napoleon on campaign : classic images of napoleon at war

T hese are the magnificent works of Detaille, Meissonier,

Vernet, Lady Butler, Hillingford and many of the other artists who sought to capture on canvas the most celebrated incidents of the Napoleonic Wars. Through their battle paintings these great artists tell an intriguing tale of power, greatness, greed and hubris. Each image is captivating in its own way and opens the door to a bygone world of martial splendour.

The rise and fall of Napoleon makes for a gripping and tragic story, and these great works inside are arranged chronologically in order to let the images do the talking and provide an opportunity to allow the reader a unique chance to revel in the glorious and timeless work of the artists. Gathered together in a single volume for the first time, this wonderful book makes essential reading for anyone with an interest in the Napoleonic era.

£ 25.00$ 39.95

HARRIET CARRUTHERS is a professional writer, researcher and historian, who after discovering her love of history and military art at college in Oxford began work with a military publisher in Warwickshire. Here she specialises in Second World War history. However, after touching upon one of Napoleon’s many campaigns she felt compelled to discover more about this intriguing figure, his life and his loves. Harriet is currently working on her second release, expected summer 2014.

For a complete list of current titles ring or write to:

PEN & SWORD BOOKS LIMITEDFreepost, 47 Church Street, BarnsleySouth Yorkshire S70 2BR

E-mail: [email protected]

Tel: 01226 734222

Or visit our website at:www.pen-and-sword.co.uk

OVER 4000 TITLES AVAILABLE.

SCAN THIS QR CODE FOR MORE

NAPOLEONIC TITLES FROM PEN & SWORD www.pen-and-sword.co.uk

This edition published in 2014 by

Pen & Sword MilitaryAn imprint of

Pen & Sword Books Ltd47 Church Street

BarnsleySouth Yorkshire

S70 2AS

Copyright © Coda Books Ltd.Published under licence by Pen & Sword Books Ltd.

ISBN: 9781783462506

The rights of Harriet Carruthers to be identified as the Author of this work have been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or by any information

storage and retrieval system, without permission from the Publisher in writing.

Printed and bound in EnglandBy CPI Group (UK) Ltd, Croydon, CR0 4YY

Pen & Sword Books Ltd incorporates the imprints of Pen & Sword Aviation, Pen & Sword Family History, Pen & Sword Maritime, Pen & Sword Military, Pen & Sword Discovery, Pen & Sword Politics, Pen & Sword Atlas, Pen & Sword Archaeology, Wharncliffe Local History, Wharncliffe True Crime, Wharncliffe Transport, Pen & Sword Select, Pen & Sword Military

Classics, Leo Cooper, The Praetorian Press, Claymore Press, Remember When, Seaforth Publishing and Frontline Publishing

For a complete list of Pen & Sword titles please contactPEN & SWORD BOOKS LIMITED

47 Church Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S70 2AS, EnglandE-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.pen-and-sword.co.uk

4

T he fascinating wealth of imagery created by nineteenth century artists as they strived to chronicle the lives of the Emperor Napoleon I could fill a dozen volumes such as this. The aspirations of the artists varied widely, some saw themselves as presenting a realistic chronicle of events, whilst others

sought to romanticise a great man, or simply to create a striking piece of art upon a subject they found inspiring. Of what we can be sure is that each image is captivating in its own way and opens the door to a bygone world. From the naïve images of Napoleon’s first victory in 1793, through to the high art masterpieces of David and Ingres, what we are left with today is a breath-taking and sumptuous body of work. This collection encompasses a huge variety of styles in which only the common reference point is the Napoleonic Wars, and the life of the Emperor himself.

I have chosen to arrange the works chronologically according to when the events depicted took place rather than by medium, date of creation, nationality or any other of the many criteria which I could have used. This is because the rise and fall of Napoleon makes for a gripping, and tragic story, one that the works tell by themselves, but that can be enhanced by an understanding of the events depicted. Therefore I have elected to include a short summary of the circumstances surrounding each of these scenes. However, as you may well guess when you begin reading, the book is not intended to serve as a military history, nor is it intended to be a survey of the artists. The idea is instead to let the images do the talking and provide an opportunity to allow those of us with an interest in the period to simply immerse ourselves in this work of the artists displayed throughout this book.

Introduction

5

Here then, are the magnificent works of Detaille, Meissonier, Vernet, Lady Butler, Hillingford and many of the other artists who have sought to capture the incidents of the Napoleonic Wars either as chroniclers of events or with higher artistic pretensions. Through their work these artists tell an intriguing tale, one of power, greatness, greed and humility. How the life of one can decide the fates of many, and above all a lesson in humanity. There is much to be learnt, not just about the art portrayed here, or the accounts of battle, but of courage, of cowardice and of the inimitable spirit that lurks within the masses.

Developing an interest in the life of Napoleon and the great story it tells, can be addictive and all consuming. This often leads to the reader developing a second career as an unpaid military historian, as the enthusiast almost inevitably becomes hooked and embarks on a new course in life in which he relentlessly devours manuscripts and information. I should hope that this volume may be the spark that ignites that passion for the Napoleonic period. A thirst that was shared by the fine artists displayed here, who often saw fit to dedicate the body of their work to one fascinating man and the life journey he embarked upon.

Nations shall rise and fall, yet, this art is permanent and a reminder that from war and conquest can come something beautiful. So for the purpose of this book it is not important where the original hangs or whether it is considered a great work of art. These simply make up a selection of old favourites lovingly chosen by one devotee for the enjoyment of all the others out there.

Thank you for buying this book and I trust it will bring you as much pleasure as I had putting it together.

H. A. Carruthers Stratford-upon-Avon, 2013

6

F ought from 18th September until 18th December 1793, the Siege of Toulon was an early Republican victory in the fight against a Royalist counter-rebellion. It was the first opportunity the young Napoleon Bonaparte had to prove himself as a military tactician. The effects of the French

Revolution upon the country’s army had been severe, as many officers serving in it were from the nobility and therefore persecuted by rebels, which forced them to flee the country. As a consequence there were opportunities for promotion from the lower ranks based on ability rather than their social standing, and in early September Napoleon was duly promoted to Major.

The Siege At Toulon18th September - 18Th December, 1793

by Theodore Yung

8

N apoleon’s recent promotion gave him the perfect opportunity to showcase his great skill in effectively deploying limited resources. He had a keen understanding of the terrain needed to slowly take key areas, and resourceful ideas on how to undermine the British forces holding

Toulon. Whether his role in the final act of the siege was as important as later reported, Napoleon certainly played a vital part and was able to take full credit for the victory when on 19th December, 1793, the British lost control of the port. This was to prove a key development in Napoleon’s budding military career as his name became known by important figures in the revolutionary government, and he was promoted again, this time to Brigadier General, and given command of the French artillery in Italy.

Napoleon At Toulon18th September - 18th December, 1793

by édouard Detaille

10

F ought on 5th October, 1795, the 13th Vendémiaire is the name given to a brutal confrontation between the Royalist forces and the French Revolutionary troops that took place on the streets of Paris. At the time Napoleon was a general fighting for the Republicans. He assumed control of

the Republican forces during the fighting on the Parisian streets and managed to defeat the Royalist insurrection despite being outnumbered six to one. This was the battle largely responsible for the rapid advancement of his military career as he quickly became a national hero and was promoted to Général de Division. Within five months Napoleon had been given command of the entire Armée d’Italie.

The Thirteenth VendemiaireOctober 5th, 1795

by F. De Myrbach

12

T he Battle of Arcola or the Battle of Arcole was fought on 15th - 17th November, 1796, during the War of the First Coalition. Arcole witnessed an audacious attempt by Napoleon Bonaparte’s French Armée d’Italie to outflank the Austrian army lead by József Alvinczi and cut off its only line of retreat.

The resulting French victory proved to be the single most significant event during the third Austrian attempt to relieve the Siege of Mantua. The action at Arcole was, a key moment in the French Revolutionary Wars.

