About the book: 2019 / This book is dedicated to the most interesting period of our history - the first war of the coalition of states led by the Russian Empire against Napoleon. Oleg Valerievich Sokolov is a major expert on the history of Napoleonic era, holder of the Legion of Honor, founder of the military-historical reconstruction movement in Russia - explores the military and political history of Europe of the Napoleonic era, using extensive materials: French and Russian archives, testimonies of participants in the events, works of military historians of the past and present. What was the reason for this enormous conflict, poorly studied in Russian historiography? How did political factors influence the course of the war? How did the fighting unfold in Germany and Italy? How did the preparations for the main battle take place, what was Napoleon's true plan and why did the allied armies lose despite their numerical superiority? Numerous maps and battle diagrams presented in the book reveal the tactical techniques and strategic principles of the great commanders of that era and make the appearance of the battles bright and clear.