Battle of Reims (1814)

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The Battle of Reims was fought at Reims (France) on March 13, 1814 between France and a Russian-Prussian force. The French, led by Napoleon Bonaparte, were victorious.

[edit] Background

The engagement took place during the 1814 campaign. After Napoleon had retreated from Russia and lost the Battle of Leipzig, the allied armies had invaded France. Napoleon won a number of victories (such as the battle of Reims), but had little chance of success, with just 70,000 men against half a million allied forces. The campaign ended with the allies taking Paris on March 31 and Napoleon's abdication on April 6.

[edit] The battle

On March 12, General Emmanuel St. Priest had taken the city of Reims with 15,000 men. Napoleon responded by heading east from Soissons with 10,000 men and retaking the city the next day. Some 3,000 allied soldiers fell in the battle, and St. Priest was mortally wounded.

In a letter to his brother Joseph on March 14, Napoleon wrote: "Yesterday I arrived in Reims, which had been occupied by General St. Priest with three Russian divisions and a new Prussian division. I captured the city, taking twenty guns, plenty of baggage, and 5,000 prisoners. General St. Priest has been mortally wounded."

Napoleon during the 1814 campaign.
Painting by Jean-Louis-Ernest Meissonier, 1864

Napoleon entered Reims at 2 a.m. while the allied forces fled through another city gate. The allies retreated to Laon, where St. Priest died two weeks later.

[edit] See also

• War of the Sixth Coalition
• Six Days Campaign
• Battle of Paris (1814)

[edit] Sources

• NapoleonGames
• Live d'Or
• War and Champagne