Introduction by Congress of Vienna (CoV)’s Assistant Designer & Editor, Fred Schachter – To familiarize the InsideGMT audience of what designer Frank Esparrago created with his fun and exciting Congress of Vienna game, now a GMT P-500 offering which has “made the cut”; InsideGMT presented articles of “Designer’s Notes” and a “Game as History” series entitled “An Historical Introduction to the Congress of Vienna Period (CoV)”.  Use this link to access copies of these articles: https://www.gmtgames.com/p-850-congress-of-vienna.aspx .

Since this is the fifth of GMT’s “Great Statesmen” game series, it seems appropriate to focus on those very Statesmen who make this Napoleonic Wars historical period so fascinating to our hobby from perspective of the game Frank designed.

Consequently, following Part Three’s “Russian Contingent” piece, here’s the final part of this four-part series: “Meet the Statesmen of Congress of Vienna – The French Contingent”.  Please note InsideGMT published the original of this article during early 2020.  This is the 2024 edition… which is an update including Terry Leeds’ gorgeous graphics of Congress of Vienna’s cards.

Alas, as previously explained, this four part “Meet the Statesmen of Congress of Vienna, which is essentially a compendium of its cards, could not be accommodated within CoV’s Playbook due to space limitations.

I enjoyed learning more of the historical figures behind the game’s cards and hope you do as well. Also, the CoV Team appreciates folks’ feedback, whether within this forum or elsewhere to this InsideGMT series.  Now to conclude matters with its final Pt. 4 of 4 installment by meeting the Great French Statesmen, War Leaders, and other “neutral” personages of Congress of Vienna.

 In italics we include a description of each card’s CoV game attributes in terms of its game-related background, along with for players, its game play opportunities and weaknesses.

Note: If you would like to view any of the below images in a larger size, you can click on the image, and it will point you to an expanded image file.

Additional note: We are releasing this article about Congress of Vienna’s French Contingent on July 14, Bastille Day, for a little thematic flavor. We hope you enjoy it!

Overall Introduction: The French Statesmen & Military Leaders

In the Congress of Vienna game, it should come as no surprise that the French team has the strongest military base. They are experienced and formidable.  France also has a vast number of resources available to their leaders, but these must be carefully distributed to meet multiple threats… and therein lies the French player’s conundrum.

Although French Leader Napoleon is extraordinarily efficient in conducting a military campaign or in aspects related to mobilizing his empire’s resources; he is “clumsy” (due to political arrogance) when it comes to diplomatic matters. The French National Characteristic of “Persuasion by Force” allows them to “recover” their Character cards via trade more easily than the other Major Powers.

Furthermore, France’s cards have powerful military bonuses corresponding to historical reality (Davout, Soult, Suchet, Eugene and other legendary commanders …), but the empire is desperately limited in the case of diplomatic Character cards.  Yes, quite the problem… but that’s what makes playing Congress of Vienna’s France such a fun and interesting challenge!

First, let’s examine France’s Corps of Statesmen:

Napoleon Bonaparte (1769 – 1821) is the “overwhelming central character” of the Congress of Vienna game and whom better to commence this overview of “The French Contingent”?  He was a statesman and brilliant military commander whose bold genius brought him to prominence during the French Revolutionary Wars. He was Emperor of the French from 1804 until 1814, and again briefly in 1815 during The Hundred Days. Napoleon dominated European and global affairs for more than a decade while leading France against a series of coalitions during the Napoleonic Wars.

Napoleon was a born leader, with extraordinary drive, charisma, and determination. Insisting on his right to make up his own mind, he demanded freedom of thought and action and did not let anything, or anyone, stand in his way once he committed to a goal. He was exceptionally creative, original and possessed more than a touch of the remarkable. Napoleon’s approach to problems was unique for his time and he had the courage to wander from the beaten path… a true “out of the box” thinker.  He was impatient with his shortcomings and those of others.

Napoleon maintained strict efficient work habits, prioritizing what needed to be done. He felt he had to win at everything he attempted. In battles, when he recognized opportunity, he seized it with a speed dizzying to his opponents. However, his victories heightened his sense of self-grandiosity, leaving him even more certain of his destiny and invincibility (and thereby making him vulnerable).

In terms of influence on events, it was more than Napoleon’s personality that was behind his accomplishments… the man had talents: he reorganized France itself to supply the men and money needed for war. He inspired his men –it said his presence on a battlefield was worth 40,000 soldiers: for he invoked confidence from privates to field marshals while also unnerving his enemies. These attributes neutralized material difficulties. His soldiers fought with passionate confidence that with their emperor in charge they would surely prevail.

At age 26, Napoleon began his first military campaign leading an army, winning every battle: he conquered the Italian Peninsula in a year and became a war hero in France. In 1798, he led a military expedition to Egypt and the Middle East that served as a springboard to domestic political power. He orchestrated a coup in November 1799 to become First Consul of the Republic. His ambition, support of the army, and well cultivated public approval inspired him to go further, and Napoleon became first Emperor of the French in 1804.

In 1805 the Third Coalition of Austria, Russia and Great Britain was formed to foil his and France’s ever ascending trajectory to European dominance. However, Napoleon shattered this coalition with his decisive victory at the Battle of Austerlitz. In 1806, Prussia, Russia and Great Britain took up arms against him; but he quickly and decisively defeated Prussia at the battles of Jena and Auerstädt, then marched his magnificent Grande Armée deep into Eastern Europe and at the battle of Friedland humbled the Russians in June 1807. France subsequently compelled the Russian Tsar to sign the Treaty of Tilsit in July 1807, which signified a high watermark for the French Empire.

In 1808 Napoleon invaded the Iberian Peninsula, hoping to extend his Continental System and cut off British trade while installing his brother Joseph upon Spain’s throne. The Spanish and the Portuguese revolted against this French aggression with British support. The subsequent Peninsular War lasted a horrendously bloody six years, featured extensive vicious guerrilla warfare, and concluded in victory for the British, Spanish and Portuguese forces under Wellington’s military leadership.

During the summer of 1812, ostensibly for not cooperating with the Continental System, Napoleon launched a major onslaught on Russia with the largest army seen in Europe so far. This campaign destroyed Russian cities and resources, including much by the Russians’ own hands through “Scorched Earth”, and after a costly indecisive victory at the Battle of Borodino, the emperor captured Moscow. But in the end this invasion resulted in the collapse and utter destruction of the Grande Armée which inspired a renewed push against him from his enemies.

