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The Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) were a series of global conflicts fought between the French First Republic and First French Empire under Napoleon Bonaparte, and a range of European coalitions. Austria suffered a series of defeats during this period, including the loss of Venice to Napoleon's Italian kingdom, Tirol to Bavaria, and other lands to Napoleon's clients. The Austrian army was often inadequately equipped and poorly led, and they faced a formidable opponent in Napoleon, who was known for his brilliant strategic moves. Despite their determination to recover lost territories, the Austrians faced significant losses in battles such as Wagram, where they sustained around 74,000 casualties, and Austerlitz, where they lost to a numerically superior force.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Austrian army size in 1805 | 70,000 |
| Number of casualties inflicted by Napoleon on the Austro-Russian army at Austerlitz in 1805 | 25,000 |
| Number of casualties suffered by Napoleon at Austerlitz in 1805 | <7,000 |
| Number of casualties at the Battle of Wagram in 1809 | 74,000 |
| Number of casualties suffered by the French and their allies on the first day of the Battle of Wagram in 1809 | 11,000 |
| Number of casualties suffered by the Austrian Advance Guard at the Battle of Wagram in 1809 | 6,000 |
| Percentage of the Austrian Empire's subjects lost after the Treaty of Schönbrunn | 1/6 |
| Number of men added to the coalition armies in Germany by the two principal Austrian armies in 1813 | 300,000 |
| Number of front-line soldiers in the German theatre | 800,000 |
| Number of soldiers in the strategic reserve formed to support front-line operations | 350,000 |
| Number of imperial forces in the region under Napoleon's direct command | 250,000 |
| Number of imperial forces in the region under Nicolas Charles Oudinot's command | 120,000 |
| Number of imperial forces in the region under Davout's command | 30,000 |
| Total number of dead, both military and civilian, in the Napoleonic Wars | 3,250,000-6,500,000 |
| Number of French dead in Russia in 1812 | 500,000+ |
| Number of French dead in Iberia between 1808 and 1814 | 250,000-300,000 |
| Number of French dead in the German campaign of 1813 | 150,000-200,000 |
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What You'll Learn
The Battle of Austerlitz (1805)
The Battle of Austerlitz, also known as the Battle of the Three Emperors, took place on 2 December 1805. It was one of the most important military engagements of the Napoleonic Wars and one of Napoleon's greatest victories. The battle occurred near the town of Austerlitz in Moravia (now Slavkov u Brna in the Czech Republic), and involved around 158,000 troops, of which around 24,000 were killed or wounded.
Napoleon's 68,000 troops defeated almost 90,000 Russians and Austrians under General Mikhail Kutuzov. The battle was the result of Napoleon's march into Germany, which had caught the Austrians by surprise, as they had expected him to go to Italy. The Austrian army was inadequately equipped, insufficiently trained, and poorly led. Napoleon, on the other hand, executed a brilliant strategic move, feigning weakness to lure the Allies into thinking that they were facing a weak army. He purposely weakened and spread out his right flank to entice as many enemy units to that side of the battlefield as possible. The Allied army took the bait and launched a series of attacks against the French right flank. However, Napoleon's plan was to hold the right flank just long enough to draw in most of the Allied troops, before storming the Pratzen Heights in the centre and breaking their line.
The victory at Austerlitz brought the War of the Third Coalition to an end, with the Peace of Pressburg signed by the French and Austrians later that month. Austria was forced to make peace with France and give up Venice to Napoleon's Italian kingdom, Tirol to Bavaria, and a number of other lands to Napoleon's clients. The battle also kept Prussia temporarily out of the anti-French alliance.
Despite their losses at Austerlitz, the Austrians continued to resist Napoleon. In 1809, Archduke Charles and the Austrian army inflicted the first defeat Napoleon suffered on the field of battle at Aspern. However, Napoleon regrouped and defeated Archduke Charles in the Battle of Wagram. Austria surrendered more territory at the Treaty of Schönbrunn, but the monarchy remained in existence.
