Lyla Lindsey
Austria and France were engaged in a conflict that lasted almost 23 years, during which they fought five wars, with Austria losing all but the last. Napoleon's strategic brilliance and military tactics led to many victories against the Austrians, including the Battle of Austerlitz, considered one of his greatest military triumphs. In this battle, Napoleon defeated both the Austrians and the Russians, forcing Austria to conclude peace and give up territories. Despite these defeats, Napoleon never sought to destroy the Austrian Empire or severely punish them, which may have been a strategic choice to avoid creating future enemies. The continuous conflict between the two nations and Napoleon's successes against Austria's armies provide context for why the Austrians may have been displeased with Napoleon.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Austria's continuous conflict with France | 23 years of almost continuous conflict (or preparation for conflict) |
| Number of wars between Austria and France | 5 wars in 14 years |
| Number of wars won by Austria | 1 |
| Number of troops involved in the Battle of Austerlitz | 158,000 |
| Number of troops killed or wounded in the Battle of Austerlitz | 24,000 |
| Number of guns captured by Napoleon at the Battle of Austerlitz | 38–100 |
| Number of Russians drowned at the Battle of Austerlitz | 200–2,000 |
| Number of troops involved in the Battle of Wagram | 25,000 Austrian infantrymen |
| Number of troops surrendered by Napoleon at the Battle of Wagram | 12,000 |
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What You'll Learn
Austria lost the Battle of Austerlitz in 1805
Austria's loss at the Battle of Austerlitz in 1805 was the culmination of a series of strategic miscalculations by Austrian foreign ministers and military leaders. Firstly, they incorrectly assumed that an alliance with Russia would deter Napoleon from attacking. This misjudgement was compounded by their expectation that Napoleon would march into Italy, leading them to position their largest force in the wrong location. As a result, Napoleon was able to quickly invade Germany and seize Vienna in November 1805.
The Austrian army was also inadequately equipped, insufficiently trained, and understrength. Archduke Charles, the brother of the Austrian Emperor, had attempted to reform the army by taking power away from the Hofkriegsrat, the military-political council. However, his reforms were not fully implemented, and he lost influence when Austria decided to go to war against his advice. Karl Mack, the new main commander, instituted last-minute infantry reforms that disrupted the cohesion of the troops without providing adequate officer training.
Napoleon, on the other hand, demonstrated brilliant strategy and tactics. He feigned weakness by abandoning dominant positions and weakening his right flank, luring the Allies into attacking where he wanted them to. He then deployed his forces effectively, advancing into the Marchfeld plain with his front line formed by the Corps of Masséna on the left, Oudinot in the centre, and Davout on the right, with cavalry screening the flanks.
The Austrian Advance Guard, under Feldmareschalleutnant Nordmann, supported by Feldmareschalleutnant Klenau's VI Korps, totalling 25,000 infantrymen, were no match for the French forces. The Austrian infantry formation, which had proven effective against cavalry, was highly vulnerable to artillery fire, leading to mounting casualties. Napoleon's forces scored a decisive victory, inflicting around 15,000 casualties on the Russo-Austrian army and capturing about 11,000 troops.
The defeat at Austerlitz forced Austria to make peace with France and cede significant territories, including Venice and Tirol, to Napoleon and his German allies. This loss had far-reaching consequences, including the eventual exile of Napoleon to Elba in 1814 and the end of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806.
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Napoleon invaded Vienna in 1805 and 1809
In 1805, Napoleon invaded Vienna as part of the Napoleonic Wars, which saw a series of conflicts fought between the French First Republic and First French Empire under Napoleon Bonaparte, and a coalition of European countries. The invasion of Vienna in 1805 was precipitated by the Austrian invasion of Bavaria, which was a French ally. Napoleon surrounded the Austrian army at the city of Ulm, forcing them to surrender, and then advanced to Vienna, which he occupied on 13 November 1805. He then moved into Moravia, where he defeated the Austrian army and the oncoming Russians at the famous Battle of Austerlitz on 2 December 1805. Austria was forced to sign the Treaty of Pressburg on 26 December 1805, ceding territories including Venetia and the Tyrol.
