Emperor Alexander had sent an envoy to…
July 1807 CE
Napoleon had assured the envoy that the Vistula River represents the natural borders between French and Russian influence in Europe.
On that basis, the two emperors had begun peace negotiations at the town of Tilsit after meeting on an iconic raft on the River Niemen.
The very first thing Alexander said to Napoleon was probably well-calibrated: "I hate the English as much as you do."
Napoleon had reportedly replied, "Then we have already made peace."
The two emperors spend several days reviewing each other's armies, passing out medals, and frequently talking about non-political subjects.
Although the negotiations at Tilsit feature plenty of pageantry and diplomatic niceties, they are not spared from ruthless politics.
Alexander faces pressure from his brother, Duke Constantine, to make peace with Napoleon.
Given the victory he had just achieved, the French emperor offers the Russians relatively lenient terms–demanding that Russia join the Continental System, withdraw its forces from Wallachia and Moldavia, and hand over the Ionian Islands to France.
By contrast, Napoleon dictates very harsh peace terms for Prussia, despite the ceaseless exhortations of Queen Louise.
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