Histoire du Consulat et de l'Empire, (Vol. 17/20) faisant suite à l'Histoire de la Révolution Française

Set against the turbulent final years of the Napoleonic Empire, this volume opens with a vivid portrait of a French army in disarray as it scrambles across the Rhine, Italy, and Spain. The narrative follows the frantic campaigns of Prince Eugène in Friuli and Marshal Soult's desperate attempts in Navarre, highlighting both battlefield chaos and the human strain on soldiers and civilians alike. At the same time, political pressure builds in Paris, where Napoleon confronts a populace increasingly restless over his endless wars.

Amid the military setbacks, the book delves into the intricate diplomatic dance that surrounds the empire. Envoys such as M. de Saint‑Aignan and Metternich shuttle between Frankfurt, Mannheim, and Vienna, proposing peace based on natural borders while rival factions within the coalition vie for either a swift settlement or total victory. Inside France, Napoleon reshuffles his ministers, levies hundreds of thousands of men, and wrestles with financial measures, all while plotting a defensive line beyond the Rhine.