Battle of Paris (1814)
On the 20th of December 1813, the Army of Bohemia crossed the upper Rhine near Basel. This marked the beginning of a coordinated invasion into France by Russian, Austrian, Prussian, and Württemberg forces. The Army of Silesia under Blücher passed the middle Rhine on the 1st of January 1814. Wintzingerode crossed the lower Rhine on the 6th of January. At first, French defenders made hardly any resistance at all. Napoleon had spread his weak forces in a thin cordon along the Rhine while trying to raise a new army. He could deploy only 129,106 men on the 1st of December 1813 against 156,868 men in the Army of Bohemia alone. Three Coalition armies prepared to invade France with distinct objectives. The Army of Bohemia deployed on the upper Rhine while assigning 12,000 men to occupy Switzerland. The Army of Silesia stood on the middle Rhine ready to advance. Bülow and Wintzingerode of the North Army prepared to invade the Netherlands. In addition to recruiting new soldiers, Napoleon transferred troops from the armies of Marshals Soult and Suchet that were opposing British, Portuguese, and Spanish armies in southwest France.
The First Battle of Bar-sur-Aube on the 24th of January 1814 was an indecisive clash between 20,000 French led by Mortier and the Army of Bohemia's 3rd Corps under Feldzeugmeister Ignaz Gyulai. Napoleon arrived at the front and with 36,000 troops attacked Blucher's 28,000 men at the Battle of Brienne on the 29th of January. The Allies defeated Napoleon by concentrating 80,000 men against 45,000 French at the Battle of La Rothière on the 1st of February. Elated by their victory, the Allies decided to make a two-pronged advance toward Paris. Schwarzenberg's army moved toward Troyes along the Seine River while farther north Blücher pressed forward toward Meaux along the Marne River. Napoleon turned against Blücher who had allowed his army to become so strung out. During the Six Days' Campaign between 10 and the 14th of February 1814, Napoleon mauled the Army of Silesia. Blücher's 56,000-strong army suffered 16,000 casualties and lost 47 guns. Nevertheless, the Army of Silesia was soon reinforced to a total of 53,000 men. On the 20th of February 1814, Schwarzenberg received news that Marshal Augereau's French army in the south was menacing Geneva and Besançon.
Since the disaster in Russia and the start of the war, the French populace had become increasingly war-weary. Joseph Bonaparte was responsible for defending Paris but military organization and administration was poor due to his shortcomings. Marshal Moncey was in charge of the National Guard. There were also some regular army units and Imperial Guard reserves. In January 184, a plan was proposed to fortify Paris with earthworks but it was rejected by Napoleon. Later, 56 wooden barricades were built to deter cavalry raids. These were armed with 40 4-pounder guns and 20 8-pounder guns. The rejected fortification plan was revived but Joseph insisted on delaying it until it could be approved by Napoleon. Because of this, Paris remained virtually unfortified. Meanwhile, Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord was at Paris intriguing against Napoleon. An intercepted message from Chief of Police Jean René Savary stated that Paris' magazines were empty and its population was demanding peace. Tsar Alexander read captured dispatches and realized that the proper objective was Paris.
After camping outside the city on the 29th of March, Coalition forces prepared to assault the city from its northern and eastern sides on the morning of the 30th of March. The battle started with an intense artillery bombardment by the Coalition army. The Army of Silesia was spread out which caused a delay. It would first have to capture Aubervilliers. The Crown Prince's command was also delayed and would not arrive until midday. The only Allied force ready for immediate action was the 6th Corps under Raevsky. Duke Eugen received his orders from Raevsky to attack at 7:00 am. The initial Russian assault pushed through Pantin and the Romainville woods but triggered a French counterattack. By 11:00 am, Marmont and Mortier reported to Joseph that their defenses were still holding. Joseph then fled south with some government officials after receiving a proclamation from Schwarzenberg. Langeron's corps began moving west to outflank the French defenses. At noon, the Prussian Guard emerged from Pantin only to be repulsed in its first attack. A second thrust by the Prussian Guard captured some French guns and gained some ground.
