Confederation of the Rhine- I. The first union bearing this name was concluded between the three spiritual electors, the Bishop of Münster, the King of Sweden (as Prince of Bremen), the Palatinate-Neuburg, Braunschweig-Lüneburg and Hesse-Kassel in Frankfurt am Main on August 14, 1658; France joined this alliance on August 15. The purpose of the alliance was mutual protection, as well as the protection of the German possessions of Sweden from the emperor and Brandenburg. The R. union collapsed after the Münster War of 1667. Cf. Joachim, "Die Entwickelung des Rheinbundes vom J. 1658" (Leipzig, 1886). II. The second R. Union refers to early XIX in. For a long time now, France has tried to destroy the influence of Austria and Prussia on Western Germany. Napoleon I also strove for this goal when he founded the R. Union. On July 12, 1806, an agreement was signed in Paris between Napoleon and the German sovereigns (Bavaria, Württemberg, Baden, Darmstadt, Cleve-Berg, Nassau, Hohenzollern, Liechtenstein, etc.). By this act, Napoleon was recognized as the protector of the coalition, which took the name R. of the union. The organization of the alliance was based on the unconditional obedience of France during foreign policy and military affairs and an increase in the power of sovereigns over subjects in matters internal management. The princes turned into vassals of Napoleon, pledging to keep an army of 63,000 people ready for him and to participate with France in all her wars. To destroy the memory of the "Holy Roman Empire", the city of Regensburg - the former meeting place of the Imperial Diet - was annexed to the new Bavarian kingdom in 1810. The R. union included 15 times fewer states than there were in the empire; The population reached 8 million. The formation of the union was greatly facilitated by the Archbishop of Mainz, Karl von Dahlberg, who received the city of Frankfurt am Main and the title of Prince Primate. He was appointed viceroy of Napoleon in the R. Union. The organization of the Union army and the fortification of the frontiers were in the hands of the French officers and engineers; treaties on matters of the union were concluded in Paris. Imperial laws, the court and the diet were abolished, as well as the old constitutional forms that hampered absolutism (for example, the Württemberg Zemstvo ranks). It has been made compulsory in many countries military service. More order has been introduced in the administration and collection of taxes, obsolete trials, introduced the Napoleonic code (Baden, Westphalia). The new regime established in some states of the republican union came very close to enlightened absolutism: the same distrust of social forces, the same sovereignty of the administration. The spread of the Napoleonic Code had great value: declaring civil equality, he led to the need to free the personality of the peasant. Under pressure from Napoleon, the members of the R. Union began to issue laws that abolished the serfdom of the peasants. Napoleon himself in 1807 destroyed the serfdom in Westphalia, in 1808 - in the duchy of Berg, in Erfurt, Bayreuth, and others. neighbors. After a decisive victory over Prussia (1807), Napoleon included Saxony, Westphalia, the electorate of Würzburg, the duchies of Mecklenburg and Oldenburg, the principalities of Schwarzburg, Anhalt, and Waldeck into the R. Union. In the center of the R. Union, Napoleon owned the city of Erfurt. Napoleon's attitude towards the countries of the R. Union was quite despotic; any opposition was immediately suppressed; the bookseller Palma, on Napoleon's orders, was shot for not naming the author of the pamphlet: "Germany in its deepest humiliation." Although the members of the union were afraid, and did not want to break with Napoleon, his despotism aroused general opposition. The explosion of national feeling that engulfed Prussia was reflected in other German lands (1813). After the Battle of Leipzig and the retreat of the defeated French army beyond the Rhine, the rapid disintegration of the R. Union began. In November 1813, Austria concluded agreements with Württemberg, Baden, Hesse-Darmstadt, Nassau, Coburg, and others. The sovereign princes, deprived of the throne under Napoleon, returned to their possessions. For the former members of the R. Union, all their supreme rights and territorial acquisitions were retained. The kingdom of Westphalia fell, and the dominion of the king of England was restored in Hanover. The restored princes returned to the "good old days" and a reaction began in Germany.
July 12, 1806 Bavaria, Württemberg, Baden, Hesse-Darmstadt, Nassau (both lines), Berg, Archchancellor Dahlberg, Darmstadt, Cleve-Berg, Hohenzollern, Liechtenstein signed an agreement with Napoleon in Paris.
These states announced the formation of the Confederation of the Rhine under the auspices of Napoleon, and in August announced their withdrawal from the Holy Roman Empire. Before signing, Napoleon delivered a 24-hour ultimatum to the participants, under which, in case of non-signing, French troops were to be brought into South and West German lands.
The conclusion of the Confederation of the Rhine and "finished off" Franz II: he abdicated the throne of the Holy Roman Empire of the German nation and announced its abolition a few days after the conclusion of the Treaty on the Confederation of the Rhine.
