Napoleon: Foreign Policy and Downfall
Peace of Amiens between England and France (1802) Divorced after 1 year Napoleon begins disrupting- Holland, Belgium,
Switzerland, and Italy Attempts to disrupt British supremacy in India-War
ensues (1803) Battle of Trafalgar off coast of Spain England remains undisputed supremacy of the seas
European Conquest
Coalition against Napoleon resurrected-England, Austria, Russia, and Sweden
Napoleon defeats Austrians at Ulm (Oct. 20, 1805)
Defeated Russian troops at Austerlitz Treaty of Pressburg- Austria surrenders Italy Napoleon recognized as King of Italy
War!
Prussia assumes Germanic supremacy Napoleon unifies Southern Germanies into
“Confederation of the Rhine” Napoleon named as Protector Ended the antiquated Holy Roman Empire Under Treaty of Pressburg, Germanic states
loyal to Napoleon remained independent
Consequences of Austria’s Defeat
Prussian Emperor Frederick William III remained neutral
Received Electorate of Hanover Prussian military leader, Duke of Brunswick,
attacks France Prussia’s army completely destroyed by
Napoleon Napoleon marches into Berlin as Frederick
William III flees
Prussia’s Fall
Treaty of Tilsit (1807)- Czar Alexander I seeks peace as Napoleon moves to invade
Napoleon accepted as master if Western Europe
Napoleon’s brother Jerome rules over Duchy of Warsaw and Kingdom of Westphalia
Russia kept control of Eastern Europe after promising to help in trade war with England
Russian Bear’s Alliance to France?
Restricted importation of British goods to Europe and key European goods to England
Berlin Decree of November 1806- blockade of British Isles
All French ports closed to Britain and her colonies
England retaliates by declaring all ships trading with France ripe for capture
Although meant to cultivate European economic independence from England, actually caused economic hardship for all
Continental System
Invades Portugal after Portugal refuses to join Continental System
Conquers Spain and places his brother, Joseph on the throne as King of Spain
Peninsula War- Spain rebels, with English help, and pushes Joseph out across Pyrennies
France’s distraction with Spain causes Austria to declare war yet again (April 1809)- Austria loses…again
Napoleon divorces Josephine and marries daughter of Francis II of Austria
Height of Power 1808-1812
Due to distrust of Napoleon, Czar Alexander I violates Tilsit and trades with Britain
France declares war on Russia Russian forces use scorched earth method Napoleon forced to retreat from Moscow Europe avenges itself! Battle of Natims (1813) Napoleon retreats to France, troops desert
his army, the Confederation of the Rhine collapses
“Never Start a Land War in Asia”
Napoleon abdicates and is exiled to Elba Congress of Vienna convenes- Bourbons
restored to power March 1, 1815- Bonaparte returns, but is put
down yet again at Waterloo June 18, 1815 by Wellington and von Blucher
Exiled to St. Helena Dies 1821- Murdered?? Natural Causes???
The Fall