Tilsit Peace Treaty - Napoleon I & Alexander I

"Sire, I hate the British as much as you do!". These are the words of Russian Tsar Alexander I when he met Emperor Napoleon on a barge on the Niemen river. "In that case, we have made peace", Napoleon answered.

The location of the Niemen river was highly symbolic. In 1807, after the bloody battle of Eylau and the decisive battle of Friedland, Napoleon stopped the fourth coalition against France and was on top of the world. Having just created the Duchy of Warsaw, his influence over Europe reached the Niemen river ie: Russian frontiers!

The two Emperors spent a total of twenty days together. On 7 July 1807, they signed the Tilsit Treaty by which Russia agreed to take part of the "Continental Blocade", closing the ports of the continent to British commerce. Russia also promised to wage war to Britain if they did not agreed to peace. Unfortunately, they won't and Alexander will not honor his promises very long...