The formation of the union was greatly helped by the former archchancellor Holy Empire, Archbishop of Mainz, Carl von Dahlberg. For this, he received the city of Frankfurt am Main and the title of Prince Primate. He was appointed Napoleon's viceroy in the Confederation of the Rhine.
It was an offensive and defensive alliance concluded by the princes with France for all eternity. Within the union, individual princes were independent. Independent rulers received the power of other rulers, smaller ones. The Confederation of the Rhine became a collective vassal of Napoleon, the basis of his policy was the unconditional obedience of France in foreign policy and military affairs. The Union undertook to keep ready for him an army of 63,000 people and to participate with France in all her wars. Here in the interior there was an increase in the power of sovereigns over subjects. In the internal affairs of all the principalities, Napoleon limited himself to the introduction of the French Civil Code (Napoleon Code), and the construction of strategic roads.
The protector of this Confederation of the Rhine was Emperor Napoleon, who approved new members and ordered the armament of the troops. For general management union, an assembly was appointed in Frankfurt, one royal and one princely. In order to destroy the very memory of the Holy Roman Empire, the former meeting place of the Imperial Diet, the city of Regensburg, was annexed to the new Bavarian kingdom in 1810.
According to the treaty, the Confederation of the Rhine was supposed to have common constitutional bodies (like the Holy Roman Empire), but this did not work out: the larger members of the union really wanted independence. The Bundestag, organized by the presiding Prince Karl Theodor von Dahlberg, never met: Württemberg and Bavaria refused to participate in it.
Soon, the members of the Confederation of the Rhine began to privatize the holdings of the imperial knights and petty counties. As a result, the number of all German state entities was reduced from two hundred to forty-two. Of the 51 free cities, 5 remained, the rest became part of other states. The number of inhabitants of the Confederation of the Rhine reached 8 million per 2400 square meters. miles.
Until 1808, 23 more German states joined the Confederation of the Rhine. Already as a result of the defeat of Prussia against France in the battle of Jena, many central and north German small states were included in its composition.
In 1808 the Confederation of the Rhine reached its greatest extent. It covered four kingdoms, five grand duchies, thirteen duchies, seventeen principalities, as well as the independent Hanseatic cities of Hamburg, Lübeck and Bremen. The Prince of Anhalt-Dessau was the last to join the Confederation of the Rhine and received the title of duke for this. In general, Napoleon did not spare titles: Baden, Hesse-Darmstadt, the duchy of Cleve and Berg became grand duchies, and Württemberg and Bavaria became kingdoms. Many large states of Germany became even larger.
In 1810, large parts of Northern Germany, including the Ems, Weser and Elbe estuaries, were annexed directly by Napoleonic France in order to better control the continental blockade of England.
Outside the Confederation of the Rhine, the new edition of Germany, only Prussia, Austria, the Danish duchy of Holstein and Swedish Pomerania remained.
I. The first alliance bearing this name was concluded between the three spiritual Electors, the Bishop of Münster, the King of Sweden (as Prince of Bremen), the Palatinate-Neuburg, Braunschweig-Lüneburg and Hesse-Kassel in Frankfurt am Main on August 14, 1658; France joined this alliance on August 15. The purpose of the alliance was mutual protection, as well as the protection of the German possessions of Sweden from the emperor and Brandenburg. The R. Union broke up after the Münster War of 1667.
Wed Joachim, "Die Entwickelung des Rheinbundes vom J. 1658" (Leipzig, 1886).
