Conflicts

The battles fought from 1799-1815 between France and several European nations are already historically known as the Napoleonic Wars where Napoleon stood out of the crowd. These military confrontations were a continuation of war in Europe held by France during the French Revolution (1789-1799). Napoleon spent a year developing his military tactics in provincial garrisons such as Valence and Auxonne.

The First Coalition
It was led between the years 1793-1797 in northern Italy where France confronted an alliance consisting of many European countries. In less than a year, Napoleon had defeated the Austrian forces, superior in number. A year later Napoleon was given an expedition to conquer Egypt in order to get new routes to India, however the invasion failed and Napoleon was sent back to France.

The second coalition
That try on conquering Egypt is known as the second coalition where France, again, battled against Russia, Britain, Austria, the kingdom of Naples, Portugal and the Ottoman Empire. These battles were took place in northern Italy in late 1798 and in Switzerland next year. French were defeated by the Austrian and Russian in the battles of Magnano, Cassano, Trebbia, and Novi.
Despite French were defeated, the outcome was more favorable to them because French troops led by general Andre Massena defeated the Russian troops on 26 September. The Russians withdrew from the Second Coalition on October 22 citing as reason the lack of cooperation by the Austrians.
When Napoleon returned to France from Egypt in October 1799, he offered peace to the Coalition, however this was rejected. Napoleon continued his attacks against Austria with a new and extended army of 40,000 in the battle of Marengo. Meanwhile, Moreau also attacked the Austrians from the south of Germany in the battle of Hohenlinden. Both French armies defeated the Austrians forces.
Because of French victories, Austrians were obligated to sign The Treaty of Luneville in 1801, making many concessions on benefice of France. Another treaty was signed next year by Britain: Peace of Amiens with France.
However, the Peace of Amiens turned out to be a bad thing. There was a conflict in order to get the position of the Island of Malta. Austria, Russia and Sweden joined the conflict to support Britain and Spain did the same to support France. This was the beginning of The Third Coalition.

The Third Coalition

Napoleon quickly tried to fight against the new coalition that was formed leaded by Britain. States such as Bavaria, Württemberg and Baden allied themselves to France. Napoleon defeated the Austrian forces at Ulm, captured 23,000 prisoners and then marched his troops along the Danube and conquered Vienna. Russia, again, supported the Austrians, although the alliance was defeated in the battle of Austerlitz. For the second time, Austrian had to sign a treaty: Treaty of Pressburg (1805).

The Confederation of the Rhine

This confederation was eventually formed by all German states except Austria, Prussia, Brunswick and Hesse on 12 July 1806. However, the successes on the continent were largely offset by the defeat that the British Admiral Horatio Nelson inflicted on the joint force of French and Spanish fleet off Cape Trafalgar on October 21, 1805. The British naval superiority made it difficult to implement the scheme scupper Continental and European economic policy of Bonaparte.

The Fourth Coalition

Prussia, after the rise of French power in Germany, he joined the Fourth Coalition composed of Britain, Russia and Sweden in 1806. Bonaparte crushed the Prussians at the Battle of Jena on 14 October of that year and took Berlin. Then, he defeated the Russians at the Battle of Friedland and forced Alexander to make peace I.

The Battle of Friedland (box Carle Vernet)

Prussia was facing territory difficulties, Russia had terms to follow according to the Treaty of Tilsit and in order to avoid the crowning of the heir of Charles XIII, Bernardotte, Russia and Denmark launched a military action against Sweden known as The Battle of Friedland.

Anti-Napoleonic Nationalism

In 1808, Napoleon dominated Europe, with the exception of Russia and Great Britain. The main reasons for the subsequent decline were the rise of nationalistic spirit in several European nations defeated and the continuing opposition of Great Britain.

The first revolution was the country they were allied to: Spain. Spanish wanted back his king, Charles IV, who was dethroned by Napoleon and instead was put Joseph Bonaparte. War broke out Spanish Independence (1808-1814) among the French, trying to restore Joseph Bonaparte on the throne, and the Spanish, backed by British forces commanded by Arthur Colley Wellesley, Duke of Wellington's.

Battle of Wagram (box Carle Vernet)

The French were defeated, and the number of casualties it suffered severely disadvantaged when Napoleon was forced to face their new enemy's eastern and northern Europe. His first opponent was Austria, which joined Britain to form the Fifth Coalition in 1809. The French emperor defeated the Austrians at Wagram (July 1809) and forced them to sign the Treaty of Vienna, by which Austria lost Salzburg. Also divorced his first wife and married the daughter of Francis II of Austria, in the vain hope that this country did not participate in new coalitions against him.

The defeat of Napoleon

In 1812, France and Russia fought because Alejandro I refused to apply the Continental System. Since most of his men were in Spain, Napoleon invaded Russia. He defeated the Russians at Borodino and conquered Moscow on September 14, 1812. The Russians invaded the town, preventing the French troops there to establish winter quarters. They left Russia and penetrated into Germany, but most of the men died along the way from the cold, hunger. The Russian Empire then joined the Fifth Coalition, which also formed part of Prussia, Britain and Sweden. He won his last major victory at the Battle of Dresden, where the French army defeated the combined forces of Austria, Prussia and Russia on August 27, 1813. However, during the month of October, Napoleon was forced to retreat over the Rhine. Russian armies, Austrians and Prussians invaded France from the north in March 1814, Napoleon abdicated and was exiled in Elba Island, located in the Mediterranean Sea.