Peace of Tilsit between Russia and France. The Tilsit Peace - a shameful yoke or a missed opportunity for an alliance with France? Further development of the situation

The Peace of Tilsit is a treaty signed between the Russian Empire and France in 1807.

The terms of the Peace of Tilsit were worked out during negotiations between the Russian Emperor Alexander I and the ruler of France, Napoleon. What preceded the signing of the Peace of Tilsit?

A year earlier, in Europe, states dissatisfied with the French Republic formed another anti-French coalition. The coalition included such European countries as Prussia, England, Sweden and the Russian Empire.

Almost immediately after the outbreak of hostilities, in October 1806, the French defeated Prussia and took Berlin. Napoleon saw his main task in the new campaign as the defeat of England.

It was extremely difficult to defeat England by force. Therefore, taking into account geographical and economic features, Napoleon issues a decree on the “Continental Blockade”.

The French understood that the Russian Empire was one of the most powerful European states, and therefore it was simply impossible to ensure a trade blockade of England without the participation of the Russians.

Ahead were six months of fierce fighting in Europe. In December 1806, the French army managed to win a victory at Friedland. Victory in this battle allowed them to approach the border of the Russian state.

Alexander I at that moment was not to be envied. Military operations promised to move into Russian territory. The war could become protracted. It was always very difficult to fight in Europe alone. After all, Napoleon was able to defeat all Russian allies on the continent, and England did not provide any significant support to the Russian Empire.

In the current situation, the Russian emperor decided to turn Russia's foreign policy 360 degrees. Prince Lobanov-Rostovsky was sent to Napoleon, who was instructed to offer the French a truce. Napoleon was extremely pleased with this turn of events and cordially received the envoy. As a result, Lobanov-Rostovsky and French Marshal Berthier signed a truce.

After the truce was concluded, Napoleon expressed a desire to meet with the Russian emperor. Alexander I was not against it. The meeting of two very influential people of their era took place on July 25, 1807. It was on a raft on the Neman River. Alexander I declared his readiness to participate in actions against England.

Napoleon was delighted at this turn of events and declared that there would be peace between Russia and France. Then national leaders moved on to discuss the details of the Tilsit Peace Treaty.

The negotiations lasted a long time and were not at all easy. The fate of all of Europe was in the hands of Alexander I and Napoleon, and they could do with it as they pleased. Napoleon was a skilled diplomat and played an interesting combination.

To the Russian Emperor, the Frenchman proposed to divide Turkey and not interfere with the accession of Wallachia and Moldavia to the Russian Empire. Next, Napoleon proposed annexing the lands from the Neman to the Vistula to Russia. The purpose of the last proposal is to spoil Russian and Prussian relations.

The Russian monarch refused this offer and convinced Napoleon that Prussia could not be destroyed. However, the peace for Prussia was still humiliating, large territories went to France, and the agreement contained the wording - “Only out of respect for the Russian emperor.”

A new state appeared at the borders of the Russian Empire - the Duchy of Warsaw, which was the heir to the once mighty Poland. However, Napoleon stated that a strong Poland threatening the interests of Russia did not interest him.

And so, the main conditions of the Tilsit Peace were the following points:

• The Russian Empire recognized all military conquests of France.
• The Russian state joined the continental blockade of England.
• The Russian Empire and France pledged to help each other in any offensive or defensive war.
• On the lands of the Prussian possessions of former Poland, a new state was formed - the Duchy of Warsaw, dependent on France.
• Russian troops left Wallachia and Moldova, conquered from the Turks.
• Recognition of the Russian Empire by the Confederation of the Rhine.
• The Russian Empire did not prevent Napoleon from annexing the Ionian Islands to France.

Having signed the Peace of Tilsit, Alexander I found himself in an awkward position, abandoning his old allies. However, you cannot fool history, and the War of 1812 is proof of this.

It is worth noting that after the signing of the Peace of Tilsit, Napoleon began to feel much more confident, comfortable and even bolder in Europe. It cannot be said that French diplomacy in no way helped Russia in maintaining its interests in Turkey.

