Siege of Hamburg
Hamburg, Germany
What happened
A French garrison under Marshal Louis-Nicolas Davout held Hamburg against Russian, Prussian and Swedish forces under Levin von Bennigsen and others. For nearly six months the French held the city. When the Elbe froze in January, Russian troops attacked several times, but the French held on. Even after Napoleon abdicated, Davout kept the city until an armistice was agreed. Life in the city was hard under the occupation: Napoleon had imposed a heavy war contribution, and Davout was later criticized for his treatment of the civilian population.
Why it matters
The garrison tied down large Allied forces. Some historians think Napoleon missed those troops in France in 1814.
What came next
The garrison marched home to France with its arms. Davout fell out of favour but rejoined Napoleon in 1815.
Did you know?
The French seized silver from the Hamburg Bank and melted it into coins to pay the garrison and the workers building the fortifications.
Timeline
- 24 Dec 1813Siege begins.
- Jan 1814The Elbe freezes; Russian assaults.
- 6 Apr 1814Napoleon abdicates.
- 12 May 1814Siege ends.