Napoleon Bonaparte - The Decline : part 3 :(1812 - 1821)Life History
Napoleon Bonaparte - The Decline : part 3 :(1812 - 1821)Life History
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| Napoleon Bonaparte |
Napoleon Bonaparte controls almost the entire European continent. Having defeated Prussia and Austria, he trieshard to dominate Spain. In the west, the United Kingdom has alwaysbeen his biggest opponent. The island is well defended by its powerful Royal Navy. The country sends an army to Portugal which with the help of local forces, chases away the French. They now threaten to take over Spain. To the east, Russia and France see a gradualweakening in their relationship, although they are officially allied. Russia has never backed Napoleon Bonaparte in his wars and now refuses to implement the Continental Blockade imposed by Napoleon Bonaparte on the UK.
Having had enough, Napoleon Bonaparte plans to invade Russia. He gathers more than 650,000 soldiers from all over Europe, and signs alliances with Prussia and Austria. Meanwhile, Russia signs a peace treaty with the Ottoman Empire and prepares its troops at the border. Napoleon Bonaparte hopes for a blitz and an easy victorythat would force the Tsar to negotiate peace. His army crosses the Niemen River toward the Russian armies. Its south wing is constituted of an Austriancontingent and its north wing by Prussia. But the Russian armies, largely outnumbered,avoid engaging in battle and retreat deep into the land. Napoleon Bonaparte then accelerates the pace and triesand catch up.
His supply lines are stretched quickly, requiringexcellent organization by many men. The Russians deploy the scorched-earth tactic,burning down everything in their path while retreating. Many soldiers die of exhaustion along the way. Finally reaching the gates of Moscow, Napoleon Bonaparte and his 130,000 remaining soldiers go face-to-face with 120,000 Russians. The battle proves to be a bloody affair, whichFrance wins with great difficulty.
Napoleon and his 100,000 men enter Moscow,which was evacuated. A week later, Russian soldiers set fire tothe city. During five weeks, Napoleon Bonaparte tries to negotiatepeace with the Tsar, but receives no response. Eventually, as winter is coming, Napoleon Bonaparte is forced to retreat. Along the way, the troops at the back of hisformation are subject to constant attack. Further west, two Russian armies prepare toblock his retreat. Napoleon Bonaparte understands that he must hurry ifhe does not want his army to be annihilated. His troops, exhausted and starving, now sufferfrom the frost and snow.
Napoleon and his 100,000 men enter Moscow,which was evacuated. A week later, Russian soldiers set fire tothe city. During five weeks, Napoleon Bonaparte tries to negotiatepeace with the Tsar, but receives no response. Eventually, as winter is coming, Napoleon Bonaparte is forced to retreat. Along the way, the troops at the back of hisformation are subject to constant attack. Further west, two Russian armies prepare toblock his retreat. Napoleon Bonaparte understands that he must hurry ifhe does not want his army to be annihilated. His troops, exhausted and starving, now sufferfrom the frost and snow.
Horses die of exhaustion and are eaten, whilethe artillery is abandoned. When they reach the Berezina River, a Russian army is stationed in front of the bridge to block them. Napoleon Bonaparte discreetly sends men further northto build two bridges. Eventually, while the French troops crossthe river, the Russian battalion approaching from the north reaches them. Bridges are burned to prevent the Russians from following them, condemning the fate of the remaining 10,000 French soldiers who couldn not cross on time. Only a few tens of thousands of French soldiersmanage to leave Russia, while Napoleon Bonaparte leaves alone for Paris.
Upon reaching Paris, Napoleon Bonaparte moves quicklyto raise a new army. Meanwhile the Tsar, despite being weakenedby war, continues the offensive knowing he has much to gain if he becomes the liberator of Europe. The Tsar moves diplomatically closer to Prussia, which considers the possibility of freeing the Confederation of the Rhine from Napoleon. This would render Prussia as the new influentialpower in the region. The King of Prussia discreetly prepares hisarmies. Austria chooses to be neutral for the moment, while the Confederation of the Rhine remains loyal to Napoleon. Once the Russian army is at the gates of Berlin,Prussia declares war on France.
Together they leave for Saxony to fight whatis left of Napoleon Bonaparte Great Army. But the latter is joined by Napoleon’snew army, and with a few victories they force Prussia and Russia to seek a truce. Meanwhile in the Iberian Peninsula, Wellington'sarmy, along with the Portuguese and Spanish forces, seizes Madrid and is preparing toexpel the French from the country. During the truce, while the armies are reinforced on both sides, the battle plays out on the diplomatic level. Sweden joins the coalition while Austria offersmediation to Napoleon.
