Napoleon's Impact on Austria

Napoleon had an enormous impact on the Austrian region. In his early years, Napoleon fought and defeated four Austrian armies in a row. He seemed unbeatable and consistently forced the country into submission. Napoleon's offensive campaign on Austria was his first important task as an influential, international figure. Napoleon won all of the battles and Austria always surrendered. In a peace treaty, it was negotiated that Austria would give up the Austrian Netherlands and Lombardy. France, out of pity, gave Austria much land in the Venetian area. While Napoleon's armies were in Austria, they pillaged and stole all the money and valuable goods they could find. This looting left a great deal of Austrian citizens in ruin. Later on, Austria faced Napoleon in several other battles, usually in alliance with Russia and other world powers. The Austrian armies actually played a role in the defeat of Napoleon! Another way that Napoleon influenced Austria was that he married Marie Louise, the daughter of the emperor. Since Napoleon was desperate for a true heir, he divorced Josephine and married Marie Louise. She had a son, and Napoleon declared that his son would be called the "King of Rome".