Osprey Essential Histories Compellation 4 : The Napoleonic Wars : The Rise and Fall of an Empire

The Napoleonic Wars saw fighting on an unprecedented scale in Europe, Africa and the Americas. It took the wealth of the British Empire, combined with the might of the continental armies, almost two decades to bring down one of the worlds greatest military leaders and the empire that he had created. Napoleon's ultimate defeat was to determine the history of Europe for almost 100 years. From the frozen wastelands of Russia, through the brutal fighting in the Peninsula to the blood-soaked battlefield of Waterloo, this book tells the story of the dramatic rise and fall of the Napoleonic Empire. Text by Todd Fisher and Gregory Fremont-Barnes. This book is a compellation of Osprey Essential Histories 3, 9, 17 and 39.

Contents

• The Rise of the Emperor 1805-1807
• Background to War
• Warring Sides
• Outbreak
• The Fighting
• Portrait of a Soldier
• The World around War
• Portrait of a Civilian
• How the War Ended
• Conclusion and Consequences

• The Empires Fight Back 1808-1812
• Background to War : Mutiny and Defiance
• Warring Sides : France, Austria and Russia
• The Fighting : The Austrian Campaign and the March on Moscow
• Portrait of a Soldier : Barclay de Tolly and Jacob Walter
• The World around War : Vienna
• Portrait of a Civilian : Louise Fusil
• How the Period Ended : Napoleon under Pressure
• Conclusion and Consequences

• The Peninsular War 1807-1814
• Background to War : Perennial Foes : Britain, France and Spain
• Warring Sides : Opposing Forces
• Outbreak : Origins of the Conflict
• The Fighting : A War of Contrasts
• Portrait of a Soldier : Private Edward Costello, 95th Rifles
• The World around War : The Artistic Works of Francisco Goya
• Portrait of a Civilian : George Canning
• How the War Ended : Anti-climax : The Campaign of 1814
• Conclusion and Consequences : Losses, Lessons and Legacy

• The Fall of the French Empire 1813-1815
• Background to War : Origins of Prussian and Russian Hostility
• Warring Sides : Opposing Forces
• Outbreak : A Bid for Revenge
• The Fighting : The 'War of German Liberation' and the Invasion of France
• Portrait of a Soldier : Captain Cavalie Mercer, Royal Horse Artillery
• The World around War : London : Splendour and Squalor
• Portrait of a Civilian : Lord Castlereagh, British Foreign Secretary
• How the War Ended : Denouement at Waterloo
• Conclusion and Consequences : Europe Restored and the Napoleonic Legacy