Towards the 1812 War of the Year: Russia and Austria
Russia and Austria in the 18 century more collaborated than feuded. There was a common enemy - the Ottoman Empire. In the Seven Years' War (1756 — 1763), Russia and Austria were allies in the struggle against the expansionist aspirations of Prussia. Both powers collaborated in the division of the Commonwealth and became the enemies of revolutionary France. Russian and Austrian troops fought side by side in the days of the II and III anti-French coalitions.
At the same time, there were fundamental contradictions between the powers. The interests of Vienna and St. Petersburg clashed in the Balkan Peninsula, the Austrians did not want to strengthen Russia's position in the Mediterranean. After Austria 26 December 1805 of the year signed a peace treaty with France in Presburg, Vienna wanted with the help of France to destroy Prussia (the main competitor in the struggle for influence on the German states), to take Silesia for itself. But the Russian government opposed the Austrian claims. Russia was able to defend Prussia in the Tilzit talks.
In addition, serious contradictions arose between the powers over the Polish question. The establishment by the French emperor of the Duchy of Warsaw equally alarmed and caused concern in Petersburg and Vienna. The Russian and Austrian governments were against the restoration of Polish statehood in full. But during the 1809 war of the year, Russia was officially on the side of France, having sent an auxiliary corps to the borders of Austrian Galicia. Russian troops evaded the support of the French-Polish army in the Duchy of Warsaw, which was in a difficult position in the first period of the war. But then the Russian units occupied Krakow (the Austrians gave the city without a fight) and part of Galicia. There were no serious clashes between the Russian and Austrian troops in this war. When the 14 of October 1809 was signed by the Schönbrunn peace treaty, the Poles were given Western Galicia, and the Tarnopol district to Russia. This made Austria an enemy of the Russian Empire.
Another problem in relations between Austria and Russia was the Balkan question. Under the terms of the Erfurt Agreement 1808, the Danube principalities, Moldavia and Wallachia, were to be incorporated into the Russian Empire. In Vienna, they were afraid that behind this event, Russia would finally establish itself on the Balkan Peninsula. Fortunately, the Orthodox and Slavic peoples treated Russia much better than other powers. The Austrian government was afraid that not only Moldova and Wallachia, but also Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Illyria would fall into the sphere of influence of Russia. In Vienna, there were plans for expansion in the Danube basin and in the Balkans. Therefore, the Austrians began to probe the ground in Paris at the expense of the joint opposition of Russia on the Balkan Peninsula. The French emperor reported to Vienna that the Danube principality was of secondary importance to him. But he is interested in the question - is Austria ready to fight the Russian Empire?
Vienna was not ready to fight with Russia. The Austrians offered Russia to become mediators in the conclusion of peace between Petersburg and Istanbul. At the same time, the Austrian side believed that it was necessary to establish the border between the Russian and Ottoman empires along the Dniester River. This proposal was rejected by the Russian government.
Already in the 1811 year, when the proximity of the war with the French Empire began to be felt, the Russian government tried to tear Austria away from France. Through the Russian ambassador in Vienna, Stackelberg, St. Petersburg offered the Austrians a plan for a preventive war against France. According to this plan, the Russian army was to occupy the Duchy of Warsaw, it subsequently became part of the Russian Empire, while maintaining autonomy. As compensation, Austria offered the Danube principalities. But, the mission of Stackelberg failed. Austrian Foreign Minister Klement von Metternich did not respond to this proposal. Petersburg had to abandon this plan.
The Austrian government was negotiating with Napoleon Bonaparte at this time about the conclusion of a military-political union. Vienna has already agreed to an alliance with the French Empire, but it hid its intentions from St. Petersburg. The Austrian foreign minister assured the Russian ambassador that with the current state of affairs in Europe, it was in Austria’s interest to remain neutral. Metternich tried to deceive Russia. The Russian government realized this fact when the Austrian representative Marshal arrived in St. Petersburg after the Prussian envoy Knesebeck, and they both began to persuade Russia to accept Napoleon’s conditions, capitulation to France.
It should be noted that Metternich pursued an anti-Russian policy since the time of his embassy in France. After Petersburg and Paris entered into an alliance in 1807, an Austrian politician tried to upset the friendly relations between the two powers. He feared that Russia and France would divide the Ottoman Empire’s possessions without Austria’s participation. He achieved his goal by the year 1810, when the marriage between Napoleon Bonaparte and the daughter of the Austrian emperor Maria Louise of Austria was concluded. In the war between Russia and France, both Metternich and the Austrian emperor Franz would prefer to remain neutral, since Austria suffered from financial problems at that time. There was simply no money for the war. But under the pressure of France, the alliance was concluded, and Vienna hoped in this war not to take an active part and get a certain profit.
Austrian Foreign Minister in 1809 — 1848 Clement von Metternich.
2 (14) March 1812 of the year between France and Austria signed a union treaty. The Austrian government has pledged to put 30-th. auxiliary building for a trip to Russia. For its participation in the war with the Russian Empire, Austria hoped to get Volyn. Both powers agreed to attract the Ottoman Empire and Sweden to the campaign against Russia.
The Franco-Austrian Union made a strong negative impression not only in St. Petersburg, but also in Vienna itself. Austrian public opinion, most of the military were against this alliance. For them, the traditional opponent was France, not Russia. Given this fact, Clement Metternich tried to convince the Russian ambassador Stackelberg that this union was forced and plays a demonstrative role in order not to annoy the French emperor. The head of the Austrian Foreign Ministry said that the Austrian troops will not fight against Russia, but only to imitate their participation in the war. Metternich offered Russia to conclude a secret treaty on the inviolability of borders. The agreement took place orally. However, the Russian government did not really trust Vienna. Petersburg had to concentrate on the border with Austria the third Western and Danube armies. During the 1812 war, the Austrian forces acted on the southern strategic direction, generally trying to avoid major battles.
