Russian Calendar-In Brief

1808 

Summit in Erfurt

For two weeks, beginning September 27, Alexander I and Napoleon met as two allies in this northern German city. There were balls, celebrations honoring the two emperors, negotiations, parties and meetings with famous personages, including the great poet Goethe. Alexander and Napoleon seemed to be the closest of friends, agreeing on the division of Europe into spheres of influence. This, despite the fact that just one year previous their armies had battled one another, and, within four years, France and Russia would again be at war, one that ended with the collapse of the Napoleonic empire.