Napoleon left the remains of his army to return to Paris (to deal with potential political threats and commence rebuilding a new Grande Armée) while preparing a defense of Poland and Prussia against the advancing Russians. However, the Russians and their new Prussian allies had the advantage of shorter supply lines and were able to replenish their armies with greater speed than the French, especially as Napoleon’s losses of cavalry made harrying their supply lines ineffective.  The Cossacks, meanwhile, had penetrated all the way to Hamburg.

Napoleon vowed he would create a new Grande Armée, albeit not to the same quality as that lost in Russia’s snows (that was now impossible: particularly in so far as cavalry was concerned), and he quickly built up his forces in the east from 30,000 to an impressive 400,000.

Napoleon won against the Allies at Lützen (2 May) and Bautzen (20–21 May 1813); but he himself lost about the same number of men during those encounters.

This mutual bloodletting resulted in the belligerents agreeing to an Armistice from 4 June 1813 until 13 August, during which time both sides attempted to recover from their losses and woo Austria into the fray.

For Austria had extricated itself from its 1809 defeat-imposed alliance with Napoleon and after the Russian invasion debacle it retrieved its expeditionary force and became neutral.

Its foreign minister Metternich aimed to mediate a peace between France and its continental enemies, but when it became apparent Napoleon was not interested in compromise, Austria joined the allies and declared war on France. Two principal Austrian armies deployed in Bohemia and Italy, thereby adding 250,000 troops to the Allied cause.

Following the end of the Armistice, Napoleon seemed to have regained the initiative at Dresden (26–27 August 1813), where he defeated a numerically-superior allied army and inflicted enormous casualties, while sustaining few of his own. However, at about the same time, his subordinates’ thrust towards Berlin was beaten back and the French sustained several defeats.  The Allies had finally learnt their lesson and adopted a strategy of withdrawing before any force personally commanded by Napoleon, thereby denying the battle victories he craved, while vigorously opposing those led by the emperor’s subordinates.  

Napoleon concentrated his main army at Leipzig (Saxony) where he believed he could fight a successful interior lines defensive action against the Allied armies marching upon him. There, at the so-called Battle of Nations (16–19 October 1813), his Grande Armée found itself faced by three Allied armies converging upon it. After four days of fierce battle, a catastrophic French defeat resulted.

If interested, this link will bring a reader to an InsideGMT article describing the Battle of Leipzig in terms of the Congress of Vienna game (do note it depicts this using an early playtest version of CoV): The Battle of Leipzig in Congress of Vienna (CoV) | Inside GMT blog

Despite defeat at Leipzig, the French emperor was still able to manage an orderly retreat west. Napoleon withdrew back into France, his army reduced to 100,000 soldiers with few cavalry and all too many inexperienced conscripts, where he faced more than three times as many victorious and pursuing Allied troops.

Now the French were defending the sacred soil of France. British-led armies from Spain pressed in from the southwest and other Coalition forces positioned themselves to attack westward from a now liberated Germany. Napoleon, still a brilliant commander, won a series of victories during 1814’s Six Days’ Campaign, although these were not substantial enough to turn the tide.

Paris was surrendered to Allied forces at the end of March 1814. On 1 April, the French Senate under Talleyrand’s prodding turned against him; the Senate passed the Acte de déchéance de l’Empereur which declared Napoleon deposed. When Napoleon attempted to get the army to march on the capital and recover imperial power, his marshals mutinied. Bowing to the inevitable, he unconditionally abdicated (then, in despair, attempted to commit suicide, but the poison failed). Through the ensuing Treaty of Fontainebleau, the Allies exiled Napoleon to Elba, a small island in the Mediterranean.

However, in 1815 he escaped from there and landed on the French mainland to commence his way towards Paris with a growing army among cheering crowds. The unpopular King Louis XVIII Bourbon fled to Belgium after realizing he had no political support. On 13 March, the Allied Powers at the Congress of Vienna declared him an outlaw. A triumphant Napoleon arrived in Paris on 20 March and once again governed France for a legendary period now called The Hundred Days.

By the start of June, the armed forces available to Napoleon had reached 200,000 and he decided to go on the offensive: to attempt driving a wedge between the Belgium based British and Prussian armies before they could be joined by massive Austrian and Russian forces approaching from the east. His army was decisively defeated by two Coalition armies commanded by Wellington and Blücher at the Battle of Waterloo on 18 June 1815.

He was forced to abdicate again. This time, the British government kept Napoleon on the remote island of Saint Helena in the middle South Atlantic Ocean. During February 1821, Napoleon’s health began to deteriorate, and he died, some say under suspicious circumstances, on 5 May 1821.

In the Congress of Vienna game, we had an arduous task synthesizing in a card the complex and extraordinary personality and talents of Napoleon Bonaparte. This effort included recognizing his powerful presence on the battlefield, leadership, strategic capabilities, sense of opportunity as well as his organizational and political genius while considering his negative attributes such as impatience, lack of diplomatic tact, strong ego, ruthlessness and the contradictions of his being a modern and advanced man, a proponent of the French Revolution’s ideals, while being an emperor ruling with absolute power!

We decided to make Napoleon a 7-value Leader card and provided it with an important military use: +6 DRM only in battles in Central Europe Track A and the Paris space (here we have preferred to adjust to historical reality) along with the possibility of being awarded a “free” Military Operation (reflecting his prodigious organizational capabilities) when Napoleon is not used during the game’s Diplomacy Phase.

When this card is combined with Berthier’s, his superb Chief of Staff, it increases Napoleon’s effect in battle by allowing the French player to choose the best of two 2d6 dice rolls!

To simulate the emperor’s organizational brilliance in the 1813 reconstitution of the Grande Armée, we made that the “French Recruitment” Issue cannot to be debated (that is, impeded via debate by one of the Allied Leaders) and provided the French player two additional military units (cubes) when the Recruitment Issue is negotiated/debated by Napoleon.

For there may be a Congress of Vienna game turn when it’s best for France to trade space for time and abandon a Central Europe Track A space, using Napoleon during the Diplomacy Phase to secure “French Recruitment”, win the Issue and take the -3 VP penalty for a double French Recruitment, thereby adding six new military units to fight for the imperial cause.

