Six Days' Campaign
By the start of 1814, the Sixth Coalition had defeated French forces in both Germany and Spain. Three Coalition armies prepared to invade France from the north-east and south-west. The Army of Bohemia under Prince Schwarzenberg crossed the Rhine between Basel and Schafhausen on the 20th of December 1813. This force included 200,000 to 210,000 Austrian, Russian, Bavarian, and Wurttemberg soldiers. They passed through Swiss territory while violating canton neutrality. The Army of Silesia with 50,000 to 56,000 Prussians and Russians crossed the Rhine between Rastadt and Koblenz on the 1st of January 1814. Wellington invaded France over the Pyrenees at the same time. Napoleon commanded resistance in north-east France while Marshals Soult and Suchet defended the south-west. He had about 200,000 men total but upwards of 100,000 were held by Wellington on the Spanish frontier. Another 20,000 were required to watch debouches from the Alps. Less than 80,000 remained available for the east and north-eastern frontier.
Fighting in north-east France proved indecisive during January and the first week of February. During the Battle of Brienne on the 29th of January 1814, Napoleon surprised Blücher at his headquarters and nearly captured him. Blücher fell back a few miles to the east the next morning to a strong position covering exits from the Bar-sur-Aube defile. At about noon on the 2nd of February Napoleon attacked them opening the Battle of La Rothière. The weather was terrible with heavy ground making French guns useless. Snow drifts swept across the field causing columns to lose direction. Although the French inflicted more damage than they received, Napoleon retired to Lesmont then to Troyes. Marshal Marmont stayed behind to observe the enemy. Owing to state of roads or extraordinary lethargy characterizing Schwarzenberg's headquarters, no pursuit was attempted. On the 4th of February Blücher obtained permission from King Frederick Wilhelm III to transfer operations to valley of Marne. Pahlen's corps of Cossacks covered his left flank. Blücher advanced from Vitry along roads leading down valley of Marne with columns widely separated for subsistence and shelter. He himself was at Sézanne on night of 7/the 8th of February while rest of army distributed in four small corps near Épernay, Montmirail and Étoges.
Napoleon decimated Lieutenant General Olsufiev's Russian IX Corps at Battle of Champaubert on the 10th of February. There were 4,000 Russian casualties and Russian General Zakhar Dmitrievich Olsufiev taken prisoner to approximately 200 French casualties. This placed French army between Blücher's vanguard and main body. Napoleon turned attention to vanguard defeating Osten-Sacken and Yorck at Montmirail on the 11th of February. There were 4,000 Coalition casualties to 2,000 French casualties. Napoleon attacked and defeated them again next day at Battle of Château-Thierry. There were 1,250 Prussian casualties, 1,500 Russian casualties and nine cannons lost to approximately 600 French casualties. Napoleon then turned on main body of Army of Silesia and on the 14th of February defeated Blücher in Battle of Vauchamps near Étoges. There were 7,000 Prussian casualties and 16 cannons lost to approximately 600 French casualties. These disasters compelled retreat of whole Silesian army. Napoleon left detachments with Marshals Mortier and Marmont to deal with them before hurrying back to Troyes.
Napoleon's 30,000-man army suffered loss of 3,400 men while inflicting 17,750 casualties on Blücher's force of 50,000 to 56,000. With exception of Champaubert these battles took place with Napoleon's tactical inferiority in numbers. Johann von Nostitz-Rieneck stated campaign demonstrated Napoleon's tactical mastery to highest degree. Michael Leggiere quotes Nostitz saying campaign displayed talents as field commander to highest degree in defeating five enemy corps in sequence. David Zabecki wrote about Germany at War in 2014 analyzing the strategic implications. Ralph Ashby documented Napoleon Against Great Odds in 2010 examining the military tactics used. The rapid succession of four defeats between February 10 and 15 prevented Coalition forces from coordinating effective response. Napoleon achieved disproportionate victories through speed and concentration of force against separated Russian and Prussian units. His ability to engage individual parts sequentially allowed him to defeat larger combined armies despite numerical disadvantage.