II. The second R. union dates back to the beginning of the 19th century. For a long time now, France has tried to destroy the influence of Austria and Prussia on Western Germany. Napoleon I also strove for this goal when he founded the R. Union. On July 12, 1806, an agreement was signed in Paris between Napoleon and the German sovereigns (Bavaria, Württemberg, Baden, Darmstadt, Cleve-Berg, Nassau, Hohenzollern, Liechtenstein, etc.). By this act, Napoleon was recognized as the protector of the coalition, which took the name R. of the union. The organization of the alliance was based on the unconditional obedience of France in foreign policy and military affairs and the increase in the power of sovereigns over subjects in matters of internal administration. The princes turned into vassals of Napoleon, pledging to keep an army of 63,000 people ready for him and to participate with France in all her wars. To destroy the memory of the "Holy Roman Empire", the city of Regensburg - the former meeting place of the Imperial Diet - in 1810 was annexed to the new Bavarian kingdom. The R. union included 15 times fewer states than there were in the empire; The population reached 8 million. The formation of the union was greatly facilitated by the Archbishop of Mainz, Karl von Dahlberg, who received the city of Frankfurt am Main and the title of Prince Primate. He was appointed viceroy of Napoleon in the R. Union. The organization of the Union army and the fortification of the frontiers were in the hands of the French officers and engineers; treaties on matters of the union were concluded in Paris. Imperial laws, the court and the diet were abolished, as well as the old constitutional forms that hampered absolutism (for example, the Württemberg Zemstvo ranks). In many countries, military service was made mandatory. More order was introduced in administration and tax collection, obsolete lawsuits were eliminated, and the Napoleonic code was introduced (Baden, Westphalia). The new regime established in some states of the republican union came very close to enlightened absolutism: the same distrust of social forces, the same sovereignty of the administration. The dissemination of the Napoleonic code was of great importance: by declaring civil equality, it led to the need to free the personality of the peasant. Under pressure from Napoleon, the members of the R. Union began to issue laws that abolished the serfdom of the peasants. Napoleon himself in 1807 destroyed the serfdom in Westphalia, in 1808 - in the duchy of Berg, in Erfurt, Bayreuth, and others. neighbors. After a decisive victory over Prussia (1807), Napoleon included Saxony, Westphalia, the electorate of Würzburg, the duchies of Mecklenburg and Oldenburg, the principalities of Schwarzburg, Anhalt, and Waldeck into the R. Union. In the center of the R. Union, Napoleon owned the city of Erfurt. Napoleon's attitude towards the countries of the R. Union was quite despotic; any opposition was immediately suppressed; the bookseller Palma, on Napoleon's orders, was shot for not naming the author of the pamphlet: "Germany in its deepest humiliation." Although the members of the union were afraid, and did not want to break with Napoleon, his despotism aroused general opposition. The explosion of national feeling that engulfed Prussia was reflected in other German lands (1813). After the Battle of Leipzig and the retreat of the defeated French army across the Rhine, the R. Union began to disintegrate rapidly. In November 1813, Austria concluded agreements with Württemberg, Baden, Hesse-Darmstadt, Nassau, Coburg, and others. The sovereign princes, deprived of the throne under Napoleon, returned to their possessions. For the former members of the R. Union, all their supreme rights and territorial acquisitions were retained. The kingdom of Westphalia fell, and the dominion of the king of England was restored in Hanover. The restored princes returned to the "good old days" and a reaction began in Germany.
- - see Art. Locarno Treaties 1925...
- - an alliance between the princes of the "Holy Roman Empire": the Electors of Mainz, Trier, Cologne, the Bishop of Munster, the princes of the Palatinate-Neuburg, Brunswick, Lüneburg, Hesse-Kassel, the King of Sweden ...
Soviet historical encyclopedia
- - German confederation state-in under the protectorate of Napoleon I. The creation of the union was formalized by an agreement between France and 16 states-you Zap. and Yuzh. Germany. The treaty was signed on July 12, 1806 in Paris...
Soviet historical encyclopedia
- - arose in 1254 from the union of the years. Mainz, Worms, Oppenheim and Bingen, which were joined by more than 70 cities on both sides of the Rhine from Basel to Cologne and some secular and spiritual feudal lords ...
Soviet historical encyclopedia
- - Count Palatine of the Rhine, fourth son of Elector Frederick III the Pious; in 1567 he successfully helped the Huguenots; with less success in 1575 and 1576 he fought in France, and in 1578 - in the Netherlands ...
- - the fourth son of Elector Frederick III the Pious; in 1567 he successfully helped the Huguenots; with less success in 1575 and 1576 he fought in France, and in 1578 - in the Netherlands ...
encyclopedic Dictionary Brockhaus and Euphron
- - I. The first union bearing this name was concluded between the three spiritual electors, the Bishop of Münster, the King of Sweden, the Palatinate-Neuburg, Braunschweig-Lüneburg and Hesse-Kassel in Frankfurt am Main on August 14, 1658 ...
Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Euphron
- - was concluded between the cities of Mainz, Worms, Oppenheim and Bingen, in July 1254, with the aim of maintaining universal peace. Soon, not only cities from Cologne to Basel joined this alliance, but also archbishops and ...
Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Euphron
- - in the upper reaches of the river. Rhine, below the city of Schaffhausen, in the north of Switzerland. It is located in a gorge composed of Jurassic limestones. Height 24 m, width 150 m. Tourism object...
- - the main agreement among those initialed at the London Conference of 1925. See Art. Locarno Treaties 1925...
Great Soviet Encyclopedia
- - 1806-13, the unification of a number of German states under the protectorate of Napoleon I, created in accordance with an agreement between France and 16 states of Western and Southern Germany ...
Great Soviet Encyclopedia
- - 1925 - see Art. Locarno Treaties 1925...
