Leslie Massey
The Napoleonic Wars, which lasted from 1803 to 1815, had a significant impact on Austria. During this period, Austria fought against Napoleon, except for a brief period between 1809 and 1813 when they were first allied with him during the invasion of Russia and then remained neutral during the early stages of the Sixth Coalition War. Napoleon's invasion of Austria in 1805 resulted in the capture of Vienna and the defeat of the Austrian army at Ulm, forcing Austria to make peace and cede territories to Napoleon's allies. Despite these setbacks, Austria continued to resist Napoleon, and in 1809, inspired by the Spanish resistance, they inflicted the first defeat on Napoleon in a major battle. However, Napoleon quickly regrouped and defeated the Austrians again, leading to further territorial losses. The Napoleonic Wars ended with Napoleon's abdication and exile in 1814, followed by his brief return to power in 1815. During the Napoleonic era, Austria experienced economic growth and prosperity, with an increasing population and urban expansion.
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What You'll Learn
Napoleon's invasion of Vienna
The Napoleonic Wars saw a series of conflicts between the French Empire and the forces of Austria, Britain, Prussia, Russia, and other nations. During this period, Napoleon invaded Vienna twice, in 1805 and 1809, as part of his campaigns against the Austrian Empire.
In 1805, Napoleon's army advanced towards Vienna, engaging and defeating Austrian forces along the way. The French Emperor surrounded an Austrian army at Ulm, forcing its surrender, and then continued on to Vienna. The Austrian army was inadequately equipped and poorly led, which contributed to its defeat. Napoleon captured Vienna in November 1805 and then moved into Moravia, where he faced a remnant of the Austrian army and oncoming Russian forces. On December 2, 1805, Napoleon won the famous Battle of Austerlitz, defeating the combined Russo-Austrian army. This victory led to the Treaty of Pressburg, signed on December 26, 1805, in which Austria ceded territories, including Venice to Napoleon's Italian kingdom and Tirol to Bavaria.
In 1809, inspired by the Spanish resistance to Napoleon, Austria once again went to war. Napoleon's army occupied Vienna in May 1809, but on May 21-22, Archduke Charles and the Austrian army inflicted Napoleon's first major defeat at the Battle of Aspern, across the Danube from Vienna. However, Napoleon quickly regrouped and defeated Archduke Charles at the Battle of Wagram in July 1809. The Treaty of Schönbrunn, signed in October 1809, resulted in significant territorial losses for the Austrian monarchy, but it was allowed to remain in existence.
The Napoleonic Wars had a significant impact on Austria, leading to territorial losses and contributing to the fall of the Holy Roman Empire. The wars also brought about economic growth and prosperity in the Austrian Empire, with urban expansion and a growing population.
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The Austrian army's defeat at Ulm
The Austrians had joined the Anglo-Russian alliance (Third Coalition) against Napoleon in August 1805. They planned to make Italy the main battleground and concentrated their forces there. However, on September 11, Baron Mack led a smaller force into Bavaria, which was allied with France. He positioned himself between Ulm and Günzburg on the upper Danube, expecting Napoleon to march through the Black Forest. Mack intended to wait for the Russians under Mikhail Kutuzov to join him, assuming Napoleon would have no more than 70,000 troops.
Napoleon, however, outmaneuvered the Austrians. He crossed the Rhine and then the Danube at Neuburg, Donauwörth, and Ingolstadt, cutting off Mack's retreat route eastward. Napoleon forced the Austrians back into the city of Ulm on October 15, and on October 16, French artillery fired on the town. Realizing his troops could not withstand a siege, Mack surrendered on October 20, with the Russians still about 100 miles away.
The defeat at Ulm was a significant loss for the Austrians. Between 50,000 and 60,000 Austrian prisoners were captured, while French losses were minimal. The surrender included 25,000 men, 18 generals, 65 guns, and 40 standards. Approximately 20,000 Austrians escaped, 10,000 were killed or wounded, and the rest were taken prisoner. The Battle of Ulm was a spectacular victory for Napoleon, showcasing his military genius and securing his conquest of Vienna, which he took in November 1805.
