The Napoleonic Wars: v. 4: Fall of French Imperium 1813-1815

This volume covers Napoleon's gradual fall from power, beginning in spring 1813, when Napoleon prepared to face Russia and Prussia again. Quickly raising new armies composed of inexperienced conscripts and invalided verterans, and with a critical shortage of cavalry, Napoleon resolved to preserve his empire in Germany. The Emperor achieved hard-fought victories at Lutzen and Bautzen, but Austria then threw in her lot with the allies. Dresden and Leipzig followed, and Napoleon retreated across the Rhine, to claim victory again on home soil, but the pressure against him was too much, and with Paris threatened, the Emperor abdicated. Yet his last battle, and one of history's most decisive, was still to come - Waterloo.

By: Gregory Fremont-Barnes