The Battle for the Bridge At Arcole15th - 17th November, 1796

by Horace Vernet

14

A lvinczi had planned to execute a two-pronged offensive against Bonaparte’s army by allaying the siege at Mantua and joining forces with Dagobert Sigmund von Wurmser, who had been trapped for some time with a large body of his men. Had Napoleon not seized the chance to

outmanoeuvre the Austrians, the French troops could not have taken up occupation of Northern Italy and the result of the War of the First Coalition would have remained in doubt.

Napoleon Bonaparte On the Bridge At ArcoleNovember, 1796

by Antoine-Jean Gros

16

F ought in Italy on 14th-15th January, 1797, the Battle of Rivoli was a key point in the French campaign against Austria. Napoleon Bonaparte’s 23,000 Frenchmen overcame the attack by Austrian forces numbering 28,000 under the command of Feldzeugmeister Jozsef Alvinczi, effectively ending

Austria’s fourth and final attempt to allay the Siege of Mantua. The Battle of Rivoli demonstrated Napoleon’s budding brilliancy as a military leader and subdued the enemy in Northern Italy.

The Battle of Rivoli14th January, 1797

by Henri Félix Emmanuel Philippoteaux

18

T he Campaign in Egypt was undertaken as a substitute for the abandoned invasion of Britain. In invading Egypt Napoleon was primarily concerned with increasing his own fame and bettering his position in France as he was well aware that an invasion of England was certain to end in disaster

but, a short eastern campaign would prove popular. Napoleon is said to have told his secretary once ‘Europe is but a molehill - all the great reputations have come from Asia.’ This venture in to Egypt would also give the unstable government back in France time to ‘hang themselves on their own rope’, leaving the situation in France ripe for Napoleon to return to Paris and seize power.

Napoleon In Egypt1798

by Jean-Léon Gérôme

20

W ith this in mind Napoleon immersed himself completely in the preparations for his Egyptian expedition. It was thanks to this zeal that his entire army was ready to depart in just two and a half months. The army assembled to sail from the port at Toulon and was heralded as one of the finest

that the French had ever seen. The force was composed of 40,000 men, the vast majority of which had served in the Italian campaign and were experienced veterans of war whom Napoleon trusted completely. Equally impressive was the fleet that gathered to bear the army to Egypt, which, comprising of almost 200 ships, was compared to a ‘forest of masts’ by awed onlookers at Toulon.

Bonaparte Before the SphinxJuly, 1798

by Jean-Léon Gérôme

22

T he Battle of Embabeh on 21st July, 1798, is also known as The Battle of the Pyramids because the ancient landmarks were visible on the horizon from the battlefield. Upon arriving in Egypt, the invading French army was faced with the forces of local Mameluk leaders. The French, for their part

had 35 guns, some 25,000 men, and a small number of cavalry under Murat. The opposing Mameluks commanded 15,000 untrained fellahin infantry, 40 guns, and a force of 6,000 of the elite Mameluk cavalry.

The Battle of the Pyramids21st July, 1798

by François-Louis-Joseph Watteau

24

T he Battle of the Pyramids was the engagement where Napoleon first put into use one of his most significant tactical innovations; the massive divisional square. In reality this was actually a rectangle, the first and second demi-brigades of the division formed the front and rear faces, while the third

demi-brigade formed the two sides. During the battle, Bonaparte is said to have told his men, ‘Soldiers, from the summit of yonder Pyramids forty centuries behold you!’ The French then fell in to their rectangular formations and awaited the Mameluke’s charge.


by Louis-François Lejeune

26

T he French braced in formation, with orders to hold their fire until the Mamelukes were less than fifty paces away, before unleashing their muskets to deadly effect. It is said that at times the fighting was at such close range and so intense, that the robes of the Mamelukes were set afire by the flash from

the musket’s barrels, leaving the corpses to burn on the battlefield. This is a sight which would have ingrained itself in to the minds of the Mamelukes, who, unused to modern technologies and military techniques found themselves hopelessly outmanoeuvred.



28

T he order was given for two divisions of men to storm the nearby village, while another demi-brigade made a circuit to the other side of the village in order to cut off the Mameluke’s escape route. Finding themselves trapped, the fleeing Mamelukes had no choice but to jump into the Nile and attempt to

swim across to the forces of Ibrahim who waited on the other side. At least 600 men were shot in the water, and another 1,000 drowned. By half past four, only two and a half hours after the first charge, the battle was won.


by Horace Vernet

30

F ollowing his seizure of power in France through the 18 Brumaire on 9th November, 1799, Napoleon was determined to return to Italy to reinforce the French troops still occupying the country. His aim was to retake the territories the Austrians had seized in the preceding years. As spring broke in

1800, he made the passage across the Alps through the Great St. Bernard Pass with his reserve troops. Bonaparte hoped to gain the element of surprise by taking the trans-Alpine route and in doing so overcome the Austrian forces led by Michael von Melas, who were laying siege to Masséna in Genoa.

Napoleon Crossing the AlpsSpring, 1800

by Paul Delaroche

32

U nfortunately Napoleon arrived in Genoa too late and the city had already fallen. Regardless, he pushed onwards, eager to engage the Austrians before they had a chance to regroup. Eventually the Reserve Army fought a brave battle at Montebello on 9th June before managing to secure a decisive

victory for the French at the Battle of Marengo. This victory allowed for a rapprochement with Charles IV of Spain. While talks were underway to re-establish diplomatic relations, a traditional exchange of gifts took place including the commission of this oil painting by Jacques-Louis David.

Napoleon Crossing the AlpsSpring, 1800

by Jacques-Louis David

34

F ought on 14th June, 1800, the Battle of Marengo saw French forces headed by Napoleon clash with Austrian troops near the city of Alessandria in Italy. After a bloody battle the French overcame the Austrians, despite a surprise attack by General Michael von Melas toward the end

of the day. Napoleon’s victory at Marengo resulted in the Convention of Alessandria, which led to the Austrians evacuating northwest Italy and suspending all military operations in the country. This strengthened Napoleon’s position as the First Consul of France, and won him the admiration of hostile French Generals. The victory at Marengo allowed Napoleon the security in his position he needed to begin reforming France to fit his own vision.

Napoleon IThe Battle of Marengo, 14th June, 1800

by Jean-Simon Berthélemy

36

I n 1805 on his road to war Napoleon entered the Free Imperial City of Augsburg. He arrived one day after his Fourth Division, headed by Soult, on the 9th October, where they would stay until the 12th before carrying on to battles at Elchingen and Austerlitz. The occupation of the City of Augsburg

marked the beginning of the end of the city’s Free Imperial status. It was announced in the spring of 1806 that it should become the territory of Napoleon’s ally, and a part of the Kingdom of Bavaria.

Napoleon Ordering the Second Line Into Action The Battle of Augsburg, October, 1805

by Pierre Gautherot

38

N apoleon had a personal military staff that travelled with him, The Military Household of the Emperor, this comprised of orderly officers, the Department of Aides-de-Camp (ADCs), the topographical department and the Emperor’s Cabinet, containing the Secretariat, who specialised

in using spies to collect intelligence about the enemy. The staff generally had no set hours, yet worked tirelessly serve Napoleon and the good of the French army as a whole. It was said that above all the duty of the staff was to always relay the truth to their commander, no matter how unpleasant, which could often be a thankless task. Through their duties the Military Household of the Emperor formed the beating heart of the Grande Armée.

Napoleon and his Staffby Jean-Louis Ernest Meissonier

40

K nown as the Battle of the Three Emperors, the Battle at Austerlitz was one of Napoleon’s greatest victories, where the French Empire decisively defeated the allied forces of the Third Coalition. On 2nd December, 1805, after almost nine hours of fierce fighting, the Russo-Austrian army,

commanded by Czar Alexander I and Holy Roman Emperor Francis II was decisively defeated by the French, under the command of Napoleon. The battle was a tactical masterpiece fought just outside Austerlitz which is now part of the modern day Czech Republic.

