Austria's Battle: Napoleon's Downfall

The Battle of Austerlitz in 1805 was a famous victory for Napoleon, who defeated the Austrian army and the oncoming Russians. However, Napoleon's invasion of Vienna and subsequent defeat of the Austrian army led to Austria concluding peace and giving up Venice to Napoleon's Italian kingdom. Napoleon's forces were dwindling and he was forced to send Marshal Michel Ney and general Auguste Frédéric Louis Viesse de Marmont to the Tyrol to prevent an offensive comeback by Archduke Charles of Austria. By 1815, Napoleon's list of enemy countries had grown to include England, Austria, Prussia, and Russia. This led to the Battle of Waterloo, which was a spark that ignited the downfall of Napoleon.

Napoleon's dwindling numbers

Napoleon's numbers were already heavily outnumbered by the end of November 1805, with 50,000 men against 86,000. He knew that Prussia was waiting for an opportunity to join the coalition against him. Napoleon had to send Marshal Michel Ney and General Auguste Frédéric Louis Viesse de Marmont to the Tyrol to prevent an offensive comeback by Archduke Charles of Austria, who had previously battled with Marshal André Masséna in Italy. He also had to do without Marshal Charles Augereau, who was assigned to keep an eye on Archduke John, who was busy raising troops in Bohemia. Marshal Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte was stationed in Bohemia, and Marshal Louis-Nicolas Davout was in Pressburg (now Bratislava). Both were called back just before the battle.

Napoleon's forces had suffered their first defeat on the field of battle at Aspern, across the Danube from Vienna, in May 1809. Although the Austrians did not take advantage of this victory, Napoleon was forced to regroup and eventually defeated Archduke Charles in July in the Battle of Wagram, just a few miles from Aspern.

The Battle of Austerlitz

In the lead-up to the battle, Napoleon had advanced into Austria and taken Vienna in November 1805. He then moved into Moravia, where he encountered a remnant of the Austrian army and the oncoming Russians. Despite the odds, Napoleon's forces were victorious, and Austria was forced to conclude peace immediately with the Treaty of Pressburg on 26 December 1805. As part of this treaty, Austria ceded Venice to Napoleon's Italian kingdom, Tirol to Bavaria, and several other lands to Napoleon's clients.

The Treaty of Pressburg

By 1815, Napoleon's list of enemy countries had grown to include England, Austria, Prussia, and Russia. These four countries braced themselves for a war with Napoleon's forces. Napoleon attempted to catch them by surprise by invading Belgium, but this sparked the Battle of Waterloo, which ultimately led to his downfall.

The Battle of Aspern

The battle was fought between France and Austria on the banks of the Danube around the two small towns of Aspern and Essling. The Austrian army, led by Archduke Charles, descended upon Napoleon and his 22,000 soldiers. However, during the night, reinforcements arrived for the French, and the battle continued the next day. The fighting was fierce, with casualties estimated to be between 20,000 and 23,000 killed and wounded, and 3,000 captured. Among the French casualties was one of Napoleon's ablest field commanders and closest friends, Marshal Jean Lannes. The Austrian losses were comparable, with 19,000 killed and wounded, and 700 captured.

Despite the heavy losses, Napoleon did not admit defeat. He brought his troops back across the Danube and regrouped. In July, he defeated Archduke Charles in the Battle of Wagram, just a few miles from Aspern.

The Battle of Waterloo

Napoleon's 72,000 French troops were pitted against the Duke of Wellington's combined Allied army of 68,000 British, Dutch, Belgian and German soldiers, aided by 45,000 Prussians under Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher. The French Emperor had escaped from exile in March 1815 and returned to power. He decided to go on the offensive, hoping to win a quick victory that would tear apart the coalition of European armies formed against him.

Napoleon's marshals, including Michel Ney, failed to eliminate either enemy while they were separated. After the French defeated the Prussians at Ligny and held Wellington at Quatre-Bras in secondary battles on 16 June, Napoleon's forces were unable to capitalise on their advantage.

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