In 1809, Napoleon again invaded Vienna. In 1808 and 1809, Austria had been reforming its military and by 1809 had built a relatively modern and formidable army. In April 1809, without a declaration of war, the main Austrian army crossed the Inn River into Bavaria, and on 12 May, Napoleon entered Vienna. The Austrians inflicted Napoleon's first defeat on the field of battle at Aspern, just across the Danube from Vienna, on 21-22 May 1809. However, Napoleon regrouped and defeated the Austrian army at the Battle of Wagram in July 1809. The Treaty of Schönbrunn was signed in October 1809, and the monarchy surrendered a significant amount of territory. The Treaty of Vienna, signed on 14 October 1809, formally ceded large swathes of Austrian territory to the French Empire, including Salzburg and the upper valley of the Inn, and Trieste, Carniola, and Croatia, which became part of the Illyrian Provinces.
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Austria was forced to surrender at Ulm
Austria's surrender at Ulm was the result of a series of strategic miscalculations and Napoleon's brilliant military manoeuvring. The Battle of Ulm, which took place between September 25 and October 20, 1805, was a major strategic triumph for Napoleon and his Grand Army of approximately 210,000 men. The Austrian army, under the command of Baron Karl Mack von Leiberich, consisted of about 72,000 troops.
The Austrians had joined the Anglo-Russian alliance (Third Coalition) against Napoleon in August 1805 and planned to make Italy the main battleground, concentrating their forces there. However, Napoleon quickly changed his plans and marched his army towards Germany when he learned of the Austrian and Russian preparations to invade France. This caught the Austrians off guard, as they expected Napoleon to invade Italy, where Archduke Charles had gathered the largest Habsburg force.
General Mack, anticipating support from the Bavarians, positioned his army around Ulm, intending to defend the Black Forest and await the Russian army's arrival. Napoleon, determined to prevent his enemies from uniting, swiftly moved his massive army of 200,000 troops to encircle Mack's force. Using Marshal Murat's cavalry and the terrain to his advantage, Napoleon stealthily encircled Mack's position without the Austrians' knowledge.
By the time the Austrians realized they were surrounded, it was too late. Their attempts to break out were unsuccessful, and the scattered units that escaped were unable to regroup and communicate effectively. Napoleon's strategic envelopment of Ulm forced the Austrians to surrender without a major battle. Mack's entire force and the city of Ulm surrendered on October 20, 1805, with the remaining 27,000 soldiers laying down their arms. This surrender, known as the Convention of Ulm, was a significant victory for Napoleon, who achieved it with minimal casualties and through superior strategic manoeuvring.
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Napoleon defeated Archduke Charles at Wagram in 1809
The Battle of Wagram, which took place on July 5–6, 1809, was a significant military engagement during the Napoleonic Wars. It pitted Emperor Napoleon's French and allied army, numbering around 154,000 to 178,400 men, against the Austrian army led by Archduke Charles of Austria-Teschen, with approximately 128,968 to 158,000 troops. The battle was fought on the Marchfeld plain, located northeast of Vienna, and resulted in a decisive victory for Napoleon, forcing Austria to sign an armistice and eventually conclude the Treaty of Schönbrunn in October 1809.
In the lead-up to the battle, Napoleon had suffered a surprise defeat at the hands of Archduke Charles in the Battle of Aspern-Essling in May 1809. This setback motivated Napoleon to regroup and prepare for a counter-offensive, amassing a substantial force of over 150,000 men near Vienna. The Austrian forces, despite their excellent training and individual unit prowess, were primarily inferior to the French at the multi-regimental level. Archduke Charles, a top European general, understood the strategic importance of the upcoming battle and made considerable efforts to rebuild his army.
