Napoleonic Wars casualties facts for kids
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The Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) were a series of major conflicts led by Napoleon Bonaparte against various European powers. These wars caused a huge number of deaths, known as casualties. This article explains how many people died, both soldiers and civilians.
When we talk about deaths, we include soldiers killed in battle. But many also died from other causes. These included diseases, serious wounds, starvation, or even exposure to harsh weather. Some drowned or were killed by their own side by mistake. During this time, medical care on the battlefield began to improve. Baron Dominique Jean Larrey, who was Napoleon's main surgeon, created horse-drawn carts to act as early ambulances. These carts quickly moved wounded soldiers away from the fighting. This idea was so good that he was asked to set up medical care for all 14 armies of the French Republic.
It is hard to know the exact number of deaths. Most countries back then did not keep very good records. So, the numbers you see are often estimates.
Contents
How Many French People Died?
The Napoleonic Wars had a big impact on France. Many French soldiers and civilians died between 1792 and 1815.
Here are some estimates of French and allied losses:
- About 306,000 French soldiers were killed in action.
- Around 600,000 French civilians also died.
- About 65,000 soldiers from countries allied with France were killed in action.
- A huge number, about 800,000 French and allied soldiers, died from wounds, accidents, or diseases. Many of these deaths happened during the terrible invasion of Russia.
- Overall, about 1,800,000 French and allied people died from fighting, disease, wounds, or went missing.
Deaths in Specific Campaigns
Two major campaigns caused many deaths for France:
The Peninsular War
The Peninsular War (1807–1814) was fought in Spain and Portugal.
- Between 180,000 and 240,000 French soldiers died in this war.
- About 91,000 of these were killed in battle.
The Invasion of Russia
The invasion of Russia in 1812 was a disaster for Napoleon.
- Around 334,000 French and allied soldiers died during this campaign.
- About 100,000 were killed in action. This included 70,000 French soldiers and 30,000 allied soldiers.
Impact on France's Population
The wars had long-lasting effects on France. Some experts believe that between 500,000 and 3 million French people died. David Gates estimates that at least 916,000 French men died from 1803 to 1815. This was a huge loss for the country.
The number of men in France dropped a lot compared to women. At the start of the wars, there were almost equal numbers of men and women. By the end, there were only 0.857 men for every woman. This meant France's population growth slowed down. By the mid-1800s, France was no longer the most populated country in Europe, losing its lead to countries like Germany, Austria, and the United Kingdom.
How Many Coalition Forces Died?
Many countries joined forces against Napoleon. These were called the Coalition forces. They also suffered huge losses.
Here are some estimates for the Coalition forces:
- Italy: About 120,000 Italian soldiers died or went missing.
- Russia: Around 289,000 Russian soldiers were killed in major battles.
- Prussia: About 134,000 Prussian soldiers died in major battles.
- Austria: Around 376,000 Austrian soldiers were killed in major battles.
- Spain: More than 300,000 Spanish soldiers died. The total number of Spanish deaths was over 586,000.
- Portugal: Up to 250,000 Portuguese people died or went missing.
- Britain: About 311,806 British soldiers died or went missing.
Overall, between 560,000 and 1,869,000 Coalition soldiers were killed in battle. The total number of deaths for Coalition forces is estimated to be between 2,380,000 and 5,925,084.
British Losses
The United Kingdom fought in the Napoleonic Wars with its powerful navy and army.
The Royal Navy (British navy) had losses between 1804 and 1815:
- Killed in action: 6,663 sailors.
- Deaths from shipwrecks, drownings, or fires: 13,621 sailors.
- Deaths from wounds or disease: 72,102 sailors.
- Total Royal Navy deaths: 92,386.
British Army Losses
The British Army also suffered many deaths between 1804 and 1815:
- Killed in action: 25,569 soldiers.
- Deaths from wounds, accidents, or disease: 193,851 soldiers.
- Total British Army deaths: 219,420.
Total Deaths and Missing People
It is very difficult to get exact numbers for the total deaths in the Napoleonic Wars. Different historians have different estimates.
- Many experts believe that about 2,500,000 military personnel died across Europe.
- About 1,000,000 civilians were killed in Europe and in French colonies overseas.
- This gives a total of about 3,500,000 casualties.
Historian David Gates estimated that 5,000,000 people died in the Napoleonic Wars. He did not say if this number included civilians or only soldiers. Charles Esdaile suggests that between 5,000,000 and 7,000,000 people died in total, including civilians.
These numbers can change a lot depending on who is doing the estimating. For example, Erik Durschmied suggests 1.4 million French military deaths. Adam Zamoyski estimates that around 400,000 Russian soldiers died in the 1812 campaign alone. Other historians like Micheal Clodfelter give a figure of 289,000 Russian deaths in battles between 1805 and 1814.
It is generally agreed that military deaths were between 2.5 million and 3.5 million. Civilian deaths are harder to count, with estimates ranging from 750,000 to 3 million. So, the total number of deaths, both military and civilian, could be anywhere from 3,250,000 to 6,500,000 people.
See also
- List of British general officers killed in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars
