Lyla Lindsey
The Battle of Austerlitz, which took place on December 2, 1805, was a significant defeat for the Austrians and Russians at the hands of Napoleon's French forces. The battle, also known as the Battle of the Three Emperors, marked a critical turning point in the Napoleonic Wars and demonstrated Napoleon's tactical brilliance. It resulted in a decisive victory for Napoleon's troops, who successfully lured the Allies into attacking them on their chosen ground, despite being outnumbered. The defeat forced Austria to make peace with France and ceded territories to Napoleon's German allies, reshaping the political landscape of Europe.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 2 December 1805 |
| Location | Austerlitz, Moravia, Austrian Empire (now Slavkov u Brna, Czech Republic) |
| Context | Napoleonic Wars, War of the Third Coalition |
| Combatants | French Empire, Russian Empire, Austrian Empire |
| Commanders | Napoleon I, Alexander I, Mikhail Kutuzov, Francis I |
| Troop Strength | 68,000 French troops, 90,000 Russian and Austrian troops |
| Casualties | 9,000 French, 15,000 Russian and Austrian, 11,000 captured |
| Outcome | French victory, Treaty of Pressburg, End of the Third Coalition |
| Significance | Established French hegemony in Europe, Dissolved Holy Roman Empire |
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What You'll Learn
The Battle of Austerlitz, 2nd December 1805
The Battle of Austerlitz, which took place on the 2nd of December 1805, is considered one of the most important military engagements of the Napoleonic Wars. The battle, also known as the Battle of the Three Emperors, occurred near the town of Austerlitz in the Austrian Empire (now Slavkov u Brna in the Czech Republic). It was the first engagement of the War of the Third Coalition and one of Napoleon's greatest victories.
In the lead-up to the battle, Napoleon employed a clever strategy to deceive the Allies into thinking that his army was weak and fearful of battle. He abandoned the dominant Pratzen Heights near Austerlitz and deliberately weakened his right flank, enticing the Allies to launch an assault. Meanwhile, he sent General Savary to the Allies as an envoy, ostensibly to negotiate a truce, but his true intention was to spy on the Allies and further convince them of his army's weakness.
On the day of the battle, Napoleon's 68,000 troops faced a formidable force of almost 90,000 Russians and Austrians under General Mikhail Kutuzov. The battlefield was marked by the valley of the Goldbach Stream and the Pratzen Heights. Around 8:45 am, Napoleon, noticing a weakness in the enemy centre, ordered an attack. A dense fog clouded the advance of St. Hilaire's French division, but as they ascended the slope, the sun broke through, revealing a stunning sight to the Russian and Austrian troops on top of the heights. Over an hour of fierce fighting ensued, with the French ultimately emerging victorious.
The Battle of Austerlitz resulted in heavy casualties on both sides, with the Allies losing about 15,000 troops and the French losing around 9,000. The Allied army was scattered, and they abandoned a large number of guns on the field. The defeat forced Austria to make peace with France and sign the Treaty of Pressburg on December 26, 1805, which took them out of the war and reinforced earlier treaties. The victory at Austerlitz also permitted the creation of the Confederation of the Rhine, a collection of German states intended as a buffer zone between France and the eastern powers.
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The French victory
Napoleon's victory at Austerlitz was the result of his strategic deception. He feigned weakness and vulnerability by abandoning the dominant Pratzen Heights near Austerlitz and weakening his right flank. This lured the Allies into a false sense of security and enticed them to launch an assault on his right flank, intending to roll up his line. However, Napoleon had anticipated this move and brought in reinforcements at the right time, leading him to win the battle decisively.
The Allied center was demolished, and the French swept through both flanks, routing the Allies and capturing thousands of prisoners. The Allied forces suffered heavy casualties, with about 15,000 killed or wounded and 11,000 captured, while Napoleon lost 9,000 troops. The remnants of the Allied army were scattered, and they abandoned more than 130 guns on the field.