Only for Minor Countries Issues is Napoleon penalized, which adds a bit more historical flavor to the game.

 Bonaparte, Joseph (1768 –1844) was a French diplomat and the elder brother of Napoleon, who made him King of Naples (1806–1808), and later King of Spain (1808–1813). He had no positive influence over the course of the Peninsular War: His nominal command of French forces in Spain was mostly illusory as French commanders theoretically subordinate to King Joseph insisted on checking with Napoleon before carrying out his brother’s instructions (an attitude which suffered from all the disadvantages inherent to early 19^th Century communications).

Joseph abdicated and returned to France after the main French forces were defeated by a British-led coalition under Wellington at the Battle of Vitoria on 21 June 1813. During the closing campaign of the War of the Sixth Coalition, Napoleon left his brother to govern Paris with the title Lieutenant General of the Empire. As a result, he was once again in nominal command of the French Army during the Battle of Paris… a battle resulting in the March 1814 Allied capture of the capital.

After 1815, he emigrated to the United States and settled in Philadelphia until 1832, and again from 1837-39.

Joseph is a medium 3-value card. Diplomatically, Joseph can be useful to three of the game’s Major Powers!  For France he provides a +1 modifier for the Issues of “Future Government of France”, “British Financial Aid” and “Naples”, while for Austria and Russia, as well as France, play of the Joseph card by any one of them nastily deprives Britain of the 2VP it gains that turn for controlling Track C’s Castile.  This could make a difference determining the Major Power victor of a close CoV game!

Joseph is unusual in that he can be classified as a military Character card, as well as a Statesman, until Austria enters the War. 

In his time-finite military capacity, for historical reasons, we endowed him with a French +2 DRM during the War Phase for battles in Spain.  However, when this card is in British hands before Austria enters the war, it provides a -4 DRM inflicted on France (yikes!). This reflects Joseph’s painfully inept military behavior during the early 1813 campaign in Spain until he was replaced by the far more competent Soult and then Joseph becomes a full time Congress of Vienna Statesman!

Caulaincourt, Armand-Augustin-Louis, Marquis de, Duke of Vicenza (1773 –1827) was a French soldier, diplomat and close personal aide to Napoleon. In 1807, he was sent as ambassador to St. Petersburg, where he endeavored to maintain the Treaty of Tilsit alliance between France and Russia. During this time, he developed a friendship with Tsar Alexander I. In 1811, with Napoleon preparing to declare a profound change in policy regarding Russia due to the Tsar’s reluctance enforcing France’s Continental System, he was sent for and returned to France.

In early 1812, he strongly advised Napoleon against the proposed invasion of Russia, but he was unsuccessful in dissuading him. Caulaincourt accompanied the Grande Armée and was with the emperor at the Battle of Borodino. During the French occupation of Moscow that followed, he repeatedly warned the Napoleon of the dangers of wintering in Russia… but the emperor, seeking the Tsar’s capitulation, a surrender which never came, tarried too long in the burnt-out Russian capital.

During the subsequent French retreat, he experienced the Grande Armée‘s disintegration and implored Napoleon to return directly to France to stabilize the political situation there and in Europe overall. Napoleon heeded that sage advice, choosing Caulaincourt to travel alongside him to Paris in December 1812.

In 1813 he was charged with all diplomatic negotiations following the death of the previous office holder, General Duroc. Caulaincourt signed the armistice of Pläswitz, June 1813, which suspended for seven weeks hostilities between France, Prussia and Russia. During related negotiations, he represented France at the August 1813 Congress of Prague.  Those negotiations failed and hostilities resumed, this time with Austria joining the fray against Napoleon.

With France invaded and Paris captured, the Treaty of Fontainebleau on 10 April 1814 ended the war and, thanks to Caulaincourt’s efforts playing upon his influence with the Tsar, contained the provision for Napoleon’s exile to the island of Elba after his abdication. Caulaincourt’s  Mémories form a vital historical source chronicling the events of 1812-1814 from a most interesting direct involvement perspective.

Caulaincourt is an excellent 4-value card.  It has a +1 French modifier for Issues located on the Russian National Track as well as for “Future Government of France” and “Armistice”.  Furthermore, if France uses this card after Armistice to negotiate or debate an Issue located on the Russian National Track or for “Future Government of France”, the French player receives a military unit (cube) in Paris… a rather nice bonus, eh? 

As Caulaincourt has a -1 modifier for Austria and Britain, it is therefore a somewhat unattractive card for these players so they could use it for a turn’s initial Selection of Issues Step or trade it to France during the Diplomacy Phase.

Fouché, Joseph, Duke of Otranto, (1759 –1820) was a French statesman and Minister of Police under Napoleon. He was particularly known for the ferocity with which he suppressed the Lyon insurrection during the 1793 Revolution. During the French Consulate (1799–1804), he efficiently countered opposition to Bonaparte and helped increase the centralization and efficiency of the French police. He also carefully tempered Napoleon’s more arbitrary actions. After the proclamation of the French Empire, Fouche again became head of the re-constituted Ministry of Police (July 1804) and later of Internal Affairs.

His agents were omnipresent, using eerie precursors to more modern police-state techniques, and the terror which Napoleon and Fouché inspired partly accounts for the absence of effective domestic conspiracies during the French Empire period.

Nevertheless, Napoleon did retain feelings of distrust, or even fear, towards the powerful Fouché and on 3 June 1810 he dismissed him from office. However, Napoleon never completely disgraced nor eliminated a diabolically clever man who might again prove useful.

During early 1812 Fouché attempted in vain to turn Napoleon from the planned invasion of Russia. When the emperor returned in haste from Moscow to Paris at the close of that year, the ex-minister of police was suspected of involvement in the conspiracy of Malet, which had been unexpectedly initially successful. However, Fouché cleared his name and gave the emperor useful internal affairs support and international diplomatic situation advice.

In 1814, the treacherous Fouché defected.  He joined the invading allies and plotted against Napoleon. However, in1815, this man of self-serving resilience joined Napoleon again during his return to power and became police minister during the latter’s short-lived reign of The Hundred Days. After Napoleon’s ultimate defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, the quicksilver Fouché resumed plotting against Napoleon and joined the parliamentary opposition to the defeated emperor. He headed the provisional government and tried to negotiate with the allies. These final efforts went unappreciated and unrewarded.  He died in Trieste exile 1820.

