Wars Flashcards
Peninsular War
1808-14
Napoleon replaced the Spanish King with his brother to enforce the blockade. Revolt in Madrid was brutally suppressed, leading to Guerilla warfare. Napoleon sent his Grand Armee into pain, and the British joined spanish and Portuguese forces.
Spain was liberated and France pushed back. This war drained french resources and kept over 300,000 troops occupied
Russian Campaign
1812
Along with the Tsar’s exit from the CS in 1810 and tensions over control of Istanbul Napoleon assembled an army of 600,000 and invaded Russia in June 1812. The campaign was a disaster for a number of reasons:
- Apart from at Borodino, the Russians did not give the formal battle Napoleone expected. Instead, they used a ‘scorched earth’ strategy, destroying all supplies in the line of Napoleon’s march, ruining his living off the land plan.
- Poor medical arrangements meant his army was ravaged by disease
- He stayed in Moscow for over a month before he left, many men died in the process.
500,000 French Casualties
Sixth Coalition
Britain, Russia, Prussia & Austria
Different to previous coalitions because: they had a common aim to liberate Germany, Partners followed a unified strategy, France was in decline
Battle of the Nations at Leipzig meant France withdrew, Napoleon was given peace offerings but refused. Treaty of Chaumont 1814 agreed that the 4 nations would not stop until Napoleon was defeated
6th coalition advanced into France form the north while Wellington advanced from the south through Spain
Collapse of the Empire
Finances in France were strained and the people wanted peace. 20 years of conscription had drained the country and the 6th coalition advanced from the North while Wellington’s British army came from the south through Spain.
Paris was occupied by March 1814, and the Bourbon monarchy restored.
Peace of Paris
May 1814
France lost all territorial gains since 1792.
Napoleon exiled to the island of Elba
