Campaign of France

Napoleon attempted to surprise Schwarzenberg's army at Arcis-sur-Aube. He engaged believing he faced only a rearguard, but discovered too late that he confronted the main allied army. On 20 March the French repulsed enemy outposts, but the next day found themselves heavily outnumbered. Napoleon then ordered an orderly retreat covered by Sébastiani's cavalry.

Macdonald attempted to slow Schwarzenberg's grand army at Bar-sur-Aube, but the French forces, outnumbered, were repulsed after violent fighting. The enemy, well organized with overwhelming superiority in numbers and artillery, retook this strategic position, opening the way toward Troyes and the Seine.

The Battle of Brienne opposed Napoleon to Blücher's Russo-Prussian troops in an attempt to divide enemy forces before they could regroup. Napoleon attacked vigorously and surprised the enemy, but Blücher, well entrenched, managed to withdraw in good order despite heavy losses. The town was taken, but the strategic objective of cutting enemy armies failed.

At Champaubert, Napoleon surprised an isolated Russian corps under General Olsufiev. Thanks to rapid maneuver and surprise, he encircled and crushed the enemy. Nearly all Russian troops were killed or captured. Olsufiev himself was taken prisoner. This victory inaugurated a series of tactical coups that marked the Six Days' Campaign.

Pursuing troops beaten at Montmirail, Napoleon caught coalition forces at Château-Thierry on the banks of the Marne. He launched a vigorous attack to prevent their retreat toward Soissons. The Allies were surprised while crossing the river. French cavalry played a key role, capturing many guns and prisoners. The victory reinforced the image of French invincibility in this lightning campaign.

The Battle of Craonne opposed French troops to Blücher's army on the steep plateau overlooking the Aisne. Napoleon, wishing to deny the Allies passage toward Laon, ordered a difficult frontal attack. Ney launched his divisions against entrenched Russian positions. After violent fighting, the French took the plateau, forcing the enemy to fall back.

The Battle of La Rothière was one of the rare open-field engagements between Napoleon and the Allies in 1814. Surprised by massive concentration of coalition forces, Napoleon, outnumbered, attempted to hold his positions. Fighting was fierce in snow and mud. After resisting all day, Napoleon ordered retreat at nightfall. Although tactically lost, the battle did not become a rout thanks to French discipline.

Napoleon attempted to regain initiative against Blücher's army, firmly entrenched on the heights of Laon. Despite major numerical inferiority, he launched several frontal attacks supported by Ney and his marshals. Assaults failed due to unfavorable terrain, lack of coordination, and extreme fatigue of the French army. Laon remained in coalition hands, marking a major strategic failure.

At Montereau, Napoleon faced Austro-Württemberg troops of the Hereditary Prince of Württemberg. After difficult progress due to enemy resistance and slowness of some French troops, the Emperor personally took command on the field. Thanks to coordinated attack on the bridges of the Seine and Yonne, he inflicted a heavy defeat on the coalition, which abandoned the town.

The day after Champaubert, Napoleon turned against Sacken's and Yorck's forces advancing separately toward Paris. He rapidly concentrated his troops and struck at Montmirail. Fighting was intense but arrival of the Imperial Guard and French tactical superiority led to victory. The Allies retreated in disorder, abandoning men and equipment.

The Battle of Paris was the final engagement of the Campaign of France. While Napoleon attempted to harass coalition rearguards at Saint-Dizier, they marched directly on the capital. Marmont and Mortier, with greatly inferior forces, defended the city fiercely, notably at Belleville, Montmartre, and Romainville. On 31 March Marmont capitulated to avoid destruction of Paris.

Napoleon, reacting with lightning speed after his retreat from Laon, surprised the allied corps of General Saint-Priest occupying Reims. In a few hours French forces retook the city after a well-coordinated attack. Saint-Priest was mortally wounded and his army suffered severe losses. It was one of Napoleon's last brilliant victories before the fall of Paris.

Napoleon, hoping to divert allied forces from Paris, launched a raid eastward and faced Russian cavalry at Saint-Dizier. Combat was sharp but limited, mainly opposing mounted units. Napoleon attempted to make believe in a major eastern offensive, but the Allies did not fall into the trap and marched directly on Paris. Combat ended without decisive victor.

Last battle of the Six Days' Campaign, Vauchamps saw Napoleon inflict a severe defeat on Blücher's forces, which had attempted to attack the French rearguard. Marmont resisted skillfully until arrival of reinforcements led by Napoleon. An encirclement maneuver, supported by a powerful cavalry charge, forced the Prussians into disastrous retreat.