- - in 1806-13 the unification of 36 German states under the protectorate of Napoleon ...
Big encyclopedic dictionary
- - RHINE, Rhenish, Rhenish. 1. adj. to the Rhine. Rhine wine. "A cup of chocolate was cold by his bed on a table between bottles of golden Rhenish wine." A.N. Tolstoy. 2...
Dictionary Ushakov
- - R"...
Russian orthographic dictionary
- - ...
Word forms
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Origin and development
At the signing of the agreement on the creation of the Confederation of the Rhine on July 12, 1806, 16 South and West German principalities officially announced their withdrawal from the Reich and unification in a confederation under the patronage of Napoleon. Before signing, Napoleon delivered a 24-hour ultimatum to the participants, under which, in case of non-signing, French troops were to be brought into South and West German lands. A few days after the conclusion of the Treaty on the Confederation of the Rhine, Franz II, who became Emperor of the Austrian Empire in 1804, abdicated the throne of the Holy Roman Empire of the German nation and announced its abolition. This was also the fulfillment of Napoleon's ultimatum.
The Confederation of the Rhine was largely a military alliance, and its members were obliged to provide France with numerous military contingents. In response, many of them were raised in status (Baden, Hesse-Darmstadt, the duchies of Cleve and Berg became grand duchies, and Württemberg and Bavaria became kingdoms) and also achieved at times major expansions of their dominions. With the friendly Confederation of the Rhine, Napoleon created a significant buffer space in northeastern France. The Confederation of the Rhine depended on the decisions of Napoleon not only in the military sphere, but, within the framework of the continental blockade of England, and in trade policy.
According to the treaty, the Confederation of the Rhine was supposed to have common constitutional bodies, which, however, was soon abandoned due to the desire of the larger members of the union for independence. The Bundestag, organized by the presiding Prince Karl Theodor von Dahlberg, never met, because Württemberg and Bavaria refused to participate, first of all.
Austria and Prussia, as part of the Sixth Coalition, took part in the victory over Napoleon, which gave Germany a new chance to unite.
Union members
The following tables list the members of the Confederation of the Rhine, with dates of entry and fielded military contingents (in brackets):
Kingdoms and Grand Duchies
| Flag | Monarchy | Year of accession | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Duchy of Baden | July 12, 1806 | Co-founder; formerly margraviate (8000) | |
| Kingdom of Bavaria | July 12, 1806 | Co-founder; formerly dukedom (30,000) | |
| Grand Duchy of Berg | July 12, 1806 | Co-founder; the former Duchy of Berg, to which the Duchy of Cleves was annexed (5000) | |
| Kingdom of Westphalia | November 15, 1807 | Created by Napoleon (25,000) | |
| Kingdom of Württemberg | July 12, 1806 | Co-founder; former duchy (12,000) | |
| Grand Duchy of Würzburg | September 23, 1806 | Created by Napoleon (2000) | |
| Grand Duchy of Hesse | July 12, 1806 | Co-founder; former landgraviate (4000) | |
| Kingdom of Saxony | December 11, 1806 | Former duchy (20,000) | |
| Lands of the Archchancellor (Archbishopric of Regensburg, Principality of Aschaffenburg) | July 12, 1806 | Co-founder; from 1810 - Grand Duchy of Frankfurt |
Principalities and duchies
| Flag | Monarchy | Year of accession | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Duchy of Anhalt-Bernburg | April 11, 1807 | (700) |
| Duchy of Anhalt-Dessau | April 11, 1807 | (700) | |
|
|
Duchy of Anhalt-Köthen | April 11, 1807 | (700) |
| Duchy of Arenberg-Meppen | July 12, 1806 | Co-founder; mediatized December 13, 1810 (4000) | |
| Principality of Waldeck | April 11, 1807 | (400) | |
|
Principality of Hohenzollern-Hechingen | July 12, 1806 | Co-founder (4000) |
|
|
Principality of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen | July 12, 1806 | Co-founder (4000) |
| Principality of Salm | July 25, 1806 | Co-founder; December 13, 1810 annexed by France (4000) | |
| Principality of Isenburg-Birstein | July 12, 1806 | Co-founder (4000) | |
| Principality of Leyen | July 12, 1806 | Co-founder; former county (4000) | |
| Principality of Liechtenstein | July 12, 1806 | Co-founder (4000) | |
| Principality of Lippe-Detmold | April 11, 1807 | (650) | |
| Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin | March 22, 1808 | (1900) | |
| Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz | February 18, 1808 | (400) | |
| Duchy of Nassau (Usingen and Weilburg) | July 12, 1806 | Unification of principalities  Nassau-Usingen and Nassau-Weilburg, who were co-founders of the Confederation of the Rhine (4000 each) |
|
| Duchy of Oldenburg | October 14, 1808 | December 13, 1810 annexed by France (800) | |
| Principality of Reuss-Greutz | April 11, 1807 | (400) | |
| Principality of Reuss-Lobenstein | April 11, 1807 | (400) | |
| Principality of Reuss-Schleutz | April 11, 1807 | (400) | |
| Principality of Reuss-Ebersdorf | April 11, 1807 | (400) | |
