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, which is now a GMT P-500 offering; InsideGMT presented articles of “Designer’s Notes” and a “Game as History” series entitled “A Historical Introduction to the Congress of Vienna Period (CoV).” Use this link to access copies of these articles and much more: https://www.gmtgames.com/p-850-congress-of-vienna.aspx.

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

Consequently, following Part One’s “British Contingent” and Part Two’s “Austrian Contingent” (with its bonus of CoV’s Bibliography), here’s part three of a four part series: “Meet the Statesmen of Congress of Vienna – The Russian Contingent, with their Prussian and Swedish Allies.” For the Russian CoV player controls cards and military forces representing Prussian and Swedish game Characters and together what a fascinating group they comprise!

The next and final increment of this series will address the French with their USA Allies for the War of 1812 and other non-aligned personages. It should be noted this piece was originally InsideGMT published during early 2020. This is the 2024 edition…which is an update including Terry Leeds’ gorgeous graphics of Congress of Vienna’s cards.

In italics we include a brief description of the cards with their CoV opportunities and weaknesses. However, before commencing this article’s main text, below is an aside regarding Leader Cards, a type of distinct card unique for each Major Power. Here’s the relevant Rulebook extract with an associated illustration:

I enjoyed learning more of the Historical Personages behind the game’s cards and hope you do as well. Now to meet the Great Statesmen (and military leaders) of Congress of Vienna’s Russian player…

Note: If you would like to view any of this article’s images in a larger size, you can left click on the image with your computer’s mouse and it will bring you to its enlargement. Incidentally, the terms “Battle Card” and “Military Card” are interchangeable. They both identify the same type of Congress of Vienna card.

The Russian, Prussian, and Swedish Statesmen and Men of War

The Russian player has the widest range of Character Cards (including those of his Prussian and Swedish satellites); this fact together with their National Characteristic will lead them on numerous occasions to conduct diplomacy. This player’s cards are balanced between military, diplomats, and statesmen. Historically, the Russian player is coming off his nation’s costly triumph in repulsing Napoleon’s invasion of the previous year. He and his allies are poised to finish the job of crushing France and imposing a new European order. Russia’s main problem is a lack of resources to achieve all its ambitious goals…priorities, priorities!

Tsar Alexander I (1777 – 1825) reigned as Emperor of Russia from 23 March 1801 to 1 December 1825. He was the son of Paul I and succeeded in the throne after his father’s assassination. He ruled Russia during the entire Napoleonic Wars period. Although Alexander often used liberal rhetoric, he nevertheless continued Russia’s absolutist policies in practice.

In foreign policy, he changed Russia’s position relative to France four times (!) between 1804 and 1812, adjusting as circumstances dictated between neutrality, opposition, and alliance. In 1805, he joined Britain and Austria against Napoleon, but after massive defeats at the Battles of Austerlitz (December1805) and Friedland (June 1807), he switched sides and formed an alliance with Napoleon by the Treaty of Tilsit (1807) and joined his Continental System.

In foreign policy, he changed Russia’s position relative to France four times (!) between 1804 and 1812, adjusting as circumstances dictated between neutrality, opposition, and alliance. In 1805, he joined Britain and Austria against Napoleon, but after massive defeats at the Battles of Austerlitz (December1805) and Friedland (June 1807), he switched sides and formed an alliance with Napoleon by the Treaty of Tilsit (1807) and joined his Continental System.

But Alexander’s relations with Napoleon were strained, and Russia’s cooperation with the Continental System was far from France’s expectations. Consequently, in the summer of 1812 Napoleon launched his massive invasion of Russia. The loss of Moscow did not compel Alexander to sue for peace, and this traumatic experience changed the Tsar’s previous sentiments for Napoleon into a single-minded, deep-abiding, passionate hatred. This included Alexander’s realization, which he took as divine revelation, that he now had a sacred mission as Europe’s savior and peacemaker.

After staying a month in Moscow, a frustrated Napoleon commenced his army’s retreat from Russia. In the weeks that followed, the Grande Armée, starved and suffering from the onset of a frigid winter combined with fierce Russian military resistance, was ravaged. When the remnants of Napoleon’s army crossed the Berezina River in November, only 27,000 effective soldiers remained from the vast host which invaded Russia. The shattered Grande Armée had lost some 380,000 men dead and 100,000 captured. Following the crossing of the Berezina, Napoleon returned to Paris to squelch internal dissent and raise more forces to resist the advancing Russians and their new Prussian allies. The reputation of Napoleon was severely shaken to its core, and French hegemony in Europe was dramatically weakened and challenged.

