MAPS AND PLANS

Battle of Ulm
battle of Austerlitz
battle of Jena
battle of Friedland
battle of Wagram
central Europe after 1810
campaign in Russia
battle of Vittoria
the campaign of 1813
battle of Dresden
battle of Leipzig
the campaign of 1814 to face
plan of the Waterloo campaign
battle of Ligny
battle of Waterloo, about 11 o’clock a.m. to face
st. Helena

  The life of napoleon I

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CHAPTER XXII

ULM AND TRAFALGAR

“Napoleon is the only man in Europe that knows the value of time.”—­Czartoryski.

Before describing the Continental campaign which shattered the old European system to its base, it will be well to take a brief glance at the events which precipitated the war of the Third Coalition.  Even at the time of Napoleon’s rupture with England, his highhanded conduct towards the Italian Republic, Holland, Switzerland, and in regard to the Secularizations in Germany, had exposed him to the hostility of Russia, Sweden, and Austria; but as yet it took the form of secret resentment.  The last-named Power, under the Ministry of Count Cobenzl, had relapsed into a tame and undignified policy, which the Swedish Ambassador at Vienna described as “one of fear and hope—­fear of the power of France, and hope to obtain favours from her."[1] At Berlin, Frederick William clung nervously to neutrality, even though the French occupation of Hanover was a threat to Prussia’s influence in North Germany.  The Czar Alexander was, at present, wrapt up in home affairs; and the only monarch who as yet ventured to show his dislike of the First Consul was the King of Sweden.  In the autumn of 1803 Gustavus iv. defiantly refused Napoleon’s proposals for a Franco-Swedish alliance, baited though they were with the offer of Norway as an eventual prize for Sweden, and a subsidy for every Swedish warship serving against England.  And it was not the dislike of a proud nature to receive money which prompted his refusal; for Gustavus, while in Germany, hinted to Drake that he desired to have pecuniary help from England for the defence of his province of Pomerania.[2]

But a doughtier champion of European independence was soon to enter the field.  The earlier feelings of respect and admiration which the young Czar had cherished towards Napoleon were already overclouded, when the news of the execution of the Duc d’Enghien at once roused a storm of passion in his breast.  The chivalrous protection which he loved to extend to smaller States, the guarantee of the Germanic system which the Treaty of Teschen had vested in him, above all, his horror at the crime, led him to offer an emphatic protest.  The Russian Court at once went