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Loss of territory
Austria experienced significant territorial losses during the Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815), a series of global conflicts fought between the French First Republic and Empire under Napoleon Bonaparte and various coalitions of European nations.
One of the earliest losses for Austria came in December 1805, when they were forced to sign the Treaty of Pressburg, ceding Venice to Napoleon's Italian kingdom, Tirol to Bavaria, and other lands to Napoleon's clients. This treaty was a result of Austria's defeat at the hands of Napoleon at the Battle of Austerlitz, where Napoleon crushed a numerically superior Austro-Russian force, inflicting 25,000 casualties while sustaining fewer than 7,000 himself.
In 1809, Austria attempted to recover some of its lost territories by invading the Kingdom of Bavaria, a French ally. However, Napoleon quickly responded and defeated the Austrian forces, occupying Vienna. This led to the Treaty of Schönbrunn, where the Austrian monarchy surrendered a significant portion of its territory, resulting in the loss of one-sixth of its subjects and rendering it landlocked until the German Campaign of 1813.
The Battle of Wagram, which was a part of this conflict, resulted in high casualties for both sides, with 74,000 killed or wounded. Despite Napoleon ultimately winning this battle, the Austrian resistance was fierce, and the casualties on both sides were nearly equal. This battle shattered Austrian morale, leading to their eventual surrender and territorial concessions.
The Napoleonic Wars also saw Austria lose influence and territory to France in Eastern Europe, with Napoleon defeating the Third Coalition and establishing client states in the region. Additionally, the wars resulted in a general reduction of Austrian influence on the continent, as they were repeatedly defeated and forced to cede power to the French Empire.
It is worth noting that despite these losses, Austria continued to resist and played a role in the eventual defeat of Napoleon, particularly during the War of the Sixth Coalition and the German Campaign of 1813, where they contributed significant forces to the coalition against Napoleon.
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High number of casualties
The Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) were a series of global conflicts fought between the French First Republic and First French Empire under Napoleon Bonaparte, and a varying array of European coalitions. Austria suffered a high number of casualties during this period.
In the Battle of Austerlitz (2 December 1805), Napoleon defeated a superior Austro-Russian force, inflicting 25,000 casualties on the enemy while sustaining fewer than 7,000 in his own army. This battle is considered Napoleon's greatest victory. The Austrians, led by Karl Mack von Leiberich, had invaded Bavaria in September 1805 with an army of about 70,000. However, at Ulm, Napoleon surrounded and forced the surrender of Mack's army without significant losses to the French.
In the Battle of Wagram (1809), the Austrian casualties were only slightly greater than those of the French and their allies, but the defeat shattered Austrian morale. The two-day battle saw 74,000 casualties and was particularly bloody due to the use of 800 artillery pieces and 200,000 rounds of ammunition on a densely packed battlefield. The Treaty of Schönbrunn that followed resulted in the loss of one-sixth of the Austrian Empire's subjects and some territories, leaving it landlocked until the German Campaign of 1813.
In addition to these major battles, the Austrians were defeated in several other engagements, including Jemappes, Wattignies, Geisberg, Touroing, Montenotte, Dego, Lodi, Lonato, Castiglione, Caliano, Bassano, Arcola, Rivoli, Dottingen, and Montebello. In these battles, they lost 10,000 or more troops, with other battles resulting in tens of thousands of casualties.
Despite these heavy losses, the Austrians persevered and continued to fight the French. They improved over time, and from 1809 onwards, casualties were more evenly matched, even if Austria mostly lost. The Austrian generals Schwarzenberg and Prince Charles are particularly noted for their excellence, with the latter being the first to defeat Napoleon in a fair field battle.
