga?
Indecisive battle between the French and Russians, end of October 1812.
How many French troops were left in Russia by November 1812?
24,000
When did Napoleon abandon the Grande Armee?
5th December. Returned to Paris by 6th.
What was the plot against Napoleon in 1812?
Malet conspiracy in October+, rumour that Napoleon died in Moscow and attempted to return France to republicanism.
Who was in the 4th coalition?
Russia, Prussia, Austria, Britian, Sweden
When did Prussia declare war in the 4th Coalition?
March 1813
When did Britain declare war in the 4th Coalition?
June 1813
How large of an army did Napoleon create after Russia?
250,000 (!). Declared war on Prussia in April.
What victories did Napoleon achieve in 1813?
3 against Prussia, but could not follow up on them - cavalry was in short supply; decades of war had ruined horse population.
When and what was the Battle of the Nations?
October 1813 deciding battle of the 4th Coalition War, Napoleon defeated by joint force.
What peace deal was Napoleon offered after the Battle of the Nations?
A generous one allowing him to keep ‘natural frontiers’, this was refused.
What was the Treaty of Chaumont?
March 1814, allies agreed to preserve coalition till Napoleon was ultimately defeated.
When did the Allies enter Paris?
30th March 1814
What were the terms of the Treaty of Fontainebleau?
April 1814, allowed to keep Emperor title but exiled to Elba. £200,000 personal income.
Who replaced Napoleon after Fontainebleau?
Louis XVIII
What was the charter for Louis XVIII?
A constitutional monarchy - 2 chamber assembly with Deputies and Peers, fair tax, and equality before the law.
What freedoms were given under Louis XVIII’s charter?
Freedom of individual and meritocracy, a relatively free press, a pardon to revolutionaries, freedom of worship.
What were the other terms of Louis XVIII’s charter?
Abolition of conscription, biens nationaux owners keeping their lands
What did Louis XVIII do upon reaching Paris?
3rd May, processed through the streets as a monarch and lived in the Tuileries. Insisted freedoms were his gift to the people, not inherent rights.
What did Louis XVIII believe in?
Divine Right, his authority over any assembly.
What were the terms of the 1st Treaty of Paris?
30th May 1814, France reverted to 1792 borders - still held land east of Rhine. Looted artworks kept.
When was the news of Napoleon’s return heard?
11th March 1815
When was Napoleon declared an outlaw?
13th March 1815
When did Napoleon return to France?
1st March 1815 with 1,000 men. Attracted a huge following.
Where was a rising against the Bourbon restoration?
Lyons, on 9th March.
When did the Royal army defect to Bonaparte upon his return?
19th March 1815. Louis XVIII fled the country.
Why were army officers unsatisfied with Louis XVIII?
Army put on half-pay, Bonapartists were not purged so respect for Napoleon was still present.
Why were the populace unhappy with Louis XVIII?
Taxes were high, indirect taxes had not been reduced. Conscription was still in force.
Why were bourgeoisie and peasants unhappy with Louis XVIII?
(false) rumours of the beins nationaux being returned.
What did Napoleon’s final constitution include?
Free elections, a free press and a cons. monarchy with a 2-chamber system to appeal to liberals. Verified by plebiscite - 22% turnout.
How big of an army did Napoleon raise upon his return?
300,000 (!)
When and what was the Battle of Ligny?
16th June 1815, French defeat of Prussia (!!). Failed to follow up on victory.
When and what was the Battle of Waterloo?
18th June, France defeated by Prussian and British armies. Imperial Guard forced to retreat, though still showed extreme courage.
When did Napoleon finally abdicate?
22nd June 1815
When did Napoleon surrender to the British?
15th July 1815, being exiled to St. Helena. Middle of the Atlantic.
When did Napoleon die?
1821
When did Louis XVIII return to Paris after the 100 days?
8th July
When and what was the 2nd Peace of Paris?
November 1815, French land reduced to that of 1790. 700 million franc indemnity. Return all artworks. Army of occupation, paid for by the French.
What did the Allies guarantee after the 2nd Peace of Paris?
60,000 men each should Napoleon try and return.
What was the cordon sanitaire?
A buffer around France after the 2nd Peace of Paris.
What were some changes made by the Congress of Vienna?
Britain expanded Empire further, HRE replaced with German confed., Poland chopped up, Denmark lost Norway, Italy divided.
How did the France of 1815 and the Ancien Regime seem similar?
Deeply catholic Bourbon monarch with advisers from the nobility.
What was the legacy of the revolution in France? (administration)
Departements, prefects, tax system, Bank of France, courts and Napoleonic Codes remained.
What was the legacy of the revolution in France? (social)
Uniformity of law, careers open to talent, dominance of bourgeoisie professional classes.
Who did well and who did poorly under the new 1815 France?
Bourgeoisie, professionals and wealthy peasants prospered; nobles could not stem the decline in their influence.
What problems did Louis XVIII face from his Chamber?
Deputies Chamber was full of ‘ultras’, extreme royalists, who made his political life difficult.
How did the French economy fare after 1815?
Recovered quickly, industry prospered. France escaped devastation faced by most of Europe.
In what ways was Napoleon a true revolutionary?
Constitutional, admin., legal and religious reforms, building on work of rev. governments. Meritocracy and toleration. Empire spread revolution.
In what ways was Napoleon not a true revolutionary?
Heavily autocratic state. Elections meaningless. Rigged plebiscites, could ignore chambers. Powerful police and spies. DOROMAC abandoned.
In what ways was Napoleon’s Empire not revoltionary?
Use of his dynasty, suggesting personal achievement was more important than the rev.
