Introduction by Congress of Vienna (CoV)’s 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; 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: https://www.gmtgames.com/p-850-congress-of-vienna.aspx .

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

Consequently, following Part One’s “British Contingent” and Part Two’s “Austrian Contingent”, here’s part three of a four part series: “Meet the Statesmen of Congress of Vienna – The Russian Contingent”. However, the Russian CoV player also controls cards representing Prussian and Swedish game personages 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. 

In italics we include a brief description of the cards with their CoV opportunities and weaknesses. However, before commencing this article’s main text, a quick aside regarding the Leader Card, 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 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 the below images in a larger size, you can click on the image and it will point you to the full image file.

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The Russian, Prussian and Swedish Statesmen and Men of War

The Russian player has the widest range of personages (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. 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 the lack of resources to achieving all its ambitious goals.

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 to the throne after his father’s murder. 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. 

But Alexander’s relations with Napoleon were strained and Russia’s cooperation with the Continental System far from France’s expectations. 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 his previous sentiments for Napoleon into a single-minded deep passionate hatred. This included Alexander’s realization, a divine revelation, of his mission as Europe’s 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. 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 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 dramatically weakened and challengeable.

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 some 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 the divided Allied armies; but 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 Schwarzenberg and any wavering Allied monarchs. On 31 March 1814 Paris was surrendered and Napoleon abdicated unconditionally the following month.

The downfall of Napoleon left Alexander one of the most powerful sovereigns in Europe. At the Congress of Vienna Alexander controlled the Russian delegation; he had two main goals: to gain control of Poland and to promote the peaceful coexistence of European nations. To accomplish this, Alexander succeeded in forming the Holy Alliance, based on 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 Poland and Saxony issues. 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. 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’ inner circle and thereby support Austria and Britain.

This created a situation which avoided armed conflict, but never-the-less 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 negative modifier to battles with Russian units which involve him.

Furthermore, there is a -2 modifier if Alexander is used during the Diplomatic Phase with seven (7!!) major strategic Issues: “Recruitment”, “Generalissimo”, “British Financial Aid”, “Congress of Peace”, “Bavaria”, “Hanover”, and/or “The Future Government of France”. The negative effect on these Issues with Alexander’s unfortunate negative impact on military actions can really shake future DRM in battles and will distress the Russian and Austrian high commands. The Tsar can be quite “the bull in the China Shop” regarding these matters.

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

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); Arkcheyev 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 of the emperor’s military dispatches during the 1812 invasion by Napoleon 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 yet 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’ 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 in Russian military Issues (“Russian Military Op”), along with the possibility of obtaining an additional Russian military unit (“Recruitment”), or a resource marker (“British Financial Aid”): abilities corresponding 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.

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 modifier of +1 in debates. For historical proposes, we added positive modifiers for diplomacy Issues such as “Congress of Peace”, “Absolutism” or “Future Government of France”. He also gets that bonus for the “Norway”, “Saxony” and “Poland” Issues… which makes a total of six 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. 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 October 1806. At the Battle of Jena-Auerstädt, the French decimated the effectiveness of 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 Russia and Prussia. Napoleon dealt with prostrate Prussia very harshly. Although the ineffectual King himself seemed resigned to his nation’s fate (even going to the extent of providing a Prussian 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 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 was still under French occupation. Prussian troops played a key role in the Allied victories of 1813 and 1814, and the King himself travelled 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 increases 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 promises made during 1813 to provide Prussia a constitution.

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

Additionally, to reflect the fervent participation of Prussian volunteers and Landwehr militia enthusiastically rallying to their king’s call for war against France; we granted that when playing the Frederick William card for “Recruitment”; it has an ability to obtain a free Prussian military unit (cube) should there be an available map space to place it.

Hardenberg, Karl August Von, Fürst (1750 – 1822) was a Prussian statesman and Prime Minister of Prussia. The Prussian defeat at Jena and Auerstädt (1806) with their consequences had 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 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 [1] and declare 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 in 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 penalty when using this card for these and other Issues. This may tempt them to offer it 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 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 became known by French agents during the dark days of Prussia’s subservience to the emperor, that he had written a letter critical of Napoleon; 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 Empire service by Tsar Alexander I in 1812.

During December 1812, the Convention of Tauroggen allowed the free passage of victorious Russian armies through Prussia and the Tsar requested Stein to 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 continued to urge the need of war à outrance against Napoleon. After the Battle of Leipzig, Stein became head of a council for the administration of re-conquered German countries. He strongly advocated stiff draconian peace terms for France.

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

And now, the Russian generals!

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 the 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 1812, Barclay was appointed commander-in-chief and, in the face of Napoleon’s might, authorized the army’s preservation through retreat and 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 and the 1814 campaign of France. He fought at the battles of Bautzen (May 1813), Dresden (August 1813), and Leipzig (October 1813). In the latter battle Barclay commanded a central part of the Allied forces so effectively that the 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. He was a great administrator and reformer rather than a brilliant field commander.

In CoV we “spoiled” this character as 4-value card and with a +1 modifier for military Issues and the possibility of obtaining additional military units when Russian armies are close to their homeland or Prussia. As a battle card, Barclay is not as good as others in 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.

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 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, Benningsen was recalled 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 grateful 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 a double use for the Diplomacy Phase or as battle card when it is saved until the War Phase. Above all, it allows positive DRM when Benningsen is used for battles in the Northern Europe Front. Have him with the Northern Army’s Russian unit(s) and he gets a respectable +4DRM

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 Treaty of Bucharest.

