What were the Causes of Napoleon’s War with Russia?

Napoleon and the Czar became friends by the treaty of Tilist but this relationship did not last long. Very soon differences emerged between the two due to the following reasons which made the outbreak of war between them inevitable.

The Causes of War

1. Both Napoleon and the Czar had parcelled out entire Europe between themselves according to the treaty of Tilsit. The Czar was at liberty to do anything in Eastern Europe but Napoleon was uninterested in Balkan problem and Turkey.

It created doubt in the mind of Czar that Napoleon wanted to establish his sway in entire Europe; hence he became annoyed with Napoleon.

2. Napoleon had established a Grand Duchy of Warsaw in accordance with the treaty of Tilsit. Czar wanted to incorporate it into his empire along with Poland. It made him dissatisfied with Napoleon.

3. Napoleon was annoyed with the Czar because he felt that the Czar had not helped him wholeheartedly in the battle of 1809 between Austria and France. On the other hand, the Czar was also angry with Napoleon because he had ceded the province of Galacia to the Grand Duchy of Warsaw.

4. Napoleon had occupied Oldenburg in order to implement his scheme of continental system effectively. The king of Oldenburg was the brother-in-law of the Czar; hence the Czar was annoyed.

5. Napoleon proposed a matrimonial alliance with the sister of the Czar which was rejected by the latter.

6. Napoleon had deceived his ally Spain. It damaged his prestige and the Czar began to doubt his integrity.

7. The Czarina, Russian commanders and nobles were against Napoleon. They often instigated the Czar against Napoleon. In the same way the French generals were also opposed to the Czar; they used to excite Napoleon against him This created bad blood between the two kings.

8. The Czar had a doubt that Napoleon would help and instigate the Poles against him, so he wanted an assurance that he would not establish an independent Polish state but Napoleon did not agree to it.

9. Napoleon always had a grievance against the Czar that he was not following the scheme of continental system strictly. On the other hand, the Czar was annoyed that France was importing goods from England by issuing licenses.

Really it was difficult for the Czar to follow this scheme literally for Russia used to produce wheat in a huge quantity which she sold in the British markets and purchased other articles from England.

But with the implementation of the continental system, the wheat began to rot in the godowns of Russia and people were suffering for want of daily provisions.

Therefore the Czar permitted the ships of the neutral countries to touch her ports on 13th December 1803. Napoleon felt much offended by this act of the Czar.