French Empire

Napoleon’s Three Costly Mistakes The Continental System –1806 – 1813 –Blockade closing all trade and communication with Great Britain –Britain responded w/blockade as well –Sparks War of 1812 w/US –Hurt France and Allies more *

The Burning of Washington

Peninsular War – –Portugal was defying Continental System –Sent army through Spain, Spanish rioted in protest –Napoleon put brother on throne, guerilla warfare resulted, British sent troops, French lost 300k troops*

Invasion of Russia Napoleon & Alexander I are allies. Alexander I refused to stop selling grain to Britain. Both have eyes on Poland*

June K – 550k French and allied troops enter Russia. Napoleon intends a quick and decisive Victory What tactic does Russian army use? Scorched-earth policy Begin march towards Moscow. Harass Flanks Heat and Colic Amongst Horses Slows Advance Many soldiers desert*

August 1812 Reach 1/2 –way point at Smolensk Supply Lines Ever-Growing Russian Strength Growing Russian Civilian Resistance Growing French Discipline Begins to Falter Foraging is Fruitless French stop to rest for 1 week 175,000 troops remain*

Aug / Sept 1812 Late August French 2/3 to Moscow Russian General Replaced Replacement Continues Retreat Battle of Borodino, just outside Moscow. All day Battle, Russians enjoy Superior High Position Back and Forth, 50k-60k casualties on both sides French Lose Many Officers Russians finally retreat under darkness. 14th – Napoleon enters Moscow, first night fires set, 2/3 of city burns to ground. Await surrender, never comes*

Oct 18, 1812 Napoleon begins retreat. 500 miles. 100k begin retreat. Route South Blocked, Forced to Retrace Steps Communication and Supply Lines Break Down Provisions Insufficient, Horses Sacrificed Artillery Abandoned Winter sets in, 0 degrees Celsius (32F)*

Nov 1812 Novemebr 4 th, Snow Begins to Fall French are Ill-Provisioned, Weak, and Poorly Dressed Reduced to a ragged mob Russians Pursue and Harass No French Fight is Left Reach halfway point. -11 degrees C (12F). 37,000 troops remain*

Nov / Dec 1812 Napoleon’s Rear Guard is Defeated Supply depot reached but is destroyed by hungry ill-disciplined mob Coup Attempt Forces Napoleon Home Rear-Guard is reformed, Cut from 9,000 to 800 men 10,000 remaining troops exit Russia. -30 to -38 degrees Celsius (-22F to -36F)*

"The naked masses of dead and dying men; the mangled carcasses of 10,000 horses which had in some cases been cut for food before life had ceased; the craving of famine at other points of forming groups of cannibals; the air enveloped in flame and smoke; the prayers of hundreds of naked wretches flying from peasantry, whose shouts of vengeance echoed incessantly through the woods; the wrecks of cannon, powder-wagons, all stores of every description: it formed such a scene as probably was never witnessed in the history of the world."

Invasion of Russia

Final Defeat at Leipzig New Alliance Formed –Russia, Britain, Austria, and Prussia Napoleon Handed Defeat at Battle of Leipzig in 1813 Within a Year Napoleon Abdicates Throne

Exile and Return

Elba Island

Final Exile and Death

St. Helena

Significant Places and Battles