I - The Franco-Prussian Alliance and the War of the Third Coalition
The Failure of Prussian Neutrality and the Franco-Prussian Alliance
In 1795, Prussia made its separate peace with France at the Peace of Basel, leaving the First Coalition. It would spend the next ten years desperately trying to avoid the constant wars being fought across the continent. During those ten years, the revolutionary regime that had so terrified Europe’s conservative governments was replaced by a monarchy, headed by the newly-crowned emperor Napoleon I. The ‘Corsican Ogre’ would prove barely less frightening to France’s enemies.
With the failure of the Treaty of Amiens, Britain resumed its fight with France. In 1805, it seemed that another coalition was beginning to coalesce. Despite this, King Frederick William III kept his kingdom neutral. Due to the absolutist nature of the Prussian government, influencing official policy largely centered on the King’s ministers – and which ministers could count on being in his favor. One of those men was Count Christian von Haugwitz, a decidedly anti-French senior diplomat. It would be his counsel that would keep Prussia leaning toward the Allies, yet neutral.
Haugwitz would resign in 1804, officially due to health reasons, but professional embarrassment by his fellow diplomat Lombard was a more likely reason. The new minister, the pro-French Count Karl August von Hardenberg would now be much more at liberty to influence foreign policy, and fate would soon make it final. On a rainy morning in March 1805, Haugwitz rode over his estate. He would develop a cold, then pneumonia, and die two weeks later [1]. It is very likely Hardenberg was greatly relieved by this development, as his chief adversary in the “antechamber of power” had been removed. As Europe prepared to go to war again, Hardenberg could now turn his country to a course that lead straight into the arms of France.
For years, Prussia had turned hungry glances at Hannover, but never dared to risk Britain’s wrath. On 8 August 1805, France’s ambassador in Berlin, Laforest, made an overture of alliance with Prussia. France had annexed Hannover in 1803, and now offered it and an offensive-defensive alliance to Prussia in exchange for recognition of its gains in Italy. Despite the frequently insulting nature of Laforest’s proposals, this was the critical moment for Prussia – with Britain using the threat of Russia to force Prussia’s hand, a decision would have to be made.
Frederick William, however, would not easily be moved from his anti-French stance. “Can I,” the King asked Hardenberg, “without violating moral rules, without losing the esteem of good men in Europe, without being noted in history as a prince without faith, depart from the stance which I have maintained hitherto in order to have Hanover?” In the opinion of several of his foreign ministers, obtaining Hannover was reason enough to join France. After a few more weeks of discussion, Frederick William relented. Prussia would accept the offer of alliance on 4 September 1805.
The War of the Third Coalition
The debate over the question of a Franco-Prussian alliance was conducted in the shadow of the looming threat of Russian invasion, set for 28 September. Britain was naturally outraged by the actions of Prussia, Frederick William now seen as a weak monarch who had allied his country with France out of sheer greed. The seemingly omnipresent Royal Navy, having destroyed France’s navy at Trafalgar, quickly did the same to Prussia’s merchant fleet over the course of late 1805.
As the stagnated Prussian army mobilized a 90,000-man army under the 71-year-old Duke of Brunswick to contend with Kutuzov’s 75,000 Russians in Poland, Napoleon began his spectacular Ulm Campaign. Brunswick would not enjoy similar success; the Prussian army was defeated at Oleksin, and after losing almost 15,000 men, would abandon Warsaw. The Coalition's victories in Poland would be its only real successes on land however. With the fall of Vienna, Napoleon was now free to come to Prussia's aid. He arrived with four corps at Brunswick's camp at Poznań. The Franco-Prussian army would win a hard-fought victory at Majdany on the banks of the Warta.
The war would be concluded by the Treaty of Schönbrunn, in which Napoleon secured his throne and both France and Prussia increased their power. West Galicia was ceded to Prussia, and the Holy Roman Empire would be replaced with the "German Confederation", with Frederick William as President and Napoleon as Protector.
