The Russian Army of the Napoleonic Wars

Uniformology, 2009. ** FREE POSTAGE within Australia, postage overseas at cost -- Note: Postage will be added automatically when you place an order, but I will adjust the postage cost when the order is processed. ** Besides Great Britain, no nation was more implacably opposed to Napoleonic France than Russia. During the French Revolution, Russian armies successfully prevented French invasion by assisting their allies, the Austrians in Italy and the British in the Mediterranean and Netherlands. Joining the early Coalitions against the Emperor, the Russian armies suffered defeat at Austerlitz (1805), Eylau and Friedland (1807). The ensuing treaties of Tilsit the same year became a national humiliation for Russia despite a certain admiration for Napoleon by Alexander I, not shared by his nobles. Bonaparte’s fatal invasion of Russia in 1812 became Russia’s epiphany and remains so to this day. Over the entire period, the quality and management of the Russian army rose and fell with regularity. The Potemkin reforms of the 1780s were dramatically reversed by Czar Paul I which in turn were changed by Alexander I. It was the appointment of Barclay de Tolly which may have prepared the Russian Army for its ultimate test in 1812. This volume, superbly written by Peter Sorensen has 16 beautifully restored Knotel color prints and one original painting by Bruce Bassett-Powell.. Soft Cover. As New. Illus. by Knotel, Richard. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.