At the same time, there were fundamental contradictions between the powers. The interests of Vienna and St. Petersburg clashed in the Balkan Peninsula, the Austrians did not want to strengthen Russia's position in the Mediterranean. After Austria 26 December 1805 of the year signed a peace treaty with France in Presburg, Vienna wanted with the help of France to destroy Prussia (the main competitor in the struggle for influence on the German states), to take Silesia for itself. But the Russian government opposed the Austrian claims. Russia was able to defend Prussia in the Tilzit talks.
In addition, serious contradictions arose between the powers over the Polish question. The establishment by the French emperor of the Duchy of Warsaw equally alarmed and caused concern in Petersburg and Vienna. The Russian and Austrian governments were against the restoration of Polish statehood in full. But during the 1809 war of the year, Russia was officially on the side of France, having sent an auxiliary corps to the borders of Austrian Galicia. Russian troops evaded the support of the French-Polish army in the Duchy of Warsaw, which was in a difficult position in the first period of the war. But then the Russian units occupied Krakow (the Austrians gave the city without a fight) and part of Galicia. There were no serious clashes between the Russian and Austrian troops in this war. When the 14 of October 1809 was signed by the Schönbrunn peace treaty, the Poles were given Western Galicia, and the Tarnopol district to Russia. This made Austria an enemy of the Russian Empire.
Another problem in relations between Austria and Russia was the Balkan question. Under the terms of the Erfurt Agreement 1808, the Danube principalities, Moldavia and Wallachia, were to be incorporated into the Russian Empire. In Vienna, they were afraid that behind this event, Russia would finally establish itself on the Balkan Peninsula. Fortunately, the Orthodox and Slavic peoples treated Russia much better than other powers. The Austrian government was afraid that not only Moldova and Wallachia, but also Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Illyria would fall into the sphere of influence of Russia. In Vienna, there were plans for expansion in the Danube basin and in the Balkans. Therefore, the Austrians began to probe the ground in Paris at the expense of the joint opposition of Russia on the Balkan Peninsula. The French emperor reported to Vienna that the Danube principality was of secondary importance to him. But he is interested in the question - is Austria ready to fight the Russian Empire?
Vienna was not ready to fight with Russia. The Austrians offered Russia to become mediators in the conclusion of peace between Petersburg and Istanbul. At the same time, the Austrian side believed that it was necessary to establish the border between the Russian and Ottoman empires along the Dniester River. This proposal was rejected by the Russian government.
Already in the 1811 year, when the proximity of the war with the French Empire began to be felt, the Russian government tried to tear Austria away from France. Through the Russian ambassador in Vienna, Stackelberg, St. Petersburg offered the Austrians a plan for a preventive war against France. According to this plan, the Russian army was to occupy the Duchy of Warsaw, it subsequently became part of the Russian Empire, while maintaining autonomy. As compensation, Austria offered the Danube principalities. But, the mission of Stackelberg failed. Austrian Foreign Minister Klement von Metternich did not respond to this proposal. Petersburg had to abandon this plan.
The Austrian government was negotiating with Napoleon Bonaparte at this time about the conclusion of a military-political union. Vienna has already agreed to an alliance with the French Empire, but it hid its intentions from St. Petersburg. The Austrian foreign minister assured the Russian ambassador that with the current state of affairs in Europe, it was in Austria’s interest to remain neutral. Metternich tried to deceive Russia. The Russian government realized this fact when the Austrian representative Marshal arrived in St. Petersburg after the Prussian envoy Knesebeck, and they both began to persuade Russia to accept Napoleon’s conditions, capitulation to France.
It should be noted that Metternich pursued an anti-Russian policy since the time of his embassy in France. After Petersburg and Paris entered into an alliance in 1807, an Austrian politician tried to upset the friendly relations between the two powers. He feared that Russia and France would divide the Ottoman Empire’s possessions without Austria’s participation. He achieved his goal by the year 1810, when the marriage between Napoleon Bonaparte and the daughter of the Austrian emperor Maria Louise of Austria was concluded. In the war between Russia and France, both Metternich and the Austrian emperor Franz would prefer to remain neutral, since Austria suffered from financial problems at that time. There was simply no money for the war. But under the pressure of France, the alliance was concluded, and Vienna hoped in this war not to take an active part and get a certain profit.
Austrian Foreign Minister in 1809 — 1848 Clement von Metternich.
2 (14) March 1812 of the year between France and Austria signed a union treaty. The Austrian government has pledged to put 30-th. auxiliary building for a trip to Russia. For its participation in the war with the Russian Empire, Austria hoped to get Volyn. Both powers agreed to attract the Ottoman Empire and Sweden to the campaign against Russia.
The Franco-Austrian Union made a strong negative impression not only in St. Petersburg, but also in Vienna itself. Austrian public opinion, most of the military were against this alliance. For them, the traditional opponent was France, not Russia. Given this fact, Clement Metternich tried to convince the Russian ambassador Stackelberg that this union was forced and plays a demonstrative role in order not to annoy the French emperor. The head of the Austrian Foreign Ministry said that the Austrian troops will not fight against Russia, but only to imitate their participation in the war. Metternich offered Russia to conclude a secret treaty on the inviolability of borders. The agreement took place orally. However, the Russian government did not really trust Vienna. Petersburg had to concentrate on the border with Austria the third Western and Danube armies. During the 1812 war, the Austrian forces acted on the southern strategic direction, generally trying to avoid major battles.
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