Fouché’s skill at discovering plots against Napoleon and the police terror he created made him a feared and hated figure. In many aspects he was a second-rate intellect and Napoleon never gave him his fullest trust… with good reason.

This is a most powerful French diplomacy card.  It is 4-value but, with its French +1 modifier for debating, it is a 5-value Diplomacy Phase card (and 6-value if used to debate the “Armistice” Issue).

Furthermore, the devious Fouché provides the French player a +1 modifier if his card is used to negotiate/debate the Issues of “French Recruitment”, “Future Government of France”, “Treaty of Ghent / Canada Annexed”, or “Austria at War”.  

For historical purposes we included a negative-1 value modifier for the game’s other players. Like Caulaincourt, Fouché is only an average card to the three other Major Powers due to its -1 modifier. This unattractiveness to them means France could anticipate possibly receiving this card offered in trade.

Gaudin, Martin Michel Charles, duc de Gaete, (1756– 1841) In 1791, he was appointed commissioner of the national treasury. He fulfilled his task there with immense talent and courage during a particularly difficult French Revolutionary period. From that time on he was subject to continual accusations from which he escaped by his strict probity and understanding of business. With the help of the Minister of Finance opposing Robespierre; he managed to save the lives of the 48 receivers general of finance (tax collectors), which the Radical Convention wanted to lead to the scaffold with its guillotine.

Repeatedly denounced, Gaudin miraculously managed to keep his post until 1795, when he resigned during worries of all kinds, exhausted from fatigue, he withdrew from service for three years. He was then 39 years old.

But the days of empire commenced, and Napoleon appointed him Minister of Finance the day after the coup d’etat of 18 Brumaire. Gaudin set to work on major financial reforms by creating a body of civil servants directly dependent on the minister: one receiver per district and one Receiver General per department. He imposed the bond on all public servants, including tax collectors, and re-established indirect taxes such as grants, then taxes on tobacco, drinks and salt.  Gaudin even established a popular public lottery. Likewise, he organized the finances of Liguria in 1805, then those of Holland in 1811.

Finally, he created the Bank of France. He borrowed the idea of ​​the cadaster, which was his great concern to establishing in a fair way for land taxation. Gaudin presented the first French budget really worthy of the name. All these reforms were not accomplished without struggle, but they worked and worked very well.  Basking on Napoleon’s fulsome appreciation, Gaudin therefore remained Minister of Finance until 30 March 1814.

From March to July 1815, during The Hundred Days, he was Minister of Finance for the third time. During his extensive career Gaudin always remained faithful to Napoleon, and in the sitting rooms of the French Restoration, when Royalists attacked the memory of the emperor, he never failed to defend him and his legacy.

An excellent 3-value card, but the French player also can receive an always appreciated free Resource marker when it is used for to negotiate/debate one of its noted Issues.  It has a +2 modifier for “British Financial Aid”, “Holland”, “Italy” and “Liberalism/Absolutism”. 

Moreover, when used for “Liberalism/Absolutism”, he provides a +1 drm for the Liberalism Track die roll result… should either France or Britain wins the Issue during the preceding Diplomacy Phase for that turn. 

Gaudin is thus a key French card for diplomacy!

And now, the game’s two Undefined Character Cards: neither French Statesmen nor Military Leaders, they’re considered “Neutral” and therefore playable by any of CoV’s Major Powers!

Frederick Augustus I (1750 –1827) was Elector of Saxony from 1763 to 1806 and King of Saxony from 1806 to 1827. He was also Duke of Warsaw from 1807 to 1813. He remained a loyal ally of France even after the disastrous Russian campaign (1812–1813). Although he started half-hearted peace negotiations with Austria; he broke them off after the French victory at Lützen (May 1813).

In the Battle of Leipzig (October 1813), however, his Saxon troops went over to Prussia, and he was taken as prisoner in Berlin. At the Congress of Vienna in 1815, Frederick Augustus lost three-fifths of his territory to Prussia. He spent the rest of his days attempting to regain his truncated state.

This is a low 2 value card. However, it presents +2 or +3 modifiers (which converts Frederick Augustus into a 4 or 5 value card) for “Armistice”, “Poland” or “Saxony”.

It also provides an additional +1 for “Armistice” or “Saxony” to France or Austria.  This makes it for either of them a 6-value card for these two Issues.  Consequently, this card is often used many times during a game. A savvy French or Austrian player should take advantage of that!

Talleyrand-Périgord, Charles Maurice de (1754 – 1838), 1st Prince of Benevento, then 1st Prince of Talleyrand, was a laicized French bishop, politician, and diplomat. He worked as a Foreign Minister or  in some other diplomatic capacity. His lengthy career spanned the regimes of the French Revolution, Napoleon, Louis XVIII, and Louis-Philippe. Those he served often distrusted him but, like Napoleon, found him extremely useful when it suited their purposes. The name “Talleyrand” has become a byword for crafty and cynical diplomacy.

During the French Revolution’s Terror, he was exiled in Britain and the United States (1792 -1796). The newly established Directoire suppressed his name from the banned émigré list, and he was able to return to France.

Talleyrand was made Foreign Minister by Napoleon (1799).  Although he often disagreed with the emperor’s foreign policy, he was instrumental in the completion of the Treaty of Amiens in 1802. He wanted Napoleon to keep peace afterwards, as he thought France had reached its maximum realistic limits of expansion.

In May 1804, Napoleon bestowed upon him the title of Grand Chamberlain of the Empire.

Talleyrand was opposed to the harsh treatment of Austria in the 1805 Treaty of Pressburg and of Prussia by the 1807 Peace of Tilsit. In 1806, he personally greatly profited from the reorganization of German lands, this time into Napoleon’s Confederation of the Rhine.

Having wearied of serving a master in whom he no longer had confidence; Talleyrand resigned as French Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1807. After his resignation, he began accepting bribes from hostile powers (Austria, but also Russia), to betray Napoleon’s secrets.

In the aftermath of the 1814 fall of Paris into Allied hands; he led the French Senate in establishing a provisional government, of which he was elected president. The next day, 2 April, the Senate officially deposed Napoleon with the Acte de déchéance de l’Empereur and by 11 April had approved the Treaty of Fontainebleau.  It adopted a new constitution to re-establish the Bourbon monarchy. Talleyrand was chief French negotiator at the Congress of Vienna, and, during that same year, he signed the Treaty of Paris. It was due in part to his superb diplomatic skills that the terms of the treaty were remarkably lenient towards France.