| Duchy of Saxe-Weimar | December 15, 1806 | ||
| Duchy of Saxe-Hildburghausen | December 15, 1806 | (part from 2000 for Saxon duchies) | |
| Duchy of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg | December 15, 1806 | (part from 2000 for Saxon duchies) | |
| Duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld | December 15, 1806 | (part from 2000 for Saxon duchies) | |
| Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen | December 15, 1806 | (part from 2000 for Saxon duchies) | |
| Principality of Schaumburg-Lippe | April 11, 1807 | (650) | |
|
Principality of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen | April 11, 1807 | (650) |
| Principality of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt | April 11, 1807 | (650) |
Cards
Rheinbund 1806, political map.png
Confederation of the Rhine in 1806
Rheinbund 1808, political map.png
Confederation of the Rhine in 1808
Rheinbund 1812, political map.png
Confederation of the Rhine in 1812
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An excerpt characterizing the Confederation of the Rhine
Tikhon came in from behind, and Petya heard the Cossacks laughing with him and at him about some kind of boots that he had thrown into the bush.When that laughter that had taken possession of him passed at Tikhon's words and smile, and Petya realized for a moment that this Tikhon had killed a man, he felt embarrassed. He looked back at the captive drummer, and something struck him in the heart. But this awkwardness lasted only for a moment. He felt the need to raise his head higher, to cheer up and to question the esaul with a significant air about tomorrow's enterprise, in order not to be unworthy of the society in which he was.
The officer sent met Denisov on the road with the news that Dolokhov himself would arrive immediately and that everything was fine on his part.
Denisov suddenly cheered up and called Petya to him.
“Well, tell me about yourself,” he said.
On leaving Moscow, Petya, leaving his relatives, joined his regiment and soon after that was taken as an orderly to the general who commanded a large detachment. From the time he was promoted to officer, and especially from entering the active army, where he participated in the battle of Vyazemsky, Petya was in a constantly happily excited state of joy that he was big, and in a constantly enthusiastic haste not to miss any chance of real heroism. . He was very happy with what he saw and experienced in the army, but at the same time it seemed to him that where he was not there, the most real, heroic things were now happening. And he was in a hurry to catch up to where he was not.
When on October 21 his general expressed a desire to send someone to Denisov's detachment, Petya so pitifully asked to be sent that the general could not refuse. But, sending him, the general, remembering Petya's insane act in the battle of Vyazemsky, where Petya, instead of going by road to where he was sent, rode into the chain under the fire of the French and fired two shots from his pistol there - sending him, the general he specifically forbade Petya to participate in any of Denisov's actions. From this, Petya blushed and became confused when Denisov asked if he could stay. Before leaving for the edge of the forest, Petya thought that he must, strictly fulfilling his duty, immediately return. But when he saw the French, saw Tikhon, learned that they would certainly attack at night, he, with the speed of young people moving from one look to another, decided with himself that his general, whom he still respected very much, was rubbish, German, that Denisov is a hero, and the esaul is a hero, and that Tikhon is a hero, and that he would be ashamed to leave them in difficult times.
It was already getting dark when Denisov, Petya and the esaul drove up to the guardhouse. In the semi-darkness one could see horses in saddles, Cossacks, hussars, adjusting huts in a clearing and (so that the French would not see the smoke) making a reddening fire in a forest ravine. In the hallway of a small hut, a Cossack, rolling up his sleeves, was chopping lamb. In the hut itself there were three officers from Denisov's party, setting up a table out of the door. Petya took off his wet clothes to dry and immediately began to assist the officers in setting up the dining table.
Ten minutes later, the table was ready, covered with a napkin. There was vodka on the table, rum in a flask, white bread and roast lamb with salt.
Sitting at the table with the officers and tearing with his hands, over which the lard flowed, fat fragrant mutton, Petya was in an enthusiastic childish state of tender love for all people and, as a result, confidence in the same love of other people for himself.
“So what do you think, Vasily Fyodorovich,” he turned to Denisov, “it’s all right that I’ll stay with you for a day?” - And, without waiting for an answer, he answered himself: - After all, I was ordered to find out, well, I will find out ... Only you will let me into the very ... into the main one. I don't need awards... But I want... - Petya clenched his teeth and looked around, twitching his head up and waving his arm.
