Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

English term for the Rheinbund, the grouping of states from southern and central Germany created by napoleon i in July 1806 following his victory over the Russians and Austrians at austerlitz in the preceding December. The Confederation initially comprised allied or satellite territories of France, including at its core Baden, Bavaria, Württemberg, and Hesse-Darmstadt. It was subsequently expanded to include other states, notably Saxony (December 1806) and Westphalia (November 1807). The rulers of the confederated states largely arranged their government and administration on the French model. The terms of the Confederation committed all members to fight as one, and accordingly the German territories provided substantial levies of men and material in the ongoing napoleonic wars . The emperor's failed Russian campaign (see moscow , retreat from ) and his defeat at the battle of leipzig (1813) led to the defection of the member states. At the vienna congress of 1814–15 a new german confederation was formed. ... log in or subscribe to read full text