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Poor leadership
One notable example of poor leadership was the Battle of Austerlitz in 1805. The Austrian statesmen and foreign ministers made a critical error by misjudging Napoleon's intentions. They believed that their alliance with Russia would deter Napoleon from attacking. However, Napoleon marched his army into Germany, catching the Austrians off guard. This led to the famous Battle of Austerlitz, where Austria and Russia suffered a crushing defeat, resulting in significant casualties and the immediate conclusion of peace by Austria.
Archduke Charles, a prominent Austrian military leader, also made several strategic mistakes. During the Battle of Wagram in 1809, he failed to capitalise on an initial victory at Aspern and retreated north of the Danube. Napoleon quickly regrouped and defeated Archduke Charles in July, resulting in substantial territorial losses for the Austrian monarchy.
The Austrian army was often inadequately equipped, insufficiently trained, and poorly led. This was evident in their invasion of Bavaria in 1805, where they faced Napoleon's forces with an ill-prepared army. Napoleon surrounded and forced the surrender of Karl Mack von Leiberich's army without incurring significant losses.
Additionally, the Austrian high command failed to adapt to the evolving nature of warfare during the Napoleonic era. They struggled to match Napoleon's strategic brilliance and tactical innovations, such as the effective use of artillery and infantry tactics. The Austrian army's leadership lacked the strategic foresight and tactical prowess necessary to counter Napoleon's dynamic military strategies.
Austria's losses during the Napoleonic Wars were also influenced by the inconsistent quality of their generals. While they had some competent leaders like Schwarzenberg and Prince Charles, who scored notable victories, there were also instances of ineffective command. This inconsistency in leadership contributed to their overall losses and struggles against Napoleon's formidable military machine.
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Treaty of Schönbrunn (1809)
The Treaty of Schönbrunn, also known as the Treaty of Vienna, was signed between France and Austria at Schönbrunn Palace near Vienna on 14 October 1809. The treaty officially ended France's war with Austria, marking the end of the Fifth Coalition during the Napoleonic Wars. Austria had been defeated at the Battle of Wagram on 5–6 July, and the treaty imposed harsh peace terms on the nation.
Under the terms of the treaty, Austria recognised Napoleon's previous conquests and the rule of his brother Joseph Bonaparte as King of Spain. Additionally, Austria ceded Salzburg to Bavaria, West Galicia to the Duchy of Warsaw, the Tarnopol district to the Russian Empire, and Trieste and Croatia south of the Sava River to France. Austria also paid a large indemnity to France and agreed to reduce its army to 150,000 men, although this promise was not fulfilled.
The Graz Schlossberg fortress, which had resisted French occupation, was demolished as part of the treaty. Austria was also required to implement Napoleon's Continental System, as Britain remained at war with France. The treaty was signed just a day after Napoleon narrowly escaped an assassination attempt by 17-year-old Friedrich Staps during a military parade.
The territories ceded by Austria included not only Salzburg and West Galicia but also parts of Upper Austria beyond the Danube, such as Weissenkirch, Wedersdorff, and Muckenhoffen. Additionally, the treaty ceded territories to the King of Saxony, including the villages of Guntersdorff, Taubantranke, and Gerlochsheim, as well as the whole of Western or New Galicia, to be united with the Duchy of Warsaw.
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Frequently asked questions
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of global conflicts fought between the French First Republic and a fluctuating array of European coalitions. While the exact number of casualties is hard to pinpoint, it is estimated that Austria lost at least 250,000 soldiers during the Napoleonic Wars.
Austria lost huge chunks of territory during the Napoleonic Wars. In the Treaty of Pressburg, signed on December 26, 1805, Austria gave up Venice to Napoleon's Italian kingdom, Tirol to Bavaria, and a number of other lands to Napoleon's clients. In 1809, Austria lost one-sixth of its empire's subjects and some territories in the Treaty of Schönbrunn.
I could not find direct evidence of the economic losses Austria suffered during the Napoleonic Period. However, it is safe to assume that the country incurred significant economic costs due to the wars, including the cost of maintaining and equipping the Austrian army, which was inadequately equipped and insufficiently trained at the start of the wars.
