The Napoleonic Wars began as a reaction to the French Revolution that started in 1789. It only took three years for the monarchy to collapse and the other European rulers got afraid that it could happen in their country. The war of the First Coalition was from 1793 to 1797. It is hard to tell when one war ended and another began but, Napoleon gained power in 1799 and History World dates them as running from 1799 to 1815.. Napoleon fought against Austria from 1800 to 1801 and against Britain from 1800 to 1802. The peace of Amiens was from 1802 to 1803. . The war of the Third Coalition was in 1805 and involved 180,000 troops. The war of the Fourth Coalition ran from 1806 to 1807 by then the army had grown to 250,000 troops. The War of the Fifth Coalition started in 1809. Britain’s war against the United States called the War of 1812 started because of American smugglers who were helping the French. That war started in 1812 and ended in 1815.
There was another war called the Peninsular War from 1808 to 1814 and started rebellions in Spain. The battle of Aspem-Essling is considered the first time Napoleon lost because he used the wrong tactics. In 1812 Napoleon invaded Russia. The Russian Army used a scorched earth tactic and Napoleon could not find enough food to feed his troops. Because of this Napoleon had to retreat from Russia. The War of the Sixth Coalition was from 1812 to 1814. That resulted in Napoleon being exiled to Elba.
The War of the Seventh Coalition is also called the Hundred Days. That is the war in which the Battle of Waterloo was fought. Napoleon retreated to Paris and was forced to surrender to the British in Rochefort. They exiled him to Saint Helena where he died on May 5th, 1821.
Works Cited
About.Com. European History. 2013. 15 05 2013
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History of War. "Napolianic Wars (1799 - 1815)." 2013. History of War. 15 05 2013
History World. "History of the Napolianic War." 2013. History World. 15 05 2013
Military Heritage. "The Napoleonic Collection." Military Heritage.
The Napolianic Guide. "The Napolianic Guide." The Napolianic Guide. 15 05 2013
The Napolianic War Time Journal. The Napolianic War Time Journal. 2013. 13 05 2013
