The Man of the Coalition: Prince Karl zu Schwarzenberg and His Generalship During the War of the Sixth Coalition, 1813–14

The list of generals who defeated Napoleon is short. Among them are the British field marshal, Sir Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington, the Austrian Archduke Charles, and the steadfast Prussian commander Field Marshal Gebehard Leberecht von Blücher. However, this list omits one commander, Prince Karl zu Schwarzenberg, the Supreme Commander of the Allied Armies during the War of the Sixth Coalition. Few note that he coordinated the movements that led to the decisive Battle of Leipzig (16-19 October 1813). The “Battle of Nations,” as it is commonly known, ejected Napoleon from Germany and left France open to invasion. Six months later, Napoleon was forced to abdicate after Schwarzenberg occupied Paris. These accomplishments raised the question of why Schwarzenberg has not received the same recognition as Wellington or his fellow countryman, Archduke Charles, the general who is considered “Napoleon’s greatest adversary?”

Historians of varying nationalities have criticized the Austrian commander as “insufferably slow,” “overcautious,” and “highly defective as a general.” However, these authors fail to adequately consider the evolving nature of coalition warfare and the difficulties Schwarzenberg faced as the Allied commander-in-chief, instead limiting their criticisms to the Austrian’s tactical and strategic prowess. This paper will examine Schwarzenberg’s conduct during the Sixth Coalition war and how he was the only individual who successfully implemented Klemens von Metternich’s vision of the new Europe. Despite his shortcomings as a tactician, Schwarzenberg was the only individual who possessed the necessary talents to be the commander-in-chief and his conduct should serve as a blueprint for future coalition commanders.