Napoleonic Era

Battles

Battles

Each battle has a short summary, a map where the armies move, the forces and losses, and the art it inspired.

The Campaign of France 1814

  1. 01

    29 January 1814

    Brienne

    • Napoleon attacks Blücher at his old school town
    • Fighting runs on past midnight in the town and château
    • Blücher and Gneisenau narrowly escape capture

    Indecisive

  2. 02

    1 February 1814

    La Rothière

    • About 85,000 Allies against 45,000 French
    • Fought in heavy snow; muskets misfire, bayonets decide
    • Wrede's Bavarians break through at Chaumesnil

    Allied victory

  3. 03

    10 February 1814

    Champaubert

    • Napoleon emerges from the marshes at Sézanne
    • Olsufiev stands with 4,000 infantry and no cavalry
    • Baye and Bannay cleared by mid-afternoon

    French victory

  4. 04

    11 February 1814

    Montmirail

    • Sacken turns back east to fight instead of retreating
    • Fierce fighting for the farm and village of Marchais
    • The Guard breaks the Russian centre

    French victory

  5. 05
    Map only

    12 February 1814

    Château-Thierry

    • The French pursue Yorck and Sacken to the Marne
    • Two Russian regiments surrender on the plateau
    • A battery across the river covers the escape

    French victory

  6. 06

    14 February 1814

    Vauchamps

    • Blücher advances to finish Marmont
    • Marmont turns, with the Guard behind him
    • Grouchy's cavalry ride round the Allied flank

    French victory

  7. 07
    Map only

    17 February 1814

    Mormant

    • Napoleon is back on the Seine front
    • Gérard leads the attack on Pahlen's Russians
    • French cavalry outflank both wings

    French victory

  8. 08

    18 February 1814

    Montereau

    • Württemberg holds the heights of Surville, rivers behind him
    • Morning attacks by Pajol and Victor fail
    • Napoleon arrives at 3 pm with the Guard and 70 guns

    French victory