Digby Smith stated that the French brought 41,000 men into action and suffered losses of 4,000 killed and wounded plus 1,000 men, 126 guns, and 2 colors captured. Allied casualties included Russia 5,050, Prussia 1,353, Württemberg 160, Austria 82, Baden 60 for a total of 6,705. Nafziger numbered Coalition strength as 119,000 infantry and 26,500 cavalry or 145,500 total. He gave no French or Russian losses but reported that total Prussian losses were 87 officers and 1,753 rank and file. The Prussian Guard lost 69 officers and 1,286 enlisted men. Gaston Bodart asserted that the Coalition victory was won by 100,000 soldiers including 53,000 Russians, 22,000 Prussians, 15,000 Austrians, and 10,000 Württemberg and Baden troops. Total Coalition losses were 9,000 casualties including 6,200 Russians, 2,100 Prussians, and 700 others. Bodart gave French strength as 42,000 and losses as 7,000 dead and wounded plus 2,300 captured for a total of 9,300 casualties. The French order of battle showed there were 25,526 regular army troops while National Guards numbered 12,000 but only about half were armed with muskets.
When the Coalition armies marched into Paris on the 31st of March, people shouted Vive les Bourbons! Long live the sovereigns! Long live our liberators! Talleyrand assembled a rump government in Paris while he ingratiated himself to Tsar Alexander. Napoleon raced ahead of his army with only five officers as an escort reaching Essonnes on the 31st of March. He was met by GD Belliard who commanded the cavalry that had defended Paris. By the 1st of April, Napoleon massed 36,000 troops at Fontainebleau. On the 2nd of April, pushed by Talleyrand, the Senate voted to depose Napoleon and his entire family in the Acte de déchéance de l'Empereur. Napoleon toyed with the idea of abdicating in favor of his son Napoleon II but Allied leaders vetoed that possibility. Marmont signed a secret agreement with the new French government and Schwarzenberg. According to the agreement, Marmont would neutralize his corps removing it from Napoleon's army. On the 4th of April, Marmont's corps marched away to Versailles under Joseph Souham. Altogether 11,000 men were thus subtracted from Napoleon's army. Napoleon finally abdicated unconditionally in the Treaty of Fontainebleau on the 11th of April 1814.
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Common questions
What were the dates of the Battle of Paris in 1814?
The Coalition forces prepared to assault Paris on the morning of the 30th of March and marched into the city on the 31st of March. Napoleon reached Essonnes on the 31st of March before massing troops at Fontainebleau by the 1st of April.
Who commanded the French defense during the Battle of Paris 1814?
Joseph Bonaparte was responsible for defending Paris while Marshal Moncey led the National Guard. Marmont and Mortier reported that their defenses held until noon on the 30th of March before Joseph fled south with government officials.
How many soldiers fought in the Battle of Paris 1814?
Gaston Bodart asserted that the Coalition victory was won by 100,000 soldiers including 53,000 Russians, 22,000 Prussians, 15,000 Austrians, and 10,000 Württemberg and Baden troops. Digby Smith stated that the French brought 41,000 men into action against these forces.
Why did Napoleon lose the Battle of Paris 1814?
Paris remained virtually unfortified because a plan to fortify it with earthworks was rejected by Napoleon and delayed by Joseph Bonaparte. The Senate voted to depose Napoleon and his entire family in the Acte de déchéance de l'Empereur on the 2nd of April after Talleyrand assembled a rump government.
When did Napoleon abdicate during the War of the Sixth Coalition?
Napoleon finally abdicated unconditionally in the Treaty of Fontainebleau on the 11th of April 1814. He had toyed with abdicating in favor of his son Napoleon II but Allied leaders vetoed that possibility before he signed the treaty.