La Bataille de Deutsch Wagram 1809

Memorable Year 1809–France versus Austria

powers. The Revolution was now controlling the Eternal City. But what does that have to do with the Memorable Year 1809? The truth will be revealed below as the murder of General Duphot in 1797; the tragic loss of Desiree’s lover; and the creation of the Roman Republic in 1798 have everything to do with 1809, a year in which chemical combustion between states; society and art; and individuals create a historical drama of considerable magnitude.

French and Hapsburg Spheres of Influence

Two years ago, we wrote of the Memorable Year 1809 when we published La Bataille d’Aspern- Essling 1809, and we reviewed what went on throughout the entire world...since we have already done that, our essay for this game will be focused on what was limited to the struggle between the French and Hapsburg spheres of influence on the continent of Europe, and the one of many wars that ensued between these two great civilizations. The War of the Fifth Coalition started officially on April 10 when Austria invaded Bavaria. But it would not be too far astray to argue that the war actually started the day before, April 9, when Andreas Hofer and other Austrian patriots, started an insurrection in the Tyrol to overthrow Bavarian control over the Tyrol, which had been granted to them after the War of the Third Coalition ended in 1805. The insurrection, which was only marginally involved in the formal Franco-Austrian conflict, would continue for months after the conclusion of the primary fighting by Austria. It was emblematic of the times, and only marginally premature in its effect on European history. It just exploded almost out of a spontaneous combustion fueled by the spirit of nationalism and anti-French feeling sweeping the continent after nearly 20 years of French Revolutionary activity. It was a reactionary movement and would later appear in Italy; Russia; and finally in Germany again in the War of Liberation in 1813. Napoleon and the French had already been caught up in a similar nationalistic whirlwind in Spain and Portugal. Despite the success Napoleon himself had when in personal command of the French armies, the Spanish and Portuguese fronts became a drain on the overall war when other Imperial commanders led the French, and generally not too well. The French capitulation at Bailen in July 1808 was the most significant of these events. The French defeat lifted the spirits of the anti-French factions throughout Europe. Maybe Bailen is the true start of the War of the Fifth Coalition. This shocking event stirred the forces of German insurrection and the subsequent Hapsburg resurgence led the Austrians to declare war and challenge the French for the fourth time in 14 years in Central Europe and Italy. This time, it almost worked! There had been signs enough, which had been read by Napoleon, that his dalliance in Spain would be enough to encourage the Hapsburgs to reassert their power after multiple defeats suffered by them to the French. Napoleon knew it was just a matter of time before the events in Spain would lead to events along the Danube. Napoleon was almost fortunate that due to some complicated intrigues that both Talleyrand and Fouché had their hands all over, while Napoleon was in Spain, the Emperor would need to return to Paris in January 1809. Spain would be left to the underlings. Always multi-tasking, Napoleon was soon able to dispose with the Parisian machinations of Fouché and Talleyrand, as well as put the finishing touches to the founding of the University of France. More importantly, he was able to start preparations in earnest for another war in Central Europe. Davout, the commander of a corps along the Danube, was given orders to prepare for war. Massena took command of a weak corps in Eastern France, and would be ready

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