With Tsarist armies following up their victory over Napoleon in Russia, the Sixth Coalition was formed with Russia, Austria, Prussia, Great Britain, Sweden, Spain, and other nations. Although the French were victorious in their initial battles during the 1813 campaign in Germany, the Allied armies eventually defeated them at the decisive autumn Battle of Leipzig. After Leipzig, Alexander ordered all Allied forces in Germany to cross the Rhine and invade France in December 1813 and January 1814.

The remaining French forces facing them were heavily outnumbered. However, Napoleon, in a display of his former military genius, repeatedly defeated divided Allied armies, but he was unable to stop their seemingly inexorable advance. These setbacks made the Tsar more determined than ever to victoriously enter Paris, whatever the cost, and he imposed his will upon Generalissimo Schwarzenberg and any wavering Allied monarchs. On 31 March 1814, Paris surrendered, and Napoleon was compelled to abdicate unconditionally the following month.

The downfall of Napoleon left Alexander one of the most powerful sovereigns of Europe. At the Congress of Vienna, Alexander controlled the Russian delegation; he had two main goals: to gain control of Poland and promote the peaceful coexistence of European nations. To accomplish this, Alexander succeeded in forming the Holy Alliance, based on principles of absolutist monarchism and anti-secularism: it was intended to combat any threat of revolution or republicanism.

The most dangerous crisis at the Congress were the issues of Poland and Saxony. Russia wanted most of Poland, and Prussia wanted all of Saxony. However, Austria was fearful this would make Russia too powerful—a view supported by Britain. Therefore, the two nations signed a secret treaty, agreeing, if necessary, to go to war against Russia and Prussia. During the Congress of Vienna, the Tsar’s attitude accentuated distrust between many delegates. Britain’s Castlereagh, whose single-minded aim was restoration of “a just equilibrium” in Europe, reproached Alexander. The result was a deadlock, for which Talleyrand (the shrewd and crafty French ambassador) proposed a solution: that France enter the Congress’s inner circle and thereby support Austria and Britain.

This created a situation which avoided armed conflict but nevertheless allowed Alexander to accomplish most of his goals.

We synthesized the powerful and charismatic Tsar’s leadership into a 7-value card. However, Alexander’s continuous changes of direction and meddlesome intrusive nature during the campaign detrimentally affected the Allies. That is why we placed a possible negative modifier to battles with Russian units which involve him.

That potential penalty is “The Meddling Tsar” rule, a -2 DRM battle modifier if Alexander is used during the Diplomacy Phase with three (3) major strategic Issues: “British Financial Aid,” “Absolutism/Liberalism,” or “Generalissimo.” This is why his card has the “military” indicia. Interestingly, when the Tsar is used for negotiating the “Absolutism/Liberalism” Issue, Napoleon may not debate him… ah, but the trade-off!

The negative effect on these Issues represents Alexander’s unfortunate detrimental impact on military actions which can really shake future DRM in battles and could significantly distress the Russian and Austrian high commands. The Tsar can be quite “the bull in the China Shop.”

Arakcheyev, Alexey Count (1769 –1834) was a Russian general and statesman under the reign of Alexander I. Son of a minor landowner, he served as an army leader and artillery inspector. He was conservative and reactionary, a brutal but honest and otherwise competent artillerist, known for his reforms of tsarist artillery after Russia’s disastrous 1805 campaign.

Promoted in January 1808 to Minister of War and Inspector-General of the entire infantry and artillery branches, he once more reorganized the army and the grading of army staff. During the Finnish War of 1808-1809, he personally compelled reluctant Russian forces to cross the frozen Gulf of Finland and make the successful main attack that ultimately resulted in Sweden’s cession of Finland to Russia.

He generally opposed the liberal administrative and constitutional reforms occasionally considered by the Tsar, and, when Alexander created the Advisory Council of State (1810), Arakcheyev resigned as Minister of War. He later accepted a post as head of the Council’s military department. As one of Alexander’s most trusted advisers, he handled all the emperor’s military dispatches during Napoleon’s 1812 invasion during which he oversaw recruitment and management of army supplies. He introduced several useful military reforms which proved themselves during 1812-1814. Throughout his service, he was known for meticulously following the will of the Tsar while possessing a violent temper with subordinates and serfs.

From 1815, when Alexander became almost exclusively focused on foreign affairs, Arakcheyev was responsible for supervising the Council of Ministers’s management of domestic matters with a brutal and ruthless efficiency while still remaining an influential voice in the Tsar’s entourage.

In CoV, Arakcheyev is a very powerful card. Although only of 3-value, it possesses a +1 modifier for Russian military Issues (“Russian Recruitment” or a “Russian Military Op”) along with the possibility of obtaining a Russian military unit or a valuable Resource marker in addition to one which could be obtained with his +1-Aid winning the “British Financial Aid” Issue. Arakcheyev’s abilities correspond to his capacity for hard work, consistency, and technical training.

