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History: The Napoleonic Wars: Battle of Leipzig

This research guide gives an overview of the Napoleonic Wars with resources on the wars. The guide is meant to spur interest in the Napoleonic wars and to show what resources the library has on the subject.

Battle Commanders

Portrait of Napoleon in his late thirties, in high-ranking white and dark blue military dress uniform. In the original image he stands amid rich 18th-century furniture laden with papers, and gazes at the viewer. His hair is Brutus style, cropped close but with a short fringe in front, and his right hand is tucked in his waistcoat.

Napoleon I, Emperor of the First French Empire

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Alexander I "the blessed" Emperor of Russia

 

Generalfeldmarschall (Field Marshall General) Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher

 

Karl Philipp, Fürst zu Schwarzenberg

Charles XIV John King of Sweden and Norway, Formerly Jean-Baptiste Jules Bernadotte

Description

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Overview of the battlefield

The Battle of Leipzig was the largest single battle of the Napoleonic wars with over 500,000 men participating in the battle. The battle took place from 16 to 19 October 1813 in Leipzig, Saxony. The battle marked a turning point in an already faltering German campaign for Napoleon. The battle was also one of the deadliest of the war with over 100,000 casualties. The battle saw the encirclement of French at Leipzig, with the French being assaulted on all sides by the Coalition armies. The French did create a break through and escape the encirclement but the fighting was brutal and saw the further depletion of the French army. The French army at this point in the war was mostly made up of conscripts and young recruits, a stark contrast to the army Napoleon had when he invaded Russia a year earlier. This battle result in a decisive defeat for Napoleon and saw him lose the strategic initiative. The coalition army consisted of 380,000 men from Prussia, Russia, Austria, Sweden, and other Germanic states with 1,500 guns (artillery). The French Army consisted of approximately 200,000 men from France, Poland, Italy, Württemberg, and Saxony. 

Animated Battle Map