Talleyrand served no less than eight regimes, and despite being of obnoxious and dubious moral character, he was, with Metternich, a foremost diplomat of his day and supreme realist of the European international political scene.

This is one of those cards we wanted in our game at all costs since Talleyrand was a key figure of the Congress of Vienna.

Although he was French, he was against Napoleon and flirted with all the other Powers’ diplomats whom he well-knew after a career of more than twenty years working for French diplomacy. Therefore, he is color coded for all four Major Powers’ use. Therefore, Talleyrand is a welcome addition to any of the four Major Power’s card hands.

We endowed him as a 5-value-card; but since it has a +1 in debate, and quite a few positive modifiers for different Issues varying by the Major Power wielding his card, Talleyrand can be, on numerous occasions, a powerful 7-card when you have it in your hand under the right circumstance. He is Congress of Vienna’s best diplomatic Character card; therefore, take advantage of him when his card is in your possession!

The French Generals: their Men of War!

Here are, in alphabetical order, Congress of Vienna’s legendary “shining stars” of Imperial France’s marshalate, names which reverberate through time and excite so many historical gamers’ imaginations.  They reflect military talents from the superb to mediocre.  These encompass French military leaders, who in my interpretation as CoV’s designer, merit inclusion in this game of the 1813/1814 Campaign:

Berthier, Louis-Alexandre, 1st Prince of Wagram, Sovereign Prince of Neuchâtel (1753 –1815) was a French Marshal and Vice-Constable of the Empire, as well as the brilliant Chief of Staff to Napoleon.

In 1796, he was Chief of Staff to the Army of Italy, under a youthful Napoleon’s command. Berthier deployed a high capacity for work, accuracy and quick comprehension, combined with his long and varied experience and complete mastery of details, which made him the ideal Chief of Staff for the dynamic Bonaparte. In this capacity he was Napoleon’s most valued assistant for the remainder of his career.

In 1800, at the close of the Marengo campaign, he was employed in civil and diplomatic issues; this included a mission to Spain, which resulted in the retrocession of Louisiana to France by the Treaty of San Ildefonso, 1 October 1800, which led to the Louisiana Purchase by the United States of America.

He took part in the campaigns of 1805, 1806, 1807, the Peninsular War (1808), and the 1809 Bavaria and Austria actions, from which he received the title of Prince of Wagram. He was with his emperor in Russia 1812, Germany 1813, and France 1814, fulfilling, until Napoleon’s first abdication, the critical functions of the Grande Armée’s Chief of Staff.

Berthier was immensely skilled and effective in his role, but he was not a great military commander in his own right. When he was in temporary command of a field force during 1809, the French army in Bavaria suffered a series of reverses. His merit as a general was completely overshadowed by the genius of his emperor. Berthier is nevertheless renowned for his excellent organizational skills and being able to understand and carry out his emperor’s directions to the minutest detail: an emperor who wanted a man capable of relieving him of all administrative drudgery, to understand him instantly, while anticipating what he would need and when he’d need it.  In these things Berthier excelled, and he and his emperor made a superb team.

Following Napoleon’s first abdication, Berthier retired, but on Napoleon’s return to France, he withdrew to Germany where he died a few weeks later 1 June 1815 in a fall from an upstairs window.  The circumstances of his death remain uncertain. According to some accounts, he was assassinated by members of a secret society, while others maintain that, maddened by the sight of Russian troops marching to again invade his beloved France, he threw himself from a high window and was killed.

The loss of Berthier’s skills during the Waterloo Campaign was keenly felt by Napoleon and constitutes one of the great “what if’s” of history.

A low 2-value card, Berthier has +2 modifier for the Issues of “French Recruitment” and “Military Operation“. When available for the War Phase he doubles France’s Strategic Movement capacity from 2 to 4.  A French player can find this increased capacity a very fine boon under the right circumstances.

 However, his immense value in Congress of Vienna is combining him with Napoleon’s card in battle.  In this case, it has a +2 DRM and duplicates Wellington’s double dice roll tactical ability: choosing the best of two 2d6 dice rolls.  Napoleon with Berthier as his Chief of Staff is a powerful partnership indeed!

Davout, Louis-Nicolas, 1st Duke of Auerstädt, 1st Prince of Eckmühl (1770 – 1823) was a French general who was Marshal of the Empire. His talent for war along with a reputation as a stern determined disciplinarian earned him the nickname “The Iron Marshal”.

Davout fought at Austerlitz (1805) with great distinction. He then fought and won the Battle of Auerstädt against the main Prussian army, which had more than twice as many soldiers at its disposal than the French.

During the war of 1809 with Austria, Davout took part in actions which culminated in the Battle of Eckmühl, while also distinguishing himself at the Battle of Wagram, where he commanded the right wing.

With the 1812 invasion of Russia, Davout commanded the vast 70,000 man I Corps and defeated the Russians at the Battle of Mogilev before uniting with Napoleon and the main Grande Armée.

With the retreat from Moscow his fortunes declined slightly. In 1813 he commanded the Hamburg military district, winning the action of Lauenburg and staunchly defending Hamburg, through a long siege, only evacuating it after the fall of Napoleon in April 1814. 

Davout was such a good and talented administrator that, with Berthier’s absence (see preceding summary), Napoleon kept him in Paris as Minister of War rather than in a field command during 1815’s The Hundred Days.  His military talents would be sorely missed during the Waterloo Campaign.

Davout is an excellent French 5-value-card with a +2 modifier for the “Norway” and “British Financial Aid” Issues.

It has a -2 when used by the game’s three other players, so they will normally dispose of it through a turn’s wager or during its initial diplomatic rounds, so the French player will not have opportunity to trade for it.

As a battle card, Davout is a solid +3 DRM with addition of an impressive -3 Allied DRM in defensive battles after the Armistice in Northern Europe Track B. That makes him a hard barrier to Allied generals!

Duroc, Géraud, 1st Duc de Frioul (1772 – 1813) was Grand Marshal of the Palace, responsible for measures to secure Napoleon’s personal safety. Whether the emperor was in France or abroad on his various campaigns, he directed the minutest details of the imperial household.

