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Aleksandr I and the Napoleonic Wars

Aleksandr I and the Napoleonic Wars. Napoleon’s “Second Polish War”. Causes: Treaty of Tilsit , 1807 Continental System Russian trade with Britain Duchy of Warsaw , 1807-1815 Western Galicia annexed from Austria Napoleon’s arrogance. Napoleon’s Continental System, 1807-1812.

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Aleksandr I and the Napoleonic Wars

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  1. Aleksandr I and the Napoleonic Wars

  2. Napoleon’s “Second Polish War” Causes: • Treaty of Tilsit, 1807 • Continental System • Russian trade with Britain • Duchy of Warsaw, 1807-1815 • Western Galicia annexed from Austria • Napoleon’s arrogance

  3. Napoleon’s Continental System, 1807-1812

  4. Invasion began, 24 June 1812 • Grand Army: 500-600,000 troops crossed the Niemen river (about half French; other half Germans, Poles, Italians). • Napoleon desired a quick, decisive victory. • Mid-December 1812: about 70,000 crossed back over, half in formation.

  5. Causes of the Grand Army’s defeat • Typhus: Rickettsia prowazekii • Poor coordination of supplies • “scorched earth” and retreat strategies • Terrible roads: Mud • Winter • Napoleon’s insistence on victory

  6. The destruction of the Grand Army

  7. Battle of Borodino, 7 September 1812

  8. Battle of Borodino, 7 September 1812 • Largest battle of invasion (116 km west of Moscow) • Grand Army: 135,000 men, 587 guns (28,000 dead, wounded or captured) • Russian Army: 120,000 men, 640 guns (44,000 dead wounded or captured) • Leo Tolstoy: "a continuous slaughter which could be of no avail either to the French or the Russians".

  9. Occupation of Moscow, 14 September-19 October 1812

  10. Alexander’s reaction • St. Petersburg, not a general • Had religious epiphany; refused to negotiate. “I will not make peace until I have driven the enemy back across our frontiers, even if I must, before succeeding in this, withdraw beyond Kazan’. As long as I am defending Russian territory I will only ask for munitions and arms from England. When, with the aid of Providence, I have repulsed the enemy beyond our frontiers, I will not stop there, and it is only then that I will reach agreement with England on the most effective assistance that I can ask for to succeed in liberating Europe from the French yoke.” (To Count Lieven, his ambassador in London)

  11. The long wait… • Napoleon tried to negotiate. • “Peace at all costs.” • Alexander refused to treat. • Kutuzov may have led Napoleon on. • October 19, orders retreat -- too late. • Kutuzov forced them to take the same path back.

  12. The long, cold retreat

  13. Russian victory, 1812-1814 • Only about 35-40,000 troops of the Grand Army escaped. • 24 December 1812, Alexander to generals, “You have saved not only Russia, you have saved Europe.” Mikhail I. Kutuzov, 1745-1813

  14. Alexander and Russian troops enter Paris, 21 March 1814 Alexander I: “I esteem France and the French, and I hope they will give me the opportunity to do good for them. Please tell the Parisians, Gentlemen, that I am not entering their walls as an enemy, and it is for them to accept me as a friend; also, that I have but one enemy in France and with that one I am irreconciliable.”

  15. Congress of Vienna, Nov. 1814-March 1815 • “Savior” and “Liberator” of Europe • Imposed “Charte” on Louis XVIII. • Congress Kingdom of Poland • Holy Alliance

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