Nesselrode, Count Karl Robert (1780 –1862) was a Russian diplomat of Baltic-German descent. He became State Secretary in 1814 and was head of Russia’s official delegation to the Congress of Vienna. However, for the most part, Alexander I acted as his own foreign minister, relegating Nesselrode to something of a figurehead.

That remained the situation for forty years. Nesselrode was foreign minister and ostensibly guided Russian policy. He was also a leading European conservative statesman of the Holy Alliance.

This is another powerful 4-value card with its inherent modifier of +1 in debates. For historical purposes, we added positive modifiers for the diplomacy Issues of “Congress of Peace,” “Treaty of Ghent/Canada Annexed,” “Liberalism/Absolutism,” or “Future Government of France.” He also gets that +1 bonus for the “Norway,” “Saxony,” and “Poland” Issues…which makes a total of seven Issues Nesselrode can favorably influence.

Frederick William III (1770 –1840) was King of Prussia from 1797 to 1840. He ruled Prussia during the horrifically difficult times of the Napoleonic Wars. He initially attempted a policy of neutrality with France. While that effort succeeded in keeping Prussia out of the Third Coalition War of 1805, eventually Frederick William was swayed by the attitude of his queen Louise, who saliently led Prussia’s pro-war party.

Frederick William thereby entered the war against Imperial France in October 1806. At the Battle of Jena-Aüerstadt, the Grande Armée smashed the until-then lauded Prussian army, an army which almost entirely collapsed soon thereafter.

The royal family fled to East Prussia, where they fell on the mercy of Tsar Alexander I of Russia. After the French victory at the battle of Friedland (1807), at Tilsit, France made peace with both Russia and Prussia. Napoleon dealt with prostrate Prussia very harshly. Although the ineffectual King Frederick William himself seemed resigned to his nation’s fate (even going to the extent of providing a Prussian expeditionary force for the 1812 invasion of Russia), there were various reforming ministers in Berlin, such as von Stein, von Hardenberg, Scharnhorst, and Gneisenau who set about reforming Prussia’s administration and military (while plotting their nation’s opportunistic revenge).

In 1813, following Napoleon’s defeat in Russia, Frederick William turned against France and signed an alliance with Russia—although he had to flee Berlin, which remained under French occupation. Prussian troops played a key role in the Allied victories of 1813 and 1814, and the King himself traveled with the main army of Prince Schwarzenberg, along with Tsar Alexander of Russia and Emperor Francis of Austria.

At the Congress of Vienna, Frederick William’s ministers succeeded in securing important territorial concessions for Prussia—although they failed in their desires to obtain annexation of all Saxony. Following the war, Frederick William abandoned his occasionally voiced liberalism to become a political reactionary, forsaking the promises he made during 1813 to provide Prussia a constitution.

In CoV, Frederick William III is a low 2 value card, as befits a weak king. He was deeply conservative and willing to seek peace as well as supportive of Prussia’s territorial aggrandizement and other ambitions. This is why the card has a +2 modifier for the Issues of “Absolutism,” as well as “Armistice,” “Hanover,” and “Saxony.”

Additionally, to reflect the fervent participation of Prussian volunteers and Landwehr militia who enthusiastically rallied to their king’s call for war against France, we granted that when playing the Frederick William card for negotiating or debating “Russia Recruitment,” he can obtain a free Prussian military unit (cube) should there be available map space to place it.

Hardenberg, Karl August Von, Fürst (1750 – 1822) was a Prussian statesman and Prime Minister of Prussia. The Prussian defeats at Jena and Auerstädt (1806) with their consequences had a profound effect upon him. The traditions of old diplomacy had been swept aside into a new sentiment of Prussian nationalism, which in him found expression in a passionate desire to restore the position of his nation and crush her French overseers.

The humiliated Prussian military system was completely reformed, serfdom was abolished, the civil service was thrown open to all classes, and great attention devoted to the educational needs of every section of society.

When at last the time came to put these reforms to the test, after the Russian campaign of 1812, it was Hardenberg who persuaded the King of Prussia, Frederick William, to take advantage of General Yorck’s ‘loyal disloyalty’ and declare war against France.

He was rightly regarded as the statesman who had done most to encourage the spirit of Prussia’s nationalism-based independence. Immediately after he signed the first peace of Paris, Hardenberg was raised to the rank of prince (1814) in recognition of the vital part he played during the German War of Liberation (1813). He was Prussia’s chief representative at the Congress of Vienna (1814–1815).

Hardenberg is not only an excellent 4-value card, but the Russian player also receives for it a +1 modifier for the “Hanover” and “Saxony” Issues. Furthermore, the game’s other players suffer a -1 penalty when using this card for these and other Issues. This discouragement may tempt them to offer Hardenberg in trade to the Russian player.