This was not the only point of the Tilsit Peace that France did not fulfill. The separation of the two states was inevitable, their interests and ideas about the future of the world and Europe were too different.

De jure, the Peace of Tilsit lasted until the outbreak of the Patriotic War of 1812. De facto, the Peace of Tilsit was violated by the French much earlier.

After the War of the Fourth Coalition - 1807, in which Russia helped Prussia.

Encyclopedic YouTube

1 / 3

✪ History | World of Tilsit

✪ Napoleonic Wars (Russian) New history

Subtitles

Story

The main point of the Tilsit Treaty was not published at that time: Russia and France pledged to help each other in any offensive and defensive war, wherever circumstances required it. This close alliance eliminated Napoleon's only strong rival on the continent; England remained isolated; both powers pledged to use all measures to force the rest of Europe to comply with the continental system. On July 7, 1807, the treaty was signed by both emperors. The Peace of Tilsit elevated Napoleon to the pinnacle of power, and put Emperor Alexander in a difficult position. The feeling of resentment in capital circles was great. “Tilsit!.. (at this offensive sound / Now Russia will not turn pale),” wrote Alexander Pushkin 14 years later. The Patriotic War of 1812 was subsequently looked upon precisely as the event that “made amends” for the Tilsit Peace. In general, the significance of the Peace of Tilsit was very great: from 1807, Napoleon began to rule much more boldly in Europe than before.

Terms of the Peace of Tilsit

• Russia recognized all of Napoleon's conquests.
• Russia's joining the continental blockade against England (secret agreement). Russia must 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) and, together with France, influence Austria, Denmark, Sweden and Portugal with the same goals.
• Russia and France pledged to help each other in every offensive and defensive war, wherever circumstances require it. So, during the war with Sweden (1808-1809), with the support of France, Russia acquired Finland. At the same time, assistance to France in its war with Austria in 1809, an auxiliary corps under the terms of peace, was not actually provided by Russia.
• On the territory of the Polish possessions of Prussia, the Duchy of Warsaw, dependent on France, was formed.
• The territory of Prussia was significantly reduced (the Polish regions were torn away, as well as Hanover, County Mark, occupied by Prussia in 1806, with the cities of Essen, Verden and Lippstadt, County Ravensberg, the cities of Lingen and Tecklenburg, the Principalities of Minden, East Frisia, Munster, Paderborn, Kleve and eastern bank of the Rhine), although it was retained as an independent state and turned into a state dependent on France.
Joseph Bonaparte as the King of Naples and Louis Bonaparte as the King of the Netherlands, Jerome Bonaparte as the King of Westphalia.
• Recognition by Russia

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 at Austerlitz, Austria withdrew from its composition, concluding an alliance treaty 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 was forced to retreat. Military failures and the political situation forced Emperor Alexander I to negotiate with Napoleon, which resulted in a peace that was very beneficial for France.

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 fact, everything was decided in general terms. After this, several more meetings took place between the heads of the powers, and Alexander was even present at 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, it marked the beginning of his downfall.

The Treaty of Tilsit 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 self-destructive blockade of Great Britain; recognized Napoleon for all his conquests; pledged to withdraw troops from Moldova. And besides this, 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 also 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, receives back old Prussia, Silesia and Pomerania.

The main point of the Tilsit Treaty was not published at that time: Russia and France pledged to help each other in any offensive and defensive war, wherever circumstances required it. This close alliance eliminated Napoleon's only strong rival on the continent; England remained isolated; both powers pledged to use all measures to force the rest of Europe to comply with the continental system. The Peace of Tilsit elevated Napoleon to the pinnacle of power, and put Emperor Alexander in a difficult position.

The economic consequences of the Peace of Tilsit were catastrophic 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 seriously. The continental blockade of England caused a decline in Russian trade by almost half, and its treasury became significantly thinner.

The progressive layers of Russian society perceived the terms of this peace treaty as a slap in the face, and they did not call Napoleon anything other than a usurper. The feeling of resentment in society was so great that the Patriotic War of 1812 was subsequently looked upon precisely as the event that “made amends” for the Tilsit Peace.

