Battle of Montmartre

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Montmartre


caption=
partof=the War of the Sixth Coalition
campaign=
date=March 30, 1814
place=Clichy and Montmartre in Paris, France
result=Coalition victory
combatant1=flagicon|France French Empire
combatant2=Sixth Coalition:
flagicon|Austrian Empire Austria
flagicon|Prussia|1803 Kingdom of Prussia,
flagicon|Russia Russian Empire
commander1=Bon Adrien Jeannot de Moncey,
Auguste Marmont
commander2=flagicon|Austrian Empire Karl v. Schwarzenberg,
flagicon|Russia Tsar Alexander I,
flagicon|Prussia|1803 King Frederick William
strength1=23,000
strength2=107,000
casualties1=
casualties2=|

The Battle of MontmartreChandler. p.286. Chandler recognizes this event as “Action of Montmartre.”] was fought on March 30, 1814, between Allied forces and the forces of Napoleon's French Empire. The Allies were victorious, entering Paris, and as a result, Napoleon was soon forced to abdicate.

Background

The two main Allied Armies linked up at Meaux on 28^th March 1814, the now 107,000Chandler. p.286.] strong Allied forces began to march on Paris. Only 23,000 troopsChandler. p.286.] and incomplete defences defended Paris from the Allies.

Battle

The Allies approached Paris from the eastern and northern sides, Marshal Moncey commanding the National Guard made a stand at Clichy, but his two Corps were beaten back at 4:00PM and retreated into the Belleville Heights, and the Suburb of Montmartre. At the Suburb of Montmartre Marshal Marmont was in command, and the final action took place at 2:00AM on the 31^st March.

Conclusion

Following the final action Marmont opened negotiations with the Allies, which started a series of events leading to Napoleon's abdication. Napoleon was exiled to Elba, but would return to France the next year, leading to Seventh Coalition.

Footnotes

References

*Chandler, David. "Dictionary of the Napoleonic wars". Wordsworth editions, 1999.