- In the most important ... - repeated Denisov, smiling.
“Only, please, give me a command at all, so that I command,” Petya continued, “well, what is it worth to you? Oh, do you have a knife? - he turned to the officer who wanted to cut off the mutton. And he handed over his folding knife.
The officer praised the knife.
- Take it, please. I have a lot of them…” Petya said, blushing. - Fathers! I completely forgot,” he suddenly exclaimed. - I have wonderful raisins, you know, like this, without seeds. We have a new marketer - and such wonderful things. I bought ten pounds. I'm used to anything sweet. Do you want? .. - And Petya ran into the hall to his Cossack, brought sacks, in which there were five pounds of raisins. Eat, gentlemen, eat.
- Do you need a coffee pot? he turned to the esaul. - I bought from our marketer, wonderful! He has wonderful things. And he is very honest. This is the main thing. I will definitely send you. And maybe also, flints have come out of yours, they have been trimmed - after all, this happens. I took with me, I have here ... - he pointed to the sacks - a hundred flints. I bought very cheap. Take, please, as much as you need, or that's all ... - And suddenly, frightened that he was lying, Petya stopped and blushed.
He began to remember if he had done any other stupid things. And, sorting through the memories of the present day, the memory of the French drummer presented itself to him. “It’s great for us, but what about him? Where do you share it? Did they feed him? Didn't you offend?" he thought. But having noticed that he had lied about the flints, he was now afraid.
“You could ask,” he thought, “but they will say: the boy himself took pity on the boy. I'll show them tomorrow what a boy I am! Will you be embarrassed if I ask? thought Petya. “Well, it doesn’t matter!” - and immediately, blushing and looking frightened at the officers, whether there would be mockery in their faces, he said:
- Can I call this boy that was taken prisoner? give him something to eat…maybe…
“Yes, miserable boy,” said Denisov, apparently not finding anything to be ashamed of in this reminder. - Call him here. Vincent Bosse is his name. Call.
"I'll call," said Petya.
- Call, call. Pitiful boy, - repeated Denisov.
Petya was standing at the door when Denisov said this. Petya crawled between the officers and came close to Denisov.
“Let me kiss you, my dear,” he said. - Oh, how wonderful! how good! - And, kissing Denisov, he ran into the yard.
- Bosses! Vincent! Petya shouted, stopping at the door.
- Who do you want, sir? said a voice from the darkness. Petya answered that the boy was a Frenchman, who was taken today.
- BUT! spring? - said the Cossack.
His name Vincent has already been changed: the Cossacks - in Spring, and the peasants and soldiers - in Visenya. In both alterations, this reminder of spring converged with the idea of a young boy.
“He was warming himself by the fire. Hey Visenya! Visenya! Spring! voices and laughter echoed in the darkness.
“And the boy is smart,” said the hussar, who was standing next to Petya. We fed him today. Passion was hungry!
Footsteps were heard in the darkness and, barefoot slapping through the mud, the drummer approached the door.
- Ah, c "est vous!" - said Petya. - Voulez vous manger? N "ayez pas peur, on ne vous fera pas de mal," he added, timidly and affectionately touching his hand. – Entrez, entrez. [Oh, it's you! Want to eat? Don't worry, they won't do anything to you. Sign in, sign in.]
- Merci, monsieur, [Thank you, sir.] - the drummer answered in a trembling, almost childish voice and began to wipe his dirty feet on the threshold. Petya wanted to say a lot to the drummer, but he did not dare. He, shifting, stood beside him in the passage. Then, in the darkness, he took his hand and shook it.
“Entrez, entrez,” he repeated only in a gentle whisper.
“Oh, what should I do to him!” Petya said to himself and, opening the door, let the boy pass him by.
When the drummer entered the hut, Petya sat further away from him, considering it humiliating for himself to pay attention to him. He only felt the money in his pocket and was in doubt whether he would not be ashamed to give it to the drummer.
From the drummer, who, on the orders of Denisov, was given vodka, mutton, and whom Denisov ordered to dress in a Russian caftan, so that, without sending him away with the prisoners, to leave him at the party, Petya's attention was diverted by the arrival of Dolokhov. Petya in the army heard many stories about the extraordinary courage and cruelty of Dolokhov with the French, and therefore, since Dolokhov entered the hut, Petya, without taking his eyes off, looked at him and cheered more and more, twitching his raised head so as not to be unworthy even of such a society as Dolokhov.
Dolokhov's appearance struck Petya strangely with its simplicity.
