Napoleon's Wars: The Sixth Coalition

The downfall of Napoleon.

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Napoleon’s invasion of Russia had been a disaster. Now, the rest of Europe seized the chance to struck at France. Using an army of a million people, the Sixth Coalition would inflict the death blow against Napoleon’s dying empire.

War for Europe

Despite being vastly outnumbered, the French Emperor managed to win three major battles: Lützen, Bautzen, and Dresden. The first two battles were fought in May of 1813. In August, he won a decisive victory at Dresden. 

The mighty Bonaparte was simply impossible to defeat. So the European Allies changed strategy. Under their Trachtenberg Plan, they would instead target Napoleon’s subordinate generals. 

Battle of Nations

By October of 1813, the Sixth Coalition was joined by another country: Austria. Now for the first time, all of Europe’s great powers—Britain, Austria, Prussia, and Russia—were at war against France. Worse still, the Coalition was supported by several weaker countries, such as Sweden. Spanish guerrillas continued to bog down French resources in the Iberian peninsula. 

Together, all of these European Allies clashed against the Frenchman at Leipzig. Outnumbered two to one, even Napoleon could not win this battle. He was forced into retreat. Known as the Battle of Leipzig, or the Battle of the Nations, it was Napoleon’s first true defeat. 

Six Day Campaign

In February of 1814, Napoleon made a last stand against the European Coalition: the Six Day Campaign. Even while being hugely outnumbered, Napoleon nevertheless managed to rout his enemies on the battlefield. But at some point, the numbers were simply too overwhelming. By March, the European Allies successfully seized Paris itself. 

But Napoleon refused to give up! In April, the indomitable Bonaparte prepared to recapture Paris. But this time, even his French generals could not support him. Without any allies left, Emperor Napoleon was now forced to completely abdicate the French throne. Even his lineage was forever barred from ever again ruling France. 

Hundred Days

Under the Treaty of Fontainebleau, the defeated Napoleon was now exiled to the island of Elba, just off the west coast of Italy. 

Remember King Louis XVI, who was executed by the French Revolution? His younger brother was crowned as King Louis XVIII. No one really knows what happened to Louis XVII. But in any case, the European Coalition was now acting as if the French Revolution had never happened! 

But Napoleon managed to escape Elba! On March 20, 1815, he marched triumphantly back into Paris. Unfortunately for our conquering hero, the situation was impossible to save. The opposition of Europe, even within France, was far too strong. About a hundred days later, on July 8, King Louis was restored back to the French throne. 

This time, Napoleon was exiled to the remote island of Saint Helena, where he died in 1821. Although defeated, the great Bonaparte left behind an unconquerable legacy for France, Europe, and the rest of the world.