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[[File: Willewalde - Czar's Guard capture 4th line regiment's standard at Austerlitz.jpg|thumbnail|left|300px| Russian cavalry in action at Austerlitz]]{{Mediawiki:kindleoasis}}==Introduction==The Battle of Austerlitz , also known as the Battle of the Three Emperors ' Battle, was one of the most important critical battles in European History. It was also Napoleon’s greatest Napoleon's most significant victory. At the battle, Napoleon’s Napoleon's employed a brilliant strategy to defeat the combined forces of the Russian and the Austrian Empires. The victory of the French stunned Europe and meant that they were masters of Europe, for a brief period of time. This article will discuss the reasons for the French victory, this will include Napoleon's military genius, the superiority of the French army and poor Allied decision-makingcombined forces.

==Background==Napoleon after a string of brilliant victories had made himself Emperor The triumph of the French. By 1805, his armies had proven victorious in Germany, Spain, and Italy and he was the most powerful man in stunned Europe. This prompted the other powers in Europe to form the Third Coalition in order to defeat the French. This Coalition included England, Russia, Prussia and Austria. The formation meant that they were masters of this alliance caught Napoleon off guard. He had been planning Europe for the invasion of England and had amassed a large army in northern France, known as the Army of Englandbrief period. However, he learned that Austria, Prussia, and This article will discuss the Russians were mobilizing and planned to attack reasons for the French and their allies. Napoleon abandoned his plans to invade England and decided to attack his enemies in the east before they could unite their forcesvictory. This was typical of will include Napoleon who was always willing to go on the attack and believed that the key to success was to never let the enemy to settle and attack them before they were in a position to attack 's military genius, the French <ref> David G. Chandler, The Campaigns of Napoleon (Longman, N.Y., 2000) p. 407</ref>. [[File: Austerlitz 2.jpg|thumbnail|Napoelon at Austerlitz]]Moving with great speed he took his army of over 200's superiority,000 French and allied troops from their encampments near Boulogne and crossed into Germany on September the 25th. The army was divided into several corps. They were independent units with attachments of artillery and each corps commander had a great deal of autonomy in their poor Allied decision -making. The army had also two cavalry divisions of approximately 20,000. The Austrians with their German allies decided to meet Napoleon in Bavaria in Germany. They intended to slow down his army and to defend Austria from a French invasion until the arrival of the huge Russian army. The Prussians because of internal politics had been very slow in mobilizing and the Austrians were forced to meet Napoleon almost on their own. The Austrian General Mack established a line of defense near Ulm in Bavaria. However, Napoleon’s army was very quick and after a feint attack, he was able to appear at the rear of the Austrian army and inflicted a decisive defeat on Mack. In this battle, the French captured Mack and some 23,000 of his men. Napoleon was free to march into Central Europe <ref> Chandler, p. 401</ref>.

In November ====Background====After a string of brilliant victories, Napoleon crowned himself Emperor of France. By 1805, the French marched on Vienna his armies had proven victorious in Germany, Spain, and occupied it. The Austrian army knew it could not defeat Napoleon so it retreated to an area in modern-day the Czech RepublicItaly, here they met and he was the Russian army under General Kutsovmost powerful man in Europe. Here they waited for This prompted the Prussian army. Napoleon did not stay long other powers in Vienna and marched forward Europe to meet form the allies before they were joined by Third Coalition to defeat the PrussiansFrench. He had swept aside all opposition but he was faced with many problemsThis Coalition included England, his men had marched across Europe and needed restRussia, while worryingly his logistics were breaking down. His men were reliant up confiscating food from the localsPrussia, then there was the fact that the snows of winter were due and the French army had not established any winter quartersAustria. The formation of this alliance caught Napoleon was eager off guard. He had been planning for England's invasion and had amassed a quick battle or else he would have to retreat because of large army in northern France, known as the weather and a shortage Army of suppliesEngland. [[File: Charles Thévenin - Reddition de la ville d'Ulm.jpg|thumbnail|Austerlitz battle scene]]

