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CHAPTER I
PEACE IN THE EAST, WAR IN THE WEST

Napoleon Bonaparte, The Man Who Saved France, The Corsican Who Conquered Europe, The Little Corporal had just conquered Austria, Prussia and the mighty Russian Empire in almost a decade where no one had done before him. With his victories, Napoleon Bonaparte met with the defeated Russian and Prussians in Tilsit, in the middle of the Neman River, in a raft what was where the future of Europe was decided.

The Russians and Prussians were mixed when The Corsican gave them his terms of peace, with the former being relieved while the latter was horrified.

The Russians were being given light terms of peace:

1. The Creation of the Polish State of Duchy of Warsaw in Russian and Prussian Land

2. Russia joins Napoleon’s Continental System of Blockading Britain

3. The Ionian Islands were given to the French

4. Joins the Anglo-French War

170px-Alexander_I_of_Russia_by_G.Dawe_(1826,_Peterhof).jpg 115194-004-129408B6.jpg 220px-Charles-Maurice_de_Talleyrand-Périgord.png

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Napoleon was discussing his plans for Britain alongside one of his Generals, Talleyrand when a man, a balding man with sideburns entered his tent.

“Ah! Your Imperial Majesty! Come, sit alongside me and Talleyrand!” Said Napoleon, still sitting in his chair.

“Why did you call me, Your Imperial Majesty?” Said the worried Russian

“Oh, yes! Talleyrand and I was discussing that even though the treaty had been signed and accepted, I wanted to add another provision.”

Even before the Tsar could continue or object, the French Emperor continued to speak, “I have three added provisions for you, One… I would give you permission to agitate the Swedes as their bastard of a King haven’t been subdued yet and I would guarantee your conquest of Finland, if needed. Two… I will support you on the war against the Turks and per say ‘liberate’ your Slavic brothers but only if the Turks refuse to consider my peace…”

The Tsar then unexpectedly cut the Emperor, “Yes, yes I like these provisions but even I know that you need something in return?”

The Emperor smiled but it wasn’t him that said the next words but it was Talleyrand, who was sitting idly by and so said to the Russian Tsar, “Of course there is, Your Imperial Majesty! We would support you if only the Emperor would marry your dear sister, the Grand Duchess Catherina Pavlovna and that you would not only formally join the Continental System but also permanently and agree that you must not and can not do anything against the Emperor on this matter, do you agree, your Imperial Majesty?”

The Russian was shocked but quickly recovered and said to the Emperor, sweating and visibly worried, “But… Aren’t you in a loving marriage with Empress Josephine?”

The Emperor sighed and said to the Russian in a visibly sad tone, “I love My Josephine but she is old and soon to be barren and I need an heir and a wife from a highborn family and you, as my true ally can provide that! I only ask one thing in the return of many, would you not agree?”

The Tsar, still shaken, said reluctantly, “I would agree to all of your provisions but when this news catches the wind…. My court is not very supportive of you unlike me, especially my mother.”

Talleyrand then answered to him, bluntly, “Then keep your mother out of court and into a palace far but not too far from the capital as she would perceive it as negatively if you exile her but keep a keen eye on your mother and cut off her from her supporters inside the court, do you agree with this?”

Tsar Alexander sighed and said, “Yes, I’ll do it, for Russia!”

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The treaty with Russia also included a secret clause in which Napoleon would encourage Russian aggression into Finland and agreeing to join the war against the Ottomans if only they opposed the mediation by the French but in return the Emperor would marry the Tsar’s sister, Grand Duchess Catherina Pavlovna as soon as the divorce with Josephine was finalized.

Meanwhile the Prussians got the heavy end of the stick with them being given harsh terms of peace even though the ever popular Prussian Queen Louise failing to convince the French Emperor to lighten the terms but thanks to one of Napoleon’s Marshal, Talleyrand, their harsh terms were reduced slightly but was still deemed by the Prussians as harsh than needed:

1. They lost half of their territories with Frances’ Ally, Saxony gaining Magdeburg, Mansfeld, The Principality of Halberstadt, County of Hohenstein, Quedlinburg and the Principalities of Hildesheim and Goslar

2. The formation of the Kingdom of Westphalia from lands of Prussia which consisted of the County of Mark, the Principality of Minden, County of Ravensberg, Lingen and Tackenberg, Cleve on the Eastern Rhine, the Principalities of East Frisia, Munster and Paderborn

3. Russia gain minor lands

4. The formation of the Duchy of Warsaw from most of the lands Prussia gained during the Partitions of Poland

5. The payment of 30,000,000 Francs

6. Prussia joins the Continental System


Even though peace in the East had been achieved, France still had her enemies in the west in the form of Great Britain, Portugal and the Kingdom of Naples remainders in Sicily. As soon as the ink dried on the Treaty of Tilsit, the Grand Armee under General Jean-Andoche Junot and their Spanish allies invaded Portugal on 19th November 1807. The invasion was a resounding success with the Portuguese leadership and nobility running away with the Royal Family to their colony of Brazil and by 30th November, Junot’s Armies had entered an empty Lisbon and he was subsequently named by Napoleon as the new Governor of Portugal. What the French didn’t realize was that the Iberians now were angry as they saw that the French as another set of invaders trying to stamp into their lives. The War in Iberia was not done yet and for that, Napoleon is not yet Master of Europe.





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