The victory at Austerlitz also permitted the creation of the Confederation of the Rhine, a collection of German states intended to serve as a buffer zone between France and the rest of Europe, particularly Prussia. It affirmed French military hegemony in continental Europe for most of the next decade, setting the stage for a period of French domination.
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The Treaty of Pressburg
Victory at Austerlitz also permitted the creation of the Confederation of the Rhine, a collection of German states intended as a buffer zone between France and the rest of Europe, specifically the eastern powers of Austria, Prussia, and Russia. The treaty also mandated substantial territorial concessions by the Austrian Empire. The French gains of the previous treaties of Campo Formio and Lunéville were reiterated, while recent Austrian acquisitions in Italy and southern Germany were ceded to France and Bavaria, respectively. The scattered Austrian holdings in Swabia were passed to French allies – the King of Württemberg and the Elector of Baden.
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The end of the Third Coalition
The War of the Third Coalition, an alliance with Russia, Sweden, and Austria against Napoleon's France, ended with the Battle of Austerlitz on December 2, 1805. The battle, which took place in Austerlitz, Moravia (now Slavkov u Brna in the Czech Republic), was one of Napoleon's greatest victories. With 68,000 troops, he defeated almost 90,000 Russians and Austrians under General Mikhail Kutuzov.
Napoleon's tactics played a crucial role in his victory at Austerlitz. He feigned weakness to lure the Allies into thinking they were facing a weak army. He abandoned the dominant Pratzen Heights near Austerlitz and weakened his right flank, enticing the Allies to launch an assault on his right. This weakened the Allied centre, which was then attacked by Marshal Soult's IV Corps. The legendary 'Sun of Austerlitz' also played a part, as it ripped through the mist and encouraged Napoleon's troops forward, stunning the Russian soldiers and commanders on top of the Pratzen Heights.
The Allied defeat at Austerlitz had significant consequences. It forced Austria to make peace with France and led to the Treaty of Pressburg, signed on December 26, 1805. This treaty took Austria out of both the war and the Coalition, reinforced earlier treaties of Campo Formio and Lunéville, and imposed an indemnity of 40 million francs on the defeated Habsburgs. It also confirmed the Austrian cession of lands in Italy to France and in Germany to Napoleon's German allies.
The victory at Austerlitz had far-reaching implications for Europe. It permitted the creation of the Confederation of the Rhine, a collection of German states intended as a buffer zone between France and the eastern powers, including Austria, Prussia, and Russia. Austerlitz also set the stage for a near-decade of French domination on the continent, with Napoleon obtaining his greatest triumphs. However, it did not bring lasting peace, as Prussia, worried about growing French influence, declared war in 1806, leading to the War of the Fourth Coalition.
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The Confederation of the Rhine
The formation of the Confederation of the Rhine was a significant development in the Napoleonic Wars. After defeating the Austro-Russian army at Austerlitz in December 1805, Napoleon sought to reorganise the German states to his advantage. He encouraged the annexation of small Imperial estates in the region and worked to establish alliances with several German states, including Baden, Bavaria and Württemberg. This reorganisation laid the groundwork for the Confederation of the Rhine, which officially came into being with the signing of the Treaty of the Confederation of the Rhine.
The treaty united 16 German states in a loose confederation of sovereign states, with Napoleon as their protector. The members of the confederation formally seceded from the Holy Roman Empire, leading to its dissolution. The founding members of the Confederation of the Rhine were German princes of the Holy Roman Empire, later joined by 19 others, ruling over a total of more than 15 million people. The confederation included four kingdoms, five grand duchies, 13 duchies, 17 principalities, and the Free Hansa towns of Hamburg, Lübeck, and Bremen.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria was defeated at Austerlitz on 2 December 1805.
The Battle of Austerlitz was a decisive victory for Napoleon's troops over the larger Austro-Russian army. Napoleon's 68,000 troops defeated almost 90,000 Russians and Austrians, forcing Austria to make peace with France.
The Battle of Austerlitz, also known as the Battle of the Three Emperors, was one of the most significant battles of the Napoleonic Wars. It brought the War of the Third Coalition to an end and affirmed French military hegemony in continental Europe for most of the next decade.
