Lyla Lindsey
The defeat of Napoleon's forces in 1805 led to a shift in the European balance of power. This prompted Austria and France to sign the Treaty of Pressburg on December 26, 1805, which ended Austrian participation in the war and reinforced earlier treaties between the two powers. The Treaty of Pressburg was signed after the Battle of Austerlitz, which was fought on December 2, 1805, and resulted in a decisive victory for Napoleon's French Empire against the Russo-Austrian army.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Treaty of Pressburg |
| Date | 26 December 1805 |
| Parties | Austria and France |
| Outcome | Austria ceded lands in Italy to France and lands in Germany to Napoleon's German allies; imposed an indemnity of 40 million francs on the defeated Habsburgs; allowed defeated Russian troops free passage through hostile territories and back to their home soil |
| Treaty Enforcer | Peace of Pressburg signed by the French and Austrians |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Treaty of Pressburg
The Treaty of Pressburg, also known as the Peace of Pressburg, was signed on 26 December 1805 between French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and Holy Roman Emperor Francis II (also Emperor of Austria). The treaty was signed in Pressburg, now Bratislava in Slovakia, following Napoleon's victory over the Russians and Austrians at the Battle of Austerlitz on 2 December of the same year.
The treaty imposed severe terms on Austria. Austria was forced to cede Venetia, Istria, and Dalmatia to Napoleon's Kingdom of Italy, as well as recognise the elevation of the electors of Bavaria and Württemberg to the rank of kings. Austria also ceded the Tyrol, Vorarlberg, and Augsburg to Bavaria, and yielded the Habsburg lands in Swabia to Württemberg and Baden. These concessions effectively ended the Holy Roman Empire.
The treaty also served to further Napoleon's policy of creating a ring of French client states beyond the Rhine, the Alps, and the Pyrenees. As such, the French Empire received Piedmont, Parma, and Piacenza, and Austria was completely excluded from influence in Italy.
As part of the treaty, Austria agreed to release Bavaria, Württemberg, and Baden from all feudal ties with the Holy Roman Empire, thus reducing Austrian influence in Germany. Additionally, Austria agreed to pay an indemnity of 40 million gold francs to France. As minor compensation, Napoleon allowed Austria to annex Salzburg, Berchtesgaden, and the estates of the Teutonic Order.
Within months of the signing of the treaty, Francis II renounced his title as Holy Roman Emperor, and the Confederation of the Rhine was created by Napoleon.
Austria's United Nations Membership: Explained
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Battle of Austerlitz
The Battle of Austerlitz, also known as the Battle of the Three Emperors, was one of the most important military engagements of the Napoleonic Wars. The battle took place on the 2nd of December 1805 near the town of Austerlitz in the Austrian Empire (now Slavkov u Brna in the Czech Republic). Around 158,000 troops were involved, of which around 24,000 were killed or wounded.
The battle was fought between the French army of Napoleon I and a Russian and Austrian army under the command of General Mikhail Kutuzov. Napoleon's forces had some 9,000 casualties, while the Russian and Austrian allied forces had about 15,000 casualties and 11,000 troops captured. The battle was a significant victory for Napoleon, as his 68,000 troops defeated almost 90,000 Russians and Austrians.
In the lead-up to the battle, Napoleon employed a strategy of deception, feigning weakness to lure the Allies into thinking that they were facing a weak army. He gave the impression that his army was in a pitiful state and desired a negotiated peace. He abandoned the dominant Pratzen Heights near Austerlitz and weakened his right flank, enticing the Allies to launch an assault. However, Napoleon had secretly positioned his forces within supporting distance, and his army was, in fact, formidable.
The battle itself took place southeast of the city of Brno, between that city and Austerlitz. The northern part of the battlefield was dominated by two hills, Santon Hill and Zuranz Hill, which overlooked the vital Olomouc/Brno road. The centrepiece of the area was the Pratzen Heights, a gently sloping hill. Napoleon recognised the importance of this position and decided to protect it, while the young Tsar ordered the Allied forces to withdraw from the Heights, which proved to be a critical mistake.
The Battle of Austerlitz brought the War of the Third Coalition to an end, with the Peace of Pressburg signed by the French and Austrians later in December 1805. However, these achievements did not establish a lasting peace on the continent, as Russia and Britain, whose armies protected Sicily from a French invasion, remained unmoved.
Establishing an NGO: Registering in Austria
You may want to see also
Explore related products
War of the Third Coalition
The War of the Third Coalition was a European conflict that lasted from 1805 to 1806 and was the first conflict of the Napoleonic Wars. During the war, France and its client states under Napoleon I and its ally Spain opposed an alliance, the Third Coalition, which was made up of the United Kingdom, the Austrian Empire, the Russian Empire, Naples, Sicily, and Sweden. Prussia remained neutral during the war.
The war was determined on the continent, and the major land operations that sealed the swift French victory involved the Ulm Campaign, a large wheeling manoeuvre by the Grande Armée lasting from late August to mid-October 1805 that captured an entire Austrian army. The Ulm Manoeuvre was well-executed, and on 20 October, 23,000 Austrian troops surrendered at Ulm, bringing the number of Austrian prisoners of the campaign to 60,000.
