Where the Tilsit peace was signed. Peace of Tilsit

One of the most important historical documents signed by Russia is the Peace of Tilsit. It was signed on July 9, 1807 between France and Russia, and it was ratified by the emperors of both states: Napoleon and Alexander I. The historical significance of this treaty can hardly be overestimated for the reason that as a result, the two strongest powers on the continent were able to conclude an alliance with each other, and peace has finally come in Europe itself.

Prerequisites for the emergence of the agreement

As of 1807, the situation in Europe looked very interesting - almost the entire continent was completely captured by French troops. In his autobiography, Napoleon wrote that the destruction of England is a prerequisite for the complete conquest of Europe. As for Russia, here he saw rather his ally than the enemy. It is likely that this was the key reason for the creation of the Tilsit world, why it even received its right to exist. Of course, everything is not limited to this, in fact, Napoleon himself had long hatched a plan for the destruction of England, and he would not have been able to defeat the enemy at sea. Thus, Napoleon decided to create a peace treaty with Russia, which would create a united front for the conduct of hostilities with England. Alexander 1, in turn, was well aware that his coalition with Prussia, England and Sweden had collapsed, as Napoleon won victory after victory, and the position of the allies was becoming more and more precarious every day.

Negotiation

On June 12, 1807, the French army, under the personal leadership of Napoleon, won a complete and unconditional victory over the Russian troops. Despite his victory, Napoleon decided to abandon the pursuit of his enemy, which only proved once again that an alliance with Russia is of much greater importance to him than enmity. Napoleon offered peace, which convinced Alexander the First that France did not regard Russia as its own enemy.
In general, the position of Russia at that time was extremely precarious. The last defeat of Alexander's army played a primary role in this. As a result, he decided to put forward only two conditions of his own:

The meeting with France should take place on no-man's, independent land. Not on the territory of France, Russia and their satellites.

Russia does not recognize any claim to the geographic integrity of its side.


Napoleon nevertheless convinced the Russian ambassadors that both points put forward by Alexander would be fully implemented, without exception. Thus, he was the first to open the way for a meeting with the Russian emperor.
It was decided to hold negotiations between Russia and France on the Neman River, and in the middle of it. A special raft was set up there, where a tent was deployed. It was there that both emperors of the greatest states met. The negotiations took place on June 25, 1807, and they became the basis for the signing of the Tilsit Peace Treaty.

Judging by historical documents, one can find references to Alexander, where he assures Bonaparte that from the moment the peace agreement was created, England will be the only common enemy for both countries. Napoleon, in turn, noted that in this case, no problems would arise in terms of creating a peace agreement between Russia and France.
Many history textbooks assert this. Nevertheless, none of them indicate the reasons why France and Russia were at war with each other for a long six years., Despite the fact that they had a common enemy and it seems that all agreements were respected, without any or disagreements.

The fate of Prussia


The negotiations themselves between the two emperors of the most powerful and powerful states at that time lasted no more than one hour. During this time, the Emperor of Prussia stood and waited on the banks of the river. He hoped and counted on the fact that the emperor of France would agree to accept him, so that they would jointly discuss the future fate of the German state. Despite this, Bonaparte was firm in his intention - Prussia should by all means disappear from the face of the map of Europe. Actually, Napoleon suggested to Alexander, motivating by the fact that: “This is a vile nation, led by a vile monarch, in his submission is a vile army. They have always betrayed everyone and does not deserve further existence. " Russia's participation in the war helped preserve Prussia as a state.

Terms of the peace agreement

As it was said, negotiations between the emperors of the two powers took place very quickly. Despite the fact that they lasted only one hour, they managed to agree on everything. The stay of the emperors in Tilsitt lasted two whole weeks. Oddly enough, the emperors for this period of time were almost inseparable, like friends who have known each other since childhood. Of course, in this way they tried to create prospects for signing the peace. Actually, the Peace of Tilsit was signed. His conditions were:

Russia recognizes all territories conquered by Napoleon in Europe.

Russian troops join the continental blockade against England. This meant that Alexander completely breaks off all trade and other agreements with England and prohibits the entry of sea-going ships into the territory owned by Russia.

A military alliance is signed between France and Russia, under the terms of which each power is obliged to support the other in the event of the outbreak of any military action. For example, during offensive or defensive actions.

The Polish lands departed from Prussia. A new state was created on this territory - the Duchy of Warsaw, which was directly dependent on France.

Russia without fail recognizes all the henchmen who were installed by Napoleon on the throne of various European powers.

France ceases to provide any assistance to Turkey, and Russia, in response, is obliged to withdraw its troops from the territory of Moldova and Wallachia.

