Few rulers in our time are worthy of occupying the minds of young people who are eager for knowledge. If modern young men found themselves in France during the time of the great Napoleon Bonaparte, then many of them would immediately abandon their studies. And after reaching the age of eighteen, they would have gone into the army. It was so popular then to serve for the good of their vast country, and so young people were patriots in those days. In fashion stores, they only talked about fighting.
Each campaign of a strong leader brought a lot of money. Industrialists received vast territories under their control, which immediately began to be processed. Merchants could expand the trade department's network by capturing rare goods at a low price. Everyone was happy, and after the army was armed with the latest technology, Napoleon decided to go to war against a powerful neighbor - the Russian Empire. What was his last battle? In what battle did Napoleon die? This is what we will try to find out.
Start of war
Many kids today don't really know what battle Napoleon died in. "In the last" - so many say. They all make a gross mistake. Although the head of France had every chance of dying on the battlefield, but for his deeds, after which the country had no money for any serious reform, Napoleon Bonaparte was sent into exile on the island of St. Helena, where he later died of a broken heart. But if Napoleon Bonaparte had managed to win in his last battle, then the world would probably be completely different now.
Actions of the Russian Empire
After France declared war, the troops immediately began a quick forced march. There was a direct task - to cross the border with the Russian Empire in a couple of days and, choosing two main roads (as they were called at that time - merchant and southern), go straight to Moscow. The bet was made on the fact that the Russian army is in a very terrible state. The authorities did not have time to modernize the troops, and all the uniforms, including weapons, were simply old-fashioned.
But, nevertheless, the emperor decided to immediately repulse the French army. It was decided to hold the place of Napoleon's last battle on the approaches to Voronezh, gathering a significant contingent of troops around it. They came out immediately after the decision was made public. From the window, everyone shouted joyfully and applauded the brave soldiers who were going to die for their native fatherland.
Some nuances
And everything would have worked out at this stage,if not for one "but". Since the detachments could not go together, it was decided to join forces near Voronezh. And the commanders set off. Only here the food supply was strikingly different. If one platoon calmly walked to the designated place, making rare h alts, then other detachments first had to pick up food in the villages, and then move on, losing speed. So by the time of the designated attack, only thirty percent of all sent forces were in place.
The French easily crushed the rare resistance. Those troops that did not have time to reach the point will try to unite among themselves several more times, only nothing good will come of this undertaking again.
Battle of Borodino
Napoleon's last battle in Russia took place after a series of important events. In order not to give Moscow to the enemy, it was decided to burn it to the ground. When the French entered a large city, wanting to take it by force, and then replenish their water and food supplies, they saw only burnt ashes.
At that very moment, many were shocked by the desire of the Russians to go all the way. This is how the surviving soldiers describe that event in their memoirs: “We have never seen such a terrible sight. The entire city was buried, forgotten in time, like ancient Babylon. Moscow fell, and then we began to die.”
It's true. After no one in the capital began to sign a peace treaty, only one thing followed - the continuation of the war. Only now there was no more food to fight, no gunpowder with buckshot. Convoys with provisions andammunition, small groups of Russian formations intercepted halfway, killing soldiers without much difficulty. Napoleon's army was deprived of the opportunity to conduct a major military battle, forcing him to retreat.
In the meantime, we managed to assemble a single strike group, which should have completely put an end to this dubious military campaign.
Battle of Borodino. Military action
Which battle was Napoleon's last battle? Maybe Borodino? The attack began early in the morning. Two infantry went at each other, sometimes firing over their heads. The bullets were supposed to hit the second row, undermining the formation. It did not turn out very well, since few people took the wind correction in those days.
Enemy artillery began to work from the mountain. The guns fired explosive shells, trying to hit the very center of the Russian infantry. Meanwhile, small groups of soldiers set off from two flanks. The task was to intercept the height, disarm the artillery. And deploying guns against their own actual owners, hit with all their might.
But several detachments were sent to protect a key link in the entire operation. The Russians were crushed by numbers, since by this time well-placed defensive battles had destroyed several important units.
When there was virtually no hope left, and in a couple of minutes the army would have fallen, the second phase began. Bagration's cavalry jumped out of the forest at full speed, hidden there since the previous evening. Seeing their native eyes filled with bloody rage, the soldiers rushed with new ones.forces into battle.
The French soldiers were very frightened by this plot twist. Many fled the battlefield in panic, throwing their weapons on the ground. A couple of hours later, the battle ended with the victory of the Russian Empire. The time has come to collect the bodies, to count the dead. And then bury them in damp earth and celebrate that many are still alive.