Denisov dressed in a chekmen, wore a beard and on his chest the image of Nicholas the Wonderworker, and in his manner of speaking, in all methods, he showed the peculiarity of his position. Dolokhov, on the other hand, who had previously worn a Persian suit in Moscow, now looked like the most prim guards officer. His face was clean-shaven, he was dressed in a Guards padded frock coat with Georgy in his buttonhole and in a plain cap put on directly. He took off his wet cloak in the corner and, going up to Denisov, without greeting anyone, immediately began to question him about the matter. Denisov told him about the plans that large detachments had for their transport, and about sending Petya, and about how he answered both generals. Then Denisov told everything he knew about the position of the French detachment.
“That’s true, but you need to know what and how many troops,” Dolokhov said, “it will be necessary to go. Without knowing exactly how many there are, one cannot go into business. I like to do things carefully. Here, if any of the gentlemen wants to go with me to their camp. I have my uniforms with me.
- I, I ... I will go with you! Petya screamed.
“You don’t need to go at all,” Denisov said, turning to Dolokhov, “and I won’t let him go for anything.”
- That's great! Petya cried out, “why shouldn’t I go? ..
- Yes, because there is no need.
"Well, you'll have to excuse me, because... because... I'll go, that's all." Will you take me? he turned to Dolokhov.
- Why ... - Dolokhov answered absently, peering into the face of the French drummer.
- How long have you had this young man? he asked Denisov.
- Today they took it, but they don’t know anything. I left it pg "and myself.
Well, where are you going with the rest? Dolokhov said.
- How to where? I’m sending you under Mr. Aspis! - Denisov suddenly blushed, shouted. - And I can boldly say that there is not a single person on my conscience. than magic, I pg, I’ll say, the honor of a soldier.
“It’s decent for a young count at sixteen to say these courtesies,” Dolokhov said with a cold smile, “but it’s time for you to leave it.
“Well, I’m not saying anything, I’m only saying that I will certainly go with you,” Petya said timidly.
“But it’s time for you and me, brother, to give up these courtesies,” Dolokhov continued, as if he found particular pleasure in talking about this subject that irritated Denisov. “Well, why did you take this with you?” he said, shaking his head. "Then why do you feel sorry for him?" After all, we know these receipts of yours. You send a hundred of them, and thirty will come. They will die of hunger or be beaten. So isn't it all the same to not take them?
Esaul, narrowing his bright eyes, nodded his head approvingly.
- It's all g "Absolutely, there's nothing to argue about. I don't want to take it on my soul. You talk" ish - help "ut". Just not from me.
Dolokhov laughed.
“Who didn’t tell them to catch me twenty times?” But they will catch me and you, with your chivalry, all the same on an aspen. He paused. “However, the work must be done. Send my Cossack with a pack! I have two French uniforms. Well, are you coming with me? he asked Petya.
- I? Yes, yes, certainly, - Petya, blushing almost to tears, cried out, looking at Denisov.
Again, while Dolokhov was arguing with Denisov about what should be done with the prisoners, Petya felt awkward and hasty; but again he did not have time to understand well what they were talking about. “If big, well-known think like that, then it’s necessary, so it’s good,” he thought. - And most importantly, it is necessary that Denisov does not dare to think that I will obey him, that he can command me. I will certainly go with Dolokhov to the French camp. He can, and I can."
To all Denisov's persuasion not to travel, Petya replied that he, too, was accustomed to doing everything carefully, and not Lazarus at random, and that he never thought of danger to himself.
“Because,” you yourself will agree, “if you don’t know exactly how many there are, life depends on it, maybe hundreds, and here we are alone, and then I really want this, and I will certainly, certainly go, you won’t keep me.” “It will only get worse,” he said.
Dressed in French overcoats and shakos, Petya and Dolokhov went to the clearing from which Denisov looked at the camp, and, leaving the forest in complete darkness, went down into the hollow. Having moved down, Dolokhov ordered the Cossacks accompanying him to wait here and rode at a large trot along the road to the bridge. Petya, trembling with excitement, rode beside him.
During the Napoleonic Wars, the map of Germany, like the whole of Europe, was significantly redrawn. This country was not united under the rule of one state. Instead, there were many kingdoms in the German lands. All of them were formally part of the Holy Roman Empire, but the emperor, who was primarily the ruler of Austria, had almost no power over its members. Napoleon, having captured Germany, completely changed the balance of power in it, trying to create an “ideal state” there in the image of France.
Prerequisites for the appearance
Austria for Bonaparte was one of the most implacable opponents. The Habsburgs were part of all coalitions against revolutionary France, but time after time their armies were defeated. Napoleon conceived the Confederation of the Rhine as an alternative to the former state system in Germany. He regarded the existence of the Holy Roman Empire and the nominal primacy of Vienna as obsolete throwbacks.
