Section 5 The End of an Era

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Section 5 - The End of an Era Napoleon watched
the battle for the Russian city of Smolensk from
a chair outside his tent. As fires lit up the
walled city, he exclaimed "It's like Vesuvius
erupting. Don't you think this is a beautiful
sight? "Horrible, Sire," replied an aide. "Bah!"
snorted Napoleon. "Remember, gentlemen, what a
Roman emperor said The corpse of an enemy always
smells sweet In 1812, Napoleon pursued his dream
of empire by invading Russia. The campaign began
a chain of events that eventually led to his
downfall. Napoleon's final defeat brought an end
to the era of the French Revolution.
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I. Challenges to Napoleon's Empire
French armies spread the ideas of the revolution
across Europe and caused liberal reforms in the
lands they conquered
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I. Challenges to Napoleon's Empire
Many Europeans saw Napoleons armies as foreign
oppressors
Napoleon and his Staff
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I. Challenges to Napoleon's Empire
They resented the Continental System and
Napoleon's effort to impose French culture
Napoleon in His Study by
Jacques-Louis David, 1812
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I. Challenges to Napoleon's Empire
Throughout Europe, growing nationalism unleashed
revolts against France
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I. Challenges to Napoleon's Empire
When Spain resisted, French forces responded with
brutal repression - Spanish patriots began a
campaign of guerrilla warfare
El tris de Mayo, 1808 (The Third of May)
Francisco Goya
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I. Challenges to Napoleon's Empire
1809 - Napoleon again defeated Austria, divorced
his wife Josephine, and married Marie Louise,
daughter of the Hapsburg emperor
Divorce of Josephine, 1809
Marriage of Napoleon and Maria Louisa. 1810
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I. Challenges to Napoleon's Empire
The czar of Russia withdrew from the Continental
System and Napoleon invaded in 1812
Battle of Borodino, September 7, 1812
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I. Challenges to Napoleon's Empire
The Russians retreated, burning crops and
villages as they went - the "scorched earth"
policy
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I. Challenges to Napoleon's Empire
Napoleon entered Moscow in September, but unable
to supply his army through the winter, began a
retreat in October
Napoleon's retreat from Moscow (Adolph Northern)
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II. Downfall of Napoleon
The defeat resulted in an alliance between
Russia, Britain, Austria, and Prussia against
France
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II. Downfall of Napoleon
1813 - Napoleon was defeated in the Battle of
the Nations at Leipzig
Battle of Leipzig
October 14 - October 19, 1813
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II. Downfall of Napoleon
1814 - Napoleon abdicated and was sent into exile
on the island of Elba
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II. Downfall of Napoleon
Louis XVIII returned as king of France, but many
remained loyal to Napoleon
Louis XVIII, King of France (181424)
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II. Downfall of Napoleon
February, 1815 - Napoleon escaped from exile and
returned to France many soldiers joined his army
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II. Downfall of Napoleon
March 1815 - Louis XVIII fled as Napoleon
returned to Paris in triumph
Napoleon's Return from Elba
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II. Downfall of Napoleon
June 18,1815 - the French were defeated at the
Battle of Waterloo and Napoleon was again forced
into exile
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III. The Congress of Vienna
European leaders met at the Congress of Vienna to
restore stability and order
The Great Powers of Europe met at Vienna from
September 1, 1814, to June 9, 1815 to settle the
future boundaries of the continent
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III. The Congress of Vienna
Their chief goal was to create lasting peace,
establish a balance of power, and protect the
legitimacy of monarchs
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