Absolute recognition, by all parties to the agreements, created earlier by the Rhine Union.

Significance of the Peace of Tilsit

This is an extremely beneficial agreement for both countries. Nevertheless, one cannot share the opinion of many different historians who attribute this to the success of Russian diplomacy. Many believe that Napoleon, having offered to conclude such an agreement, actually did all the necessary work for Alexander himself, offering him extremely favorable and good conditions. Both countries were in an advantageous position. So, for example, Russia now did not have to worry about the fact that France would interfere in its confrontation with Turkey, respectively, we could better focus on this. Napoleon, in turn, could fully enjoy the peace that reigns in Europe. There was only one warring side - England and France began to actively prepare to fight it.

The Peace of Tilsit turned out to be extremely beneficial for the emperors of both countries, which they were undoubtedly happy about. Nevertheless, despite its positive "impact", the Peace of Tilsit did not last so long - until 1812, when the Patriotic War began.

Having received news of her, he ordered Lobanov-Rostovsky to go to the French camp for peace negotiations.

Napoleon was in the Prussian town of Tilsite, on the banks of the Neman. On the opposite bank of the same river stood the Russian and the remnants of the Prussian army. Despite the Friedland defeat, Russia could well continue to fight with France, but it was more and more evident that the European allies of the Russians in this and previous wars against the French behaved extremely selfishly. The Austrians did not help Suvorov in his Italian and especially Swiss campaigns, and they preferred to withdraw from the next war of the Third Coalition immediately after the Battle of Austerlitz. The main enemy of Napoleon in the West - England - generally preferred not to send armies to the land theater. Taking advantage of its naval predominance, it captured the French colonies, and only sent not very generous subsidies to the continental allies. Prussia turned out to be a very weak and indecisive partner.

Considering all this, Alexander I decided to abruptly change the course of his foreign policy, breaking off relations with the former unfaithful "friends" and drawing closer to his recent adversary, Bonaparte. Napoleon, who had a very respectful attitude to Russian power, gladly accepted a new diplomatic combination, the essence of which was that Russia and France concluded an alliance for joint dominance over the European continent .

On June 25, 1807, the Russian and French sovereigns met on a raft in the middle of the Neman and talked in private for about an hour in a covered pavilion. The next day they met in the city of Tilsit itself. Napoleon proposed that Russia take dominance over the east of Europe, leaving him with supremacy in the west. After the victory over Prussia, Bonaparte was going to revise the internal German borders and make most of the German states dependent on himself. Seeking the consent of Alexander I to this, he, in exchange, offered Russia to strengthen itself at the expense of Sweden (taking Finland away from her) and Turkey (with which the Russians had recently started another war).

The Peace of Tilsit was concluded by both emperors on these conditions on July 8, 1807. Negotiating the details of the treaty, Napoleon hoped to derive many benefits for France by the enchanting influence of his personality, but soon, not without surprise, he had to recognize the tsar's diplomatic skill. Alexander, with his affectionate smile, gentle speech, and amiable mannerisms, was far from being as accommodating as his new ally would have liked. "This is a real Byzantine Greek!" [that is, a cunning, sophisticated and dexterous person] - Napoleon said about him to his entourage. Bonaparte, as they say, at first was inclined to completely destroy Prussia, but Alexander persuaded to keep about half of the former possessions for her king. In token of respect for the Russian emperor(en considération de l "empereur de Russie) Napoleon left the old Prussia, Brandenburg, Pomerania and Silesia to the King of Prussia, while Napoleon gave the provinces on the left bank of the Elbe to his brother Jerome, and the former Polish provinces to the Saxon king. Monarchs in Germany were recognized by Napoleon by Russia and Prussia.

The main point of the Tilsit Treaty then remained a secret: Russia and France undertook to help each other in any war, if one of the parties is requested to do so. Napoleon's main European rival, England, fell into almost complete diplomatic isolation. Russia and France pledged to force the rest of Europe to comply with anti-British trade continental blockade.