He fought at the Battle of Austerlitz and during 1806 was employed in a series of political negotiations which led to incorporation of German Minor Countries into the Confederation of the Rhine.

In 1809, he participated in the conclusion of the Armistice of Znaim that effectively ended the war with Austria.

In May 1813, Duroc fought at the Battle of Bautzen, but a ricocheting cannonball, witnessed by Napoleon himself, mortally wounded him.

Duroc is a medium 3-value card for France but has a +1 modifier
for “Hanover”, “Bavaria”, “Saxony”, the “Future Government of France” or “Austria at War” to make this Issue harder for the Allies to obtain. This simulates Duroc’s desire to preserve the neutrality of Austria as a counter against Russia and Prussia!

 We endowed him with a +2 DRM for the Central Europe Front (Track A) battles. Although when this card is used during the War Phase, it risks being permanently retired from the game with a 1-2 die roll, simulating Duroc receiving his fatal wound at the battle of Bautzen.  

Eugene Rose de Beauharnais, Duke of Leuchtenberg (1781 – 1824) was the first child and only son of Alexandre de Beauharnais and Josephine, first wife of Napoleon. He was born in Paris and became the emperor’s stepson. He was Viceroy of Italy under his stepfather.

During the War of 1809, Eugene was put in command of the Army of Italy. In April he fought and lost the Battle of Sacile against Archduke John’s Austrian army; but he decisively won the rematch at the Battle of the Piave in May and the Battle of Raab in June. After joining the main French army, he took part in the Battle of Wagram.

During the Russian campaign of 1812, Eugene again commanded the Army of Italy with which he fought at the Battles of Borodino and Maloyaroslavets. After Napoleon and then Murat left the retreating army, he took command of Grande Armée remnants and led them back to Germany in early 1813. During the spring campaign of 1813, he fought at the Battle of Lützen. Napoleon then sent him back to Italy, where he capably organized its defense against the Austrians, holding out on the river Mincio, keeping them at bay, until Napoleon’s 1814 abdication.

After this, Eugene retired to Munich and at the behest of his father-in-law, King Maximilian of Bavaria, he did not get involved with Napoleon and France again. His undoubted qualities as both man and soldier earned him Napoleon’s respect.

This is an average French card (3-value) with +2 modifier for the “Italy” and “Bavaria” Issues. If you use Eugene in these Minor Country Issues, a French player could obtain both VPs and additional military units. He also has this modifier for “Austria at War”.

However, he is an excellent battle card in Northern Europe (Track B) before the Armistice and especially on the Italy Front (Track F) afterwards; since there are few capable French generals available to defend that wealthy region from a possible Austrian invasion.

Marmont, Auguste, Duke of Ragusa (1774 –1852) was a French general who rose to the rank of Marshal of the Empire. During the War of 1809 against Austria, he fought at Wagram.

In 1811, he succeeded Marshal Massena as commander of the French Army of Portugal. In July 1812, he suffered a crushing defeat from Wellington at Salamanca and retired to France.

 In April 1813, Napoleon again gave Marmont an opportunity to command: this time of a corps, which he led at the battles of Lützen, Bautzen, Dresden and Leipzig. The following year, he fought throughout the Napoleon’s outstanding Campaign for France until its final battle before Paris. He then contacted the Allies and reached a secret agreement with them to surrender his remaining forces.

Marmont stayed loyal to the restored King  Louis XVIII Bourbon during the Hundred Days. Following the Battle of Waterloo, he voted in favor of Marshal Ney’s execution.

For these last actuations, the French derogatory verb “raguser”-derived from his title Duke of Ragusa – meaning “to betray”, word which became part of his legacy!

Without a doubt, Marmont is the worst French card for the Diplomacy Phase, although useful to Austria and Russia for the “Future Government of France” Issue due to its +3 modifier. He is a poor 2-value card. When this card is in the hand of the French player. he should recall the verb “raguser” with contempt. As a battle card it is quite mediocre. Unfortunately, the French player will often receive the inglorious Marmont from other players in trade!

Murat, Joachim (1767 –1815) was a Marshal of France under Napoleon. He was also the 1st Prince Murat, Grand Duke of Berg from 1806 to 1808, and King of Naples from 1808 to 1815. He received his titles in part by being Napoleon’s brother-in-law through marriage to his younger sister, Caroline Bonaparte, as well as through his own personal merit.  For Murat was an excellent and charismatic leader of cavalry. He oversaw the French Army in Madrid when the popular 2 May uprising (1808) which started the Peninsular War broke out.

Murat fought in the Russian Campaign of 1812 and during the German Campaign of 1813. However, after France’s crushing defeat at Leipzig, Murat reached an agreement with the Austrian Empire to seek saving his throne. He realized the European nations meeting at the Congress of Vienna had the intention to remove him from power and return the Kingdom of Naples to its Bourbon rulers.

Murat deserted his new allies before the Waterloo Campaign. He was defeated by Austrian forces at the Battle of Tolentino (May 1815 on CoV Track F). He fled the field but was soon captured by the forces of the Bourbon King of Naples. He was imprisoned and sentenced to death by firing squad.

Murat provides the French player a respectable +2 modifier for the “French Recruitment”, “Naples”, or “Armistice” Issues until 1814, when for France and Britain he suffers a -1 modifier while Austria enjoys a +1 modifier for him during that same timeframe.  So, for Austria, Murat used for debate during 1814 would have a value of five!

However, to reflect his superb performance as French cavalry leader during the 1813 campaign; we gave Murat a +3 DRM in battle along-side Napoleon, or independently in Italy (Track F) or Naples (Track E).

Ney, Michel, 1st Duke of Elchingen, 1st Prince of Moscow (1769 –1815), was a French soldier and military commander during the Napoleonic Wars. He was one of the renown Marshals of the Empire.

During the retreat from Moscow, Ney commanded the Grande Armée’s rearguard. After being cut off from the main army by fighting the Battle of Krasnoe, Ney managed to escape under cover of a heavy fog.  For this action Ney was given the nickname “the bravest of the brave” by Napoleon. He then fought at the Berezina and helped hold the vital bridge at Kovno, where legend portrays Ney as the last of the invaders to cross the bridge and exit Russia.

