Napoleon loses everything

The alliance of Prussia, Austria and Russia defeated Napoleon in October 1813. After the Battle of Leipzig from 16th to 19th October 1813, the French army retreated westwards. In this German caricature, the “courier” Napoleon I is dropping maps and pictures with the names of cities he once ruled. Their fate was to be decided at the Congress of Vienna from September 1814 to June 1815. Napoleon was allowed to stay in Mainz until November 1813, and for a while he still held on to Charlemagne’s sceptre. A small laurel tree alludes to his last victories.

The Rheinische Courier was also a newspaper that quickly spread the news of Napoleon’s defeat.