Napoleon With his Troops On the Eve of the Battle at Austerlitz, 2nd December, 1805

by Louis-François Lejeune

42

D espite turning out to be one of Napoleon’s greatest victories, Bonaparte had his doubts about the Battle of Austerlitz. He only managed to muster some 72,000 men and 157 guns for the impending battle, whereas the Allies had around 85,000 troops and 318 guns. Worried about the outcome of

the conflict, in a letter written to Talleyrand, the Minister of Foreign affairs of the time, Napoleon requested that he keep the news of the upcoming battle secret as he didn’t want to disturb Empress Joséphine. However, it is thought his real concern was explaining himself to Joséphine if the French Army was defeated.

Napoleon at Austerlitz2nd December, 1805by François Gérard

44

N apoleon’s victory at Austerlitz effectively brought the Third Coalition to an end with the signing on the Treaty of Pressburg on 26th December, 1805. This agreement took Austria out of the war, as well as the Coalition, and confirmed the cession of their land in Bavaria and Italy to France, as

well as their German land to Napoleon’s allies there. In a historic turn of events, and as a consequence of Napoleon’s victory, the Holy Roman Empire ceased to exist when the Holy Roman Emperor Francis II abdicated his imperial throne in 1806. This however this did not bring lasting peace on the continent as expected with Prussia launching the War of the Fourth Coalition in 1806, over growing concerns about the French influence in Central Europe.

The Meeting of Napoleon and Francis I After Austerlitz, December, 1805


46

I n July 1806, Frederick William III signed a secret alliance with Russia and began preparing for war. Headed by the Duke of Brunswick, in early October, the Prussian-Saxony army made the slow journey westward through Saxony, hoping to threaten Napoleon’s line of communication to the

west. However, Napoleon advanced quickly northward to cut the Prussians off from the Elbe River, in an attempt to strike before they could receive aid from their Russian allies. The Prussians, sensing this were forced to about turn in order to meet the French attack upon their rear. Frederick William III created a fifteen mile front between Jena and Weimar, comprising of 51, 000 men and positioned 63, 000 men at Auerstädt, where they braced for attack.

Napoleon At Jena14th October, 1806

by Jean-Louis Ernest Meissonier

48

O n October 14th 1806, shortly after dawn, Napoleon, employing only about half his available force, struck Friedrich Ludwig’s men at Jena. By 3 p.m. he had swept them and all reinforcements from the field. To the north, a secondary French force, encountered the main Prussian army near Auerstädt. The Prussian

Duke of Brunswick’s gradual attacks proved ineffective and enabled the French to hold ground for six hours, ending in the mortal wounding of the Prussian Duke. The Prussian attack slackened when they heard the news of the French victory at Jena, leaving the French free to force back the entire Prussian line by 4 p.m.

The Battle of Jena14th October, 1806

by Horace Vernet

50

T his double victory cost the French about 12,000 casualties compared to around 24,000 Prussian and Saxon casualties and some 20,000 more men that were captured. Napoleon exploited his triumph ruthlessly, on 25th October Davout led his corps through Berlin and wiped out any surviving Prussian

field forces. In late October, Stettin fell and Hamburg was not long behind, being taken the next month. A handful of survivors were able to cross the Oder and meet with friendly Russian forces there, yet the Prussian army, which for so long had been the pinnacle of military excellence in Europe, had been defeated.

Napoleon After JenaOctober, 1806


52

T he Battle of Eylau on 7th and 8th February 1807, was an inconclusive and brutal battle fought between an army of the Russian Empire and Napoleon’s Grande Armée in Poland which resulted in 25,000 casualties. The engagement was fought during the War of the Fourth Coalition, and of all

Napoleonic battles, this is considered to be the most enigmatic and uncertain due to the extreme weather conditions which made observation all but impossible.

The Guard Cavalry At Eylau7th - 8th February, 1807

By édouard Detaille

54

T he day following the Battle of Eylau, Napoleon toured the battlefield and was struck with sadness by the carnage he witnessed. He stated ‘If all the kings on earth could see this sight they would be less greedy for wars and conquests.’ Wanting to show his human side, this was the moment selected to

be depicted in a competition between twenty-six painters. This piece by Antoine-Jean Gros was chosen the winner and exhibited in the Salon of 1808, it now hangs in the Musée de Louvre in Paris.

Napoleon Bonaparte on the Battlefield of Eylau7th - 8th February, 1807


56

O n 14th June, 1807, the Battle of Friedland, saw Napoleon’s French army decisively defeat Count von Bennigsen’s Russian army about twenty-seven miles southeast of Königsberg. After almost twenty-three hours of fighting, the battle was won and the chaotic retreat of the Russian army resulted in the deaths

by drowning of many Russian soldiers. The thorough destruction of Bennigsen’s army at Friedland persuaded Alexander I of Russia to seek peace terms following the battle. These negotiations led to the Treaty of Tilsit in July, which brought a decisive end to the War of the Fourth Coalition.

Napoleon At the Battle of Friedland14th June, 1807

by Horace Vernet

58

T he Battle of Friedland saw around 58,000 Russians commanded by General Leonty Leontyevich Bennigsen confront 80,000 men of Napoleon’s Grande Armée (including Polish, Dutch, Italian, and German units). In the morning of 14th June, the seemingly isolated French corps lead by Marshal

Jean Lannes were attacked by the majority of the Russian force on the West bank of the Alle River at Friedland. The French army held their position, defending against Russian attacks for nine hours despite being outnumbered two to one. This gave Napoleon time to concentrate his forces and 5 p.m. he struck, launching his main attack.

Vive L’EmpereurThe Battle of Friedland, 14th June, 1807


60

A s the sun was setting on the Battle of Friedland, Napoleon made his decisive push for a victory. He ordered into battle his reserve division under General Pierre Dupont. The French artillery and cavalry soon joined Dupont’s division in staging another vicious assault against the Russians.

The French artillery had weakened the Russian line and now allowed the French forces to push them back. Within two hours the entire southern half of the Russian army had been forced to retreat into the small village of Friedland by just 65,000 French soldiers. Once in the village of Friedland the Russian soldiers were at the mercy of the French guns that cut down men in swathes, using volleys fired at close range.

‘1807’ FriedlandThe Battle of Friedland, 14th June, 1807


62

F riedland was now burning. As the French had earlier destroyed the bridges leading out of the village, the Russians were left with only two choices, to dive into the river and attempt the swim across or stay behind to be captured or killed. To the French’s losses of 9,000 men, the Russian’s

dead numbered 19,000. The next day Königsberg was abandoned by General Anton L’Estocq, who left with around 25,000 men, retreating to Tilsit and leaving the shattered Russian army completely without hope. It was a decisive victory for Napoleon and perhaps one of the most important of his career.

A Charge of the Russian Imperial GuardThe Battle of Friedland, 14th June, 1807

by Fernand Cormon

64

I n the aftermath of his victory at Friedland, Napoleon signed agreements between himself and Czar Alexander I of Russia and between France and Prussia. These treaties brought the War of the Fourth Coalition to an end at the expense of the Prussian King, who had already agreed to a truce on 25th

June, after the Grande Armée had pursued him to the easternmost frontier of his realm. Negotiations in Tilsit saw the King cede around half of his pre-war territories, bringing Napoleon’s empire to its zenith. From these Prussian territories, Napoleon had created three French client states which were recognised and formalised at Tilsit. The other ceded territories were divided between Russia and further French clients.