During the 1813 campaign Ney was wounded at Lützen and commanded the left wing at Bautzen. The Chief of Staff of Ney’s group of corps was Jomini, who rendered able and distinguished service before and at the Battle of Bautzen (Yes… this is THE Jomini who would later go on to author a host of military theory works such as 1838’s “Summary of the Art of War”.). During the Armistice Jomini defected and went into Russian service. Jomini’s absence caused Ney´s performance to suffer. 

Ney was heavily defeated at Dennewitz and was wounded at the Battle of Leipzig. During the 1814 campaign in France, Ney fought several battles and commanded various units. At Fontainebleau, Ney became the spokesperson for the Marshals’ revolt on 4 April 1814, demanding Napoleon’s abdication.

In 1815, when he learned of Napoleon’s return to France, Ney, was determined to keep France at peace and show his loyalty to Louis XVIII.  He led a force to stop Napoleon’s march on Paris. He pledged to bring Napoleon back alive in an iron cage. But Napoleon, aware of Ney’s plan, sent him an affectionate letter which swayed him. Despite his promise to the Bourbon King, Ney joined his emperor for The Hundred Days and was instrumental (some say not in a good way) during the Battle of Waterloo. When Napoleon was defeated and again exiled, Ney was arrested, found guilty of treason, and executed.

Ney was admired by the French common soldiers. However, he had certain shortcomings as a strategist and planner, but was an extremely able and aggressive battle commander who displayed boundless courage and dash.

This is an average French 3-value card with a +1 for “Armistice” or “French Recruitment”.  As a battle card Ney is an excellent Central (Track A) or Northern (Track B) Europe +3DRM commander before the Armistice but he becomes a mediocre +1 DRM general, after it.

Oudinot, Nicolas Charles, Duc de Reggio (1767 –1847) was a Marshal of France. He was wounded a remarkable 34 times in battle. He took a leading role in the Campaign of 1805, commanding the famous division of “grenadiers”, hand-picked troops, with whom he seized the Vienna bridges. In 1807, he fought with resolution and success at the Battle of Friedland.

In 1809, after the Battle of Wagram, he was promoted to the rank of Marshal of France and made Duke of Reggio for the satellite Kingdom of Naples. From 1810 to 1812 Oudinot administered the government of Holland and commanded the II Corps of La Grande Armée in the Russian campaign. His corps was instrumental in building the bridge-of-escape over the Berezina.

He fought at the Battle of Lützen and the Battle of Bautzen (May 1813). When Oudinot held independent command of the force directed to take Berlin, he was defeated at the Battle of Grossbeeren. He was then superseded by Marshal Ney; but the latter was defeated at the Battle of Dennewitz. Those French defeats were part of the Allied 1813 strategy of avoiding battle against a Napoleon led Grande Armée while strongly confronting each of his subordinate generals’ independent forces.

Oudinot held important commands at the Battle of Leipzig and in the 1814 campaign of France. On Napoleon’s abdication, he rallied to the new government and was made a Peer of France by the Bourbon Restoration. Unlike many of his old comrades, he did not join Napoleon during his return to France in March-June of 1815.

This is a French average 3-value card and provides France a diplomatic bonus modifier of +1 only for “French Recruitment”.  As a battle card, Oudinot is a suitable companion to a Grande Armée Central Europe Track A Napoleon with a +2 DRM/ -2 Allied DRM or can apply the same DRM for the Northern Europe Track B’s French Army of Elbe. If fortune should find France compelled to battle in the Paris space, Oudinot gains an additional +2 DRM to become a formidable +4 DRM for any battle there!

Poniatowski, Prince Josef Antoni (1763 –1813) was a Polish leader, general and Minister of War, who became a Marshal of the French Empire. A nephew of former Polish King Stanislaw II, his military career began in the Austrian army, but later he patriotically joined the Polish army. He took part in the Polish-Russian War of 1792 and when Polish forces were defeated, he suffered exile.

In 1806, after Napoleon’s military triumphs allowed the creation of the Duchy of Warsaw, he returned to his homeland and was appointed its Minister of War.

In 1809 he commanded against Austria an allied to France Polish army.

He voluntarily took part in the French invasion of Russia in 1812.  He was injured during the fighting for Moscow which eventually forced his return to Warsaw. After the disastrous retreat of a shattered Grande Armée from Russia, when many Polish leaders began to waver in their loyalty to Napoleon, Poniatowski resisted the pressure to change his allegiance and remained faithful to his emperor and France.

On 5 February 1813, as the Russian army was about to enter Warsaw, Poniatowski and his Polish units moved out, uncertain of their immediate purpose. Eventually they reached Krakow, under a now neutral Austria’s supervision, where they stayed a few weeks getting ready for whatever would come next. On 7 May, as the Russians were getting close to their positions, they departed Krakow and went through Bohemia to rejoin the emperor’s forces.

The Polish soldiers Poniatowski brought to Napoleon during the Armistice numbered 22,000. As a reward for his services, on 16 October, during the Battle of Leipzig, he was made a Marshal of the French Empire and entrusted with the duty of covering the French Army’s retreat. In the general chaos, the French pre-maturely blew up the only bridge of retreat available to them before he and many other Imperial troops could cross it. Poniatowski tried to escape but was injured, he drowned in the river.

This is a poor French card of but 2-value. However, its +3 DRM for the “Poland” or “Armistice” Issues for all players provides opportunities during Diplomacy Phase negotiations.  Furthermore, if France uses this card for either of these two Issues prior to Austria entering the war, the French player receives a free military unit (cube) reflecting Poniatowski’s recruitment abilities to bring Polish troops to the imperial cause.

As a battle card it’s +2 DRM makes it good for French battles in Central and Northern Europe: Tracks A & B respectively. Alas, this card has a 1/3 chance of being removed from the game because of Poniatowski being killed in action with every battle in which he participates.

Within the Congress of Vienna game there are five Character cards that can die during a game’s course because of their advanced age or serious injuries in battle: Kutuzov, Von Scharnhorst, Tecumseh, Duroc and Poniatowski. This is indicated within the rulebook’s last paragraph of Chapter 5.3 Game Cards (Characters and Event).

We considered making more than these five Characters susceptible to permanent removal, as well as having some cards subject to temporary removal from play; but chose to only have these included as they were historically eliminated during the game period.  Having more vulnerable cards could be unbalancing and impede player(s) enjoyment of the game.