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The Treaty of Pressburg
The treaty was signed by Johann I Joseph, Prince of Liechtenstein, and the Hungarian Count Ignác Gyulay for the Austrian Empire, and Charles Maurice de Talleyrand for France. It established "peace and amity" and mandated significant territorial concessions by the Austrian Empire. Austria agreed to cede lands in Italy and southern Germany to France and Bavaria, respectively. These included Venice, which was given to Napoleon's Italian kingdom, and Tirol, which was given to Bavaria. Austria also renounced its claims on certain German states, including the King of Württemberg and the Elector of Baden, to whom the scattered Austrian holdings in Swabia were passed.
The treaty also recognised the independence of the Principality of Lucca and Piombino from the Holy Empire and ceded the former independent Free Imperial City of Augsburg to Bavaria. As compensation, the Austrian Empire annexed the Electorate of Salzburg, which had been under Habsburg rule since 1803. The treaty further recognised the kingly titles assumed by the Electors of Bavaria and Württemberg, foreshadowing the end of the Holy Roman Empire.
The Peace of Pressburg also included an indemnity of 40 million francs to be paid to France by the Emperor of Germany and Austria. This was to redeem all the contributions imposed on the different hereditary states occupied by the French army that had not yet been collected. The treaty effectively ended the Holy Roman Empire, and a few months after its signing, Francis II renounced his title as Holy Roman Emperor.
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Austria's economic growth post-Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars dominated Austrian foreign policy from 1804 to 1815, with the Austrian army being one of the most formidable forces the French had to face. The war severely overburdened the Austrian economy, making it greatly unpopular.
However, the Treaty of Pressburg, signed on 26 December 1805, provided Austria with plenty of time to strengthen its army and economy. The treaty, which was perceived as humiliating, forced Austria to cede large amounts of territory to Napoleon's German allies and the French Satellite Kingdom of Italy.
The Metternich era, from 1815 to 1848, was a period of stability and economic growth for the Austrian Empire. Despite having a major deficit following the Napoleonic Wars, the Austrian Empire maintained a stable economy and reached an almost balanced budget during this time. The population of Austria rose to 37.5 million by 1843, with urban expansion and the population of Vienna reaching 400,000.
The Austrian Empire, officially known as the Empire of Austria, was a multinational European great power from 1804 to 1867. It was the third most populous monarchy in Europe and the third-largest empire geographically. The Empire was proclaimed by Francis II in 1804 in response to Napoleon's declaration of the First French Empire, unifying all Habsburg possessions under one central government.
Overall, despite the initial economic burdens caused by the Napoleonic Wars, the Austrian Empire experienced economic growth and prosperity in the post-war period, particularly during the Metternich era.
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The Austrian-led Fifth Coalition
The War of the Austrian-led Fifth Coalition was a six-month conflict during the Napoleonic Wars in 1809. It was fought primarily in Central Europe between the First French Empire and its client states against the Austrian Empire, supported by the United Kingdom.
The Battle of Aspern-Essling was the first major defeat in Napoleon's career. On May 21, 1809, Charles ordered a general advance for 98,000 troops and 292 guns, organized into five columns. The initial attacks were poorly coordinated and failed, but later assaults succeeded in taking and holding the western portion of the village. The Austrians did not attack Essling, but their victory at Aspern proved that Napoleon could be defeated on the battlefield.
Napoleon quickly defeated Archduke Charles in the Battle of Wagram in July 1809, just a few miles from Aspern. The Treaty of Schönbrunn was regarded as harsh towards Austria, as they lost their Mediterranean ports and 20% of their population. Despite the eventual French victory, their defeat at Aspern-Essling showed that Napoleon could be defeated on the battlefield.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria fought against Napoleon throughout the Napoleonic Wars, except for a period between 1809 and 1813 when they were first allied with Napoleon during the invasion of Russia and then remained neutral during the early stages of the Sixth Coalition War. Napoleon defeated the Austrians in 1805, forcing them to surrender and cede territories to him and his German allies.
The Napoleonic Wars led to the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, of which Austria was a part. This resulted in the creation of the Austrian Empire, officially known as the Empire of Austria, which unified all Habsburg possessions under one central government. The Austrian Empire was the third most populous monarchy in Europe and the third largest in terms of geographical size.
Inspired by the Spanish resistance to Napoleon, Austrian leaders called on the people to go to war in 1809. On May 21-22, Archduke Charles and the Austrian army inflicted Napoleon's first defeat in battle. However, Napoleon quickly regrouped and defeated the Austrians in July in the Battle of Wagram.
