Battle of Leipzig
Battle of Leipzig
Battle of the Nations is its other name. It took place between 16th and 18th October 1813 at Leipzig, Saxony. It culminated the German “War of Liberation.” Among all the Napoleonic wars, it was the biggest battle in terms of the amount of artillery and number of troops engaged. A coalition of Russian, Austrian, Prussian and Swedish troops fought against the French Army of Napoleon. Napoleon’s army also included Germans from the Confederation of Rhine, Italian and Polish troops. It was the largest battle in Europe before the 1st World War as it involved over 600,000 soldiers. Napoleon I, Frederick Augustus I, Joachim I, Prince Poniatowski, Duke of Taranto, Duke of Belluno, Duke of Ragusa and the Duke of Elchingen led the French troops and their allies. The coalition side commanders and leaders were Alexander I, Prince Barclay De Tolly, Grand Duke of Constantine, Count Platov, Prince of Schwarzenberg, Count Benningsen, Crown Prince Charles John, and Count von Blucher. The French and allied contingents side had a total of 225,000 soldiers. These were 160,000 from France, 15,000 Poles, 10,000 Italians, and 40,000 Germans. The coalition armies had a total of 380,000 soldiers. They included 145,000 Russians, 115,000 Austrians, 90,000 Prussians and 25,000 Swedish soldiers. The Napoleon side had about 700 cannons to its disposal while the allied contingents had about 1500 cannons. The allied side had 101,000 infantrymen and 26,000 cavalries while the French had 151,300 infantrymen and 41,300 cavalries. There was the use of heavy cavalries armed with long and straight sabers or broadsword. The light cavalries had short and curved sabers. All cavalry men used pistols, carbines and rifles. Heavy cavalry composed of large and required big strong horses. As a result, there was a deficiency in speed and endurance. Body armor used included cuirass and helmet. The cuirass protected the soldiers against shots fired from muskets and pistols from long distances.
Battle of the Nations is its other name. It took place between 16th and 18th October 1813 at Leipzig, Saxony. It culminated the German “War of Liberation.” Among all the Napoleonic wars, it was the biggest battle in terms of the amount of artillery and number of troops engaged. A coalition of Russian, Austrian, Prussian and Swedish troops fought against the French Army of Napoleon. Napoleon’s army also included Germans from the Confederation of Rhine, Italian and Polish troops. It was the largest battle in Europe before the 1st World War as it involved over 600,000 soldiers. Napoleon I, Frederick Augustus I, Joachim I, Prince Poniatowski, Duke of Taranto, Duke of Belluno, Duke of Ragusa and the Duke of Elchingen led the French troops and their allies. The coalition side commanders and leaders were Alexander I, Prince Barclay De Tolly, Grand Duke of Constantine, Count Platov, Prince of Schwarzenberg, Count Benningsen, Crown Prince Charles John, and Count von Blucher. The French and allied contingents side had a total of 225,000 soldiers. These were 160,000 from France, 15,000 Poles, 10,000 Italians, and 40,000 Germans. The coalition armies had a total of 380,000 soldiers. They included 145,000 Russians, 115,000 Austrians, 90,000 Prussians and 25,000 Swedish soldiers. The Napoleon side had about 700 cannons to its disposal while the allied contingents had about 1500 cannons. The allied side had 101,000 infantrymen and 26,000 cavalries while the French had 151,300 infantrymen and 41,300 cavalries. There was the use of heavy cavalries armed with long and straight sabers or broadsword. The light cavalries had short and curved sabers. All cavalry men used pistols, carbines and rifles. Heavy cavalry composed of large and required big strong horses. As a result, there was a deficiency in speed and endurance. Body armor used included cuirass and helmet. The cuirass protected the soldiers against shots fired from muskets and pistols from long distances.