In the late 1780's to early 1790's, Europe was in turmoil. The French king, Louis XVI had been deposed and executed by the radical French Republicans. While France dealt with the chaos that was it's government, the rest of Europe was afraid its citizens would rise in revolt as well. To bring order to France, an English fleet moved toward the crucial port of Toulon in the south. Among the threats of invasion by Austria, Russia, Prussia and Spain, France also had to deal with the popular revolt of French loyal to Louis' family in the Vendee region where citizens had beaten back forces of the French Republic. France's army was in terrible condition. To protect Toulon, the Committee of Public Safety assigned a series of commanders to block the
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Napoleon's popularity grew and he became First Consul, (basically a senator with a great deal of power.) Soon, he was voted to become Emperor of France in 1804. The Allies declared war and for the next 5 years, the Napoleonic Wars would rock Europe. In 1809, Napoleon crushed the Austrian army and for 3 years, Europe would for the most part be in peace. War would still drag on between France against Spain, Britain and Portugal in the Iberian Peninsula. Napoleon had established the Continental System, a trade embargo between mainland Europe and England, whcih ultimately signed his downfall. Russia had broken the pact and had failed to support France. Hence, Napoleon ordered major invasion of Russia with almost 800,000 troops. Alexander I, the King of Russia dragged his army ahead of Napoleon, forcing him to give chase and be caught in the bitter Russian winter. After only 5 months, Napoleon's army was diminished to only about 100,000. In 1813, the Sixth Coalition arose seeing their opportunity to strike. Napoleon won several battles but ultimately was decisively defeated at the battle of Leipzig, the largest land battle before …show more content…
Napoleon boarded a ship at Elba and arrived in France where he picked up supporters and marched on Paris. King Louis XVIII, the brother of the executed king sent forces to halt Napoleon's march but many rallied to him. This was due mainly to that Louis was extremely unpopular. The nobility inclined government his family had build had returned. Veterans of Napoleon's glory days were starving, taxation was oppressive and food prices were rising. A former Marshal of Napoleon and one of his bravest officers, Michel Ney was sent to capture him. Ney, a brilliant general of the Revolution was not pleased with the Bourbons but was also pleased with a break from the constant wars of Napoleon's regime. Napoleon exposed himself unprotected to Ney's troops but they did not fire. Ney threatened death to anyone who did not comply with a direct order from the king but no one fired a shot. Instead, they rallied to him along with Ney joining his former emperor as well. Louis then fled to Ghent, Belgium with a few loyal supporters. Napoleon, simply content with being back over France sent messages to the European rulers requesting peace. However, they viewed it as too dangerous and they declared
Napoleon's popularity grew and he became First Consul, (basically a senator with a great deal of power.) Soon, he was voted to become Emperor of France in 1804. The Allies declared war and for the next 5 years, the Napoleonic Wars would rock Europe. In 1809, Napoleon crushed the Austrian army and for 3 years, Europe would for the most part be in peace. War would still drag on between France against Spain, Britain and Portugal in the Iberian Peninsula. Napoleon had established the Continental System, a trade embargo between mainland Europe and England, whcih ultimately signed his downfall. Russia had broken the pact and had failed to support France. Hence, Napoleon ordered major invasion of Russia with almost 800,000 troops. Alexander I, the King of Russia dragged his army ahead of Napoleon, forcing him to give chase and be caught in the bitter Russian winter. After only 5 months, Napoleon's army was diminished to only about 100,000. In 1813, the Sixth Coalition arose seeing their opportunity to strike. Napoleon won several battles but ultimately was decisively defeated at the battle of Leipzig, the largest land battle before …show more content…
Napoleon boarded a ship at Elba and arrived in France where he picked up supporters and marched on Paris. King Louis XVIII, the brother of the executed king sent forces to halt Napoleon's march but many rallied to him. This was due mainly to that Louis was extremely unpopular. The nobility inclined government his family had build had returned. Veterans of Napoleon's glory days were starving, taxation was oppressive and food prices were rising. A former Marshal of Napoleon and one of his bravest officers, Michel Ney was sent to capture him. Ney, a brilliant general of the Revolution was not pleased with the Bourbons but was also pleased with a break from the constant wars of Napoleon's regime. Napoleon exposed himself unprotected to Ney's troops but they did not fire. Ney threatened death to anyone who did not comply with a direct order from the king but no one fired a shot. Instead, they rallied to him along with Ney joining his former emperor as well. Louis then fled to Ghent, Belgium with a few loyal supporters. Napoleon, simply content with being back over France sent messages to the European rulers requesting peace. However, they viewed it as too dangerous and they declared