French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars

The Napoleonic Wars, and the French Revolutionary Wars before them, consumed Europe between 1792 and 1815. The Napoleonic Wars saw French forces battling various coalitions of European nations. Ending in 1815 with Napoleon's defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, the Napoleonic Wars saw the map of Europe forever changed.

The Battle of Austerlitz was one of Napoleon Bonaparte's greatest victories. Fought on December 2, 1805, Austerlitz is also known as the Battle of the Three Emperors as Russian and Austrian forces were led by Tsar Alexander I and Emperor Francis II. The French victory at Austerlitz ended the War of the Third Coalition and led to the Austrians...

The Battle of Eylau was fought on February 7-8, 1807, in East Prussia. Attacking a predominently Russian army, Napoleon began a 14-hour battle that ebbed and flowed across the plains near Eylau. Ending in a draw, the high point of the battles was a massive French cavalry charge led by Marshal Joachim Murat.

The Battle of Friedland was fought June 14, 1807, during the War of the Fourth Coalition. Attacking the Russians near Friedland, Napoleon succeeded in driving them from the field. The Battle of Friedland effectively ended the War of the Fourth Coalition.

The Battle of Aspern-Essling was fought on May 21-22, 1809, during the War of the Fifth Coalition. Attempting to force a crossing of the Danube, Napoleon was blocked by Archduke Charles who attacked French forces in Aspern and Essling. The loss at Aspern-Essling was Napoleon's first defeat in over a decade.

Fought in 1809, the Battle of Wagram was the pivotal battle of the War of the Fifth Coalition. Fought near the village of Wagram, Napoleon soundly defeated the army of Archduke Charles of Austria.

The Battle of Borodino was fought September 7, 1812, during Napoleon's invasion of Russia. Attacking Russian positions around Borodino, the French both inflicted and sustained heavy losses. Though the Russians departed after the Battle of Borodino, their army remained intact.

The Battle of Bautzen was fought May 20-21, 1813 during the War of the Sixth Coalition. Advancing against Prussian and Russian forces, Napoleon sought to pin them in place near Bautzen while Marshal Ney's corps cut off their retreat. While Napoleon succeeded in defeating the enemy at Bautzen, Ney failed in his mission and they escaped.

Fought on August 30, 1813, the Battle of Kulm was a Coalition victory that occurred during their retreat from Dresden. Meeting near Kulm, Coalition troops encircled and captured most of a French corps led by Dominique Vandamme.

Fought May 2-3, 1815, the Battle of Tolentino marked the beginning of the end for Joachim Murat's reign as king of Naples. Engaging the Austrians near Tolentino, Italy, Murat was defeated by General Frederick Bianchi. The Neapolitan army ceased to be an effective fighting force after the Battle of Tolentino.

The Battle of Waterloo was fought June 18, 1815 during the Napoleonic Wars. Waterloo was final battle of the conflict and occurred following Napoleon's return from Elba. The Battle of Waterloo saw the Duke of Wellington's army win a decisive victory which ultimately forced Napoleon's surrender.