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During the Napoleonic Wars, Napoleon (1769-1821), emperor of the French, proclaimed himself king of Italy in 1805 (he had annexed Genoa), causing a third coalition to be formed against him by Britain, Austria, Russia, and Sweden. Abandoning plans to invade England, Napoleon sent his Grand Army against the Austrians at
Ulm, winning an overwhelming victory in October 1805. He then occupied Vienna and routed the Russians and Austrians at the Battle of Austerlitz on December 2, 1805. Austria was eliminated from the coaltion and evicted from Italy by the Treaty of
Pressburg. Prussia, joining the coalition in 1806, was promptly defeated at Jena and Auerstadt in October 1806. French forces under Napoleon fought an inconclusive battle against the Russians at Eylau in February 1807; Napoleon's advance on the Russian frontier was briefly checked. Russian forces were crushed by Napoleon's army at Friedland on June 14, 1807, and three days later Russia asked for a truce. By the Treaties of Tilsit in July 1807, France
made peace with Russia and forced Prussia to give up half of its territory. Napoleon was virtually in control of western and central Europe.
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