Emperor Alexander had sent an envoy to …
Years: 1807 - 1807
July
Emperor Alexander had sent an envoy to seek an armistice with the French on June 19.
Napoleon had assured the envoy that the Vistula River represents the natural borders between French and Russian influence in Europe.
On that basis, the two emperors had begun peace negotiations at the town of Tilsit after meeting on an iconic raft on the River Niemen.
The very first thing Alexander said to Napoleon was probably well-calibrated: "I hate the English as much as you do."
Napoleon had reportedly replied, "Then we have already made peace."
The two emperors spend several days reviewing each other's armies, passing out medals, and frequently talking about non-political subjects.
Although the negotiations at Tilsit feature plenty of pageantry and diplomatic niceties, they are not spared from ruthless politics.
Alexander faces pressure from his brother, Duke Constantine, to make peace with Napoleon.
Given the victory he had just achieved, the French emperor offers the Russians relatively lenient terms–demanding that Russia join the Continental System, withdraw its forces from Wallachia and Moldavia, and hand over the Ionian Islands to France.
By contrast, Napoleon dictates very harsh peace terms for Prussia, despite the ceaseless exhortations of Queen Louise.
Napoleon had assured the envoy that the Vistula River represents the natural borders between French and Russian influence in Europe.
On that basis, the two emperors had begun peace negotiations at the town of Tilsit after meeting on an iconic raft on the River Niemen.
The very first thing Alexander said to Napoleon was probably well-calibrated: "I hate the English as much as you do."
Napoleon had reportedly replied, "Then we have already made peace."
The two emperors spend several days reviewing each other's armies, passing out medals, and frequently talking about non-political subjects.
Although the negotiations at Tilsit feature plenty of pageantry and diplomatic niceties, they are not spared from ruthless politics.
Alexander faces pressure from his brother, Duke Constantine, to make peace with Napoleon.
Given the victory he had just achieved, the French emperor offers the Russians relatively lenient terms–demanding that Russia join the Continental System, withdraw its forces from Wallachia and Moldavia, and hand over the Ionian Islands to France.
By contrast, Napoleon dictates very harsh peace terms for Prussia, despite the ceaseless exhortations of Queen Louise.
Locations
People
- Alexander I of Russia
- Frederick William III of Prussia
- Jean Lannes
- Jérôme Bonaparte
- Levin August Gottlieb Theophil von Bennigsen
- Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
- Michel Ney
- Napoleon
- Pierre Dupont de l'Étang
Groups
- Prussia, Kingdom of
- Russian Empire
- French First Republic
- Britain (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland)
- Westphalia, Kingdom of
Topics
Subjects
Regions
Subregions
Related Events
Showing 10 events out of 21987 total
Years: 1807 - 1807
July
Locations
People
- Alexander I of Russia
- Frederick William III of Prussia
- Jean Lannes
- Jérôme Bonaparte
- Levin August Gottlieb Theophil von Bennigsen
- Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
- Michel Ney
- Napoleon
- Pierre Dupont de l'Étang
Groups
- Prussia, Kingdom of
- Russian Empire
- French First Republic
- Britain (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland)
- Westphalia, Kingdom of
Topics
Subjects
Regions
Subregions