A History Of Europe, Key Battles

The French army invades Russia. The Russians retreat deep into their own territory then confront the French at the inconclusive Battle of Borodino of September 1812. Napoleon leads his men into Moscow but is forced to abandon the city and return westwards in the middle of winter, resulting in devastating losses. The anti-French coalition regain the initiative at the huge Battle of the Nations and finally at the Battle of Waterloo.www.patreon.com/historyeuropewww.historyeurope.netMusic composed by Beethoven; Moonlight Sonata and Symphony No.6 in F major. Courtesy of musopen.org See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The French invade Prussia and capture its capital Berlin, and then move into Poland and take Warsaw. Napoleon and Tsar Alexander then agreed the Treaties of Tilsit. The greatest resistance to French dominance comes from the Spanish, aided by the British under the command of the Duke of Wellington.www.patreon.com/historyeuropewww.historyeurope.netMusic from Beethoven - Symphony Nr 5, courtesy of www.musopen.orgPicture: Charles Meynier - Entrée de Napoléon à Berlin, 27 Octobre 1806 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Peace could potentially have lasted after the treaties of Lunéville and Amiens of 1801 and 1802 had the great powers accepted each others’ spheres of influence. However, the agreements turned out to be just a short truce. Napoleon’s continued annexations in Europe and apparent ambitions in the Mediterranean and Near East alarmed the British and Russians. The French suffer defeat at Trafalgar but manage to occupy Vienna. The Russians then withdrew back eastwards, while the Austrians hastened to make peacewww.patreon.com/historyeuropewww.historyeurope.netMusic from Beethoven - Symphony Nr 3 'Eroica', played by Czech National Symphony Orchestra, courtesy of www.musopen.orgPicture: Jacques-Louis David - The Emperor_Napoleon in His Study at the Tuilerie See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Napoleon leads the French into Egypt but is defeated at the Battle of the Nile by the British. Afterwards the Russians and Austrians push back against the French in Italy, but then suffer a reverse at the Battle of Marengo. Marengo turned out arguably to be the most important victory of Napoleon’s career. Had he lost the battle, he would have lost the war and probably the consulship. Instead his narrow win secured his job and won him Italy.www.patreon.com/historyeuropewww.historyeurope.netMusic from Mozart - March in D major; Violin Concerto no. 3 in G major, II. Adagio, courtesy of www.musopen.orgPicture - Jacques-Louis David - Napoleon Crossing the Alps See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The French invade Belgium in 1794 and the Netherlands in 1795. The coalition against them starts to fall apart as individual members came to terms. Russia, Prussia and Austria are distracted by their partitioning of Poland, which is wiped off the map.Next the French invade Austria and Italy, the Italian campaign led by a promising young commander Napoleon Bonaparte.www.patreon.com/historyeuropewww.historyeurope.netMusic from Mozart (Symphony no. 40 'Prague'), courtesy of www.musopen.orgPicture - Louis-François, Baron Lejeune - The Battle of Lodi 1796 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A French military victory at Valmy in 1792 and the execution of Louis XVI in January 1793 focused the growing concern across Europe about the radical new regime in Paris. The true revolutionary nature of events in France was dawning on everyone, including the possibility of the export of the revolutionary principles. In France, there was further political turmoil in 1793 with the coming to power of Maximilien Robespierre, who embarked on a fully fledged reign of TerrorMusic - Mozart's Clarinet Concerto in A major, I. AllegroPicture - Battle of Jemmapes, by Raymond Desvarraux See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The French king from 1774, Louis XVI, was poorly equipped for the role of national leader at a difficult time. His tragedy was that he had good intentions and a strong sense of responsibility. But he was shy and awkward and lacked the required political skills and charisma. Decades of failure for the French in foreign and domestic affairs, resulted in a profound crisis of legitimacy for the monarchy, resulting in the famous revolution of 1789www.patreon.com/historyeuropewww.historyeurope.netMusic from Hector Berlioz (Symphonie Fantastique), courtesy of www.musopen.orgPicture - Jean-Pierre Houël - The storming of the Bastille, July 14, 1789 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Origins of the French Revolutionary Wars can be dated to 17th August 1787, when in Constantinople the Ottomans arrested the Russian ambassador Count Bulgakov in the Topkapi palace, and declared war on St Petersburg. Catherine the Great had deliberately provoked the Turks and now dragged in the reluctant Austrians into the war. The Austrian Emperor was Joseph II, the archetypal enlightened despot, who worked hard to reform his empire but from the top down. His reforms provoked the so-called Brabantine Revolution 1789-90 in the Netherlands which was similar in some ways to the contemporary French Revolution. www.patreon.com/historyeuropewww.historyeurope.netMusic from Joseph Haydn (Symphony 94, 'Surpise'), Christoph Gluck (the opera 'Iphigenie En Tauride') and Mozart (the Turkish March), courtesy of www.musopen.orgPicture - January Suchodolski - the Siege of Ochakov 1788 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the last years of the 19th century the continent of Europe was turned on its head. France erupted into revolution in the middle of what was already a volatile situation, with various tensions between the Great Powers (Great Britain, Prussia, Russia, Austria, Ottomans as well as France). The storming of the Bastille is an iconic moment, not just for French, but world history. It came at a time when French prestige was in decline and her foreign policy seemed adrift. The French support of the British colonies in America helped them gain independence but did little for France herself. Meanwhile the Austrian Empire faced its own challenges, led by Joseph I after the death of Maria Theresa, and the Dutch Republic also appeared on the verge of revolthttps://www.patreon.com/historyeuropewww.historyeurope.netMusic from Hector Berlioz (Symphonie Fantastique) and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Serenade in G Major or Eine Kleine Nachtmusik), courtesy of www.musopen.orgPicture - Jacques Bertaux_-_Prise du palais desTuilerie