Napoleon Decorating a Russian Grenadier At Tilsit25th June, 1807

by Lionel-NoËl Royer

66

T aking place between 1808 and 1814, the Peninsular War was a conflict between France and the allied powers of England, Portugal and Spain. The war began with France and Spain as allies, crossing over Spain and invading Portugal in 1807, however, France soon turned on its ally, and continued the

war alone. This proved to be a imprudent decision as the Spanish armies could not be quashed and continued to hound the French relentlessly, as well cutting off communications and supplies. This coined the term ‘the Spanish Ulcer’, which referred to the conflict. The Peninsula War continued until Napoleon’s defeat at the hands of the Sixth Coalition in 1814.

halt On a Forced MarchThe Peninsula War, 1808 - 1814by Elizabeth Thompson (Lady Butler)

68

T he Siege of Madrid took place between 1st - 4th December, 1808, and was Napoleon’s final victory in his Spanish campaign. Having defeated the Spanish at the battles of Gamonel and Tudela, and Blake’s army at Zornoza and Espinosa de los Monteros, the French were free to advance on Madrid.

After sweeping aside the last of the Spanish resistance at the Somosierra Pass on 30th November 1808, the first French troops arrived outside Madrid on 1st December. Napoleon had hoped the city would surrender but upon his arrival he discovered the Spanish had other plans. Three days of fighting ensued before the Junta agreed to Napoleon’s third demand to lay down their arms, and, on the morning of the 4th December, the French accepted the surrender of the Spanish and finally re-entered Madrid.

The Surrender of Madrid4th December, 1808

by Horace Vernet & Jacques-François Swebach

70

T he Battle of Ratisbon, also called the Battle of Regensburg, was fought on 23rd April, 1809, between the army of the Austrian Empire, led by Archduke Charles and that of the First French Empire, led by Napoleon. Ratisbon was the scene of the last engagement of the campaign in Bavaria in 1809.

The Bavarian army managed to escape the battle and retreated into Bohemia via a pontoon bridge leading to the East from the city. It was during this assault that Napoleon took a shot to his ankle as the troops climbed ladders onto the walls, however as it was fired from a distance Napoleon only suffered a contusion.

The Storming of the Citadel At Ratisbon23rd April, 1809

by Charles Thévenin

72

T he French attack on Ratisbon began at dawn, moving in a pincer movement, with General Louis-Pierre Montbrun coming from the southwest and Napoleon moving up from the south. Around 9 a.m., 10,000 French cavalry began to engage the Austrian cavalry, who were able to hold them

for almost three hours to facilitate the army’s escape, before they in turn slipped away. Only then did the French discover the Austrian’s pontoon bridge, but its last defenders were able to hold out and cut the securing ropes to prevent the French from following. By noon, the infantry arrived and formed around the city’s defences. Lannes was put in charge of Ratisbon’s capture and an artillery bombardment was opened, while infantry engaged the Austrian troops.

Reappearance of Napoleon On the Field Before Ratisbon, 23rd April, 1809

by F. De Myrbach

74

T he French troops struggled with the seemingly insurmountable walls of Ratisbon until at 3 p.m. the head of the engineers smashed a breach in the wall near the Straubing gate. Three small parties with siege ladders had so far failed to scale the damaged wall, but following encouragement from

Lannes the fourth assault party carried the walls and in minutes French troops were pouring into the now-doomed Ratisbon. The battle raged on, moving from street to street for hours before the French had the Southern part of the city secured. Eventually, after a tough skirmish at the Northern gatehouse, the French managed to secure the Northern suburb of Stadt-am-Hof causing the remaining 300 defenders to surrender.

The Battle of Ratisbon23rd April, 1809by Horace Vernet

76

F ought between 21st - 22nd May 1809, the Battle of Aspern-Essling saw Napoleon attempting a forced crossing of the Danube River near Vienna. Under Archduke Charles, the Austrians soon drove back the French and their allies. This engagement was notable as it was the first time, in over

a decade, that an attack where Napoleon featured in person had been contained. Unfortunately for the Austrians however, their failure to utilise their superior numbers meant the French forces were merely pushed back as opposed to defeated outright. There was still cause for the Austrians to celebrate however, as being overpowered at Essling proved striking blow to Napoleon’s pride and prestige.

The Battle At Essling21st - 22nd May, 1809by Fernard Cormon

78

A fter his initial defeat on the first day of battle, Napoleon began receiving reinforcements and decided to mount a fresh attack. The offensive began promisingly, however soon news reached Napoleon that the main bridge to the South Bank had broken meaning no reinforcements or

supplies could be brought in. The Emperor hastily ordered a cease fire and a phased retreat to the island of Lobau, situated in the Danube. The Austrians did not make this retreat easy for the French, as they were now intent on making a counter attack of their own. It was a brutal onslaught, but as night fell the French made it safely to Lobau.

Defence of the Granary At Essling21st - 22nd May, 1809

by F. De Myrbach

80

T he result of Battle at Essling was that Napoleon lost over 20,000 men, including a close friend of his, Marshal Jean Lannes, the man who spurred his party on to victory at Ratisbon and who acted as one of the finest Field Commanders the French Army possessed. Similar casualties were suffered

by the Austrian army, however, this was nothing like the catastrophic defeats they had experienced only years earlier at the hands of the French. Pushed back on to the Island of Lobau, Napoleon would have had plenty of time to contemplate the first significant defeat of his career as the troops waited there for over a month, preparing for their next attack.

Building the Bridge At the Island of Lobau21st - 22nd May, 1809

by F. De Myrbach

82

T he Battle of Wagram, fought between 5th - 6th July, 1809, was one of the most important engagements of the Napoleonic Wars. The outcome was a decisive victory for the French and Allied army against the Austrian army commanded by Archduke Charles of Austria-Teschen. The battle spelled the

destruction of the Fifth Coalition, the Austrian and British-led alliance against France. Napoleon had waited six weeks to regain his troops after a stinging tactical defeat at Essling and was not likely to let the Archduke over-come him a second time. He amassed an army of 165,000 men comprising of German, Italian and French soldiers outside Vienna and prepared to strike.

The Battle of Wagram5th - 6th July, 1809by Horace Vernet

84

D uring the night of 4th July 1809, Napoleon swiftly moved his army over the Danube by cover of darkness and mounted an attack on the Austrian army. He made his move in a series of vigorous yet blunt and ill-prepared attacks against the Austrians during the evening of 5th July. Napoleon held

a strong position, yet spread the attacks thinly, leading the Austrian defenders to gain the upper hand after only a small measure of initial success for the French. As a result, the Austrian Archduke gained confidence and staged a momentous attack along the whole battle line. The Austrian offensive was fought off by the French, however the overstretched left of Napoleon’s line was almost wiped out, only just managing to secure its positions.

The Battle of Wagram5th - 6th July, 1809by Horace Vernet

86

D espite suffering heavy losses on his left flank during the Austrian attack, Napoleon mounted a violent cavalry charge, a masterful counter attack which brought the Austrian advance to a halt. After redeploying troops to the weakened left, Napoleon established a grand battery which pounded the

Austrian troops, setting the stage for an offensive across their whole line. Napoleon’s plan succeeded and during the afternoon of 6th July, the Austrian Archduke admitted defeat and beat a timely retreat to Bohemia. Napoleon had won the battle, yet due to the sheer amount of casualties suffered by the French, it could not be considered a complete victory as the Austrian’s losses numbered only slightly higher than their own.

Arrival of Napoleon Among the Bavarians and Saxons, The Battle of Wagram, 5th - 6th July, 1809

by F. De Myrbach

88

F ought on 7th September, 1812, the Battle of Borodino was the bloodiest and the largest single day action of the French invasion of Russia and of all in the Napoleonic Wars. The advancing Grande Armée, lead by Napoleon attacked the Russian army, as they marched to Moscow. The two forces

clashed near the village of Borodino, close to Mozhaysk. After bitter fighting the French managed to capture vital positions on the battlefield, forcing a Russian retreat, yet, they were unable to destroy the Russian army completely. The Battle resulted in at least 70, 000 casualties, out of just over 250,000 troops engaged. The Russians suffered similarly heavy losses, however, replacement depots and large forces of militia were already close by and ready to replenish their supply of men.

