Napolean's 1812 Invasion of Russia

709 Words2 Pages

In 1812, Napoleon invaded the country of Russia. Most of his advisors warned him against this, saying it would be a very bad decision, but Napoleon ignored them. His armies were heavily defeated and there were many reasons for this. I will be talking about some of these reasons in this chapter.

At first, both the French and Russians attempted to have peace between their countries, by having a meeting called the “Congress of Erfurt” between Napoleon and the Tsar of Russia, Alexander I. This meeting happened in 1808, and ended with the “Treaty of Tilsit” between the 2 countries. This treaty created an alliance of France and Russia, meaning that the rest of Europe was virtually powerless to their immense power. They agreed to aid each other in their separate battles. However, many Russians were unhappy about the alliance, and described it as a “national humiliation”.

The Russians didn’t really help Napoleon in his war against Britain, reducing the effect of the “continental system”, a foreign policy. Napoleon was angered by their decision, and Alexander I was advised to invade Fra...

Show More
Related

  • Assess the impact of World War I on the Fall of the Romanov Dynasty

    968 Words  | 2 Pages

    With the coinciding of a revolution on the brink of eruption and the impacts of the First World War beginning to take hold of Russia, considered analysis of the factors that may have contributed to the fall of the Romanov Dynasty is imperative, as a combination of several factors were evidently lethal. With the final collapse of the 300 year old Romanov Dynasty in 1917, as well as the fall of Nicholas II, a key reality was apparent; the impact that WWI had on autocratic obliteration was undeniable. However, reflection of Russia’s critical decisions prior to the war is essential in the assessment of the cause of the fall of the Romanov Dynasty. No war is fought without the struggle for resources, and with Russia still rapidly lagging behind in the international industrialisation race by the turn of the 20th century, the stage was set for social unrest and uprising against its already uncoordinated and temporarily displaced government. With inconceivable demands for soldiers, cavalry and warfare paraphernalia, Russia stood little chance in the face of the great powers of World War One.

    Read More

  • Essay On Napoleon's Invasion Of Russia

    685 Words  | 2 Pages

    Napoleon had a quick victory in mind, and he would use said victory to force Alexander I back to the negotiating table. Taking place 75 miles from Moscow, the French and Russians were just hitting each other very hard, each pounding the other with loads of artillery, charges, and countercharges, leaving the average rate of fire to be about 3 cannon booms and 7 musket shots a second. The casualties on each side were enormous, with the total amount of deaths on both sides being about 70,000, the Russians did not continue with the fighting on the second day, as they withdrew and left the road to Moscow wide open. On September 14th, the Grand Armée entered the Russian capital of Moscow, but to their surprise, by the time they arrived, it was nothing more than what was once a city, but was then completely covered in flames. Most of its residents had been long gone, but had left behind many bottles of liquor, but as much liquor as there was, there was hardly any food, so the French troops did what they could, they drank and looted until Napoleon got word that Alexander I wanted to negotiate for peace.

    Read More

  • Napoleon's Conflict with Russia

    883 Words  | 2 Pages

    The turning point of Napoleon's career also came in 1812 when war broke out between France and Russia because of Alexander I's refusal to enforce the continental. Even the French nation could not provide all the manpower and supplies needed to carry out the Emperor's grandiose plan for subduing Russia. Throughout 1811, he worked to mobilize the entire continent against Russia. He not only levied the vassal kingdoms in Spain, Italy, and Germany but also summoned Austria and Prussia to furnish their share of men and goods.

    Read More

  • Bismark

    1268 Words  | 3 Pages

    1) The author of this book, Alan Palmer, is a reliable historian educated at Oxford University. He is an expert in European History and even headed the History Department in Highgate School. He left his post of sixteen years to concentrate on historical writing and research. He went on to publish eighteen books on numerous leaders and empires of Europe. His work includes, Napoleon in Russia, Alexander I: Tsar of War and Peace, The Decline and Fall of the Ottoman Empire and many more.

    Read More

  • Analysis of The Origins of Second World War by A.J.P. Taylor

    960 Words  | 2 Pages

    The book begins with the conclusion of the First World War, by exploring the idea that critical mistakes made then made a second war likely, yet not inevitable. Taylor points out that although Germany was defeated on the Western front, “Russia fell out of Europe and ceased to exist, for the time being, as a Great Power. The constellation of Europe was profoundly changed—and to Germany’s advantage.” (p.20-21) As a result of the war, Russia was severely weakened, which greatly upset the balance of power in Europe. Taylor claims that, “What gave France independence as a ...

    Read More

  • War of 1812

    2407 Words  | 5 Pages

    However you also had another player in the system, Russia. Although not quite as powerful as either of the top two, but if thrown in the mix could tip the scales toward one side or the other. The United States at this time preferred to practice a policy of isolationism, and stay out of the turbulent affairs of Europe. The constant struggle between the French and the British dominated the world scene. The French who were led by Napoleon were trying to establish an empire and dominate all of Europe. This struggle had been raging since the turn of the century. The British as in any bi-polar system were dead set on preventing this from happening. With the United States only a minor player in the international system at the time there was nothing the United States could do in this affair except continue its policy of neutrality, and isolationism. With a bi-polar international system, you are always i...

