The Baton In The Knapsack: New Light On Napoleon And His Marshals by Currie Laurence;

Author:Currie, Laurence;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wagram Press
Published: 2015-10-14T00:00:00+00:00

IX — Moscow and Leipzig

TOWARDS the end of 1811 it became evident that the Franco-Russian alliance could not be permanent. Not only did the Czar decline to enforce the continental blockade against England, but he also increased heavily the duties on all merchandise from the French Empire. Alexander was irritated by Napoleon’s treatment of his relative, the Duke of Oldenburg, and by the Austrian marriage which he saw was unlikely to increase his chances of obtaining Constantinople. Napoleon could probably have maintained the alliance if he had been prepared to concede the Turkish capital to Russia, but he felt that this would fatally compromise his long-cherished schemes of Eastern expansion. In an evil moment he decided to make the dispute over the blockade the pretext for an invasion of Russia. At first Napoleon contemplated the destruction of Prussia, thus bringing on a war with Russia, and repeating the campaign of Jena and Friedland. This would have been a far wiser policy than the one he actually pursued and might incidentally have saved Europe from the world war a hundred years later. Napoleon was able to secure the nominal support of both Austria and Prussia, who felt at this juncture that subservience to him was their only path of safety. He had counted also on assistance from Sweden, where Bernadotte had recently been chosen Crown Prince and heir to the childless king. The Swedes had made this choice in the hope of propitiating the French Emperor and restoring the ancient alliance between France and Sweden. It was unlucky for Napoleon that Bernadotte should have been the marshal selected, as he was the one among them all who was least attached to his sovereign. He had been, like Augereau, an ardent republican, but although he appeared to be reconciled to the Empire and was created one of the original marshals, Bernadotte had never completely won Napoleon’s confidence. He had displayed a lack of imagination in refusing to render aid to Davout at Auerstädt and had failed to stem the flight of the Saxon troops in his corps at Wagram. After having been relieved of his command on this account he had had the temerity to issue an order of the day attributing a large share of the victory to the Saxons. This infuriated Napoleon, who was already irritated by hearing that Bernadotte had been expressing criticisms of the manoeuvres, or want of them, that preceded the battle. On returning to Paris after this episode Bernadotte was ordered by the Minister for War to command the French troops sent to oppose the English at Walcheren, but was immediately superseded by Bessières. Bernadotte’s career seemed to be ended when he received the Swedish offer, which gave no pleasure to Napoleon. The Emperor endeavoured to obtain a promise from the new Crown Prince that he would never make war against France, but this Bernadotte refused to give. Nevertheless he was prepared in 1811 to join with France against Russia if given Norway as a reward.

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