When Army of Silesia was preparing to strike at Blücher's Russo-Prussian Army of Silesia, headquarters underestimated threat. Russian corps commander Osten-Sacken made contact with advanced Napoleon's units on the 8th of February but did not report to Blücher. Chief of staff Gneisenau believed Napoleon's full movement from Villenauxe to Sézanne was only reconnaissance after leading French cavalrymen retreated. A Russian officer arrived at Blücher's headquarters late on 9th reporting army under threat from south. Night of 10th intelligence discovered Napoleon himself already at Sézanne. Advance of Army of Bohemia under Prince Schwarzenberg toward Paris compelled Napoleon to abandon pursuit of Blücher's army. Though badly beaten and dispersed, Army of Silesia soon replenished by arrival of reinforcements. Five days after defeat at Vauchamps, Army of Silesia back on offensive. Schwarzenberg ordered retreat upon hearing of Napoleon's approach leaving rearguard under Prince of Württemberg to fight French at Montereau. Coalition leaders held council of war near Troyes on the 22nd of February frightened by recent streak of victories.
Napoleon refused armistice terms allowing him to keep throne unless they agreed to terms of 1813 Frankfurt proposals. On the 28th of February Coalition forces resumed advance inflicting further defeats on both Schwarzenberg's and Blücher's armies. After six weeks fighting Coalition armies had hardly gained any ground. Battle of Arcis-sur-Aube on the 20th of March saw Austrians outnumber his dwindling army 80,000 to 28,000. Napoleon realized he could no longer continue with current strategy of defeating Coalition armies in detail. He decided to move eastward to Saint-Dizier to rally garrisons and raise whole country against invaders. A letter containing outline of plan captured by enemies led Coalition commanders to hold council of war at Pougy on the 23rd of March. Tsar Alexander I of Russia and King Frederick of Prussia reconsidered next day deciding to march to Paris then an open city. Marmont and Mortier took up position on Montmartre heights opposing them. Battle of Paris ended when French commanders surrendered city on the 31st of March as Napoleon hurried across rear of Austrians towards Fontainebleau. Napoleon forced to announce unconditional abdication signing Treaty of Fontainebleau. He sent into exile on island of Elba while Louis XVIII became king. Treaty of Paris signed by representatives of French monarchy and Coalition powers formally ended War of Sixth Coalition on the 30th of May 1814.
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Common questions
What were the dates of the Six Days' Campaign during 1814?
The Six Days' Campaign took place from the 10th of February to the 15th of February 1814. This period included four consecutive battles where Napoleon defeated separated Coalition forces.
How many troops did Napoleon command in the Six Days' Campaign compared to Blücher's Army of Silesia?
Napoleon commanded a force of approximately 30,000 men against Blücher's Army of Silesia which numbered between 50,000 and 56,000 soldiers. Despite this numerical disadvantage, Napoleon inflicted 17,750 casualties on the enemy while losing only 3,400 men.
Which specific battles occurred during the Six Days' Campaign starting on the 10th of February 1814?
The campaign began with the Battle of Champaubert on the 10th of February followed by Montmirail on the 11th of February. The fighting continued at Château-Thierry on the 12th of February and concluded with the Battle of Vauchamps on the 14th of February near Étoges.
Who were the commanders leading the Coalition armies that invaded France in early 1814?
Prince Schwarzenberg led the Army of Bohemia while Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher commanded the Army of Silesia. These forces included Austrian, Russian, Prussian, Bavarian, and Württemberg troops crossing the Rhine in late December 1813 and January 1814.
What was the outcome of the War of the Sixth Coalition after the Six Days' Campaign ended?
Napoleon signed the Treaty of Fontainebleau and abdicated unconditionally before being exiled to the island of Elba. Louis XVIII became king and the Treaty of Paris formally ended the War of the Sixth Coalition on the 30th of May 1814.