When Napoleon invaded Russia in 1812, Barclay de Tolly (then Minister of War) chose to follow a scorched earth principle 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, the nation greeted that news with delight. Continuing Barclay’s scorched earth policy, 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 and the French went on to occupy Moscow… a prize which proved bitter to them. Kutuzov forced Napoleon into retreat from Moscow’s burnt shell. 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.

This card always appears in the Russian player hand next to the Tsar’s card.  The relevant CoV Rulebook extract is below.

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.

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 this 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 which 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. In its diplomacy aspect Wittgenstein is an average 3-value card, but with a +3 modifier he becomes very powerful for the Issues of “Generalissimo”, “Recruitment” or “British Financial Aid”.

Finally, the Russian allied generals!

Blucher, Gebhard Leberecht von, Fürst von Wahlstatt (1742 –1819) was a Prussian Generalfeldmarschall. His military career began in the Swedish Army. He was captured by the Prussians in 1760 and thereafter joined the Prussian Army. When war broke out between Prussia and France in 1813, the still energetic, patriotic, and outspoken Blucher returned to active service at the 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). Blucher commanded the Prussian/Russian Army of Silesia at the Battle of Leipzig where Napoleon was decisively defeated and after that victory he pursued the French with accustomed energy. During the winter of 1813–1814 Blucher was instrumental in inducing the Coalition’s sovereigns to carry the war into France itself.

In the 1814 Campaign of France, he fought at the Battles of Brienne, La Rothière, Champaubert, Vauchamps, and Montmirail. But despite setbacks at Napoleon’s still talented hands, the courage of the Old Prussian leader was undiminished. His victory at Laon (9 and 10 March) practically decided the fate of the campaign. However, Blucher’s health had been severely affected by the strains of the previous two months and he suffered a breakdown at 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 Blucher regained his health and retired to Silesia. However, the return of Napoleon from Elba at the start of the Hundred Days, called him back into service. He 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 serious defeat at Ligny (16 June). Blucher’s orders directed the army’s retreat towards Wavre, in order to unite the Prussian and Wellington’s Anglo-allied armies together. He then led his army on a tortuous march along muddy roads, arriving on the field of Waterloo in the late afternoon to decisively influence that battle’s result… the crushing and final defeat of his nemesis, the emperor of the French, Napoleon.

Despite certain limitations, Blucher 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 Prussian general! Blucher 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 interchangeably combat in the Northern or Central Europe fronts as best needed. Furthermore, its 5 – value and +1 modifier for many Issues makes Blucher arguably the best Russian card in CoV. Normally I save it 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 that 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 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 on Berlin. Bülow’s corps then went on to play an outstanding role in the final stages of Battle of Leipzig.

At the end of 1813, he was entrusted with the task of evicting the French from Holland and Belgium. During the 1814 campaign he invaded France from the north-west, joined Blucher, 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 Blucher’s army. He was not present at Ligny, but his corps led the dramatic flank attack upon Napoleon at 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 some Issues it awards a +1 modifier. It is a medium value, albeit decent, battle card as well!

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 Blucher, in whose vigor, energy, and motivational influence with young soldiers he had complete confidence. Russian Prince Wittgenstein was so impressed by Scharnhorst that he asked to borrow him temporarily to become his Chief of Staff, to which Blucher agreed.

In the campaign’s first battle, Lützen (2 May 1813), Prussia suffered defeat, but a very different kind of defeat from those Napoleon had hitherto customarily inflicted. For this time the French suffered significant casualties and failed to follow up their victory with an aggressive pursuit (due, in part, to their lack of effective cavalry), 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 travelled to negotiate with Schwarzenberg for Austrian 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 the Russian player uses it.  He has a +1 modifier for some Issues and -1 modifier when the French player employs this card. Significantly, Scharnhorst is also an excellent +3DRM Russian battle card; but only in defensive battles with at least one Prussian unit (cube) involved.

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 auxiliary corps which Prussia was compelled to provide France, as a loyal ally, in support of 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.

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 consent of their sovereigns. Yorck declared the Prussian corps “neutral”. This act was nothing less than a turning-point of Prussian history. His veterans formed the nucleus of a revitalized Prussian Army, a national enmasse force based on mobilization of the nation. Yorck publicly took the final step by declaring war on Napoleon as the commander of forces under his command.  

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

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, he 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, in the Sixth Coalition, hoping to secure Norway from Denmark, a French ally. 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.

On 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 Alexander flirted with the idea of installing Bernadotte (!) on the French throne in place of Napoleon.

Ultimately, the British and Austrians vetoed the idea (once their 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 Swedish non-involvement into conflicts which took place outside of Scandinavia. In the end, the canny Bernadotte could be considered one of the personal “winners” of the Napoleonic Wars.

I really have no sympathy for the opportunistic self-serving 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 a +3 modifier for three select Issues (only for the Russian player).

Regarding his actual conduct in battle we can note it was inconsistent: from certainly deficient during the battle of Leipzig to more than remarkably inspired at Dennewitz. Consequently, in CoV battle we reflect this behavior by endowing Bernadotte with positive and negative DRM depending if this card is used by the Russian or French player!

That brings this article segment to a close. The Congress of Vienna Design/Development Team apologizes that due this article format’s constraints, game 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, kindly feel free to pose any question and/or need for more information within the section InsideGMT provides for this purpose. 

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

Footnotes

[1] He was “disloyal” to orders to collaborate with the French, but deeply “loyal” to the desire of most of the nation and the Prussian army to fight against France for the liberation of Germany.

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

Meet the Statesmen of Congress of Vienna – The Austrian Contingent (Part 2 of 4)