Stein, Heinrich Friedrich Karl, Baron (1757 –1831) was commonly known as Baron von Stein. He was a Prussian statesman who introduced reforms that paved the way for the eventual unification of Germany. Stein promoted the abolition of serfdom, subjection of nobles to manorial imposts, and the establishment of a modern municipal system.

When these achievements (and that he wrote a letter critical of Napoleon) became known to French agents during the dark days of Prussia’s subservience to the emperor, Stein was obliged to resign as minister. He did so 24 November 1808 and retired to exile in the Austrian Empire, from which he was summoned into Russian service by Tsar Alexander I in 1812.

During December 1812, as Grande Armée survivors retreated, the Convention of Tauroggen allowed the free passage of victorious Russian armies through Prussia, and the Tsar requested that Stein act as this measure’s provisional administrator. In that capacity, he convened an assembly that ordered the establishment of a Prussian militia (Landwehr).

During the varying phases of the campaign of 1813, Stein urged the need for war à outrance against Napoleon. After the Battle of Leipzig, Stein became head of a council for administration of liberated German countries. He strongly advocated stiff draconian peace terms for France.

In CoV Stein is an average value card, but, as the above card image shows, with a +2 modifier for many Issues: both diplomacy and military. This is a great advantage for the Russian player since the other players could be willing to trade it!

Using him for “Liberalism/Absolutism” not only provides a +1 modifier to negotiate/debate this Issue, but a +1 drm when rolling for an Absolutism Track result!

Humboldt, Wilhelm von (1767 –1835) was a Prussian philosopher, linguist, government functionary, diplomat, and founder of Berlin’s Humboldt University. His younger brother was Alexander von Humboldt, the famous naturalist.

During his successful diplomatic career, he was Prussia’s ambassador in Vienna at the end of the Napoleonic Wars. Through his friend Friedrich Gentz, he succeeded in creating excellent relations with the influential Metternich. Through this appointment, he aided the effort to roll Austria into a Prussian and Russian alliance against Napoleon’s Imperial France at the Congress of Prague (June 1813).

At the conclusion of his intense post-war campaign at the Congress of Vienna, he decided to leave diplomatic activity behind and devote himself to study and teaching.

Humboldt is a low 2-value card, but the Russian player also receives for it a +2 modifier for many keys Issues including “Congress of Peace,” “Hanover,” and “Saxony” as well as an impressive +3 for “Austria at War”...quite the choice! Furthermore, his excellent relations with the Austrian Government is reflected in CoV by a +2 Austrian modifier for the “Hanover” and “Saxony” Issues.

And now, the Generals of Imperial Russia!

Barclay de Tolly, Michael Andreas, Prince (1761 – 1818) was a Russian Field Marshal and Minister of War during Napoleon’s 1812 invasion and the War of the Sixth Coalition (1813-1814). In 1807, Barclay was wounded at the Battle of Eylau. The following year, he carried out successful operations in Russia’s Finnish War against Sweden. For his accomplishments, he was appointed Governor-General of the newly acquired Grand Duchy of Finland, and from 20 January 1810 to September 1812, he was the Russian Minister of War.

When the French invasion of Russia began in June 1812, Barclay was appointed commander-in-chief and, in the face of Napoleon’s might, authorized the army’s preservation through retreat. It was he who initiated a scorched earth policy from the beginning of the campaign, although this made him unpopular among Russians. After the Battle of Smolensk, a battle he was reluctant to fight, Tsar Alexander appointed the pugnacious and canny Kutuzov as commander-in-chief. Barclay, however, remained in charge of the main Russian Army and played a significant role during the remainder of the 1812 Campaign.

After Kutuzov’s death, he once again became commander-in-chief of Russian forces and deployed himself into the field. There, Barclay took part in the German campaign of 1813. He fought at the battles of Bautzen (May 1813), Dresden (August 1813), and Leipzig (October 1813). In the latter battle, Barclay so effectively led a central part of the Allied forces that a grateful Tsar bestowed upon him the title of count.

He took part in the 1814 invasion of France and led Allied forces taking Paris, thereby receiving the baton of a Field Marshal as reward. Barclay was a great administrator and reformer rather than a brilliant field commander.

In CoV we “spoiled” this character as 4-value card with a +1 modifier for “Poland” as well as the military Issues of “Russian Recruitment” and “Military Operation.” Using this card for one of these three Issues obtains an additional Russian military unit.

As a battle card, Barclay is not as good as others in the top tier of the “Russian arsenal.” This is a deliberate design limitation because his best qualities were manifested in defensive battles and, after Kutuzov’s death, when he led the Army of Silesia (but keep him away from Blücher to avoid a penalty when they both engage in a Central Europe, Track A, battle together!).