==The Preparations==The Allies leadership However, he learned that Austria, Prussia, and the Russians were mobilizing and planned to attack the French and their allies. Napoleon abandoned his plans to invade England and decided to attack his enemies in the east before they could unite their forces. This was typical of Napoleon, who was always willing to go on the attack and believed that the key to success was dividednever to let the enemy settle and attack them before they could attack the French.<ref>Fisher, Todd & Fremont-Barnes GregoryDavid G. Chandler, <i>The Napoleonic Wars[https: //www.amazon.com/gp/product/0025236601/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0025236601&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=b7102b4553a33f72683b1ad69f241308 The Rise and Fall Campaigns of an EmpireNapoleon]</i> .(PelicanLongman, LondonN.Y., 19872000), p. 33407</ref> The Austrian and the Russian Emperors were present [[File: Austerlitz 2.jpg|thumbnail|275px|left|Napoleon at the battle and they had a Austerlitz]]Moving with great influence on the commanders. General Kutsovspeed, the Russian commander in chief, correctly believed that Napoleon’s forces were running low on supplies and that together with the weather, that he took his army would soon be in difficulties of over 200,000 French and then ready for an allied attack possibly in the Spring, troops from their encampments near Boulogne and crossed into Germany on September the Austrian Emperor agreed with his strategy25th. The Tsar over-ruled General Kutuzov army was divided into several corps. They were independent units with artillery attachments, and the Austrian Emperor was in each corps commander had a weak position after the defeat at Ulm and the loss great deal of his capital. Napoleon wanted the allies to fight him autonomy in a battle and he pretended to want peace negotiationstheir decision-making.<ref> Fischer and Fremont-BarnesThe army also had two cavalry divisions of approximately 20, p000. 137</ref> He was not sincere and did not want The Austrians, with their German allies, decided to peace. This fooled some of the allies and persuaded them that they should attack meet Napoleon immediatelyin Bavaria in Germany. The wily Kutuzov knew that it was a trap They intended to slow down his army and he counseled for defend Austria from a more cautious approach. He lost out, once again and French invasion until the allies agreed that once they made contact with the French vast Russian army they would stand and fight's arrival.<ref> Chandler, p. 411</ref>

The allies decided that they would stand and fight at the small village Because of Austerlitzinternal politics, here they the Prussians had secured some high ground been very slow in mobilizing, and waited for the French Austrians were forced to approachmeet Napoleon almost independently. The allies waited for Napoleon’s army with some 88,000 men, they were well supplied with cavalry and cannons. The majority Austrian General Mack established a line of the forces were Russiandefense near Ulm in Bavaria.<ref> AbbottHowever, John, Life of Napoleon Bonaparte. Kessinger Publishing, London, 2005's army was swift, 349</ref>. Both the Austrian and the Russian army was organized in after a manner very similar to the eighteenth century. The main unit of organization was feint attack, he appeared at the regiment and they were all commanded by aristocrats. Nearly all rear of the officers were aristocrats Austrian army and they maintained inflicted a strict discipline in their units and physical punishment for even slight infringements were commondecisive defeat on Mack. The In this battle, the French arrived at Austerlitzcaptured Mack and some 23, with a force 000 of approximately 72,000 his men. This Napoleon was smaller than the Russian and Austrians but they were among the finest and most experienced soldiers in free to march into Central Europe and they were highly motivated by their officers and Napoleon. Unlike the allies’ officers, they had all received their commission based on merit. The French officer corps was generally better than the allies and this was a direct result of Napoleon’s reform and reorganization of the previously undisciplined French Revolutionary armies.<ref>AbbotChandler, p. 124401</ref>

==Battle In November of Austerlitz== The two armies faced each other at Austerlitz on the 1st of December 1805. The allies made an attack against , the French rightmarched on Vienna and occupied it. This was what The Austrian army knew it could not defeat Napoleon had expected, he had deliberately weakened so it so as retreated to entice the allies into an attack on this areain modern-day the Czech Republic, where they met the Russian army under General Kutsov. He simply ordered his right to hold on Here they waited for as the Prussian army. Napoleon did not stay long as possible. The Allies initially made some headway and they drove the French from a small hamlet, but the French right retreated in an orderly manner Vienna and inflicted heavy casualties on marched forward to meet the Russians and allies before the AustriansPrussians joined them. The French artillery He had swept aside all opposition, but he was very accurate faced with many problems. His men had marched across Europe and efficient and it managed to at first slow the allies and later stopped their attack on needed rest, while worryingly, his logistics were breaking down. His men were reliant up confiscating food from the rightlocals. A Corps under Davout then arrived Then, winter snows were due, and bolstered the rightFrench army had not established any winter quarters. Napoleon saw that was eager for a quick battle or would have to retreat because of the allies had weakened their center in order to attack his rightweather and a shortage of supplies.

Napoleon placed Lannes====The Preparations====[[File: Charles Thévenin - Reddition de la ville d'Ulm.jpg|thumbnail|325px|left|Austerlitz battle scene]]The Allies's V Corps at the northern end leadership was divided.<ref>Fisher, Todd & Fremont-Barnes Gregory, <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LYHOVVZ/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B01LYHOVVZ&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=286956cb7b56cd3271bf57ffab84c6ca The Napoleonic Wars: The Rise and Fall of the linean Empire]</i> (Pelican, London, 1987), p. 33</ref> The Austrian and Claude Legrand's Corps men the Russian Emperors were present at the southern end. He then placed Soult’s IV Corps in the center battle and this strengthened it greatly. This was they had a very complex maneuver but it was carried out efficiently and speedily thanks to the efficiency of significant influence on the '''Grand Armee''' corps systemcommanders. Then Napoleon ordered a corps under Davout to attack his right flank and this caught the allies by surpriseGeneral Kutsov, the Russian commander was drunk and in chief, correctly believed that Napoleon's forces ran low on supplies. With the weather, his army would soon the allies were be in full retreat difficulties and ready for an allied attack, possibly in this sector<ref> Chandler, pthe Spring. 415</ref>The Austrian Emperor agreed with his strategy.

