Confederation of the Rhine

The Confederation of the Rhine was a confederation of German client states established on August 1, 1806, at the behest of Napoleon after his victory at the Battle of Austerlitz. Its creation led to the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire. The founding members were German princes, later joined by 19 others, ruling over 15 million people. This provided a strategic buffer for the First French Empire on its eastern frontier against Prussia and Austria. The Confederation of the Rhine lasted for seven years, dissolving on December 11, 1813, after Napoleon's defeat in the War of the Sixth Coalition.