Battle of Dresden

A major Napoleonic battle fought near Dresden on August 26–27, 1813, in which Napoleon’s forces defeated an Austrian-led coalition army.

Napoleonic Wars: A series of European wars from 1803 to 1815 involving France under Napoleon and shifting coalitions. Dresden was a major engagement in the 1813 campaign of this wider conflict.
Napoleon: French military and political leader who ruled as emperor from 1804 to 1814 and again briefly in 1815. He personally directed French operations at Dresden and arrived as the coalition attacked.
French invasion of Russia: Napoleon’s 1812 campaign to invade the Russian Empire, ending in catastrophic French retreat. Its losses weakened French power and encouraged opponents to renew the war.
Autumn campaign of 1813: The coalition’s campaign against Napoleon in central Europe after the Armistice of Pläswitz ended. Dresden was its major French victory, but not enough to stop the coalition advance.
Battle of Leipzig: A decisive 1813 battle in which coalition forces defeated Napoleon near Leipzig. The coalition victory at Leipzig followed Dresden and ended Napoleon’s hold over Germany.
Laurent de Gouvion Saint-Cyr: French general and marshal who commanded forces defending Dresden in 1813. His defense held the city until Napoleon returned with reinforcements.
Treaty of Kalisch: A 1813 agreement by which Prussia joined Russia in war against Napoleon. The alliance helped form the coalition that campaigned against France in 1813.
Battle of the Katzbach: An 1813 battle in which Prussian forces under Blücher defeated a French army in Silesia. Its near-simultaneous coalition victory offset Napoleon’s success at Dresden.
Dresden: A city in eastern Germany on the Elbe River and the capital of Saxony. The city’s fortifications and position on the Elbe shaped the fighting.
Karl von Schwarzenberg: Austrian field marshal who commanded the coalition Army of Bohemia in 1813. He led the coalition army that attacked Dresden.

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