The decisive French victory came at the Battle of Austerlitz in early December 1805, which effectively brought the Third Coalition to an end. The battle occurred near the town of Austerlitz in the Austrian Empire (now Slavkov u Brna in the Czech Republic) and is often cited by military historians as one of Napoleon's tactical masterpieces. Around 158,000 troops were involved, 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 Peace of Pressburg was signed by the French and Austrians later in December 1805, with Austria ceding lands in Italy to France and in Germany to Napoleon's German allies. This treaty took Austria out of both the war and the Coalition, reinforcing earlier treaties between the two powers. However, the achievements at Austerlitz did not establish a lasting peace on the continent, as Russia and Britain continued their resistance against French invasion.
Austria's Evolution: Past, Present, and Future
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Napoleon's Grande Armée
The Grande Armée, or the "Great Army", was the name given to the army gathered by Napoleon in his campaigns across Europe. Originally formed in 1804 as L'Armée des côtes de l'Océan (Army of the Ocean Coasts), the Grande Armée was intended for the invasion of Britain, with a large military camp set up at the port of Boulogne. Between 150,000 and 200,000 soldiers were housed in the camp, receiving training in naval embarkment and disembarkment.
In 1805, the Grande Armée turned its sights eastwards to face the Austrian and Russian armies, who were preparing to invade France. The army was quickly ordered across the Rhine into southern Germany, leading to Napoleon's victories at Ulm and Austerlitz. The Ulm campaign, in particular, resulted in the capture of 60,000 Austrian prisoners, with only 2,000 French casualties. Vienna fell soon after, in November 1805, and the Peace of Pressburg was signed by the French and Austrians later that month, bringing an end to the War of the Third Coalition.
The Grande Armée was known for its innovative formations, tactics, logistics, and communications. It was made up of three combat arms: the artillery, the infantry, and the cavalry. Alongside these were an engineering corps, responsible for building bridges and installing fortifications, and a health service comprised of surgeons and doctors. The army was multinational, with Polish, Dutch, Italian, and Spanish regiments fighting alongside French units. By 1812, the Grande Armée had reached its peak, with over a million men, including 413,000 French soldiers and more than 600,000 foreign recruits.
However, the army was soon drastically reduced by skirmishes, disease, desertion, and long communication lines. During the campaign in Russia, the Grande Armée suffered greatly due to cold, starvation, and constant harassment by Cossacks and Russian partisans. Only 120,000 men survived, and the force would never regain its former strength. Napoleon led a new army in subsequent campaigns in Germany and France, but France found itself invaded on multiple fronts, and the Grande Armée would never be the same again.
Visa Credit Card Usage in Austria: What You Need to Know
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Russo-Austrian alliance
Following the defeat of an Austrian army at Ulm, Napoleon seized Vienna in November 1805. The Russians, who had been delayed, withdrew to the northeast to await reinforcements and link up with surviving Austrian units. Tsar Alexander I was appointed commander-in-chief of the combined Russo-Austrian force. The Russians and Austrians then converged, and the French, needing to force the Allies to battle, pursued them. However, realising that the French needed to do battle, Kutuzov, the Russian commander, decided to retreat.
The Battle of Austerlitz, also known as the Battle of the Three Emperors, took place near the town of Austerlitz in the Austrian Empire (now Slavkov u Brna in the Czech Republic) on 2 December 1805. It was one of the most important military engagements of the Napoleonic Wars, with around 158,000 troops involved, of which around 24,000 were killed or wounded. The battle is often cited as one of Napoleon's tactical masterpieces, and his victory brought the War of the Third Coalition to an end. The Peace of Pressburg was signed by the French and Austrians later that month, with Austria ceding Venice to Napoleon's Italian kingdom, Tirol to Bavaria, and other lands to Napoleon's clients.
In 1809, the Austrian Empire saw its chance to recover some of its former influence and invaded the Kingdom of Bavaria, a French ally. Napoleon beat the Austrian forces and occupied Vienna. The Austrian-led Fifth Coalition won a significant victory at Aspern-Essling but was quickly defeated at Wagram. The War of the Fifth Coalition was a European conflict that took place in 1809 as part of the Napoleonic Wars and the Coalition Wars. The main conflict took place in Central Europe between the Austrian Empire of Francis I and Napoleon's French Empire. The French were supported by their client states, while Austria was supported by the United Kingdom, Portugal, Spain, and the Kingdoms of Sardinia and Sicily, although the latter two took no part in the fighting.
In the lead-up to the War of the Third Coalition, Austria joined an alliance with Britain and Russia in April 1805, after the annexation of Genoa and the proclamation of Napoleon as King of Italy. Sweden entered the coalition in August, agreeing to lease Swedish Pomerania as a military base for British troops. The Austrians began the war by invading Bavaria in September 1805 with an army of about 70,000.
Get Your Austrian E-Card: A Simple Guide
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The Austrian meeting after Napoleon's defeat was called the Treaty of Pressburg.
The Treaty of Pressburg was signed on December 26, 1805.
The Treaty of Pressburg ended Austrian participation in the war and reinforced earlier treaties between Austria and France.
The War of the Third Coalition, which lasted from 1805 to 1806 and was the first conflict of the Napoleonic Wars.
The Battle of Austerlitz, also known as the Battle of the Three Emperors, was a significant victory for Napoleon against the Russians and Austrians. It occurred on December 2, 1805, and led to the Treaty of Pressburg.