World of Tilsit- a peace treaty concluded between June 13 (25) and June 25 (July 7) in Tilsit (now the city of Sovetsk in the Kaliningrad region) between Alexander I and Napoleon after the War of the Fourth Coalition - 1807, in which Russia helped Prussia.

Story

The main point of the Tilsit Treaty was not published at that time: Russia and France pledged to help each other in any offensive and defensive war, wherever circumstances required it. This close alliance eliminated Napoleon's only strong rival on the continent; England remained isolated; both powers pledged to use all measures to force the rest of Europe to comply with the continental system. On July 7, 1807, the treaty was signed by both emperors. The Peace of Tilsit elevated Napoleon to the pinnacle of power, and put Emperor Alexander in a difficult position. The feeling of resentment in capital circles was great. “Tilsit!.. (at this offensive sound / Now Russia will not turn pale),” wrote Alexander Pushkin 14 years later. The Patriotic War of 1812 was subsequently looked upon precisely as an event that “made amends” for the Peace of Tilsit. In general, the significance of the Peace of Tilsit was very great: from 1807, Napoleon began to rule much more boldly in Europe than before.

Peace terms

• Russia recognized all of Napoleon's conquests.
• Russia's joining the continental blockade against England (secret agreement). Russia must 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) and, together with France, influence Austria, Denmark, Sweden and Portugal with the same goals.
• Russia and France pledged to help each other in every offensive and defensive war, wherever circumstances require it. So, during the war with Sweden (1808-1809), with the support of France, Russia acquired Finland. At the same time, assistance to France in its war with Austria in 1809, an auxiliary corps under the terms of peace, was not actually provided by Russia.
• On the territory of the Polish possessions of Prussia, the Duchy of Warsaw, dependent on France, was formed.
• The territory of Prussia was significantly reduced (the Polish regions were torn away, as well as Hanover, County Mark, occupied by Prussia in 1806, with the cities of Essen, Verden and Lippstadt, County Ravensberg, the cities of Lingen and Tecklenburg, the Principalities of Minden, East Frisia, Munster, Paderborn, Kleve and eastern bank of the Rhine), although it was retained as an independent state and turned into a state dependent on France.
• Russia withdrew its troops from Moldova and Wallachia, conquered from Turkey.
• Russia tacitly pledged not to prevent Napoleon from gaining control of the Ionian Islands, and a few months later they became part of the Illyrian Provinces of France.
• France stopped providing assistance to Turkey during the Russian-Turkish war of 1806-1812.
• Russia recognizes Joseph Bonaparte as the King of Naples, Louis Bonaparte as the King of the Netherlands, and Jerome Bonaparte as the King of Westphalia.
• Russian recognition of the Confederation of the Rhine.

Write a review about the article "The World of Tilsit"

Literature

• Schilder, "Imper. Alexander I" (1900)
• Vandal, "Alexandre I et Napoleon" (Par., 1897)

