Download Emperor Franz II/I and Napoleon

Emperor Franz II/I and
Napoleon
The reign of "the good Emperor Franz" was
characterised by disputes with Napoleon, who
subjected the venerable thrones of Europe to a
thorough shake up.
When Emperor Leopold II died suddenly after ruling for only
two years (1790-1792), he was followed on the throne by his
24-year-old son Franz II. It was no easy legacy that the new
monarch inherited, as the defensive alliance concluded with
Prussia by his father was being viewed by France with
increasing suspicion. Immediately after Franz assumed the
reins of government in March 1792, France issued an
ultimatum demanding that Austria renounce its alliance with
Prussia. Austria’s refusal to comply with the ultimatum
prompted France to declare war. Three years later Prussia left
the coalition, and a young Corsican officer saw his chance of
deciding the war in France’s favour. Napoleon Bonaparte led
France to victory, and under the terms of the ensuing Treaty of
Campo Formio, Austria suffered large losses of territory.
However, the peace was short-lived, hostilities resuming in
1799. Despite support from Russia, the second war of coalition
ended once again in victory for Napoleon. Although the Treaty
of Lunéville resulted in only insignificant losses for Emperor
Franz II, it set off a momentous process. The treaties of
Campo Formio and Lunéville included compensation for the
German princes for losses of territory resulting from the
cession of the left bank of the Rhine to France, thus severely
weakening Austria’s influence in the Holy Roman Empire.
When Napoleon had himself proclaimed Emperor of the French
in 1804, Franz II assumed the title of hereditary emperor of
Austria as Franz I. His desire to restore the balance of power in
Europe led not only to an alliance with Russia, Great Britain and
Sweden, but also to the third war of coalition during the course
of which French troops occupied Vienna. Russian and Austrian
forces were defeated decisively at the Battle of the Three
Emperors at Austerlitz, and in the subsequent Treaty of
Pressburg Austria again suffered major losses of territory. In
1806 the withdrawal of 16 princes from the German Imperial
Confederation led to the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire.
At the Diet in Erfurt in 1808, four kings and 34 princes of the
Confederation of the Rhine paid homage to the French emperor
as the de facto ruler of Europe. Emperor Franz I had refused
to participate and suffered the indignity of receiving a letter
from Napoleon containing the following claim: “ It was in my
power to destroy the Austrian monarchy. What your Majesty
is, is by virtue of our will.”
Emperor Franz was so incensed by this that he declared war
on France in April 1809. Napoleon repeated his bold advance of
1805 and was soon at the gates of Vienna. Archduke Karl
managed to defeat the Grande Armée at Aspern in the
Marchfeld region near the capital, but the joy of this victory was
short-lived, for Austrian forces were once again defeated in a
second battle nearby at Deutsch Wagram, and Napoleon
dictated the terms of the Treaty of Schönbrunn. Metternich,
whose approach was characterised by a willingness to
compromise, was appointed the new head of foreign policy and
negotiated a marriage between Napoleon and Marie Louise, the
daughter of the Austrian emperor. This familial tie involved
Austria in Napoleon’s greatest venture, his campaign against
Russia in 1812/13. Prussia and England allied themselves with
Russia. After initial hesitation, Emperor Franz I then also
declared war on France. In the Battle of Nations at Leipzig
Napoleon’s forces suffered an annihilating defeat. With the
Allies advancing on Paris, Napoleon fled to the island of Elba. In
autumn 1814 negotiations began at the Congress of Vienna.
Napoleon’s return to Paris accelerated the negotiations and the
final treaty was signed on 9 June 1815. Following his defeat at
Waterloo Napoleon was exiled to the bleak island of St. Helena
in the southern Atlantic where he died on 5 May 1821.
Author
Olivia Lichtscheidl