For the first time, Bonaparte announced his plans after the victory of the French over the Russian-Austrian army in 1805. Then most of the rest of the German states took up arms against Austria. The authorities of Baden, Hesse-Darmstadt, Württemberg and Bavaria joined Napoleon. Although they hesitated for a long time and were unreliable allies, the Emperor of France generously rewarded them. The electors of Bavaria and Württemberg received royal titles. The ruler of Baden refused such an honor, realizing that his modest possessions did not pull on an “increase”, and, together with the Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt, remained the Grand Duke.
German allies of Napoleon
Before the Confederation of the Rhine, loyal to Napoleon, was created, the Allies cut off a significant part of their lands from the Habsburgs. Württemberg was content with acquiring part of Swabia, Baden received Breisgau and several other cities. The Kingdom of Bavaria annexed Augsburg and Tyrol.
The process of this redistribution of Germany ended in 1806. By this time, the few free cities remaining from the Middle Ages - Frankfurt, Augsburg and Nuremberg - had lost their independence. The same happened to spiritual orders, counts, barons and imperial knights. Representatives of the most eminent German aristocratic families, who gave Europe famous military leaders and politicians, lost their hereditary allotments. By creating the Confederation of the Rhine, Napoleon did not get rid of all of them. Some even acquired something new after the arrival of the French. So the emperor recruited loyal supporters, whose well-being now depended on the fate of the patron.
Creation of an alliance
In July 1806, the Confederation of the Rhine was established. First, it included 16 states in the south and west of Germany, and later 23 more small principalities joined them. The most important members were the kings of Württemberg and Bavaria. Formally, the "eternal union" was concluded on the equal rights of all states. In fact, the new formation became a satellite of France. Bonaparte gave nothing for free. By giving his supporters new titles and freedom from the Habsburgs, he made them his vassals.
In fact, the union was short-lived military machine needed by France while the whole of Europe continued Napoleonic Wars. According to the charter, at the first Paris demand, the emperor was to receive 63,000 fresh German soldiers ready to defend his interests.
Counterweight to Prussia
After the defeat of Prussia at the Battle of Jena in October 1806 and the conclusion with Alexander I in the summer of 1807, new states entered the union. On their territory, Napoleon created a new Westphalian kingdom with its capital in Kassel. His brother Jerome Bonaparte became the ruler there. Frederick Augustus I of Saxony also received the royal title. After that, the population of the Confederation of the Rhine began to number 16 million inhabitants, and the size of its army fluctuated within 120 thousand soldiers.
If Austria was already defeated, then Prussia was still trying to resist the influence of Bonaparte. The Napoleonic Wars seriously shook the position of Frederick William III. To oversee the Prussian king, the emperor created the Grand Duchy of Berg with its capital in Düsseldorf, where his son-in-law was placed on the throne
Kingdom of Westphalia
In November 1807, the Kingdom of Westphalia was created. Like the Grand Duchy of Berg, it was created as a headache for Prussia. This experiment of Bonaparte was his most daring decision in Germany. In the heart of the German lands, a state subordinate to the French dynasty was created. The Kingdom of Westphalia was uncertain in both population and territory. It included lands scattered across different provinces. Many enclaves with completely different inhabitants appeared.
Why did the German population so obediently endure the experiments and improvisations of the Frenchman? Historians are still building a variety of theories. The military genius of Bonaparte, his amazing charm, had an effect. With his victories, he paralyzed all his potential opponents who could lead a protest against the emperor. In addition, the Germans still do not have a single national consciousness. The inhabitants of various small principalities had many accounts with each other and did not dare to step over their mutual grievances in order to oppose Napoleon.
The brainchild of Bonaparte
The Confederation of the Rhine, created by Napoleon in 1806, was largely an artificial formation. The emperor wanted to establish in his states a constitutional system with freedoms and human rights in the likeness of French law. But it turned out to be impossible to create a single system for the entire union. Large states like Bavaria did not want to be equalized with small neighbors.
In 1812 Napoleon traveled east to Russia. He took with him the best German troops- his army was very diverse in its national character. Only a few recruits, veterans and the disabled remained in Germany. The Germans could have overthrown de facto French rule, but they did not. The Confederation of the Rhine (1806-1813) could boast of calmness and loyalty, even when the emperor was defeated in Russia.
Decay
Nevertheless, the fate of this confederation was sealed. After Bonaparte was defeated in the "battle of the nations" in the vicinity of Leipzig, the alliance broke up. Germany was again divided, and its borders were determined by foreign powers. German fragmentation was preserved. However, it was never restored.
But even despite the failure of the experiment, the Confederation of the Rhine, whose constitution was adopted in the likeness of the French, proved to be an important experience. Later, other alliances of German states appeared in Germany, and they adopted some of the features of this Napoleonic brainchild.