Austria suggests to restore the so-callednatural frontiers of France in exchange for peace. But Napoleon Bonaparte does not take up the offer, and Austria joins the coalition. The truce is broken, causing the three greatarmies to march onto the Confederation of the Rhine. Their advance forces Napoleon Bonaparte to play the defensive card. He retreats to Leipzig, where a decisive battleinvolving half a million men takes place. During three days, the French and their alliesresist the offensive, but besieged on three fronts, they finally must retreat. During retreat, the only functioning bridge is destroyed too early, condemning a third of the French army. Napoleon Bonaparte crosses the Rhine with only 70,000 men, while the Confederation of the Rhine joins the coalition. Meanwhile in Spain, the French army, chasedby Wellington, is pushed back to the borders.
France is besieged from all sides. The French armies, completely outnumbered, resist as well as they can the advance towards the country. But the coalition eventually enters Paris. Napoleon, who is in Fontainebleau, is forcedto abdicate. Napoleon Bonaparte loses all powers. He is then forced by the coalition to go intoexile with a few hundred men on the island of Elba, over which he has sovereignty. In France, the monarchy is restored and King Louis XVIII accedes to the throne. In Vienna, the victors meet for several monthsin order to redraw the new borders of the continent and try to establish a long-termpeace plan for Europe.
Representatives from small states are notgiven a voice in the negotiation. Big powers lead the discussions and carveup territories. The Duchy of Warsaw mainly becomes CongressPoland, in a personal union with the Tsar of Russia. Prussia extends westwards while the Confederationof the Rhine becomes the German Confederation. Austria recovers many lost territories, whileold kingdoms are recreated in Italy.
The United Kingdom of the Netherlands andSweden-Norway are created. Finally, Switzerland's neutrality is recognizedby all. From his island, Napoleon Bonaparte follows closelydevelopments on the continent, especially in France. He knows that the return of the monarchy islittle appreciated by the people. For one last time, he would decide to tryand regain power. He secretly leaves for France.
Napoleon Bonaparte lands near Cannes with a few hundredmen. On his way to Paris, he receives a hero’swelcome in cities while French troops also join him. When he reaches the capital, the king hasalready fled and Napoleon Bonaparte gets back power. But in Vienna, heads of states form aseventh coalition. Napoleon Bonaparte prepares the country for war. In the Netherlands, an army under the Dukeof Wellington's command is prepared, while in Prussia, Blücher’s army goes to joinhim. To the east, an Austrian army is waiting tobe joined by the Russian army which would arrive several months later. Napoleon decides to make the first move. If he can prevent the armies of Wellingtonand Blücher from joining forces, he may then also be successful in preventing the Austrian and Russian armies from doing the same.
He leaves immediately with 125,000 men. Upon arrival, the Prussian army finds itselfstretched and disorganized, while the army of the Duke of Wellington, consisting of soldiers from Britain, the Netherlands and German states, is positioned near Brussels. Napoleon Bonaparte just about manages to prevent botharmies from joining forces and pushes them both further north. An army of 30,000 men chases the Prussiantroops, while Napoleon Bonaparte advances towards Wellington who has positioned himself on a ridge nearWaterloo.
The next day, the French army, which is reaching Wavre, sees most of the Prussian army leaving westward, and decides not to chase them, instead preferring to attack the garrisons left behind in the city. On the western front, Napoleon Bonaparte and Wellingtonengage in fierce battle. In the afternoon, as Napoleon Bonaparte seems to bewinning, the first Prussians arrive from the east.
Napoleon Bonaparte has no choice but to send some ofhis men on the eastern front, which leads to his defeat. Napoleon Bonaparte goes back to Paris and tries for the last time to form an army, but the government refuses. He then leaves incognito to Rochefort,where he hopes to board a ship for the United States. But British soldiers are checking the port. After wandering for several days, Napoleon Bonaparte , aware he’s a wanted man, tries his luck and asks the British to take him to the UnitedStates.
But instead, they take him to the island ofSt. Helen, which would become Napoleon Bonaparte last prison. Isolated and closely surveyed in the middleof the Atlantic Ocean, he would not no longer be able to influence anyone anymore.
He writes his memoirs, eventually falls sick,dies on May 5th, 1821 and is buried in the island. In 1840, his remains are unearthed and broughtback to the Invalides in Paris. To this day, it serves as Napoleon Tomb
Upon reaching Paris, Napoleon Bonaparte moves quicklyto raise a new army. Meanwhile the Tsar, despite being weakenedby war, continues the offensive knowing he has much to gain if he becomes the liberator of Europe. The Tsar moves diplomatically closer to Prussia, which considers the possibility of freeing the Confederation of the Rhine from Napoleon. This would render Prussia as the new influentialpower in the region. The King of Prussia discreetly prepares hisarmies. Austria chooses to be neutral for the moment, while the Confederation of the Rhine remains loyal to Napoleon. Once the Russian army is at the gates of Berlin,Prussia declares war on France.