The decline of a political career
So to the question in which last battle Napoleon lost, you can safely answer that in Borodino. It was there that the ideal version of world domination first suffered a crushing collapse. Upon his return to France, the ruler of destinies was removed from his post and sent under arrest to the island of Helena. Changes began throughout the country. The nobility began to reassert power, using military failure as a key way to reduce Napoleon's popularity.
And yet, this was not Napoleon's last battle. The year 1812 turned out to be unfortunate for Bonaparte, as the situation looked like the actual decline of his political career. Supporters preferred to remain silent so as not to lose their key positions at the most necessary moment. You could simply start serving the new masters and forget that you once supported a native of the people with all your heart.
High-profile court cases have begun. They tried to eliminate all friends and close associates of the commander. Several of them, sensing danger, fled the country. Others were less fortunate.
100 Days of Solitude
On St. Helena, however, Napoleon was treated like a king. He had the opportunity to correspond, which was an unaffordable luxury for those times. He was guarded only by trusted persons who, all as one, were for him, and not against him. Even then, the idea arose to go back and try to stand at the head of the country again.
But it took time to assemble the old guard. It was necessary to very delicately understand who would not mind again arranging a small military coup. At the same time, one should not forget that, although Napoleon could correspond, all of it was read immediately after it fell into the hands of a special person. It was necessary to choose words so elegantly, so skillfully to hide the true meaning behind a mountain of other meanings, so that no one could recognize this letter as a clear call for urgent action.
Napoleon believed that there was still a chance to change the balance of power in his favor. The new government was extremely weak, and its entire policy was based on the destruction of the heritage of the past. The French, on the other hand, needed bloody ideals to follow. As soon as they were stripped of their national pride, as soon as their successful victories were taken away, there was a rebellion in the hearts of many people.
Meanwhile, the government began to give away the lands conquered by Napoleon. To obtain foreign loans, it was necessary to appease states that already hated France. Recognizing the regime of military terror of Napoleon Bonaparte as illegal and contrary to the constitution, officials began to negotiate.
Escape from Saint Helena
When the little resistance was ready, the final action began. Everything was at stake, and it was pointless to retreat back. A little more, and the proud France of Napoleon would have forever lost its greatness. The commander-in-chief could not allow such a cross-out of personal merits. After the guard he needed was posted near Napoleon, direct actions began. The man was given weapons and money, and also explained how and where posts would be placed. Under the cover of night, the prisoner left his island, to which he will definitely return. But that will be later.
Army mobilization
As soon as the news of Napoleon's escape reached ordinary people, a crazy hype began. Everyone literally rejoiced, predicting a new order and the return of the old foundations. People were very offended by the new government, not realizing that if the officials had not found the money, then all of France would go to peace. However, the French liked the feeling of belonging to great victories much more than the economic stability of their country.
Young boys, as before, began to join the ranks of the Napoleonic army. Armament was provided by generals loyal to the leader to the very end. Upon learning that the prisoner had left his cage, the government decided to act quickly. Since many countries were directly interested in preventing Napoleon from taking the helm of France again, it was decided to create a military coalition.
By the time of the Battle of Waterloo, the situation was worse for Napoleon Bonaparte. He only managed to reach 200,000soldiers, while the coalition had about 700,000. If desired, the Allies could use several more formations, raising the total to 1,000,000 combat units.
Battle of Waterloo
Napoleon had one strategy. Since his forces were much smaller than the army of the enemy, it was supposed to break them apart before they could unite. And the plan would have been fulfilled if the generals, who felt the defeat of the idol, had not begun to betray him en masse. In what last battle did Napoleon die? Morally, he died at Waterloo. Mentally, but not physically.
In a few hours, all the greatness of Napoleon was trampled underfoot. The enemy cavalry repeated exactly the same trick as the Russian one. Only now the horses struck immediately, and then retreated, giving way to the foot soldiers. Within two hours the battle was over. Napoleon was captured and sent back to prison. All the generals who decided to support his uprising were put on trial. A new wave of purges began, but as the French saw the second defeat of their idol, love for him cooled rapidly. Napoleon's last battle at Waterloo ended his era.
Last years of life
Now Napoleon stayed on St. Helena forever. The old man, of course, was still trying to raise the military to a new rebellion, but no one wanted to die at the behest of the captive. Calls to take up arms and go to the final battle less and less disturbed the minds. Already before his death, Napoleon curses those mediocritythat his legacy was so cruelly treated. The legend dies in splendid isolation. Since even the guards do not have time to enter their lawful post.
Result
So, which battle was Napoleon's last battle? Due to betrayal by the personnel, the Battle of Waterloo was the last. If you answer in which battle Napoleon died, then as the ruler of his country, as a great leader, he died during the battle of Borodino.