Napoleon At Borodino7th September, 1812

by Vasily Vereshchagin

90

S purred on by his bloody victory at Borodino, Napoleon marched onwards to Moscow and on 14th September 1812, the Grande Armée entered the capital city. Unfortunately for Napoleon, the Russian army had already evacuated the city of its inhabitants. This proved to be disastrous for the

French who had been relying on the city to provide both supplies and food stores to fuel their troops after a long and arduous march. A further problem presented itself with the evacuation of Moscow; the city had been the target goal of the invasion, yet now no officials of the Czar remained in the city to sue for peace. This meant that although the French had reached their original objective, war would continue.

Napoleon in Burning Moscow14th September, 1812

by Albrecht Adam

92

D espite the grave troubles the desertion of Moscow posed to the French army, they were soon to face even greater difficulties at the hands of the few inhabitants who did remain there. After taking up residence at a house in the outskirts of the city for the night, Napoleon was woken to be informed

of a fire that had broken out in the city. Napoleon moved to the Kremlin to better view the flames and was soon informed that it was in fact Russians who were starting the fearsome blazes. It was not long until the Kremlin too was set aflame forcing Napoleon and his entourage to flee in to the streets of Moscow as it burned, scarcely avoiding a death by the poisonous smoke on their way to the outskirts. On 24th September, the French court-martial executed the first ten Russian arsonists in the Kremlin.

Shooting Arsonists In the Kremlin AfterDefeating Moscow, 24th September, 1812


94

I t was three days before the flames in Moscow died down, leaving more than two-thirds of the once striking city nothing more than charred remains. Napoleon hoped to turn this disaster to his favour and wrote to the Czar, still hoping the Russian would sue for peace. In his letter Napoleon wrote of

the calamity: ‘My lord Brother. Beautiful, magical Moscow exists no more. How could you consign to destruction the loveliest city in the world, a city that has taken hundreds of years to build?’ His words failed to strike a chord with the Czar, who is said to have responded that the burning fires of Moscow ‘illuminated his soul’. He continued in his refusal to negotiate with Napoleon, and after a month of no surrender from the Russians Napoleon was forced to leave the city.

Bad News from France, Napoleon Encamped In a Russian Orthodox Church, October, 1812


96

I n the absence of the anticipated Russian capitulation, the French soon realised they were facing a brutal winter with neither food nor supplies, in a city that was now little more than ashes. Napoleon was therefore forced to begin the long retreat back to France. The French were quickly subject to

Russian attacks, and after a brutal battle at Maloyaroslavets, were forced away from taking the road through the town, which provided a fresh route to Smolensk. Instead they were forced to take the Old Smolensk road leading westward. This was the same route they had travelled on their way in to Moscow which was now barren and devoid of all food and supplies.

Marbot’s Soldiers Foraging On the RetreatNovember, 1812by F. De Myrbach

98

A s the weakened French army retreated from Russia, they faced the troubling prospects of not only the advancing Russian army, but also the crossing of the Berezina river. The autumn had been unusually warm that year and an unseasonable thaw kept the river flowing strong, leaving

the French to find a bridge over the 100 yard stretch. A delay in crossing the river threatened to leave the French facing a three pronged attack from the Russians as they waited in their path. Advancing from the North and from the East, all it would take was a few days delay on the part of the French and they would be overwhelmed.

The Passage of the Berezina26th - 29th November, 1812

by F. De Myrbach

100

N apoleon planned to cross the Berezina river and make a direct line for Poland. However, the nearest point of crossing had been destroyed as had most of the army’s equipment for building a pontoon bridge. Fortunately, enough material remained to span the river so a plan was hatched

to draw away the Russian force waiting on the west bank. On 25th November, a large group of French soldiers moved South, making as much noise as possible in an attempt to fool the Russians in to thinking the main crossing would take place there. This allowed the troops further north to build two bridges and the French to begin crossing with artillery. A bitter battle was fought on both sides of the river ending in the French pushing aside the Russians and continuing their retreat towards France.

Crossing the Berezina River26th - 29th November, 1812

by Peter von Hess

102

H aving forced the French on to the desolate Old Smolensk Road using their customary scorched earth tactics, the units of the Light Russian cavalry now sprung upon isolated units of French soldiers using mounted Cossacks to devastating effect. This made the already vulnerable, weaker

parts of the French train very susceptible to attack, and destroyed what little morale any starving French soldiers held on to. As the army travelled further down the road the supply system broke down, and due to the lack of grass or fodder almost all of army’s remaining horses died, or were killed and eaten by troops facing starvation.

Cossacks AttackedDecember, 1812


104

A s the French army marched further back towards Smolensk their grim predicament worsened yet further. Following the death of almost all the army’s horses there was no way of pulling the artillery and support convoys they had brought with them. As a result, the cannons and

wagons had to be abandoned as they marched, leaving behind thousands of the finest military wagons the French possessed. This was to prove a major logistical problem during the rest of the war. As the French saw their army fall apart around them, and facing disease and starvation, many soldiers deserted, deciding instead to face the Russian winter on their own. However, most of these deserters fared even worse at the hands of the Russian peasants they encountered, who executed any Frenchmen crossing their paths.

Marshal Ney Sustaining the Rear-Guard of the Grand Army, 1812

by Adolphe Yvon

106

T he toll of the march badly weakened the French troops with the army losing around 5,000 men a day to disease, starvation and desertion. In the face of these insurmountable losses the French military position collapsed. The French faced a further three stinging defeats at the hands of the

Russians at Vyazma, Krasnoi and Polotsk, before they would even reach the Berezina River, where the horrendous casualties inflicted on them proved to be the final French catastrophe of the war. Still, the troops were forced to march on despite continued attacks upon their train from the Russian forces who struck the weakened force with newly renewed venom.

Napoleon and his Staff Are Surprised By CossacksDecember, 1812by Jan Chełmiński

108

I n early December, while continuing his disastrous march through Russia, Napoleon was greeted with the news that a coup d’état had been attempted back in France by the General Claude-François de Malet. Napoleon immediately set off for France in a sleigh, leaving what remained of his troops

to make their own way back to France. Napoleon left his men in the charge of Marshal Joachim Murat, and in the weeks that followed the strength of the army dwindled even further. Legend proclaims that when the soldiers eventually escaped Russian territory, no more than 22,000 of Napoleon’s men remained. This proves an unlikely figure which is greatly disputed nowadays, the returning French troops would have more likely numbered around 110,000. Yet, there can be no doubt that whatever the precise figure, the losses were enormous.

Napoleon Leaving the French Army At Smorgoni5th December, 1812

by J. Rosen

110

A mong the French a saying arose, that Generals Janvier and Fevrier (January and February) were responsible for the defeat of Napoleon, alluding to the arctic Russian winter which claimed the lives of so many soldiers. However, the role of the ‘General Winter’ may have been vastly over

played in an attempt by the French to save face by naming the weather as the soldiers’ main cause of death. In truth, casualties from minor battles, disease and desertion caused the loss of thousands more lives. In fact, the General of the Russian Cavalry, Denis Davidov, noted in 1814, that the winters during campaigns in 1795 and 1807 were far colder than that in 1812 but that the conditions failed to prevent French operations and victories.

A Resting Place of PrisonersDecember, 1812


112

D espite securing a definite tactical victory over the French and repelling the forces of Napoleon, the Russian casualties of the campaign were devastating. The true number of Russian soldiers lost in the campaign is hard to assess. However, modern historians estimate it to be in the region of 210, 000

men. This figure does not even take in to account the civilian losses which occurred along the savaged campaign route which had even greater toll than the military deaths. In total, around half a million Russians including soldiers are thought to have perished during the campaign. It had been a truly bloody affair which took a terrible toll on all nations involved.

On the Road - Retreat and EscapeDecember, 1812


114

T he 1812 defeat of the French army by the Russians marked an almost irreparable blow to the ambitions of Napoleon and his dreams of dominance in Europe. The low morale of the shattered troops proved to be a vital element in the success of the coalition allies when they finally triumphed

over Napoleon completely. This was also largely accountable for the string of defeats that led to Napoleon’s exile to the Island of Elba. The disastrous campaign fought in Russia had proved to be the pivotal point of the Napoleonic Wars and one that would shape the face of Europe for centuries to come.

