Treaty of Paris (8 October 1801) facts for kids
In 1801, France and Russia signed an important peace treaty in Paris. This happened on October 8, 1801. The treaty officially ended the fighting between France and Russia in a big conflict called the War of the Second Coalition. Just two days later, on October 10, they signed a secret agreement to become allies.
The people who signed for France was Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord. For Russia, it was Count Arkady Morkov. They officially agreed to the treaty on October 11. The French government recognized the treaty on December 9, 1801.
Peace Between France and Russia
The public peace treaty said that France and Russia would have lasting peace and friendship. But the secret agreement held the real plans for how France and Russia would work together in the future.
The Secret Agreement
The secret agreement included a plan to work together on the situation in the Holy Roman Empire. At that time, the Holy Roman Empire was putting into action the rules of an earlier agreement called the Treaty of Lunéville, signed on February 9, 1801. This was done through a special group called a Reichsdeputation.
France and Russia wanted to find a fair balance of power. They aimed for a "just equilibrium" between the powerful families of Austria and Prussia. The Russian ruler, Tsar Alexander I, was related to the leaders of places like Baden, Bavaria, and Württemberg.
Because of this, the French leader, Napoléon Bonaparte (who was called the First Consul), agreed to make these areas stronger. This would help balance out the power of the Habsburgs in Austria and the Hohenzollern in Brandenburg–Prussia.
Ending the War
The peace between Russia and France was part of many talks happening to end the War of the Second Coalition. Just before the peace with Russia, France made an early agreement with the United Kingdom. This happened in London on October 1. This agreement later led to the Peace of Amiens.
On October 4, Count Morkov also signed a peace treaty in Paris with Spain. Between the two agreements with Russia, France also signed an early peace agreement with the Ottoman Empire in Paris on October 9. This was officially completed with the Treaty of Paris in June 1802.
