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War of the 6th Coalition
War of the 6th Coalition, started after Napoleon's disastrous retreat from Russia. This war conprises, the retreat from Moscow, the Geman campaign up to the defeat of Leipzig. This resulted on the Congress of Gotha. -
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Battle of the Berezina
French military defeat during the retreat from Moscow. The French troops tried to cross the Berezina river, but met the Russian army. The battle itself was a stalemate as Napoleon managed to cross, but about half of his army perished. -
End of the Battle of the Berezina
Napoleon managed to cross the Berezina river, though about half of his army was lost. -
Battle of Leipzig - Day 1
Terrible fightings near the town of Wachau, Liebertwolkwitz and Möckern, leading to a partial defeat of French troops. Napoleon is cornered near Leipzig, surrounded by enemy troops. -
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Battle of Leipzig (aka. Battle of the Nations; Battle to end all Battles; the Great Humiliation).
France vs. Prussia, Austria, Russia and Sweden. After a tremendous battle the first day, French troops had to regroup in the South West of the City of Leipzig. Because of Marechal Blücher responded feirily to King Bernadotte's apprehension, the coalition managed to surround Napoleon's position and cut any possible way out of Leipzig (October 17-19). Napoleon officially surrendered after three days of seige on October 21 1813, submitting to a kind of different version of the Frankfurt proposals. -
Battle of Leipzig - Days 2, and 3
Allied troops manage to completely surround Napoleon. Both sides recieved reinforcements, but the Allies received much more (140 000, notably Benningsen and Bernadotte's troops) than the French (14 000). During days 3 and 4 of the battle, some troops of Marechal Blücher fought on the other side of the Pleisse against the french rear-guard, in order to besiege Napoleon. Austrian and prussian troops took the French in sandwich in Lindenau, which made all attempts to build bridges unsuccessful. -
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Battle of Leipzig - Regrouping and Surrounding of Liepzig
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Battle of Leipzig - Days 4, 5 and 6
After the surrounding of the city of Leipzig, the bettle transformed in a siege. While soldiers crammed in the alleys of the city, sporadic fighting happened in the suburbs of the city. About 50 000 French soldiers (among them Saxons and Württembergers) surrundered to the forces of the coalition. With a way out being cut by autstro prussian troops that blocaded any possible crossing of the Pleisse, Napoleon considered accepting the Frankfurt proposals to avoid any further harm to his soldiers. -
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Battle of Leipzig - Siege and Surrender of Napoleon
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Battle of Leipzig - Final day - Napoleon's surrender
After a hopeless assault given on Bernadotte's troops, most soldiers were caught in a flight and desperately tried to swim across the Pleisse, only to be taken prisoner by austro-prussian troops or to die from drowning or from the bullets of the coalition soldiers. At sunset, Napoleon, accompanied by Murat, Poniatowski, Marmont, Macdonald, Drouot and Lauriston, descended the streets of the city, the desolated battlefield to surrender before the Emperors, Kings and generals of the 6th Coalition. -
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Congress of Gotha
After the capture of Napoleon, the Coalition meet in the Freidenstein Palace in Gotha, to discuss the terms of Napoleon's official surrender. The discussions on the New European Order happened just afterwards, since all imperial/royal/princely heads were gathered. This meeting ended up in the constitution of the Gotha era, where every international decision was taken by the Great European Powers. Because Napoleon returned to the French throne, the USA remained at war witht he United Kingdom. -
Congress of Gotha - Napoleon's throne maintained
During the negociations, Napoleon managed to pressure the 6th Coalition's leaders to maintain his throne. He threatened the Coalition's leaders to order Soult to continue the Spanish campaign, and setting up a new army to march on Gotha. Seeing it as a major threat, the Coalition leaders accepted, except Austria. The coalition went through, and Austria understood that this concession could make Napoleon lose its grip on Italy. Soult stopped the Spanish Campaign and occupied Catalunia.