Napoleon’s Retreat from MoscowDecember, 1812

by Illarion Pryanishnikov

116

F ought on 26th - 27th of August, 1813, the Battle of Dresden was the final large-scale victory of Napoleon’s long military career. The battle took place following a ten week armistice, the Armistice of Poischwitz. Dresden resulted in a French victory for Napoleon against the forces of the Sixth

Coalition, consisting of Austrians, Russians and Prussian troops lead by Field Marshal Schwartzenberg. Despite being a resounding success for the French, Napoleon did not seize the chance to capitalise on his victory and issue a substantial pursuit of the retreating Coalition forces. As a result of this they were able to regroup, and the flanking corps were forced to surrender at the Battle of Kulm only a few days later as a result being totally surrounded.

The Battle of Dresden26th - 27th August, 1813


118

A lso known as ‘The Battle of the Nations’, the Battle of Leipzig was the climax of the German ‘War of Liberation’. Some of Napoleon’s Marshals had already suffered defeat during battles at Dennewitz and at Gross-Beeren, but Napoleon himself had so far been successful in his

campaign. However, the Coalition armies of Russia, Prussia, Austria and also Sweden were now poised to strike in a series of converging assaults against the Grande Armée. This Battle marked the culmination of Napoleon’s autumn campaign in Germany, 1813, and was the largest battle to be fought in Europe prior to World War I, involving more than 600, 000 men.

The Battle of Leipzig16th - 19th October, 1813


120

T he Battle at Leipzig saw Napoleon suffer an outright defeat, and found him forced in to a retreat back to France, where he would face fighting a defensive campaign against invading Coalition forces in 1814. The Battle of Leipzig also ended the presence of the First French Empire anywhere east of

the Rhine River and brought the German states there over to the side of the Coalition. This rendered Napoleon’s German Campaign an unprecedented failure for the French and ensured that no French forces would enter German soil for a hundred years.

The French Army Leaving Leipzig16th - 19th October, 1813

by F. De Myrbach

122

T aking place on 30th - 31st October, 1813, the Battle of Hanau was fought between the Austro-Bavarian corps of Karl Phillip von Wrede and the French army as they retreated across Germany following their defeat at Leipzig earlier in October. As the French troops headed homeward to relative safety,

Wrede struck, attempting to block Napoleon’s main line of retreat at Hanau. Fortunately for the already weak French they were able to secure a victory and bring Hanau under their control, allowing them to maintain their all important line of retreat. Despite being an important tactical victory for the French, the battle bears little strategic importance in the face of Napoleon’s ultimate loss of the War of the Sixth Coalition.

The Battle of hanau30th - 31st October, 1813

by Horace Vernet

124

T he Battle of Brienne was fought as the armies of the Sixth Coalition army invaded France with the intention of deposing Napoleon and dissolving the First French Empire completely. The battle began on 29th January, 1814, with Napoleon striking first using a flanking attack, while the French

horse artillery and cavalry attacked the Prussians. About dusk, Napoleon managed to capture the Chateau at Brienne where the Prussian Field Marshal had been preparing dinner, thinking the battle was nearly over. He and his Second-in-Command only just managed to escape. Napoleon himself had a lucky escape when during the heavy fighting he was almost captured by Russian Cossacks, but was saved by the French General Gourgaud. By midnight the battle was won by the French when the allies retreated, leaving behind 4,000 casualties.

Napoleon’s Peril At Brienne29th January, 1814

by Robert Alexander Hillingford

126

F ought on 11th February, 1814, the Battle of Montmirail was a key event in Napoleon’s Six Days Campaign and resulted in a victory for the French troops over Russian and Prussian forces. Despite being outnumbered Napoleon struck rapidly, viciously attacking the allied forces where they were

weakest, at the centre of their stretched marching column as it was moving west toward Paris. The Russians turned to fight the French first and were soon reinforced by the Prussians; however, the French struck hard, spurred on by desperation and left the allies with 4,000 casualties to their own 2,000 losses.

The Battle of Montmirail11th February, 1814

by Horace Vernet

128

F ollowing his retreat from Germany, Napoleon was forced to fight a series of battles in France whilst being pushed back toward Paris facing overwhelming odds. It was during this time that Napoleon waged his Six Days Campaign, during which he managed to score multiple victories against the

enemy, despite fielding only a fraction the soldiers of the allies. The allies made a treaty agreeing to preserve the Coalition until Napoleon had been totally defeated. This was not far off, as Napoleon’s army was tired and vastly weakened. The largest force Napoleon managed to field at one time during the campaign was 70,000 men.

The Guard - Campaign of FranceEarly 1814

by Albert Bligny

130

F ought on 20th-21st March, 1814, the Battle of Arcis-sur-Aube was Napoleon’s penultimate battle before his abdication and subsequent exile to Elba. Early on the morning of the 20th Napoleon had set out for Arcis-sur-Aube, which the French believed was only weakly defended by the Austrians.

Their aim was to break through towards the Marne. The French quickly succeeded in pushing the allies from the town yet the bitter fighting continued long in to the night, with Napoleon himself barely avoiding capture by the allies. The allies deployed 80,000 troops over night, whereas by morning the French’s men only numbered 28,000. Luckily, the French realised how strongly outnumbered they were and retreated back across the Aube River before the allies attacked. The French blew the bridge over the Aube at 6 p.m. on the 21st March and the allies did not give pursuit, leaving the French free to link with other forces near Ormes.

Napoleon I In 1814The Battle of Arcis-sur-Aube, 20th - 21st March, 1814


132

A fter losing two huge armies in successive disasters Napoleon had become unpopular with the nation. The people wanted peace yet Napoleon made it clear he was unwilling to abdicate. Of the invasion Napoleon said, ‘It is not for my crown I am fighting, but to prove that Frenchmen

were not born to be ruled by Cossacks.’ He was determined to fight on even as the allies entered the capital and was seemingly incapable of contemplating his fall from power. On 4th April, Napoleon was confronted by his marshals and senior officers, led by Ney. They told the Emperor they refused to follow his orders any longer, and that the army would follow them. This mutiny left Napoleon with pitifully few supporters, leaving him no choice but to abdicate on 6th April 1814.

The French Campaign1814


134

O n 30th March, 1814, allied forces had entered Paris, this was the first time in 400 years that a hostile enemy had entered the city. Many people raised the question of why the French did not rise en masse and attempt to repel the invaders as the Spaniards had done in 1809-1814, or similarly, the Russians

two years earlier. The truth was that the French people had been exhausted by 25 years of war, and even if the will to fight had remained, the Emperor’s overzealous use of conscription meant that the majority of the men remaining in France were either very old, or too young to fight.

La Barriére de Clichy or The Defence of Paris30th - 31st March,1814

by Horace Vernet

136

O n 11th April 1814, Napoleon was forced to sign the Treaty of Fontainebleau, an agreement between himself and representatives of the allied countries of Russia, Prussia, Austria, Hungary and Bohemia. The treaty was ratified by Napoleon on 13th April, ending Napoleon’s rule as the French Emperor and

sending him in to exile on the Island of Elba. The treaty consisted of twenty-one articles, yet, the most significant terms stripped Napoleon of any powers he had as the ruler of the French Empire. Both Napoleon and Marie-Louise of Austria (Napoleon’s second wife) were allowed to keep their titles as Emperor and Empress, however, all family members and successors of Napoleon were forbidden from attaining power in France.

Napoleon’s Farewell to the Imperial Guard At Fontainbleau, 20th April, 1814

by Horace Vernet

138

T he Treaty of Fontainbleau also stipulated that the Island of Elba should be established as a separate principality which could be ruled by Napoleon, and that he would be permitted to bring 400 men with him to serve as his personal guard. The agreement decreed that Elba’s flag and sovereignty

would be guaranteed recognition by the foreign powers that had signed, but that only France would be allowed to assimilate the island. In other tenets of the treaty, Empress Josephine’s annual income was reduced and limited to 1,000,000 francs, all crown jewels had to be returned to France by Napoleon and his many estates were to be surrendered to the French crown.