Together they leave for Saxony to fight whatis left of Napoleon Bonaparte Great Army. But the latter is joined by Napoleon’snew army, and with a few victories they force Prussia and Russia to seek a truce. Meanwhile in the Iberian Peninsula, Wellington'sarmy, along with the Portuguese and Spanish forces, seizes Madrid and is preparing toexpel the French from the country. During the truce, while the armies are reinforced on both sides, the battle plays out on the diplomatic level. Sweden joins the coalition while Austria offersmediation to Napoleon.
Austria suggests to restore the so-callednatural frontiers of France in exchange for peace. But Napoleon Bonaparte does not take up the offer, and Austria joins the coalition. The truce is broken, causing the three greatarmies to march onto the Confederation of the Rhine. Their advance forces Napoleon Bonaparte to play the defensive card. He retreats to Leipzig, where a decisive battleinvolving half a million men takes place. During three days, the French and their alliesresist the offensive, but besieged on three fronts, they finally must retreat. During retreat, the only functioning bridge is destroyed too early, condemning a third of the French army. Napoleon Bonaparte crosses the Rhine with only 70,000 men, while the Confederation of the Rhine joins the coalition. Meanwhile in Spain, the French army, chasedby Wellington, is pushed back to the borders.
France is besieged from all sides. The French armies, completely outnumbered, resist as well as they can the advance towards the country. But the coalition eventually enters Paris. Napoleon, who is in Fontainebleau, is forcedto abdicate. Napoleon Bonaparte loses all powers. He is then forced by the coalition to go intoexile with a few hundred men on the island of Elba, over which he has sovereignty. In France, the monarchy is restored and King Louis XVIII accedes to the throne. In Vienna, the victors meet for several monthsin order to redraw the new borders of the continent and try to establish a long-termpeace plan for Europe.
Representatives from small states are notgiven a voice in the negotiation. Big powers lead the discussions and carveup territories. The Duchy of Warsaw mainly becomes CongressPoland, in a personal union with the Tsar of Russia. Prussia extends westwards while the Confederationof the Rhine becomes the German Confederation. Austria recovers many lost territories, whileold kingdoms are recreated in Italy.
The United Kingdom of the Netherlands andSweden-Norway are created. Finally, Switzerland's neutrality is recognizedby all. From his island, Napoleon Bonaparte follows closelydevelopments on the continent, especially in France. He knows that the return of the monarchy islittle appreciated by the people. For one last time, he would decide to tryand regain power. He secretly leaves for France.
Napoleon Bonaparte lands near Cannes with a few hundredmen. On his way to Paris, he receives a hero’swelcome in cities while French troops also join him. When he reaches the capital, the king hasalready fled and Napoleon Bonaparte gets back power. But in Vienna, heads of states form aseventh coalition. Napoleon Bonaparte prepares the country for war. In the Netherlands, an army under the Dukeof Wellington's command is prepared, while in Prussia, Blücher’s army goes to joinhim. To the east, an Austrian army is waiting tobe joined by the Russian army which would arrive several months later. Napoleon decides to make the first move. If he can prevent the armies of Wellingtonand Blücher from joining forces, he may then also be successful in preventing the Austrian and Russian armies from doing the same.
He leaves immediately with 125,000 men. Upon arrival, the Prussian army finds itselfstretched and disorganized, while the army of the Duke of Wellington, consisting of soldiers from Britain, the Netherlands and German states, is positioned near Brussels. Napoleon Bonaparte just about manages to prevent botharmies from joining forces and pushes them both further north. An army of 30,000 men chases the Prussiantroops, while Napoleon Bonaparte advances towards Wellington who has positioned himself on a ridge nearWaterloo.
The next day, the French army, which is reaching Wavre, sees most of the Prussian army leaving westward, and decides not to chase them, instead preferring to attack the garrisons left behind in the city. On the western front, Napoleon Bonaparte and Wellingtonengage in fierce battle. In the afternoon, as Napoleon Bonaparte seems to bewinning, the first Prussians arrive from the east.
Napoleon Bonaparte has no choice but to send some ofhis men on the eastern front, which leads to his defeat. Napoleon Bonaparte goes back to Paris and tries for the last time to form an army, but the government refuses. He then leaves incognito to Rochefort,where he hopes to board a ship for the United States. But British soldiers are checking the port. After wandering for several days, Napoleon Bonaparte , aware he’s a wanted man, tries his luck and asks the British to take him to the UnitedStates.
But instead, they take him to the island ofSt. Helen, which would become Napoleon Bonaparte last prison. Isolated and closely surveyed in the middleof the Atlantic Ocean, he would not no longer be able to influence anyone anymore.
He writes his memoirs, eventually falls sick,dies on May 5th, 1821 and is buried in the island. In 1840, his remains are unearthed and broughtback to the Invalides in Paris. To this day, it serves as Napoleon Tomb
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