Around 8:45 AMThe Tsar over-ruled General Kutuzov, believing that and the Allied center had been sufficiently weakened, Napoleon summoned Soult to discuss an attack on Austrian Emperor were in a weak position after the enemy lines defeat at the Pratzen HeightsUlm and his capital loss. Napoleon believed that ‘one sharp blow’ at this point could bring wanted the allies to fight him victory. The Corps under Soult was thrown back after brave Russian resistance. Howeverin a battle, Saint-Hillaire was able and he pretended to sweep the Russians from the heights and this meant that the allies center had been broken want peace negotiations.<ref> ChandlerFischer and Fremont-Barnes, p. 411137</ref>. A French cavalry attack He was driven back on the left by the excellent Austrian cavalrynot sincere and did not want peace. However, This fooled some of the center allies and the right of the Allied army was in full flightpersuaded them that they should attack Napoleon immediately. The French sensing wily Kutuzov knew that it was a total victory charged after the fleeing troops many Russians troops drowned in trap, and he counseled for a marsh as they attempted to fleemore cautious approach. The Austrian cavalry mounted an almost suicidal attack on He lost out, once again, and the advancing French Corps allies agreed that they would stand and this may have saved fight once they made contact with the allies from complete annihilationFrench army.<ref>Chandler, p. 411</ref>

==Aftermath of the Battle of The allies decided that they would stand and fight at Austerlitz==The French were the clear winners of the battle's small village. It ended all Austrian resistance Here they had secured some high ground and ended the War of waited for the Third Coalition. The French had lost about 1300 killed and 6000 woundedto approach. The allies suffered much heavier losses they lost 15waited for Napoleon's army with some 88,000 men . They were well supplied with cavalry and thousands more are capturedcannons. Austerlitz was perhaps in many ways Napoleons greatest victory The majority of the forces were Russian.<ref> LyonsAbbott, MartynJohn, [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1406503789/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1406503789&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=615da9fc619688fe3b53fbdc93125792 Life of Napoleon Bonaparte and the Legacy of the French Revolution]. St. Martin's Press Kessinger Publishing, London, 19942005, p. 345349</ref> After his victory, he . Both the Austrian and the Russian army was able to force Austria to sign organized in a humiliating Treaty and the Russians were forced manner very similar to retreat, Napoleon had a free hand in Germany and dissolved the Holy Roman Empire and established the Confederation eighteenth century. The main unit of the Rhine in its place, which organization was a French puppet. Without the threat from Austriaregiment, and Russia the French they were able to concentrate on the Prussians and defeated them decisively at the battle of Jenaall commanded by aristocrats. Napoleon was almost the complete master Nearly all of Europe. However, many believe that the victory was not as decisive as it first appeared, as the Austrians were able to wage a war against Napoleon in 1807 and the Russians officers were far from defeated. Furthermorearistocrats, the English had defeated the French at Trafalgar and this meant that they had complete control of the seas.<ref>Schroeder, Paul W. The Transformation of European Politics, 1763–1848, Longman (NY, 1996), p. 518 </ref> The English as maintained a result, were determined to continue the fight against Napoleonstrict discipline in their units, and physical punishment for even after the battle. Nonetheless, the French had established a supremacy in Europe that had not been seen since the days of the Romansslight infringements was common.

==Why did Napoleon Win?==There were several reasons as to why the The French won arrived at Austerlitz. One with a force of them was Napoleon’s military geniusapproximately 72,000 men. He had cleverly convinced his enemies that he This was weaker smaller than he was by his insincere proposal for peace negotiations. This fooled the Tsar Russian and encouraged him to stand Austrians, but they were among the finest and fight. This played into Bonaparte's hands.<ref> Chandlermost experienced soldiers in Europe, p. 409</ref> Then the French strategy and tactics during the battle they were brillianthighly motivated by their officers and Napoleon. Napoleon predicted where and when Unlike the allies would attack and then attacked them at ' officers, they had all received their weakest pointcommission based on merit. This meant that he and his troops were able to rout a huge army in less than a day’s fighting. Another reason for the The French victory officer corps was generally better than the superior organization of the French armyallies, the corps system and this was flexible a direct result of Napoleon's reform and could react to any changes in reorganization of the battlefieldpreviously undisciplined French Revolutionary armies.<ref> Stutterheim, Karl. <i>A Detailed Account of the Battle of Austerlitz</i>. Pine-Coffin, John (trans.) (London: Thomas GoddardAbbot, 1807) p. 46 124</ref>