Bennigsen, Count Levin August Gottlieb Theophil von (1745–1826) was a German in service of the Russian Empire as a general. In 1806, he was in command of one of the Russian armies operating against Napoleon. During that campaign, he clashed with Bonaparte’s Grande Armée during the bloody battle of Eylau (February 1807). Here, he could claim to have inflicted the first reverse suffered by the French emperor, but six months later, Bennigsen met crushing defeat at Friedland (June 1807): the direct consequence of which was the treaty of Tilsit and an uneasy peace between the Tsar and Napoleon.

During the campaign of 1812, he rejoined the Russian army. Benningsen was present at Borodino and defeated Murat at Tarutino, where he himself was wounded. A quarrel with Kutuzov then compelled him to retire from active military service.

After the 1813 death of Kutuzov, Bennigsen was recalled into service and again placed at the head of an army. He participated in the battles of Lützen and Bautzen (May 1813) and led one of the columns that made the decisive attack during the Battle of Leipzig’s last day (October 1813). On that same evening, he was made a count by a pleased Tsar Alexander. Benningsen afterwards commanded Allied forces operating against Marshal Davout in North Germany; most notably during the year-long Siege of Hamburg (1813–14).

Here is another excellent Russian card. It has potential use during the Diplomacy Phase with a +2 modifier for the “Sweden at War,” “Russian Recruitment,” or “British Financial Aid” Issues or as battle card when saved until the War Phase. Above all, it allows a positive DRM when Bennigsen is used for battles in Track B, the Northern Europe Front. Play his card with the Northern Army’s Russian unit(s), and he gets a respectable +4DRM after Armistice.

Kutuzov, Prince Mikhail Illarionovich (1745 – 1813) was a Field Marshal of the Russian Empire. He served as one of its finest military officers and diplomats. Veteran of numerous campaigns during the latter part of the 18^th Century and influenced by the legendary General Suvorov, he directly experienced Napoleon’s military prowess first-hand at the battle of Austerlitz (1805).

Kutuzov was subsequently put in charge of the Russian army operating against the Ottoman Turks in the Russo-Turkish War of 1806–1812. Understanding that his soldiers would be badly needed for the upcoming war with the French, he hastily brought that prolonged conflict to a victorious end and concluded the propitious for Russia Treaty of Bucharest.

When Napoleon invaded Russia in 1812, Barclay de Tolly (then Minister of War who became the army’s leader) chose to follow a scorched earth policy and retreat rather than risk a major battle. His strategy aroused grudges from most of the Tsar’s generals and soldiers (as well as the Russian people). Therefore, when Kutuzov was appointed commander-in-chief in late August to succeed him, the nation greeted that news with delight. Continuing Barclay’s scorched earth policy (irony, eh?), he decided to give the French the pitched battle they sought at a fine defensive position near Borodino on 7 September 1812.

The result of that battle was bloodily inconclusive. The French went on to occupy Moscow…a prize which proved bitter to them. Kutuzov forced Napoleon to retreat from Moscow’s burnt shell and through previously traversed scorched earth under incredibly harsh winter conditions. His cautious pursuit of the retreating Grande Armée evoked criticism, but ultimately only a small remnant of the invading Army returned alive to Prussia.

Early in 1813, Kutuzov fell ill and died on 28 April 1813 in Silesia. He was a cunning and able strategist, shrewd and possessing intelligence with professional knowledge honed by years of often brutal military experience.

Kutuzov is a very powerful Russian card of 5-value with an impressive +5 DRM in battles involving the Army of Silesia. This is a result of the enormous prestige the general enjoyed within the Russian army and from his years of hard-won war experience.

Ah, but there’s always a “but” is there not? Well, yes, Kutuzov has a considerable problem, for he has a high probability of disappearing from the game with a die roll. This serious limitation reflects the fact of his death (he was very old) during the early stages of the 1813 campaign.

This card, while available, always appears in the Russian player’s hand next to the Tsar’s card.However, the Russian player should not team him up with Blücher lest that fine Prussian Marshal be battle DRM penalized. Interestingly, Kutuzov and Blücher get a 1VP award each when the French choose to Withdraw from a battle with either or both of them.

Wittgenstein, Ludwig Adolph Peter, Prince of (1796 – 1843) was a Russian Field Marshal distinguished for his service during the Napoleonic Wars. He was descended from a family of independent counts whose seat was in Westphalia. Wittgenstein fought at Austerlitz (1805) and Friedland (1807). After those campaigns, he fought against Sweden in Finland.

