The Fall of Napoleon: Coalition, Waterloo, and Exile

Taking advantage of the Russian disaster, Prussia signed the Convention of Tauroggen with Russia in December 1812 and formally declared war on France in March 1813, joining the Sixth Coalition. Napoleon rebuilt a new army of young conscripts and won tactical victories at Lützen and Bautzen in May 1813, but could not exploit them fully because his cavalry, decimated in Russia, was too weak, and Austria joined the coalition that August after failed mediation attempts. The Battle of Leipzig (16-19 October 1813), known as the 'Battle of the Nations,' was the largest battle fought in Europe before the First World War; the defection of Saxon and other German troops during the fighting decisively weakened the French army, and the defeat meant the definitive loss of French control over Germany.