Napoleon, Napoleonic Wars

& Concert of Europe

 The Age of Napoleon (1769-1821)
1799-1815
• Napoleon dominated both French and European history from 1799 to
1815.
• After the coup of 1799 a new form of the Republic--- called the
Consulate---was proclaimed in which Napoleon, as first consul,
controlled the entire executive authority of government.
• In 1802, Napoleon was made consul for life, and in 1804, he returned
France to monarchy when he became Emperor Napoleon I.
• Napoleon achieved the principle of the equality of all citizens before
the law,
• the abolition of serfdom and feudalism, and religious toleration.
• In a series of battles from 1805 to 1807, Napoleon’s Grand Army
defeated the Austrian, Prussian, and Russian armies, giving Napoleon
the opportunity to create a new European order.
• From 1807 to 1812, Napoleon was the master of Europe.
• Napoleon hoped that his Grand Empire would last for centuries, but it
collapsed almost as rapidly as it had been formed.
 French Revolutionary Wars and
the Coalition Wars

War of the First Coalition: 1792-1797 Prussia, Austria, Britain

War of the Second Coalition: 1798-1802 Britain, Austria, Russia

War of the Third Coalition: 1803-1805 Britain, Austria, Russia

War of the Fourth Coalition: 1806-1807 Britain, Prussia, Russia
War of the Fifth Coalition: 1809 Austria
War of the Sixth Coalition: 1813-1814 Britain, Russia, Prussia, Austria,
Sweden, Portugal, Spain
The Fall of Napoleon
• The beginning of Napoleon’s downfall came in 1812 with his invasion
of Russia
• The refusal of the Russians to remain in the Continental System left
Napoleon with little choice.
• Although aware of the risks in invading such a huge country, he also
knew that if the Russians were allowed to challenge the Continental
System, others would soon follow
• In June 1812, he led his Grand Army of more than 600,000 men into
Russia.
The Fall of Napoleon
• When the remaining troops of the Grand Army arrived in Moscow,
they found the city ablaze. Lacking food and supplies, Napoleon aban-
doned Moscow late in October and made a retreat across Russia in
terrible winter conditions. Only 40,000 of the original 600,000 men
managed to arrive back in Poland in January 1813.
• This military disaster led other European states to rise up and attack
the crippled French army.
• Paris was captured in March 1814, and Napoleon was sent into exile
on the island of Elba, off the coast of Italy.
• Meanwhile, the Bourbon monarchy was restored in the person of
Louis XVIII, brother of the executed king
• When troops were sent to capture him, the troops went over to his
side, and Napoleon entered Paris in triumph on March 20, 1815.
• The powers that had defeated him pledged once more to fight him
• At Waterloo on June 18, Napoleon met a combined British and
Prussian army
• This time, the victorious allies exiled him to Saint Helena
The Congress of Vienna
(September 1, 1814 – June 9, 1815)
European Leaders at this congress tried to restore
order and reestablish peace
Europe in 1812
Main Goals of the Congress
Undo everything that Napoleon had done:
1. Establish lasting peace & stability
2. Reduce France to its old boundaries  her frontiers were pushed
back to 1790 level.
3. Prevent further French aggression
4. Restore-the old royal families to the throne.
5. Restore balance of power
6. Supported the resolution: There is always an alternative to conflict.
 Key Players
at Vienna

TsaTsar Alexander
I (Rus.)

The “Host” Castlereagh (Britain)

Prince Klemens von
Metternich (Aus.)

King Frederick
Foreign Minister, Charles
William III (Prus.)
Maurice de Tallyrand (Fr.)
Changes made at Vienna
• France was deprived of all territory conquered by Napoléon.
• Russia was given most of Duchy of Warsaw (Poland).
• Prussia was given half of Saxony, parts of Poland, and other German
territories.
• A Germanic Confederation of 30+ states (including Prussia) was
created from the previous 300, under Austrian rule.
• Austria was given back territory it had lost recently, plus more in
Germany and Italy.
Europe after the Congress of Vienna
Legacy of the Congress of Vienna
• Influenced world politics for the next 100 years.
• Diminished the size and the power of France
• Bring greater power of Britain and Prussia
• Nationalism spread
• European colonies wanted independence
• Desire for democracy
Concert of Europe 1815-1914
• The Concert of Europe was the balance of power that existed in
Europe from the fall of Napoleon Bonaparte to the outbreak of World
War I
• Its founding members were the UK, Austria, Russia, and Prussia who
were also responsible for the fall of the Napoleon
• In time France became established as a fifth member of the "club.”
• Concert of Europe lasted between 1814 and 1914 
Objectives of Concert of Europe
• The Congress System's first primary objectives were to
• Contain France after decades of war
• Achieve a balance of power between Europe's great powers
• Uphold the territorial arrangements made at the Congress of Vienna
in 1814-1815 and
• Prevent the rise of another Napoleon-esque figure which would result
in another continent wide war
The ‘concert’ and the ‘balance of power’
• Great powers meet at Congresses to agree on policies
• Armed intervention against threats to territory and the
status quo –
• Shifting alliances to prevent rise of ‘superpower’
• Small powers must conform to decisions taken by Great
Powers
• Non-Europeans excluded