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Russo-Turkish War 1768-74, Catherine the Greatwww.historyeurope.net See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Seven Years War 1756-1763, Part 2www.historyeurope.netMusic composed by Joseph Haydn, courtesy of musopen.org  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Seven Years War 1756-63, Part 1Pictured - Frederick the Greatwww.historyeurope.netMusic - Joseph Haydn, Symphony 49 'The Passion', courtesy of www.musopen.org See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

War of Austrian Succession ConcludesPictured - Battle of Fontenoywww.historyeurope.netMusic - Winter by Antonio Vivaldi, courtesy of musopen.org See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Prussian Invasion of Habsburg Silesia by Frederick the GreatPictured - Maria Theresa - ruler of the Habsburg dominionswww.historyeurope.netMusic composed by Domenico Scarlatti, courtesy of musopen.org See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Background to the War of Austrian Succession 1740-48War of Polish Succession 1733–35, Russo-Turkish War 1735–1739, War of Jenkins Ear 1739-1748Pictured - Augustus II the Strong,  Elector of Saxony and King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania until his death in 1733, which triggered the War of Polish SuccessionMusic composed by Antonio Vivaldi - Concerto for Bassoon in A minor, Concerto 11 in c minor, courtesy of musopen.org www.historyeurope.net See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Introduction to the War of Austrian Succession 1740-1748; the rise of Prussia and beginning of the European Enlightenment. Pictured - Frederick William I, the king in Prussia and elector of Brandenburg (reigned 1713-40), known as the "Soldier King" for building up the military of his state.Music composed by Georg Philipp Telemann, courtesy of musopen.orgwww.historyeurope.net See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The armies of Peter the Great and Charles of Sweden fight the Battle of Poltava 1709. The Great Northern War 1700-1721 afterwards continues for a number of years, notably the Battle of the River Prut 1711, where the Russians confront the Ottomans.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Charles XII of Sweden launches an audacious campaign towards Moscow through Poland, linking up with the Cossack leader Ivan Mazepa (pictured)www.patreon.com/historyeurope  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Great Northern War - Charles XII, the young new king of Sweden, defends himself from attacks from his neighbours Russia, Denmark and Polandwww.patreon.com/historyeurope  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.