The Decline of Napoleon

1. Subhani Katugampala, Kevin Trimmer, Liz Joseph, Karen Chen, Christian Marvilli The Decline of Napoleon

2. Defeat in Russia • Continental System – weakened British trade which in turn weakened Napoleon’s land holdings’ economy • Peninsular War – British & Spanish against Napoleon and his army (army declined by 300,000 men as a result) • Napoleon’s Grand Army (led invasion into Russia) – many weren’t from France and held little loyalty to Napoleon • Russians heard of Napoleon’s army advancing – practiced the scorched-earth policy (burned fields & killed livestock as they were retreating so as to not leave anything Napoleon and his army could eat)

3. Defeat in Russia • Battle of Borodino – Russians (suffered 44,000 casualties) retreated, Napoleon won (suffered 33,000 casualties) • Moscow was set aflame by the Russians as they retreated deeper into eastern Europe • By the time Napoleon reached Moscow, the Russians were gone, so he retreated and Alexander I led an attack on the Grand Army in which the Russians won • During retreat, many soldiers died from wounds, exhaustion, hunger and the blistering cold

4. A map of the invasion into Russia by Napoleon Bonaparte

5. Napoleon and his army retreat from Russia

6. Napoleon’s Defeat • Was weakened by Russians – other European powers joined forces against him in the Fourth Coalition • Austrian & Prussian soldier marched toward France – Prussian & Russian kings defeated Napoleon • Napoleon was banished to Elba • Managed to escape and make his way back to France where he took control for 100 days • British & Prussian forces defeated him yet again and exiled him to St. Helena, where he ended up dying

7. Before the invasion of Russia in 1812, The Russians and the French were respectful of each other. However, during this time, Russia was trading with the British, which the French didn’t like. They told the Russian czar of the time, Aleksandr I to stop the trade, but he refused. As a result, the French decided to invade Russia. Napoleon raised up an army made up of men that weren’t French, so they didn’t have a deep loyalty and faith in Napoleon. The Russians heard of Napoleon’s army advancing. They practiced the scorched-earth policy, burned fields & killed livestock as they were retreating so as to not leave anything Napoleon and his army could eat, before the invasion began. During the Battle of Borodino, the Rusoksians retreated because they lost. When Napoleon went to conquer Moscow, he was surprised to see the greatest city of Russia burned to a crisp. Napoleon stayed there for some time waiting for an apology of the Russians. None ever came and they decided to go back to France. During retreat, many soldiers died from wounds, exhaustion, hunger and the blistering cold. On the way back, Aleksandr I led an attack on the Grand Army in which the Russians won. • From 1808-1814, the French were busy fighting the Peninsular War, which involved Spain and Britain. As a result of the fighting and war, Napoleon lost 300,000 men and contributed heavily to his downfall. The British on the other hand, gained military prestige. During this time period, the French invaded Russian, where they were greatly weakened. A coalition of the other European forces converged on France and forced Napoleon to abdicate his throne. Napoleon was banished to Elba. He managed to escape, went back to France, raised an army, and ruled for another 100 days. The British army finally defeated him at Waterloo. Since the European nations didn’t want to take a second chance, they banished Napoleon to the St. Helena, where he ended up dying from natural causes.