Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815)
The Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) were a series of conflicts between France, led by Napoleon Bonaparte, and several European coalitions. After crowning himself emperor in 1804, Napoleon expanded his rule, conquering territories and reforming governments based on the ideals of the French Revolution.
French military supremacy was evident in battles such as Austerlitz (1805), where Napoleon defeated Austria and Russia. However, the attempt to weaken the United Kingdom economically with the Continental Blockade failed, generating resistance within Europe itself. In 1812, the invasion of Russia was a disaster for the French, resulting in the loss of much of the army due to the harsh winter and the Russian scorched earth strategy.
In 1814, after successive defeats, Napoleon abdicated and was exiled to the island of Elba. He returned in 1815 in the episode known as "The Hundred Days", but was definitively defeated at the Battle of Waterloo. Captured, he was exiled to the island of Saint Helena, where he died in 1821.
The Napoleonic Wars redefined European borders and led to the Congress of Vienna (1815), which reorganized the balance of power on the continent, influencing world politics for decades.
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