The battle commenced on July 5 when Napoleon crossed the Danube River with the majority of his forces during the night and launched a series of attacks on the thinly spread-out Austrian positions. The Austrians, led by Charles, held a naturally strong position, and despite initial setbacks, managed to regain the upper hand, forcing Napoleon to retreat. However, on July 6, Napoleon launched a main attack against the enemy's left flank, utilizing the powerful III Corps under Maréchal Davout. This assault compromised the Austrian position on the Wagram plateau and forced them to retreat northwest, away from potential reinforcements.
The Battle of Wagram was the largest battle in European history at the time, and its outcome had significant consequences. The victory for Napoleon led to the breakup of the Fifth Coalition, the Austrian and British-led alliance against France. It also resulted in Austria surrendering more territory in the Treaty of Schönbrunn, although the monarchy was allowed to remain in existence. Napoleon's defeat of Archduke Charles at Wagram in 1809 was a pivotal moment in the Napoleonic Wars, showcasing the Emperor's military prowess and dealing a significant blow to the Austrian forces.
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Austria lost all but one of the five wars fought against Napoleon
Austria's conflict with Napoleon dates back to the Napoleonic Wars. In 1805, the Austrians took the field against the French, but their army was inadequately equipped, insufficiently trained, and indifferently led. This war arose from miscalculations by Austrian foreign ministers, who believed that an alliance with Russia would deter Napoleon from invading the eastern empires. However, Napoleon surprised them by marching his army into Germany, outmaneuvering the Austrians.
Napoleon demonstrated his military prowess in the Battle of Ulm, where he surrounded and compelled an Austrian army to surrender. He then advanced to Vienna, capturing it in November 1805. In Moravia, northeast of Vienna, Napoleon encountered a remnant of the Austrian army and oncoming Russians. He defeated both forces in the renowned Battle of Austerlitz on December 2, 1805, resulting in the Treaty of Pressburg. Through this treaty, Austria ceded territories, including Venice to Napoleon's Italian kingdom and Tirol to Bavaria.
In 1809, inspired by the Spanish resistance to Napoleon, Austria's Graf von Stadion appealed to his people to go to war. Despite initial success, with Archduke Charles inflicting Napoleon's first battlefield defeat at the Battle of Aspern, the French emperor regrouped and defeated the Austrians in the Battle of Wagram in July 1809. This led to the Treaty of Schönbrunn, where the Austrian monarchy surrendered significant territory but preserved its existence.
The War of Liberation saw Austria assume a leading role in the allied forces against Napoleon. However, Austria's focus remained on countering Russian ambitions, and they eventually participated in Napoleon's defeat and exile to Elba in 1814. During the subsequent congress in Vienna, Austria relinquished claims to certain territories while regaining others, including lands in the Adriatic and Italy.
Overall, Austria's encounters with Napoleon during the Napoleonic Wars resulted in significant territorial losses and military defeats, contributing to their dissatisfaction and desire for retribution.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria and France had a period of almost continuous conflict from 1790 to 1814. During this time, Austria and France fought five wars, with Napoleon defeating the Austrians in all but the last.
The first war between Austria and Napoleon was the War of the First Coalition, which lasted from 1795 to 1797. Prussia and Spain dropped out in 1795, leaving Austria to carry the brunt of the struggle with only some help from Britain.
The last war between the two powers was the War of Liberation, which ended in 1814 with Napoleon's defeat and exile to the island of Elba.
The Battle of Austerlitz, also known as the Battle of the Three Emperors, was a famous military engagement that took place on December 2, 1805. It was one of Napoleon's greatest tactical victories, with around 158,000 troops involved and 24,000 casualties. The battle ended in a decisive French victory, leading to the Peace of Pressburg and the creation of the Confederation of the Rhine.
The Battle of Wagram took place in July 1809 and was the first time Napoleon suffered a defeat on the field of battle. Despite this setback, Napoleon quickly regrouped and defeated the Austrian army led by Archduke Charles, forcing them to surrender more territory.
