Long live the Sire. (Napoleon x Alexander.)

Alliance.

All of Europe knew the intense rivalry between Britain and France. George III and the revolutionary government in France were bitter enemies and constantly fought over power. Britain had been feared for a while but after The Treaty of Paris in 1783 ended the Revolutionary War, Britain lost a significant amount of their territory to the new formed United states.

Most thought that this would be good for France and though it was for the most part it still started rivalries throughout Europe. And Louis XVI Decided there was something to do about it. Britain and France went to war in 1791. Two remarkable characters made their name in the 11 years that followed. One was a popular British naval commander called Horatio Nelson. He defeated the French fleet at Aboukir Bay, Egypt, in 1798. The other was a brilliant French soldier called Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon had political ambitions. Napoleon was a military genius, Army general at the age of 26, great law-maker and a ruthless politician.

After this, a peace between Britain and France in 1802 was made but did not last. By 1804 the two countries were at war again - only by now Napoleon Bonaparte had crowned himself emperor of France and was planning to invade Britain. Round forts called 'Martello towers' were built to defend the Channel coast, each one held one military officer and 15-25 men. The English anxiously peered through telescopes across the Straits of Dover. Mothers threatened naughty children that 'Boney' would come for them in the night if they did not behave - but the bogeyman did not invade. In 1805 a French-Spanish fleet was defeated by Nelson off Cape Trafalgar, in Spain but little did the Nelson know this would be the end of his reign as on the 21 October of 1805 at 4:30 he would pass away from a fatal gunshot from a frenchman. But Nelson's defeat of the French and Spanish fleet at Trafalgar was a major blow to Napoleons plans to control Europe.

Only a month later Napoleon was at war again, this time with the allied Russo-Austrian army at Austerlitz, this battle was of Napoleons greatest Victories and he was ever so proud. His 68,000 troops defeated 90,000 Russians and Austrians. This defeat forced Austria to make peace. Due to Prussia being concerned about the increase of French power, they led the creation of the Fourth Coalition, which resumed war in October 1806. But Napoleon soon defeated the Prussians at Jena-Auerstedt and the Russians at Friedland. In order to keep the Continent in shape Napoleon decided a treaty should be made between France, Prussia and Russia.

The first was signed when Russian Emperor Tsar Alexander and French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte met on a raft in the middle of the Neman river on the 7th of July. The second was signed with Prussia on the 9th of July in the town Tilsit. This alliances quickly formed a strong bond between the Russian and French emperors and they often met for more than just business matters. Napoleon seemed quite excited to see where this new seemed friendship would end up, it had been a while since he had a friend apart from Jean Lannes, a French Military commander who he seemed to get on very well with.