The almost total annihilation of the Prussian army at the battle of
Jena, opened the gates of Berlin to Napoleon. On the 25th of October,
1806, he was at Potsdam, and visited the royal castle, Sans Souci. The
Prussian Court had abandoned Potsdam and Berlin so precipitately, that
nothing had been removed from the king’s palace. Napoleon made his
solemn entry into Berlin on the 27th.
The war with Prussia was thus ended. Of the 150,000 men who formed the
main body of the Prussian army, seven-eighths had been killed or made
prisoners; and the army of Frederic-William now consisted of only 20,000
men, infantry and cavalry. The king, the queen, and some of the Prussian
generals who had sought refuge in Kœnigsberg, were reduced to so
deplorable a situation that they were obliged to throw themselves on the
generosity of the conqueror, and sue for peace. This was granted.
The French Senate complimented the Emperor on his success; and received
from him the ensigns won from the enemy in that splendid campaign. Three
hundred and forty banners and standards taken at Jena, as well as the
sword, scarf, collar, and ribbon of Frederic the Great, were sent to the
deputies to be placed under their care in the _Hotel des Invalides_.
[Illustration: NAPOLEON RECEIVING THE DEPUTIES OF THE SENATE.]