When Napoleon became emperor of France, it effectively ended the French revolution.
Since the storming of the Bastille in 1789, various parties of royalists, republicans, and
other factions jostled for power continuiously. The founding of the French Empire brought
internal bickering to an end. Instead, the French would turn its attention to the
Austrians, Russians, English and others.
Napoleon Bonaparte first crushed the Prussian army in 1806. He then advanced on
the Russians, and convicingly crushed them at the Battle of Friedland.
There was a short peace until the Portuguese were found to be trading with
the English, contrary to French law. A small French force was sent with
Spanish troops to enforce Napoleon law, but there was too many internal
conflicts in dealing with the Spanish that it sucked French resources, and so
an army was sent to Spain to install Napoleons brother as the new king of Spain.
The Spanish people were not happy with this move and France suffered two losses
which gave the Spanish hope that they could oust the French from their country.
Napoleon himself entered Spain and attacked the Spanish and English troops there.
He successfully caused the British to flee and captured Madrid and subdued the
Spanish. In 1808, England sent another army into Spain, but this time to fight
a guerrilla war against the French. This tactic proved effective against the might
of the French and hostilities raged for a considerable time.
War is a bit like gambling, and the tide began to turn against
Napoleon. His once mighty army shrank following losses, his enemies