23.4 Napoleon’s Empire
Collapses
French Empire in 1807
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Included most of Europe, though not Britain
Other countries:

French Empire - directly ruled by France
(Netherlands, Tuscany, Papal States, Illyrian
Provinces)

Grand Empire - French puppets (Spain, Kingdom of
Italy, Confederation of the Rhine)

Allied States - weakened by threat of French
military invasion (Prussia, Austria, Russia)
Napoleon’s Three Costly
Mistakes
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Napoleon’s ambition got the better of
him and led him to make three military
blunders
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Continental System
Peninsular War
Invasion of Russia
Result? French Empire lasts only until
1812
Continental System
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After Trafalgar, Napoleon knew could not
defeat Britain in a naval battle
Decided upon this policy of economic warfare
instead
Closed all ports in the Europe to Britain and
British goodsa blockade of British ships into
Empire’s ports
Goals of Continental System?
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Make Empire more self-sufficient
Cripple British trade and force Britain to come to
terms with France
Flaws of Continental System
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British Navy stronger than French Navy
Enforced its own blockade (a blockade
of a blockade)
Britain’s blockade was more successful
Smugglers ignored Continental System
These crippled French economy more
than it did the British economy
Drawing of French burning
British Goods
Map of Smugglers’ Route
Notice where
goods originate
Peninsular War--Causes
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1808, Portugal ignoring Continental System
French Army marched through Spain to
Portugal
Spanish riot
In response, Napoleon removed King Charles
IV and placed own brother Joseph on throne
Spanish remained loyal to Charles and fought
French (1808-1813) to get them out
Peninsular War--Course
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Spanish knew couldn’t defeat French in battle
Used guerrilla tactics instead
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Ambushes and snipers
Quickly went into hiding
English forces, led by Duke of Wellington,
aided Spanish cause
Result?
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Napoleon was forced to divert troops, money and
time to Spainbled France to death
Lost 300,000 men
Could have been used elsewhere (Russia?)
Goya’s Paintings of Peninsular
War
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Spanish painter (obviously, anti-French)
Reveal the Brutality of the Peninsular
War
Both sides committed atrocities (e.g.,
killing innocents)
3rd of May, 1808
Disasters of War, 1810-1811
Invasion of Russia, 1812
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Why?
 Russia not following Continental System
 Both Russia (Czar Alexander I) and France hoping to obtain
Poland
Napoleon, ever ambitious, attacks first
Though never loses battle, campaign disastrous
Russian scorched-earth policy makes it impossible for
Napoleon’s Army to re-supply itself
Napoleon makes it to Moscow, but is forced to retreat in
September
Army left Kovno, Poland with 420,000 men in June, returned in
December with 28,000
NEVER GET INVOLVVED IN A LAND WAR IN ASIA!
Graphic depiction of Invasion
of Russia
Painting depicting French
Retreat from Russia
Political cartoon about a
soldier deserting army
Elba
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Napoleon’s enemies quickly realize his
weakness, form 4th Coalition (Britain,
Russia, Prussia, Austria)
Thoroughly defeat him at the Battle of
Leipzig (October 16-19, 1813)
April 1814, Coalition forces march
through Paris
Napoleon abdicates, banished to Elba
Where is Elba?
Napoleon arriving in Elba
Hundred Days
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Coalition puts Louis XVIII on throne (Louis
XVI’s brother the Count of Provence)
Napoleon hears rumors that French
(especially peasants) are afraid that King will
undo all Revolutions reforms
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Especially land reforms
On March 1, 1815, he escapes and lands in
France
French rally to him
Napoleon assemblies armyhe knows
Coalition will fight
Waterloo, June 18, 1815
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British, Prussian and Austrian armies are
heading to France
Napoleon knows can’t defeat united army,
each separately instead
Attacks British (led by Duke of Wellington) at
Waterloo (modern Belgium)
Defeated by both British and Prussian troops
St. Helena
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This time, British make sure that
Napoleon can’t escape
Stick him on island in middle of Atlantic
Ocean with constant guard
Actually becomes a tourist attraction
Dies in 1821
Where is St. Helena?
Political Cartoon of Napoleon
on St. Helena