During the Russian Campaign of 1812, he commanded the right wing of Russian armies opposing the invasion and fought in the first and second battles of Polotsk. He tried to combine his forces with those of Admiral Chichagov at the Battle of Berezina and later coordinated with the Prussian army corps under Ludwig Yorck von Wartenburg during December 1812 to hammer the final nails into the Grande Armée’s frozen coffin.

In the campaign of 1813 in January, he took over command of the Russian army after Kutuzov’s death and led that Russian army at the battles of Lützen and Bautzen with good tactical but low strategic skills. After the defeats of the spring campaign, he laid down his overall command and led only an army corps during the Battles of Dresden and Leipzig. In the campaign of 1814, he led an army corps under Schwarzenberg and was severely wounded during February.

After the war, he was promoted to field marshal and led an 1828 war against Ottoman Turkey…a venture that ill health compelled him to abandon and enter retirement.

This is another medium Russian battle card, which allows the Russian player to have a high probability of always having a battle card in his hand. Wittgenstein becomes particularly potent before the Armistice if not teamed with Kutuzov, Blücher, and/or Barclay (yes, there were personality issues involved which could detrimentally affect a general’s military performance). If so, and if allowed to operate independently, his battle DRM becomes an impressive +4.

In its diplomacy aspect, Wittgenstein is an average 3-value card, but with a remarkable +3 modifier he becomes very powerful for the Issues of “Generalissimo,” “Russian Recruitment,” or “British Financial Aid.” Under certain circumstances, a Russian player could be quite torn as to how to best employ him: diplomatically or during a turn’s War Phase?

Finally, the Russian Allied Generals!

Blücher, Gebhard Leberecht von, Fürst von Wahlstatt (1742 –1819) was a Prussian Generalfeldmarschall. His illustrious military career began in, of all places, the Swedish Army. He was captured by the Prussians in 1760 and thereafter joined the Prussian Army and became Prussian in all his heart and soul. When war broke out between Prussia and France in 1813, the still energetic, patriotic, and outspoken Blücher returned to active service at the venerable age of 71.

He was appointed full general over Prussian field forces and clashed with Napoleon at the Battles of Lützen and Bautzen. He later won a critical victory over the French at the Battle of Katzbach (Silesia). Blücher commanded the Prussian/Russian Army of Silesia at the Battle of Leipzig where Napoleon was decisively defeated. After that victory, he pursued the French with his accustomed enthusiastic energy. During the winter of 1813–1814, Blücher was instrumental in persuading the Coalition’s sovereigns to carry the war into France itself.

During the 1814 Campaign of France, he fought the Battles of Brienne, La Rothière, Champaubert, Vauchamps, and Montmirail. But despite setbacks at Napoleon’s still talented hands, the courageous tenacity of the Old Prussian warrior was undiminished. His victory at Laon (9 and 10 March) practically decided the fate of the campaign. However, Blücher’s health had been severely affected by the strains of the prior two months. He suffered a medical breakdown during the final stages of the 1814 campaign.

For his role at Leipzig, he was made a field marshal and received the title of Prince of Wahlstatt. After the war, Blücher regained his health and retired to Silesia. However, the escape of Napoleon from Elba at the start of the Hundred Days called him back into service. Blücher was put in command of the Prussian Army in Belgium with General von Gneisenau as his able chief of staff.

At the outset of the Waterloo Campaign of 1815, the Prussians sustained a calamitous defeat at Ligny (16 June). Blücher’s orders directed the battered but still defiant army’s retreat towards Wavre, to unite the Prussian with Wellington’s Anglo-allied army and confront the French together. He led his army on a tortuous march along muddy roads, arriving at the field of Waterloo in the late afternoon to decisively influence that battle’s outcome…the crushing and utter defeat of his nemesis, the emperor of the French, Napoleon.

Despite certain limitations, Blücher was a fine aggressive fighting commander beloved by his troops for his personal valor, strong determined character, and loyalty to both his men and allies.

This is the best “Russian” battle card although he is a Prussian general! Blücher is usually +6 DRM in offensive battles once Kutuzov passes away or Barclay not used. The Russian player will find his battle use flexible in that he can be interchangeably assigned to the Central (Track A) or Northern (Track B) Europe Fronts as best needed.

During a successful Allied Congress of Vienna “end game,” when Napoleon and what’s left of the Grande Armée are defending Paris, having a powerful Track A battle to attrite the French, followed by a Blücher-led Northern Army Track B attack, could be a “one-two” combination sufficient to drive the Grande Armée below four units and precipitate Napoleon’s abdication.

Furthermore, Blücher’s 5 value and +1 modifier for “Austria at War,” “Generalissimo,” and the often critical “Future Government of France” Issues makes him arguably the best Russian card in CoV. Normally, players save Blücher for use during the War Phase, except when the Armistice is in effect. But remember, you must have at least one Prussian military unit (cube) engaged to receive his powerful battle DRM modifier!

