Britannica
Sources used in this answer
What did Napoleon I and Tsar Alexander I agree to in the Treaties of Tilsit?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Napoleon I
The Emperor Napoleon in His Study at the Tuileries, oil on canvas by Jacques-Louis David, 1812; in the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
The Treaties of Tilsit, signed in July 1807 following Napoleonâs victories at Jena, AuerstĂ€dt, and Friedland, established an alliance between France and Russia that effectively divided Europe into spheres of influence.1
Key agreements between Napoleon I and Tsar Alexander I included:
- The Continental System: Alexander agreed to join the Continental System, a blockade intended to isolate and weaken Britain by closing ports to British trade.12
- Territorial Reorganization: Alexander recognized the creation of the Duchy of Warsaw, a state formed from Polish provinces previously held by Prussia.12
- Expansion Rights: In exchange for his cooperation, Napoleon granted Russia a free hand to conquer Finland from Sweden.12
- Secret Provisions: The two leaders agreed that if Turkey rejected French mediation in its conflict with Russia, Napoleon would assist Russia in "liberating" most of European Turkey.1
While the treaty established a temporary period of Franco-Russian collaboration, the alliance eventually collapsed due to the economic strain of the Continental System on Russia and tensions regarding the Duchy of Warsaw.1