Notes

Links

An excerpt characterizing the Tilsit world

The health and character of Prince Nikolai Andreich Bolkonsky, in this last year after his son’s departure, became very weak. He became even more irritable than before, and all the outbursts of his causeless anger mostly fell on Princess Marya. It was as if he was diligently looking for all her sore spots in order to morally torture her as cruelly as possible. Princess Marya had two passions and therefore two joys: her nephew Nikolushka and religion, and both were favorite topics for the prince’s attacks and ridicule. Whatever they talked about, he turned the conversation to the superstitions of old girls or the pampering and spoiling of children. - “You want to make him (Nikolenka) an old girl like yourself; in vain: Prince Andrey needs a son, not a girl,” he said. Or, turning to Mademoiselle Bourime, he asked her in front of Princess Marya how she liked our priests and images, and joked...
He constantly and painfully insulted Princess Marya, but the daughter did not even make an effort to forgive him. How could he be guilty before her, and how could her father, who, she still knew, loved her, be unjust? And what is justice? The princess never thought about this proud word: “justice.” All the complex laws of humanity were concentrated for her in one simple and clear law - the law of love and self-sacrifice, taught to us by the One who lovingly suffered for humanity, when he himself is God. What did she care about the justice or injustice of other people? She had to suffer and love herself, and that’s what she did.
In winter, Prince Andrei came to Bald Mountains, he was cheerful, meek and gentle, as Princess Marya had not seen him for a long time. She had a presentiment that something had happened to him, but he did not say anything to Princess Marya about his love. Before leaving, Prince Andrei talked for a long time about something with his father, and Princess Marya noticed that before leaving, both were dissatisfied with each other.
Soon after the departure of Prince Andrei, Princess Marya wrote from Bald Mountains to St. Petersburg to her friend Julie Karagina, whom Princess Marya dreamed of, as girls always dream, of marrying her brother, and who at that time was in mourning on the occasion of the death of her brother, killed in Turkey.
“Sorrow, apparently, is our common lot, dear and gentle friend Julieie.”
“Your loss is so terrible that I cannot otherwise explain it to myself, as a special mercy of God, who wants to experience - by loving you - you and your excellent mother. Ah, my friend, religion, and only religion, can, let alone console us, but save us from despair; one religion can explain to us what a person cannot understand without its help: why, why beings who are kind, sublime, who know how to find happiness in life, who not only do not harm anyone, but are necessary for the happiness of others - are called to God, but remain to live evil, useless, harmful, or those who are a burden to themselves and others. The first death that I saw and which I will never forget - the death of my dear daughter-in-law, made such an impression on me. Just as you ask fate why your beautiful brother had to die, in the same way I asked why this angel Liza had to die, who not only did not do any harm to a person, but never had anything but good thoughts in her soul . And well, my friend, five years have passed since then, and I, with my insignificant mind, am already beginning to clearly understand why she needed to die, and how this death was only an expression of the infinite goodness of the Creator, all of whose actions , although we mostly do not understand them, they are only manifestations of His infinite love for His creation. Perhaps, I often think, she was too angelically innocent to have the strength to endure all the responsibilities of a mother. She was impeccable, like a young wife; perhaps she could not be such a mother. Now, not only did she leave us, and especially Prince Andrei, the purest regret and memory, she will probably get that place there that I do not dare hope for for myself. But, not to mention her alone, this early and terrible death had the most beneficial effect, despite all the sadness, on me and on my brother. Then, in a moment of loss, these thoughts could not come to me; Then I would have driven them away with horror, but now it is so clear and undeniable. I am writing all this to you, my friend, only to convince you of the gospel truth, which has become a life rule for me: not a single hair of my head will fall without His will. And His will is guided only by boundless love for us, and therefore everything that happens to us is all for our good. Are you asking if we will spend next winter in Moscow? Despite all my desire to see you, I don’t think and don’t want it. And you will be surprised that Buonaparte is the reason for this. And here's why: my father's health is noticeably weakening: he cannot tolerate contradictions and becomes irritable. This irritability, as you know, is directed primarily at political matters. He cannot bear the thought that Buonaparte is dealing as with equals, with all the sovereigns of Europe and especially with ours, the grandson of the Great Catherine! As you know, I am completely indifferent to political affairs, but from the words of my father and his conversations with Mikhail Ivanovich, I know everything that is happening in the world, and especially all the honors given to Buonaparte, who, it seems, is still only in Lysykh Mountains throughout the globe are not recognized as either a great man, much less a French emperor. And my father can't stand it. It seems to me that my father, mainly due to his view of political affairs and foreseeing the clashes that he will have, due to his manner of expressing his opinions without embarrassment with anyone, is reluctant to talk about a trip to Moscow. Whatever he gains from treatment, he will lose due to the disputes about Buonaparte, which are inevitable. In any case, this will be decided very soon. Our family life continues as before, with the exception of the presence of brother Andrei. He, as I already wrote to you, has changed a lot lately. After his grief, only this year has he completely morally come to life. He became the same as I knew him as a child: kind, gentle, with that golden heart that I know no equal to. He realized, it seems to me, that life is not over for him. But along with this moral change, he physically became very weak. He became thinner than before, more nervous. I am afraid for him and am glad that he took this trip abroad, which doctors have long prescribed for him. I hope this fixes it. You write to me that in St. Petersburg they talk about him as one of the most active, educated and intelligent young people. Sorry for the pride of kinship - I never doubted it. It is impossible to count the good that he did here to everyone, from his peasants to the nobles. Arriving in St. Petersburg, he took only what he should have. I’m surprised how rumors from St. Petersburg reach Moscow in general, and especially such incorrect ones as the one you are writing to me about - the rumor about the imaginary marriage of my brother to little Rostova. I don’t think Andrei will ever marry anyone, and especially not her. And here’s why: firstly, I know that although he rarely talks about his late wife, the sadness of this loss is too deeply rooted in his heart for him to ever decide to give her a successor and stepmother to our little angel. Secondly, because, as far as I know, this girl is not the type of woman that Prince Andrei might like. I don’t think that Prince Andrey would choose her as his wife, and I’ll say frankly: I don’t want this. But I started chatting, I’m finishing my second piece of paper. Farewell, my dear friend; May God keep you under His holy and mighty protection. My dear friend, Mademoiselle Bourienne, kisses you.