Von Bülow, Friedrich Wilhelm, Count Bulow von Dennewitz (1755 – 1816) was a Prussian general. He did excellent service during the latter part of the war of 1806-1807. In 1808, Bülow was made a major-general and devoted himself to the regeneration of Prussia’s military which led to his temporary retirement. In 1811, however, he was rejoined with Prussia’s army.

After its 1813 liberation, he fought in defense of Berlin. At the head of an army corps, Bülow, under command of Bernadotte, distinguished himself greatly at the Battle of Grossbeeren (23 August 1813)—an Allied victory attributed almost entirely to his leadership. A little later, he won a major victory at the Battle of Dennewitz (6 September 1813) which, for the second time, checked a French advance upon Berlin. Bülow’s corps then went on to play an outstanding role during the final stages of the Battle of Leipzig.

At the end of 1813, he was entrusted with the task of evicting the French from Holland and Belgium. Then, during the 1814 campaign, he invaded France from the north-west, joined Blücher, and took part in the Allied victory of Laon in March. As a result of his contributions, he received the title of Count Bülow von Dennewitz.

During the Waterloo Campaign, Bülow commanded the IV Corps of Blücher’s army. He was not present at Ligny, but his corps led the dramatic flank attack upon Napoleon during the Battle of Waterloo and bore the heaviest part of the desperately fierce fighting around Plancenoit.

Bülow is a medium value Russian card. But with the “Russian Military Operation,” “Generalissimo,” and “Austria at War” Issues it’s awarded a +1 modifier.

It is also a medium value, albeit decent, battle card with the added value that Bülow, as other Prussian generals, can be used for either a Central (Track A) or Northern (Track B) Front battle as long as at least one Prussian unit (cube) participates!

Scharnhorst, Gerhard Johann David von (1755 –1813) was a Hanoverian-born general in Prussian service from 1801. As the first Chief of the nascent Prussian General Staff, he was noted for his military theories, his reforms of the Prussian army, and his leadership during the Napoleonic Wars.

In 1813, he refused the opportunity of a higher post to become Chief of Staff to the fiery Blücher, in whose vigor, energy, and motivational influence with young soldiers he had complete confidence and inspiration. Russian Prince Wittgenstein was so impressed by Scharnhorst that he asked to borrow him temporarily to become his Chief of Staff, to which Blücher agreed.

In the campaign’s first battle, Lützen (2 May 1813), Prussia suffered a defeat but a very different kind of defeat from those Napoleon had hitherto customarily inflicted. For this time, the French suffered significant casualties yet failed to follow up their victory with an aggressive pursuit (due, in part, to their lack of effective cavalry…a cavalry arm largely rendered a shade of its former self due to the prior year’s losses in Russia), thereby rendering it an incomplete triumph.

Scharnhorst was wounded in this battle and forced to depart the field. Medical complications resulted in his 28 June 1813 death in Prague, where he had traveled to negotiate with Schwarzenberg for Austria’s entry into war against Napoleon. For his exemplary services, a grateful king Frederick William III erected a statue of him in Berlin.

Scharnhorst is an excellent Russian 3-value card with the unfortunate possibility (33%) for being removed from the game when he’s used for battle. However, while only a +1DRM offensively, his -3DRM defensive ability, to reduce Allied losses, makes the negative modifier the usual Russian player choice.

He has a +1 modifier for four important Issues to the Allies and -1 modifier when the French player employs this card. Yet that may not be sufficient incentive for the French player to trade Scharnhorst from their hand into Russia’s.

Yorck von Wartenburg, Johann David Ludwig Count (1759 – 1830) was a Prussian Generalfeldmarschall. He was a leading figure during the reorganization of the Prussian army following the 1807 Treaty of Tilsit.

In 1812, he was appointed to command the expeditionary corps which Prussia was compelled to provide France, as a loyal ally, to support Napoleon’s invasion of Russia.

During his force’s advance on Riga, he displayed great skill in a series of combats which ended in the retreat of the enemy into the fastness of fortress Riga and an unsuccessful Prussian siege thereof.

When the French Grande Armée met its doom retreating from Moscow, Yorck had to judge whether the moment was right to launch a Prussian war of liberation. On 20 December, he signed the Convention of Tauroggen with his Russian counterpart without the consent of their respective sovereigns. Yorck thereby declared his Prussian corps “neutral.”

This act was nothing less than a turning-point in Prussian history. His veterans formed the nucleus of a revitalized Prussian Army, a national force based on mobilization of the entire nation. Yorck publicly took the final step by declaring war on Napoleon as the leader of forces under his command.

