Milan Decree confirms the Continental System (1807)

The Milan Decree, issued on 17 December 1807, reinforced the Continental System by declaring neutral ships using British ports or paying British tariffs as British and subject to seizure. This action responded to British Orders in Council, which allowed the Royal Navy to seize ships trading with France. The decree aimed to enforce economic warfare against Britain, building on the earlier Berlin Decree.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. The Continental System was a large-scale embargo against the British Empire, running from 21 November 1806 until 11 April 1814 during the Napoleonic Wars. Following the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, after which Napoleon definitively abandoned plans to invade Britain, he turned to economic warfare. The British Orders in Council of 1807 allowed the Royal Navy to seize ships from any country trading with France, prompting Napoleon to issue the Milan Decree to counter these measures.

Terms of the Decree. The Milan Decree declared that all neutral shipping using British ports or paying British tariffs were to be regarded as British and seized. This was a direct response to the British Orders in Council, which permitted the seizure of ships trading with France. The decree aimed to enforce the economic blockade by treating compliant neutral vessels as enemy property.

People involved

Sources

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