    Read More

  • Napoleon Betrayed the Revolution

    1330 Words  | 3 Pages

    Napoleon was an outstanding military commander and enjoyed many successful campaigns. Napoleon maintained the Revolutionary syst...

    Read More

  • Why Is Napoleon Bonaparte Considered A Tyrant

    557 Words  | 2 Pages

    In 1812, it was a different story, the French invaded Russia. It led to a change of fates.

    Read More

  • Was the War of 1812 Pointless?

    1255 Words  | 3 Pages

    The War of 1812 proved to be the most serious challenge to face the United States since the country's birth. This 'Second war of Independence' perhaps changed American history as we know it though. This essay will discuss the causes for this war assessing whether there actually were valid reasons for the United States and Britain going to war or whether the whole 1812 war was just born out of "pointless aggression"

    Read More

  • Napoleon - an enlightened despot

    1003 Words  | 3 Pages

    A. A. “Europe and the Superior Being: Napoleon.” The History Guide: Lectures on Modern European Intellectual History. 13 May. 2004. The 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the 6 Dec. 2004. Karl, Kenneth.

    Read More

  • The Downfall of Napoleon

    743 Words  | 2 Pages

    Misused intelligence and underestimated opponents were at the heart of Napoleon?s downfall. This was clearly shown at Moscow when the Russians outwitted him by using their scorched earth policy and not meeting him in battle as they agreed. With careful planning, the Russian invasion could have gone a lot better and maybe not have led to Napoleon?s downfall.

    Read More

  • Was Napoleon Bonaparte the Saviour or the Destroyer of the Ideals of the French Revolution?

    1926 Words  | 4 Pages

    With all the glory and the splendour that some countries may have experienced, never has history seen how only only one man, Napoleon, brought up his country, France, from its most tormented status, to the very pinnacle of its height in just a few years time. He was a military hero who won splendid land-based battles, which allowed him to dominate most of the European continent. He was a man with ambition, great self-control and calculation, a great strategist, a genius; whatever it was, he was simply the best. But, even though how great this person was, something about how he governed France still floats among people's minds. Did he abuse his power? Did Napoleon defeat the purpose of the ideals of the French Revolution? After all of his success in his military campaigns, did he gratify the people's needs regarding their ideals on the French Revolution? This is one of the many controversies that we have to deal with when studying Napoleon and the French Revolution. In this essay, I will discuss my opinion on whether or not was he a destroyer of the ideals of the French Revolution.

    Read More

  • Causes of the Franco-Russian Alliance

    937 Words  | 2 Pages

    During the late 19th century many countries sought an alliance with other countries to guarantee their own safety, preserve peace and sometimes to help their economic position. this is highlighted by alliances and treaties such as the "Dual Alliance" of 1879, the "Dreikaiserbund" of 1881 and the "Reinsurance Treaty" This was also the case for both France and Russia, with them agreeing the "Franco-Russian Military Convention" on August 18th 1892 and later agreeing the "Franco-Russian Alliance" in 1893. France and Russia were animated by a common desire to preserve peace. The only reason it was possible for France and Russia to form this alliance is because Germany allowed the Reinsurance treaty to become invalid. Both countries wanted different things from the alliance but there was one common reason between them, and that was to oppose Germany - although both countries had different incentives for this. France, Russia and Germany all contributed to the alliance being formed, either through their aims or what they did.

    Read More

  • War And Peace By Leo Tolstoy

    1116 Words  | 3 Pages

    Napoleon had to retrieve from Russia under attacks by Russian peasants and horsemen on those who fell behind. His army also suffered from cold and hunger, since the Russians destroyed all food supplies. The takeover of Moscow by Napoleon proved to be useless, and in the long run, destroyed a large part of his army. Alongside these historical events, Tolstoy describes the different classes of Russian society in terms of their participation in the war and what kind of an impact war had on their lives. In the beginning of the novel, the Russian aristocratic class, which was in the czar’s circle, wanted Russia to participate in the war.

    Read More

  • Reasons for Napoleon's Defeat

    1121 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Campaign of 1812 should have been a another crusade for Napoleon, but he now faced 2 new policies that he had never faced before, the severe Russian winter and the notorious scorched-earth policy. On June 23, 1812 Napoleon's Grande Armee, over 500,000 men strong, poured over the Russian border. An equal amount of Russian forces awaited them. The result of the campaign was a surprise. Two authors, General carl von Clausewitz and Brett James, show similarities in reasons why Napoleon had lost this campaign to Russia.

    Read More

More about Napolean's 1812 Invasion of Russia

Open Document