The AdbicationFontainebleau, 6th April, 1814

by étienne-Prosper Berne-Bellecour

140

T he Treaty of Fontainbleau was signed by all the countries making up the allied states, except one. The British delegate explained that he refused to sign on behalf of the United Kingdom’s King as Britain did not recognise Napoleon as the Emperor of the French. Their position was that France

was in a state of rebellion and that Napoleon Bonaparte was nothing but a usurper. Britain felt that it would be a foolish move to install Napoleon as the sovereignty of an island so close to both France and Italy when both countries contained many citizens who still strongly supported the Jacobins. Britain’s mistrust in Napoleon would not prove to be unfounded.

Napoleon At Fontainbleau11th April, 1814

by Paul Delaroche

142

I n April, 1814, Napoleon left for the isle of Elba where he was to live out the remainder of his life in exile. Napoleon arrived at Elba’s capital on 4th May, declaring ‘I want to live now like a justice of the peace’ and for a while he worked hard to improve the lives of the 12,000 inhabitants of Elba, seeming

content in his life of relative retirement.On 26th February, 1815, Napoleon managed to sneak past his Austrian and French guards and made for France.

Upon his arrival the French rallied around Napoleon, and when fresh forces were sent to arrest him they instead kneeled before their former Emperor. Napoleon made a triumphant return to Paris on 20th March, where he was jubilantly welcomed. The new King, Louis XVII fled to Belgium and Napoleon reinstated himself in the Tuileries. This latest adventure began the period known to posterity as ‘The Hundred Days’.

Napoleon’s Return from Elba20th March, 1815

by Charles Auguste Guillaume Steuben

144

F ought between the left wing of the Armée du Nord, commanded by Marshal Ney and Wellington’s Anglo-Dutch army, the Battle of Quatre-Bras was fought by the strategically important crossroads of Quatre-Bras on 16th June, 1815. The battle is considered to have resulted in a tactical draw,

costing Wellington 4,800 casualties to Ney’s 4,000 dead and wounded. However, the French were able to successfully prevent allied forces aiding the Prussians at the Battle of Ligny and upon hearing the news of the Prussian’s defeat, Wellington’s army was forced to retreat along the Brussels Road headed north. This took them yet further from the Prussian forces who had retreated towards Wavre in the north-east.

The 28th Regiment At Quatre Bras16th June, 1815

by Elizabeth Thompson (Lady Butler)

146

O ne of the most famous battles in history, the Battle of Waterloo began in the morning of the 18th June, 1815. Wellington was positioned just south of Waterloo, occupying the ridge of Mont St. Jean. His troops were divided in to three commands under Prince William of Orange, Sir Thomas Picton and

Lord Hill. Wellington found himself short of experienced cavalry or a well trained infantry, but he had strong artillery and believed in the use of firepower. Wellington knew that he was outnumbered by the French and therefore decided to stand his ground until he could receive aid from the Prussian army.

Wellington and Blucher Meeting Before the Battle of Waterloo, 18th June, 1815


148

N apoleon had been forced to throw together his army from veterans, conscripts and disenchanted peasants, who save for the veterans were not soldiers and had only received the briefest of trainings. Napoleon did however have numbers on his side and his strength lay in his artillery

and cavalry. In order to break the enemy’s front line Napoleon intended to use aggression and the element of surprise. First, intending to create a diversion with the attack of Hougoumont, Napoleon then planned to follow that with a heavy artillery bombardment. This was intended to weaken the allied centre and left, ahead of an all out attack on the ridge, whilst the Imperial Guard being kept in final reserve at the rear.

Dawn At Waterloo18th June, 1815


150

S hortly before midday, Napoleon, according to plan, launched a diversionary attack on Hougoumont. However, this strategy was not carried out as Napoleon’s brother, Jerome, broke away from the agreed tactics and made an attempt to capture the farm occupied by enemy forces and became

involved in a full scale battle utilising a brigade from another division as well as his own. Meanwhile, the allied line hid behind a ridge, with only one Dutch-Belgian brigade being forced to retire, as Wellington steadfastly held his position.

The Battle of Waterloo18th June, 1815


152

A t around 1 p.m. Napoleon’s Grand Battery of heavy artillery opened fire upon the allied troops before the French infantry could march forward across the field in their traditional columns. The French marched past La Haye Sainte, but came under fire from the allied garrison. After a

skirmish, they were able to surround La Haye Sainte and capture Papelotte despite suffering heavy casualties from Allied artillery fire. Wellington’s troops began to move forward from the ridge, engaging the French before they were able to break columns and form a line.



154

A s Napoleon’s infantry attacked the allies, an intercepted message sent for the attention of the Duke of Wellington revealed that the Prussians were in the vicinity of St. Lambert to his right. To counter, Napoleon sent both infantry and cavalry, headed by Lobau, Domon and Subervie

to face the advancing Prussian troops. The French infantry attack against the allied troops coming down from the ridge began to prove effective, and seeking to reinforce the weakened troops in his centre, Wellington sent in his reserve headed by Picton. This gave Wellington a strong advantage, which he capitalised on by sending in the cavalry brigades of Ponsonby and Somerset. Despite taking the French infantry by surprise the attack took a heavy toll on the allied cavalry.


by Henri-Georges-Jacques Chartier

156

D uring the French counter attack following the allied cavalry charge Lieutenant Colonel Hamilton witnessed the 92nd Highlanders, falling back in disorder. Hoping to regain control of the field Hamilton ordered in his regiment, the Scots Greys. Their arrival helped to rally the men of the 92nd

who then turned back to attack the French. This famous charge is depicted in the iconic painting by Lady Butler entitled ‘Scotland Forever’. Of the charge itself, French Captain Duthilt wrote:

‘Just as I was pushing one of our men back into the ranks I saw him fall at my feet from a sabre slash. I turned round instantly - to see English cavalry forcing their way into our midst and hacking us to pieces. Just as it is difficult, if not impossible, for the best cavalry to break into infantry who are formed into squares and who defend themselves with coolness and daring, so it is true that once the ranks have been penetrated, then resistance is useless and nothing remains for the cavalry to do but to slaughter at almost no risk to themselves. This what happened, in vain our poor fellows stood up and stretched out their arms; they could not reach far enough to bayonet these cavalrymen mounted on powerful horses, and the few shots fired in chaotic melee were just as fatal to our own men as to the English. And so we found ourselves defenceless against a relentless enemy who, in the intoxication of battle, sabred even our drummers and fifers without mercy.’

Scotland ForeverThe Battle of Waterloo, 18th June, 1815


158

N apoleon had ordered a strong counter attack against the attacking allied cavalry, and Wellington was forced to withdraw behind the Mont-Saint-Jean ridge once again. There he reinforced the newly captured La Haye Sainte as allied troops retook Papelotte. Wellington found himself

frustratingly unable to stage a fresh attack on the badly weakened French left and right, without the aid of the Prussian army, who were still held up at St. Lambert, fighting Lobau’s men. However, the French mistook Wellington’s movements behind the ridge for a retreat, and therefore Napoleon ordered an ill fated cavalry charge to advance across the battlefield and attack the ridge.

1st Dragoons Capturing the EagleThe Battle of Waterloo, 18th June, 1815

by William Holmes Sullivan

160

The Duke of Wellington At WaterlooThe Battle of Waterloo, 18th June, 1815


T he massed French cavalry charge against the ridge proved to be a monumental mistake. Through the smoke of the battlefield General Ney had mistaken the British wounded escaping to Brussels for a full scale retreat. However, as the cavalry advanced they were met with well formed defensive squares

headed by a line of artillery. This formation allowed the allied artillery to fire upon the French cavalry until the last possible moment before retreating to safety behind the defensive squares. Therefore, despite their numbers, the French cavalry made very little impact. This was not the only setback the French forces encountered. No infantry reserves were made available to them as they were still fighting the Prussians to the east, and their artillery had to stop firing upon the allies completely as they were now in danger of inflicting equal casualties upon their own men should they continue. Despite sending in more attacking cavalry, the French were eventually forced to retire.

