The Battle of Nations at Leipzig (16 to 19 October 1813) - the largest battle of the Napoleonic wars, spanning over half a million soldiers. Against the army of the French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte stood combined armies of Austria, Russia, Prussia and Sweden.

The result of the numerical superiority of the Allies suffered Napoleon at Leipzig crushing defeat. Yet on some sections of the battlefield led his troops successfully and the first day of the battle resembled a stalemate. Attack of more than one hundred thirty thousand allied soldiers because imperial repelled. The steepest clash occurred on October 18, when after a massive onslaught of coalition forces, which resulted in an intensive nine-hour battle, Napoleon recognized the hopelessness of the situation and began a retreat. Hundreds of his soldiers then killed in an attempt to overcome the swollen river Elster, because French engineers retreat prematurely destroyed bridges. After an unsuccessful campaign in Russia, when Napoleon came almost the whole army, heralded the Battle of Leipzig end of the first dictator of unlimited government. Coalition troops entered the territory of France and soon occupied Paris, Napoleon abdicated and was subsequently exiled to the island of Elba.

Confusing political situation in France, economic decline and nostalgia for the famous times, enabled Napoleon to become emperor, however, for the second time. His dogged attempt to win back former power and glory led to the Battle of Waterloo. There were 18 June 1815 Napoleon finally defeated and the rest of his life was spent in internment on the island of St. Helena.