On 17 March 1813, Yorck made his entry into the Prussian capital of Berlin in the midst of wild exuberant patriotic joy. During the 1813 War in Germany, he led his veterans with conspicuous talent and success. Yorck covered Blücher’s retreat after Bautzen. In the Autumn Campaign, his advance on Leipzig won the action of Wartenburg (4 October), and Yorck then took part in the smashing Allied victory at the Battle of Leipzig on 18 October.

In the 1814 France campaign, he fought at Montmirail and Laon. The storming and capture of Paris was his last fight. He was made Count Yorck von Wartenburg in 1814.

In CoV Yorck is a Russian (Prussian) card of but 2 -value…not much, eh? But as a battle card he is a suitable companion to other Russian general cards with a +2 DRM: but only when at least one Prussian unit (cube) is present!

He also gains a +2 for the “Armistice,” “Russian Recruitment,” or the “Saxony” Issues. Better yet, when played for any of these three Issues, the Russian player gains one Prussian unit (cube) if any Russian Army occupies Saxony, Poland, or a Prussian Homeland Space.

Bernadotte, Charles XIV (1763 –1844) was King of Sweden (as Charles XIV) from 1818 until his death and served as Sweden’s de facto regent and head of state from 1810 to 1818.

He was born in France and served a long career in the French Army. Bernadotte was elected king partly because an influential segment of the Swedish Army was in favor of electing a soldier as their ruler, anticipating future complications with Russia, and partly because Bernadotte was personally popular, owing to the kindness he had shown to Swedish prisoners in 1807 (which gained him great “PR”).

In January 1812, French troops suddenly invaded Swedish Pomerania; this act was a clear violation of international law as well as an act of war, so popular opinion in Sweden was understandably one of outrage. Thereafter, Bernadotte declared the neutrality of Sweden and opened negotiations with Great Britain and Russia.

In 1813, he allied Sweden with Napoleon’s enemies, including Great Britain, Russia, and Prussia of the Sixth Coalition, hoping to secure Norway from French-allied Denmark. Bernadotte, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Northern Army (a largely Russian/Prussian force of which Sweden’s army was part), successfully defended the approaches to Berlin and was victorious in the battle of Grossbeeren against French marshal Oudinot in August and against Ney in September at the battle of Dennewitz. After the Battle of Leipzig he went his own way, determined at all hazards to cripple Denmark and secure Norway.

During January 1814, his efforts culminated in the Treaty of Kiel between Sweden and Denmark, through which Norway was ceded to the kingdom of Sweden. Meanwhile, during the1814 Campaign, when it was unclear who would rule France after the war, the Russian Tsar flirted with the idea of installing Bernadotte (!) on the French throne in place of Napoleon.

Ultimately, the British and Austrians vetoed that Tsarist idea (once their appalled shock wore off), and the Allies agreed that if Napoleon was to be deposed, the only acceptable alternative was restoration of the royal French House of Bourbon.

After the Napoleonic Wars, on 5 February 1818, Bernadotte was crowned Swedish king as Charles XIV. His foreign policy in the post-Napoleonic era was characterized by supporting the balance between the major Powers and keeping Sweden uninvolved in conflicts taking place outside Scandinavia. In the end, the canny amoral Bernadotte could be considered one of the personal “winners” of the Napoleonic Wars.

As CoV’s Game Designer, I really have no sympathy for the opportunistic, self-serving weasel, Bernadotte. His attack on Denmark to seize Norway, his claim to be named king of France with the support of the Tsar, and his early declaration of war against France when he saw the tide turning are abhorrent to me!

Maybe those sentiments are what’s behind Bernadotte being a 2-value CoV card—although he has an impressive +3 modifier for three select Issues: “Sweden at War,” “Norway,” or “Future Government of France” (and then only by the Russian player).

Regarding his actual conduct in battle, we note it was inconsistent: from certainly deficient performance during the battle of Leipzig to more than remarkably inspired military prowess at Dennewitz. Consequently, in CoV battle we reflect this behavior by endowing Bernadotte’s die roll with a positive or negative DRM depending on whether he’s used by the Russian or French player!

Conclusion by Congress of Vienna (CoV)’s Assistant Designer & Editor, Fred Schachter: That brings this article segment to a close. The Congress of Vienna Design/Development Team apologizes that due to this article’s format constraints, game rules must be left implicit. We recognize appropriate rule references would better explain how CoV’s Character cards function within context of play and appreciate readers’ understanding of this, as well as why this series of articles’ magnitude of content prohibits accommodation within the Congress of Vienna Playbook.

Kindly feel free to pose any question and/or need for more information within the Comments Section InsideGMT provides below for this purpose.

Next up…“Meet the French Contingent”! This final Part 4 of 4 installment will include the statesmen and military leaders supporting Imperial France’s cause as well as their USA Allies for the War of 1812 and other non-aligned Character cards.

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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