162

T he position of the French artillery below the ridge, and their occupation of La Haye Sainte meant that Wellington had no choice but to hold ground and await further developments. During this time Napoleon concerned himself with the Prussians, who were continuing to advance and had

already captured Plancenoit. When called upon by Ney for reinforcements Napoleon is said to have replied, ‘Where do you expect me to get them from? Do you want me to make some?’ In a desperate bid to stop the Prussians from coming to the aid of Wellington’s men, Napoleon decided to send in his Imperial Guard. He hoped they would facilitate the recapture of Plancenoit, before continuing on to battle Wellington’s wavering forces.


by William Sadler

164

F ollowing the defeat of the Imperial Guard, the Prussians retook both Plancenoit and Papelotte and it became apparent that the French left, right and centre had each fallen. The last remaining battalions of the Old Guard, Napoleon’s personal bodyguard, that were stationed around ‘La Belle

Alliance’ formed the final cohesive French force at Waterloo. Napoleon had hopes of rallying his remaining French troops behind them. However, as the men’s already haphazard retreat turned in to a rout they were also forced to withdraw, keeping in a square formation to protect against the advancing Coalition cavalry. Napoleon remained with the Guard until he could finally be persuaded that the battle was lost and that he must make haste in leaving.

The legend has taken root which tells of a ravine on the battlefield which thwarted the earlier charges by the French cavalry. There is no basis for the events depicted here but it has become a part of the mythology surrounding the Battle of Waterloo.

The Ravine at WaterlooThe Battle of Waterloo, 18th June, 1815

by Ulpiano Checa

166

W ith the front at Plancenoit temporarily stabilised, Napoleon committed his hitherto-undefeated Imperial Guard to an attack on the exposed centre of Wellington’s line in an attempt to roll up his men away from the Prussian troops. This charge of the Guard has been acclaimed as one of

the most celebrated passages of arms in military history. However, after a bitter skirmish, the French Guard were overpowered and forced into a retreat, causing a wave of panic to spread throughout the troops with many men said to have uttered, ‘The Guard retreats. Save yourself if you can!’ The surviving Imperial Guard rallied their remaining reserve battalions just south of La Haye Sainte, for a last stand, where they are said to have refused to surrender, uttering the famous retort ‘The Guard dies, it does not surrender!’

The Charge of the French CuirassiersThe Battle of Waterloo, 18th June, 1815


168

T he final retreat of the Guards saw them enveloped by thousands of French troops by the time dusk fell. These men, who had been completely broken by the allied forces pressed upon them, were chased as far as Genappe before the allied cavalry was eventually called off at around 11 p.m. By this

point over 78 guns and 2,000 prisoners had been taken, as well as the capture of many Generals and Napoleon’s abandoned carriage at Genappe. This was found to contain precious diamonds that had been left in the panic of retreat, which were to become part of the Prussian crown jewels.

The Dog of the Regiment WoundedThe Battle of Waterloo, 18th June, 1815

by Horace Vernet

170

T he war had been lost for Napoleon, and it was now only left for him to fall upon the mercy of his enemies. On 13th July, 1815, Napoleon dictated a letter of surrender to the British Prince Regent, which read:

Royal Highness,Exposed to the factions which divide my country, and to the enmity of the great Powers of Europe, I have terminated

my political career; and I come, like Themistocles, to throw myself upon the hospitality of the British people. I claim from your Royal Highness the protections of the laws, and throw myself upon the most powerful, the most constant, and the most generous of my enemies.

Waterloo would prove to be a definitive battle in more than one sense. Napoleon’s surrender brought about a resolute ending to the wars that had long racked Europe and so much of the world, as well as the military and political career of Napoleon and ushered in almost 500 years of international peace in Europe.

The Division of the ChasséThe Battle of Waterloo, 18th June, 1815

by Jan Hoynck van Papendrecht

172

U nder pressure to leave French soil from the interim government in Paris and fearful of becoming a prisoner of his enemies if he remained in the country, Napoleon looked to the British, to whom he could surrender and in return request political asylum. On the morning of 15th July, Napoleon and

his retinue boarded the HMS Bellerophon, bound for Britain. While on board the ship Napoleon is said to have developed a lonely routine, with the crew keeping their distance and only speaking to him if invited to do so. In the morning of 23rd July, Napoleon is said to have appeared at dawn to see the Ushant, the last piece of French land visible before reaching England. He was reported to have spent the morning watching France recede from view, speaking to no-one, even the members of his company who joined him.

Napoleon Aboard hMS BellerophonJuly, 1815

by William Quiller Orchardson

174

A fter spending three weeks aboard the Bellerophon, whilst moored in Plymouth Harbour, Napoleon was informed of Britain’s decision regarding his fate. Unlike he had hoped, Napoleon was not to be allowed a peaceful existence in Britain or on Elba, where he had been relatively

happy. He was to be exiled to the isolated island of Saint Helena, off the west coast of Africa. A lonely place where he would live until his death, and where he was accompanied by only a handful of friends. Among this entourage was Emmanuel, comte de Las Cases, who wrote of Napoleon’s living conditions on Saint Helena:

‘The Emperor Napoleon, who lately possessed such boundless power and disposed of so many crowns, now occupies a wretched hovel, a few feet square, which is perched upon a rock, unprovided with furniture, and without either shutters or curtains to the windows. This place must serve him for bedchamber, dressing room, dining room, study, and sitting room; and he is obliged to go out when it is necessary to have this one apartment cleaned. His meals, consisting of a few wretched dishes, are brought to him from a distance, as though he were a criminal in a dungeon.’

Napoleon Aboard hMS BellerophonJuly, 1815

by Charles Lock Eastlake

176

A fter living out the final years of his life in relative isolation on Saint Helena, Napoleon Bonaparte died on the 5th May, 1921, after being in exile for only six years. He was presided over by Father Ange Vignali, who reported his last words to be ‘France, armée, tête d’armée, Joséphine’,

translated as ‘France, army, head of the army, Joséphine.’ The official cause of death given was stomach cancer, however, this is suspected to have been a convenient explanation of his death for the British, who wanted to avoid criticism over their poor level of care for the Emperor.

Napoleon Sur Son Lit de Mort5th May, 1821

by Horace Vernet

178

I n his will Napoleon requested that he should be laid to rest ‘upon the banks of the Siene, among the French people which I have loved so much.’ However, the British Governor stipulated that he should be buried on St. Helena and due to disputes over what the inscription on his tomb should read, it was

left nameless. In 1840, Louis Philippe I gained permission from the British to have Napoleon’s remains returned to France, where on 15th December a state funeral was held. Napoleon’s tomb was then placed in the cupola in St. Jérôme’s Chapel, until 1861, when it was interred in a crypt at the Esplanade des Invalides, where other great French military leaders have been laid to rest.

Arrival of La Dorade At Courbevoie14th December, 1840


180

S o came to pass the life of one of the greatest military leaders the world had ever seen. An Emperor whose ambitions shaped the face of the world as we see it today, and yet a man whose same ambitions claimed the lives of millions in his insatiable lust for power and glory. Serving himself yet also his

country until his dying day, Napoleon said of his own career:

‘I closed the gulf of anarchy and brought order out of chaos. I rewarded merit regardless of birth or wealth, wherever I found it. I abolished feudalism and restored equality to all regardless of religion and before the law. I fought the decrepit monarchies of the Old Regime because the alternative was the destruction of all this. I purified the Revolution.’

Apotheosis of Napoleonby Horace Vernet

napoleon on campaign : classic images of napoleon at war

Documents