Sixth coalition

The Sixth Coalition (1812 - 1814) joins together the the United Kingdom and the Russia, joined later by the Prussia, then by the Sweden, the Austria and a certain number of German States against France of Napoleon, still supported by Italy, the Denmark (temporarily) and a certain number of German States.

When Russia, allied in France since the Treated of Tilsit, refuses to apply the continental Blocus, Napoleon decides a new campaign. It is disastrous the countryside of Russia in 1812.

The continental powers, humiliated by Napoleon during the preceding wars, see an opportunity of demolishing it finally, and gradually join the Russia, the the United Kingdom and the partisans Spanish and Portuguese in Ibérie. Thanks to their reorganized armies, and benefitting from the lesson drawn from the preceding ones Napoleonean Wars, they demolish Napoleon with very famous the Bataille of Leipzig, in Saxony (October 1813), and invade France in 1814, thus forcing Napoleon to abdicate with the profit of Louis XVIII, a Bourbon.

Approximately 2,5 million soldiers fought during this conflict (including the Campagne of Russia) and the total of the human losses rises to at least 2 million men (certain estimates suggest that approximately 1 million these men only die in Russia). One includes in this calculation the battles of Smolensk, Borodino, Lützen, Dresden and famous the battles of the Nations - largest of all the battles of the Napoleonean Guerres, and the most important battle of the European history until the First World War.

See also: Countryside of France (1814)

The last act of this coalition is played on the national territory: the countryside of France. The emperor finds his talents of strategist and tactician, and demolishes the enemy on several occasions, managing during the Campagne the six day old to slow down the enemy in his inescapable penetration of the French territory. Many strategists regard the countryside of the France as best of the campaigns of Napoleon, with the first countryside of Italy. With a decreased army, inexperienced (the young conscripts of 1814, the Marie-Louise, in spite of their courage, are not with the height of their elder), and largely exceeded of number, it nevertheless manages to inflict several reverses with its enemies. But the initial losses, in Russia and Germany are however too important to be compensated at the time of this last act. The treason of Marmont and the rendering of Paris oblige Napoleon to abdicate with Fontainebleau. The Allies occupy Paris the March 31st 1814. Soult, the April 10th, fights to Toulouse the last battle of the countryside of France.

Consequences

The April 3rd, the Senate vote forfeiture of the emperor who, itself the 6, is solved with abdication (Traité of Fontainebleau). One gives thereafter him the sovereignty of the isle of Elba.

In November 1814 opens the Congrès of Vienna which will redraw the borders of Europe.

References

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