The Napoleonic Wars between 1799 and 1815.

The Napoleonic Wars between 1799 and 1815.


The Napoleonic Wars were a series of conflicts declared against Napoleon's French Empire and changing sets of European allies by opposing coalitions that ran from 1799 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionized European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to the application of modern mass conscription. French power rose quickly, conquering most of Europe, but collapsed rapidly after France's disastrous invasion of Russia in 1812. Napoleon's empire ultimately suffered complete military defeat resulting in the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy in France. The wars resulted in the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire and sowed the seeds of nascent nationalism in Germany and Italy that would lead to the two nations' consolidation later in the century. Meanwhile the Spanish Empire began to unravel as French occupation of Spain weakened Spain's hold over its colonies, providing an opening for nationalist revolutions in Latin America. As a direct result of the Napoleonic wars the British Empire became the foremost world power for the next century,thus beginning Pax Britannica.

By 1808 Napoleon was master of all Europe but he was now to begin a series of mistakes that would lead to his defeat. Dethroning King Charles IV of Spain he made his brother Joseph Bonaparte King, causing a revolt and what was to be known as a Guerrilla war in Spain. During the Peninsular war (1808-1813) the Spanish Guerillas aided by British troops under Wellington and Portuguese allies drove the French out and eventually invaded southern France. A fifth Coalition formed but the Austrians were defeated at the battles of Aspern and Wagram in 1809.With large numbers of his troops tied down in Spain, Napoleon decide to invade Russia in 1812 with an Army of 500,000 men and although he defeated the Russians at the battle of Borodino in 1812 and took Moscow he was forced to retreat due to weather, costing him most of his army and marking the beginning of the end. Surrounded by enemies on all sides with his best troops dead Napoleon was forced to abdicate in 1814. As the members of the Fifth coalition decided the fate of Europe, Napoleon staged a daring return to power and tried to reverse the outcome of the war at the battle of Waterloo (18 June 1815). Waterloo was a bloody battle which saw his remaining elite guard destroyed and Napoleon exiled to St Helena from where he was never to return, marking the end of the Napoleonic wars.

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[CamilleDeVa]

its really annoying to have to wait to read the scrolling text just so you know

[matheona1]

@CamilleDeVa I really don´t understand you.Where is your problem.during of the 8 min.watching this video. you will be able to know more.....and that is goood job for your knowledge.And I will be pleased if my video make you to know more,more and more.... That is main reason for my uploading these info videos.If you have problem with reading just watch and try to feel the historical time..... that is so easy Have a nice day Yours matheona

[matheona1]

All videos by matheona on line on web ,just click on "matheona image" in any search window.

[buddyltd]

To be honest, that wasn't too bad. The soundtrack was bad, and you couldn't tell who was allied (I already knew, but still) and I agree that the scrolling text is hard to read, but otherwise, it was OK.

[mtuers]

Is this an 8th grade history project? Horrible.