Problems with England and Spain
On October 21, 1805, Adm. Horatio Nelson had destroyed the combined Franco-Spanish fleet off Cape Trafalgar, Spain. This loss made it virtually impossible for Napoleon to invade England. He, therefore, introduced the Continental system, or blockade, designed to exclude all British goods from Europe. In this manner he hoped to ruin the British economy and to force the nation of shopkeepers to make peace on French terms. His plan did not work, and it led Napoleon into conflicts with Spain, the papacy, and Russia, and it undoubtedly formed a major cause for the downfall of the Empire.
In Spain in 1808 French interference led to the removal of the Bourbon dynasty and to the placement of Joseph Bonaparte as king. But the Spanish people refused to accept this Napoleonic dictate and, with aid from Great Britain, kept 250,000 French troops occupied in the Peninsular War . The refusal of Pope Pius VII to cooperate with Napoleon and the blockade led to the Popes imprisonment and a French take-over of the Papal States. In the case of Russia refusal proved even more serious. Alexanders refusal to close Russian ports to British ships led to Napoleons Russian campaign of 1812, which was highlighted by the Battle of Borodino and the occupation of Moscow . However, the ultimate result of this Russian campaign was the destruction of the Grand Army of 500,000 troops.
Fall from Glory
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