The Tilsit peace was very beneficial for Russia. Thanks to him, it became possible for Finland to join Russia in war with the Swedes 1808-1809 and the continuation of the struggle with the Turks, which later ended with the conquest of Bessarabia and the strengthening of our influence in the Balkans. But the fact that Alexander I concluded the Treaty of Tilsit after a military defeat, reconciled with the one who inflicted this defeat, made a painful impression on Russian society, which was accustomed to continuous victories during the years of Catherine II and Paul. In Russia, many (both then and even now) were inclined to consider this world imposed, forced... The Tilsit treatise provoked strong patriotic opposition to Alexander in the highest Petersburg circles, although the large benefits he brought to Russia were further expanded during the Erfurt meeting of the two emperors in 1808. The Patriotic War of 1812, which was driven, rather, by the intransigence not of Napoleon, but of Alexander I, was subsequently viewed in Russia as an event that made amends for the "shameful" Peace of Tilsit. “Tilsit! At this offensive sound, Ross will not blush now, ”wrote Pushkin 14 years later. In our time, however, A. I. Solzhenitsyn points out in a more balanced way in his work "The Russian Question" by the End of the 20th Century ":

... offended by England for her indifference, Alexander threw himself into friendship with Napoleon - Peace of Tilsit (1807). It is impossible not to recognize this step as the most advantageous for Russia at that time - and to adhere to this line of neutral-favorable relations, disdaining the grumbling of the higher salons of St. would remain for Russia). - But even here Alexander did not want to remain inactive at all. No, the Peace of Tilsit and the outbreak of the Turkish war was not enough for Alexander: in the same 1807 he declared war on England; Napoleon "offered Finland" to take from Sweden - and Alexander entered (1808) in Finland and took it away from Sweden - but why? another intolerable burden on Russian shoulders. And he did not want a truce with Turkey at the cost of the withdrawal of troops from Moldova and Wallachia, again Russian troops in Bucharest. (Napoleon "offered" Russia and Moldavia-Wallachia, and, incidentally, Turkey, to be divided together with France, to open the way for Napoleon to India), and after the coup in Constantinople he was even more eager to attack Turkey. - But without all these rampant seizures - why not hold on to the Tilsit world, which is so advantageous for Russia, stay alone from the European dump and strengthen and recover internally? No matter how Napoleon expanded in Europe (however,

On July 7, 1807, after the war of the fourth anti-Napoleonic coalition (1806-1807) in the city of Tilsit (now the city of Sovetsk in the Kaliningrad region), a peace treaty was concluded between Alexander I and Napoleon, which made the French emperor virtually the undivided master of all continental Europe.

After the defeat of the troops of the third anti-French coalition near Austerlitz, Austria withdrew from its composition, having concluded an alliance agreement with Bonaparte. Russia, as part of the fourth coalition, which included Prussia and Great Britain, continued military operations against Napoleonic troops. In the battle of Friedland in the winter of 1807, the Russian army was defeated by the French and forced to retreat. Military failures and the political situation forced Emperor Alexander I into negotiations with Napoleon, as a result of which a very beneficial peace for France was concluded.

On June 25, 1807, a raft was built on the Neman River to meet the emperors, on which a face-to-face meeting took place, during which, in general, everything was resolved. After that, several more meetings took place between the heads of state, and Alexander even attended the review of the French troops. On July 7, 1807, the Peace of Tilsit was signed. On the one hand, this moment became the highest triumph of Napoleon, who became the ruler of Europe, and on the other hand, it marked the beginning of his downfall.

The Tilsit peace put the Russian Empire in a very disadvantageous position. According to this agreement, Emperor Alexander I was forced to make significant concessions. Russia joined the ruinous blockade of Great Britain; recognized all of Napoleon's conquests; pledged to withdraw troops from Moldova. And besides that, to recognize the formation of the Duchy of Warsaw, dependent on France.

It should be noted that, concluding the Peace of Tilsit in 1807, Emperor Alexander I achieved several concessions from Bonaparte. Russia received the Bialystok Department as compensation. Danzig at this time becomes a free city, and a relative of Emperor Alexander, the Prussian king Frederick William III, gets back the old Prussia, Silesia and Pomerania.

The main clause of the Tilsit Treaty was not published then: Russia and France pledged to help each other in any offensive and defensive war, wherever it was required by the circumstances. This close alliance eliminated Napoleon's only strong rival on the continent; England remained isolated; both powers pledged by all means to compel the rest of Europe to comply with the continental system. The Tilsit world lifted Napoleon to the pinnacle of power, and put Emperor Alexander in a difficult situation.

The economic consequences of the Peace of Tilsit were disastrous for Russia. At the beginning of the 19th century, the Russian Empire supplied grain, hemp, timber and much more to the European market. Due to the blockade of Great Britain, which accounted for the lion's share of Russian exports, the economy of the Russian Empire suffered colossal damage. Merchants and landowners suffered greatly. The continental blockade of England caused a decline in Russian trade almost twofold, and its treasury significantly "thinned".

The progressive strata of Russian society perceived the terms of this peace treaty as a slap in the face, and they did not call Napoleon otherwise than a usurper. The feeling of resentment in society was so great that the Patriotic War of 1812 was subsequently viewed precisely as an event that “blotted out” the Peace of Tilsit.