Soult, Jean-de-Dieu, Duke of Dalmatia, (1769 – 1851) was a French general and Marshal of the Empire who also served three times as Prime Minister of France. Soult played a great part in many of the Grande Armée‘s famous battles, including the Battle of Austerlitz in 1805 and the Battle of Jena in 1806. In 1808 he was appointed to command the army with which Napoléon intended to conquer Spain. He was detailed by the emperor to pursue Sir John Moore’s British. At the Battle of Corunna, at which Moore was killed, Soult failed to prevent British forces escaping by sea. For the next four years Soult remained in Spain engaged in the trials of the Peninsular War.

In 1809, he invaded Portugal and took Oporto, but was eventually driven from Portugal by the Second Battle of Porto by Wellington. After the Battle of Talavera (1809) loss, Soult won a crushing victory at the Battle of Ocaña and then invaded Andalusia, taking Seville (1810) and Badajoz (1811). But the capture of Cadiz eluded him and led to a prolonged and futile two-year Siege which proved a strategic disaster for the French.

In 1812, after Wellington’s great victory of Salamanca, Soult was obliged to evacuate Andalusia. Soon thereafter, he was recalled from Spain at the request of Joseph Bonaparte with whom he had always disagreed.  Soult transferred to the Central Europe Front (Track A).

In March 1813 Soult assumed command of the Grande Armée‘s IV Corps and fought at Lützen and Bautzen. The emperor soon had other plans for him, and the experienced Soult was sent, with unlimited powers, back to Iberia to repair the damage done by the French defeat at Vitoria and to counter Wellington’s resultant invasion threat to the homeland.

It is to Soult’s credit that he was able to reorganize and inspire demoralized French forces. His last offensives into Spain were turned back by Wellington in the Battle of the Pyrenees (Sorauren) and by Spaniards at San Marcial. Pursued onto French soil, Soult was maneuvered out of several defensive positions at the Battles of Nivelle, Nive, Orthez, and at the Battle of Toulouse. He nevertheless inflicted severe casualties on Wellington and was able to stop him from trapping French forces. Soult was consistently loyal to his emperor and his indubitable military skills merit a place alongside Napoleon’s ablest commanders.

This is undoubtedly one of the greatest French military cards in CoV.  However, for Diplomacy Phase purposes it may be used by ANY of the four Major Powers with its 4 value and +1 for the Issues of “French Military Operation”, “French Recruitment” or “Austria at War“.

But if France holds Soult for the War Phase, he is an excellent French battle card against the British within appropriate terrain (Track C’s Gascony in particular: which is both a mountain and French Homeland space). With other Event battle cards and/or Suchet to partner with; Soult could be a formidable opponent indeed against Wellington.

In fact, without this card in your French hand you cannot oppose Wellington in Spain with any realistic strong opportunity for success.

Suchet, Louis-Gabriel, Duke of Albufera (1770 –1826) was a French general and Marshal of the Empire. During the campaigns of 1805 and 1806, he fought in the battles of Austerlitz, and Jena. Transferred to Spain, he took part in the Siege of Saragossa, after which he was named commander of France’s Army of Aragon.

In that role, Suchet soundly defeated Spanish armies in many battles. After the siege of Tarragona, he was named Marshal of France on 8 July 1811. In 1812, he captured Valencia, for which he was rewarded with the dukedom of Albufera.

When the tide turned against France, with his immense military talents, he stubbornly, yet ultimately unsuccessfully defended his Iberian conquests (Track D of CoV’s game map) one by one until compelled to entirely withdraw from Spain, after which he took part in Soult’s defensive campaign of 1814.

Suchet is a low 2 value card. However, it presents a +2 French modifier, which converts it into 4-value, for “French Recruitment” and “British Financial Aid”. 

As for other players, it remains only a poor 2 value card. Consequently, France may receive it offered in trading card actions many times during a game… particularly by the Austrian and Russian players (perhaps not so much by Britain as providing France a battle weapon like Suchet is not to Britain’s interest if one or two British Spain “Military Operations” are being anticipated for a turn’s upcoming War Phase).  

A French player should take advantage of Suchet for the war in Spain because of his loss reducing -4 Allied DRM versus one or more Spanish units, combined with another +3 DRM specifically for the Mediterranean Front Track D, again versus one or more Spanish units, makes him a hard nut to crack in those three specified map spaces!

Finally, the one and only French Allied Warrior Card (and He’s an American!)

Andrew Jackson (1767 – 1845) was an American soldier and statesman who served as the seventh president of the United States from 1829 to 1837. Before being elected to the presidency, Jackson gained fame as a general in the United States Army.

Born in the colonial Carolinas to a Scotch-Irish family in the decade before the American Revolutionary War, he became a frontier lawyer and served briefly in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate representing Tennessee.

In 1801, he was appointed colonel of the Tennessee militia and was elected its commander the following year. He led troops during the Creek War of 1813–1814, winning the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. In the concurrent war against Britain, Jackson’s victory at 1815 at the Battle of New Orleans made him a national hero.

Jackson then led U.S. forces in the First Seminole War, which resulted in the annexation of Florida from Spain.

This is an average value French card of three with a -1 modifier if Britain plays this card.

During the Diplomacy Phase, Jackson’s sole diplomatic ability is to provide France a +2 modifier for the “Treaty of Ghent / Canada Annexed” Issue, which can certainly prove useful if France is commencing a turn with the War of 1812 Status marker in the blue +2 space.

As a battle card it’s remarkable and unique having a +4 DRM making it a good asset for battles in America.

That brings this article segment and series to a close. The Congress of Vienna Design/Development Team apologizes that due to this article’s format constraints, the game’s rules must be left implicit.  We recognize appropriate rule references would better explain how CoV’s personage cards function within context of play and appreciate readers’ understanding.

Therefore, please feel free to pose any question and/or need for more information within the section InsideGMT provides for this purpose. 

Thank you for spending time learning more about the Congress of Vienna game and in closing here is an appropriate Congress of Vienna period illustration as the participants redraw Europe’s map!

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Previous Articles:

Meet the Statesmen of Congress of Vienna – The British Contingent, 2024 Edition (Part 1 of 4)

Meet the Statesmen of Congress of Vienna – The Austrian Contingent, 2024 Edition (Part 2 of 4) with CoV’s Bibliography as a Bonus

Meet the Statesmen of Congress of Vienna – The Russian Contingent, 2024 Edition (Part 3 of 4) with their Prussian and Swedish Allies