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[1] POD - Haugwitz dies, leaving Hardenberg to supplant him as Frederick William's main foreign advisor.
In 1795, Prussia made its separate peace with France at the Peace of Basel, leaving the First Coalition. It would spend the next ten years desperately trying to avoid the constant wars being fought across the continent. During those ten years, the revolutionary regime that had so terrified Europe’s conservative governments was replaced by a monarchy, headed by the newly-crowned emperor Napoleon I. The ‘Corsican Ogre’ would prove barely less frightening to France’s enemies.
With the failure of the Treaty of Amiens, Britain resumed its fight with France. In 1805, it seemed that another coalition was beginning to coalesce. Despite this, King Frederick William III kept his kingdom neutral. Due to the absolutist nature of the Prussian government, influencing official policy largely centered on the King’s ministers – and which ministers could count on being in his favor. One of those men was Count Christian von Haugwitz, a decidedly anti-French senior diplomat. It would be his counsel that would keep Prussia leaning toward the Allies, yet neutral.
Haugwitz would resign in 1804, officially due to health reasons, but professional embarrassment by his fellow diplomat Lombard was a more likely reason. The new minister, the pro-French Count Karl August von Hardenberg would now be much more at liberty to influence foreign policy, and fate would soon make it final. On a rainy morning in March 1805, Haugwitz rode over his estate. He would develop a cold, then pneumonia, and die two weeks later [1]. It is very likely Hardenberg was greatly relieved by this development, as his chief adversary in the “antechamber of power” had been removed. As Europe prepared to go to war again, Hardenberg could now turn his country to a course that lead straight into the arms of France.
For years, Prussia had turned hungry glances at Hannover, but never dared to risk Britain’s wrath. On 8 August 1805, France’s ambassador in Berlin, Laforest, made an overture of alliance with Prussia. France had annexed Hannover in 1803, and now offered it and an offensive-defensive alliance to Prussia in exchange for recognition of its gains in Italy. Despite the frequently insulting nature of Laforest’s proposals, this was the critical moment for Prussia – with Britain using the threat of Russia to force Prussia’s hand, a decision would have to be made.
Frederick William, however, would not easily be moved from his anti-French stance. “Can I,” the King asked Hardenberg, “without violating moral rules, without losing the esteem of good men in Europe, without being noted in history as a prince without faith, depart from the stance which I have maintained hitherto in order to have Hanover?” In the opinion of several of his foreign ministers, obtaining Hannover was reason enough to join France. After a few more weeks of discussion, Frederick William relented. Prussia would accept the offer of alliance on 4 September 1805.
The War of the Third Coalition
The debate over the question of a Franco-Prussian alliance was conducted in the shadow of the looming threat of Russian invasion, set for 28 September. Britain was naturally outraged by the actions of Prussia, Frederick William now seen as a weak monarch who had allied his country with France out of sheer greed. The seemingly omnipresent Royal Navy, having destroyed France’s navy at Trafalgar, quickly did the same to Prussia’s merchant fleet over the course of late 1805.
As the stagnated Prussian army mobilized a 90,000-man army under the 71-year-old Duke of Brunswick to contend with Kutuzov’s 75,000 Russians in Poland, Napoleon began his spectacular Ulm Campaign. Brunswick would not enjoy similar success; the Prussian army was defeated at Oleksin, and after losing almost 15,000 men, would abandon Warsaw. The Coalition's victories in Poland would be its only real successes on land however. With the fall of Vienna, Napoleon was now free to come to Prussia's aid. He arrived with four corps at Brunswick's camp at Poznań. The Franco-Prussian army would win a hard-fought victory at Majdany on the banks of the Warta.
The war would be concluded by the Treaty of Schönbrunn, in which Napoleon secured his throne and both France and Prussia increased their power. West Galicia was ceded to Prussia, and the Holy Roman Empire would be replaced with the "German Confederation", with Frederick William as President and Napoleon as Protector.
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[1] POD - Haugwitz dies, leaving Hardenberg to supplant him as Frederick William's main foreign advisor.
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