Plan
Introduction
1. History
2 Conditions of Peace

Introduction

The Peace of Tilsit was concluded on June 25, 1807 between Alexander I and Napoleon after the wars of 1806 and 1807, in which Russia helped Prussia.

1. History

On June 14, 1807, Napoleon defeated Bennigsen's Russian army at Friedland. Alexander I, having received this news, ordered Lobanov-Rostovsky to go to the French camp for peace negotiations. General Calcreith also appeared to Napoleon on behalf of the Prussian king, but Napoleon strenuously emphasized that he was making peace with the Russian emperor. Napoleon at that time was on the banks of the Nemunas, in the town of Tilsite; the Russian army and the remnants of the Prussian were on the other side. Prince Lobanov conveyed to Napoleon the desire of Emperor Alexander to see him personally.

The next day, June 25, 1807, the two emperors met on a raft in the middle of the river, and talked face to face in a covered pavilion for about an hour. The next day they saw each other again in Tilsit; Alexander I attended the review of the French guard. Napoleon wanted not only peace, but also an alliance with Alexander and pointed out to him the Balkan Peninsula and Finland as a reward for helping France in her endeavors; but he did not agree to give Russia Constantinople. If Napoleon counted on an enchanting impression of his personality, then he soon had to admit his calculations were too optimistic: Alexander, with his affectionate smile, gentle speech, and amiable manner, was not at all as accommodating even in difficult circumstances as his new ally would have liked. "This is a real Byzantine" (fr. C'est un véritable grec du Bas-Empire) - Napoleon said to his entourage.

However, at one point, Alexander I showed himself ready to make concessions - regarding the fate of Prussia: more than half of the Prussian possessions were taken by Napoleon from Frederick William III. The provinces on the left bank of the Elbe were given by Napoleon to his brother Jerome. Poland was restored - but not from all the former provinces, only a part of the Prussian called the Duchy of Warsaw. Russia received as compensation the Bialystok department, from which the Bialystok region was formed. Gdansk (Danzig) became a free city. All the monarchs installed earlier by Napoleon were recognized by Russia and Prussia. As a sign of respect for the Russian emperor (fr. en considération de l'empereur de Russie) Napoleon left the old Prussia, Brandenburg, Pomerania and Silesia to the Prussian king. In case the French emperor wished to annex Hanover to his conquests, it was decided to reward Prussia with territory on the left bank of the Elbe.

The main clause of the Tilsit Treaty was not published then: Russia and France pledged to help each other in any offensive and defensive war, wherever it was required by the circumstances. This close alliance eliminated Napoleon's only strong rival on the continent; England remained isolated; both powers pledged by all means to compel the rest of Europe to comply with the continental system. On July 8, 1807, the treaty was signed by both emperors. The Tilsit world lifted Napoleon to the pinnacle of power, and put Emperor Alexander in a difficult situation. The feeling of resentment in metropolitan circles was great. "Tilsit! .. (at the sound of this offensive / Now the Ross will not turn pale)", Alexander Pushkin wrote 14 years later. The Patriotic War of 1812 was subsequently viewed precisely as an event that “blotted out” the Peace of Tilsit. In general, the significance of the Peace of Tilsit was very great: from 1807, Napoleon began to rule much more daringly in Europe than before.

2. Conditions of the world

· Russia recognized all the conquests of Napoleon.

· Russia's accession to the continental blockade against England (secret agreement). Russia should completely abandon trade with its main partner (in particular, the terms of the peace treaty ordered Russia to completely exclude the export of hemp to the UK).

· Russia and France pledged to help each other in any offensive and defensive war, wherever it is required by the circumstances.

· On the territory of the Polish possessions of Prussia, the Duchy of Warsaw was formed, dependent on France.

· The territory of Prussia was significantly curtailed (the Polish regions were rejected), although it was retained as an independent state and turned into a state dependent on France.

· Russia withdrew its troops from Moldavia and Wallachia, conquered from Turkey.

· Russia secretly pledged not to interfere with Napoleon in establishing control over the Ionian Islands, and a few months later they became part of the Illyrian provinces of France.

· Recognition by Russia of Joseph Bonaparte as King of Naples and Ludwik Bonaparte as King of the Netherlands, Jerome Bonaparte as King of Westphalia.

· Russian recognition of the Rhine Union.

Literature

· Schilder, “Imp. Alexander I "(1900)

· Vandal, "Alexandre I et Napoléon" (Par., 1897)

When writing this article, material was used from the Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary (1890-1907).

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