At the beginning of the 19th century, events took place in Europe, as a result of which the Peace of Tilsit was concluded in 1807 between Napoleon Bonaparte and the Russian Emperor Alexander I, which influenced the entire subsequent course of history.

Having proclaimed himself French Emperor in 1804, Napoleon harbored ideas about conquering Europe. In contrast to his plans, a third coalition was created between Austria, Great Britain, Russia, the Kingdom of Naples, Portugal and Sweden. Under Austerlitz, the coalition troops were defeated, and Austria concluded an alliance treaty 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 was forced to retreat. Napoleon achieved his goal and was able to impose on Emperor Alexander the shameful and unprofitable Peace of Tilsit in all respects.

Signing the contract

The meeting of the two emperors took place in the town of Tilsit. Nowadays it is the city of Sovetsk in the Kaliningrad region. On June 25, 1807, a raft was built to meet the emperors, on which a face-to-face meeting took place, which had very serious, but, unfortunately, negative consequences for the Russian Empire. After this, several more meetings took place between the heads of the powers, and Alexander was even present at the review of the French troops. On July 7, 1807, the Peace of Tilsit was signed. From that moment on, the redrawing of the map of Europe began, which, by and large, marked the beginning of the end of the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Terms of the agreement (assignment)

The Treaty of Tilsit put the Russian Empire in a very disadvantageous position. According to this agreement, the emperor was forced to make the following concessions:

• join the blockade of its ally - Great Britain;
• recognize Napoleon for all his conquests;
• to assist France in the conduct of wars;
• withdraw troops from Moldova;
• recognize Napoleon's relatives as kings (Neapolitan, Dutch and Westphalian);
• recognize education dependent on France

The Peace of Tilsit of 1807 completely isolated Great Britain, which found itself in a continental blockade, and Napoleon no longer had any rivals to carry out his ambitious plans.

Terms of the contract (compensation)

It should be noted that, concluding the Peace of Tilsit in 1807, Emperor Alexander I also 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, receives back old Prussia, Silesia and Pomerania.

Peace of Tilsit, consequences

The progressive layers of Russian society perceived the terms of this peace treaty as a slap in the face, and they did not call Napoleon anything other than a usurper. It took another five years for the Russians to be able to honestly and openly look into each other's eyes. I was only able to provide this opportunity for a year.

The Peace of Tilsit, the consequences of which the Russian economy experienced firsthand, was essentially catastrophic. 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 seriously. England caused a decline in Russian trade by almost half, and its treasury became significantly thinner. Prussia suffered the most from the Treaty of Tilsit. She lost half of her lands and paid indemnities to France until the end of the 19th century.