I’ve been reading Dag Ahlander’s Sverige vid avgrunden 1808-1814 (Sweden at the abyss 1808-1814) detailing Sweden’s political and diplomatic situation during the critical years of the Napoleonic wars. A big surprise while reading it was the large roll Ahlander attributes to Charles XIV John Bernadotte during Napoleon’s Russian invasion. Essentially he argues:
Ahlander also points out that Napoleon himself lamented not securing Swedish support on his western flank as one of his greatest mistakes leading up to the Russian war, while in exile on St Helena.
This of course prompts the question: how would the French invasion of Russia have been affected with a Bernadotte-less Sweden? Say that crown prince Charles August survives or that Charles XIII biological son Charles Adolf loves to adulthood, removing Bernadotte’s adoption.
As Ahlander points out, most of the Swedish leadership was more interested in a French alliance and eventual reconquest of Finland before their new crown prince switched focus to the west and Norway. Without him in power, Sweden continues a anti-Russian agenda, though it is unlikely that any serious military action can be attempted against Russia with Sweden as weak as it is. More likely Sweden passively supports France.
How is the invasion affected by a less exposed northwestern flank for Napoleon, as well as a less well-advised and less confident emperor Alexander?
- Sweden opposing France rather than Russia allowed Russia to redeploy 60,000 man from Finland to Russia, as well as forcing France to redirect the same amount of men to guard the Baltic coast.
- Bernadotte could with his French military experience provide invaluable advice to Emperor Alexander, including encouraging him to support the scourged earth strategy of Kutuzov.
- Bernadotte’s support had a considerable psychological effect on Emperor Alexander who no longer felt that Russia was fighting all of Europe at once, and strengthened his resolve to not negotiate with Napoleon.
- Later on, Bernadotte played a key role in working out the 6th coalition’s strategy leading up to the battle of Leipzig.
Ahlander also points out that Napoleon himself lamented not securing Swedish support on his western flank as one of his greatest mistakes leading up to the Russian war, while in exile on St Helena.
This of course prompts the question: how would the French invasion of Russia have been affected with a Bernadotte-less Sweden? Say that crown prince Charles August survives or that Charles XIII biological son Charles Adolf loves to adulthood, removing Bernadotte’s adoption.
As Ahlander points out, most of the Swedish leadership was more interested in a French alliance and eventual reconquest of Finland before their new crown prince switched focus to the west and Norway. Without him in power, Sweden continues a anti-Russian agenda, though it is unlikely that any serious military action can be attempted against Russia with Sweden as weak as it is. More likely Sweden passively supports France.
How is the invasion affected by a less exposed northwestern flank for Napoleon, as well as a less well-advised and less confident emperor Alexander?
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