Questions about War of the Fifth Coalition
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What was the War of the Fifth Coalition and when did it take place?
The War of the Fifth Coalition was a European conflict in 1809 between Napoleon's French Empire and the Austrian Empire of Francis I, fought as part of the broader Napoleonic Wars. Austria was supported by Britain, Portugal, Spain, Sardinia, and Sicily, though the main fighting was carried out by Austria and France in Central Europe.
Why did Austria start the War of the Fifth Coalition in 1809?
Austria chose 1809 because France had withdrawn 108,000 troops from Germany in October 1808 to reinforce its armies in Spain, reducing French strength in the region by more than half. Austrian foreign minister Johann Philipp Stadion argued that Napoleon's preoccupation with the Peninsular War created a narrow opportunity to recover territories lost in the 1803-1806 War of the Third Coalition. Emperor Francis I approved the war at an the 8th of February 1809 meeting attended by himself, Archduke Charles, and Stadion.
What happened at the Battle of Aspern-Essling in 1809?
The Battle of Aspern-Essling on the 21st-the 22nd of May 1809 was the first major defeat in Napoleon's military career. Archduke Charles led 98,000 troops and 292 guns against a French bridgehead at two villages northeast of Vienna; the French bridges over the Danube were repeatedly broken by Austrian fire ships, stranding Napoleon's forces. Marshal Lannes, given command of the rearguard, was struck by a cannonball and mortally wounded, becoming the first of Napoleon's marshals to die in battle.
What were the terms of the Treaty of Schönbrunn that ended the War of the Fifth Coalition?
The Treaty of Schönbrunn, signed on the 14th of October 1809, required Austria to cede its Mediterranean ports and territories including Carinthia, Carniola, and the Adriatic coastline, removing its access to the sea. Austria lost over three million subjects, about 20% of the empire's total population, and Emperor Francis agreed to pay an indemnity equivalent to almost 85 million francs. West Galicia was given to the Duchy of Warsaw and Russia received the district of Tarnopol.
What was the Walcheren Campaign during the War of the Fifth Coalition?
The Walcheren Campaign was a British operation launched in July 1809 to capture the French naval base at Antwerp by landing at Walcheren in the Netherlands. John Pitt, 2nd Earl of Chatham commanded a force of over 39,000 men, described as the largest British Expeditionary Force of the Napoleonic Wars. The campaign failed when Walcheren Fever, believed to be a combination of malaria and typhus, killed 4,000 men; only 106 were killed in action. The failure led to the resignation of British prime minister the Duke of Portland.
Who was Andreas Hofer and what role did he play in the War of the Fifth Coalition?
Andreas Hofer led the Tyrolean Rebellion against Bavarian rule and French domination during the 1809 war, winning early victories at the Battles of Bergisel and freeing Tyrol of Bavarian occupation by late August. After the Treaty of Schönbrunn freed up troops, a Bavarian force under Jean-Baptiste Drouet, Comte d'Erlon conducted a three-pronged assault with 45,000 troops that reoccupied the region by early November. Hofer went into hiding but was betrayed by one of his men in January 1810 and executed by the French.