The French officers were also much better than the allies who only had their position, because ====Battle of their birth and were often incompetent. Austerlitz==== The average French soldier two armies faced each other at Austerlitz was a battle hardened veteran who was inspired by on December the ideals of the Revolution1st, 1805. The allies attacked the French cannon right. This was superior what Napoleon had expected. He had deliberately weakened it to entice the allies, but not much sointo an attack on this area. One of the main reasons why Napoleon was able He ordered his right to defeat the combined armies of Austria and Russia was that they were fighting in an eighteenth-century mannerhold on for as long as possible. Their organizationThe Allies initially made some headway, tactics and strategy were outmoded, according to they drove the French from a German observer of the battlesmall hamlet.<ref> StutterheinStill, p. 19</ref> The the French had changed right retreated orderly and inflicted heavy casualties on the nature of warfare Russians and this was not recognized by the AlliesAustrians. Furthermore The French artillery was very accurate and efficient, and it managed first to slow the Tsar interfered with his commander’s decisions allies and many Generals only agreed with his tactics out of respect for his Royal Person. This meant that later stopped their attack on the great Russian General Kutsov was sidelinedright. He had proposed different tactics A Corps under Davout then arrived and this was to draw Napoleon further into eastern Europe, to weaken him before bolstered the allies would destroy himright. This was actually what Kutsov would do when Napoleon invaded Russian in 1813. The Tsar’s failure to listen to his most experienced soldier contributed to his disastrous defeat. Another reason for saw that the victory of the French was the failure of the Prussians to send allies had weakened their army on time, they could have helped center to turn the tide of the battle if they had been present.<ref Chandler, pattack his right. 409</ref>

==Conclusions==Austerlitz was a great victory. However, it was not the decisive victory that it has often been portrayed. Napoleon was able to inflict a defeat on the Coalition. Napoleon won because he duped the allies into thinking that he wanted negotiations, which prompted them to seek a battle, which he had expected and wanted. The allies perhaps should have avoided a battle and allowed Napoleon’s army to suffer from an overextended supply line in winter. During the actual battle, Napoleon’s strategy worked very well. His strategy and tactics were superb. Then his army was superior to the allies, except their cavalry. His units were well led, motivated and flexible, while the allies were using led by often incompetent officers and poorly organized. These factors all allowed Napoleon to defeat a slightly larger army and establish French supremacy in much of Europe.<ref> Abbot, p. 376<dh-ad/ref>

Napoleon placed Lannes's V Corps at the northern end of the line and Claude Legrand's Corpsmen at the southern end. He then placed Soult's IV Corps in the center, and this strengthened it significantly. This was a complex maneuver, but it was carried out efficiently and speedily thanks to the "Grande Armee" corps system's efficiency. Then Napoleon ordered a corps under Davout to attack his right flank, and this caught the allies by surprise, the Russian commander was drunk, and soon the allies were in full retreat in this sector<ref> Chandler, p. 415</ref>.  Around 8:45 AM, believing that the Allied center had been sufficiently weakened, Napoleon summoned Soult to discuss an attack on the enemy lines at the Pratzen Heights. Napoleon thought that 'one sharp blow' at this point could bring him victory. The Corps under Soult was thrown back after brave Russian resistance. However, Saint-Hillaire swept the Russians from the heights, which meant the allies center had been broken <ref> Chandler, p. 411</ref>. A French cavalry attack was driven back on the left by the excellent Austrian cavalry. However, the center and the right of the Allied army were in full flight. The French, sensing a total victory, charged after the fleeing troops' many Russian troops drowned in a marsh as they attempted to flee. The Austrian cavalry mounted an almost suicidal attack on the advancing French Corps, saving the allies from destruction.  ====Aftermath of the Battle of Austerlitz====The French were the clear winners of the battle. It ended all Austrian resistance and ended the War of the Third Coalition. The French had lost about 1300 killed and 6000 wounded. The allies suffered much heavier losses. They lost 15,000 men, and thousands more were captured. Austerlitz was perhaps, in many ways, Napoleon's greatest victory.<ref> Lyons, Martyn, <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312121237/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0312121237&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=906d04ffbb50998f85262ef04e3d5b8a Napoleon Bonaparte and the Legacy of the French Revolution]</i>. St. Martin's Press London, 1994, p. 345</ref>  Napoleon was almost the complete master of Europe. After his victory, he forced Austria to sign a humiliating Treaty, and the Russians were forced to retreat. Napoleon had a free hand in Germany, dissolved the Holy Roman Empire, and established the Rhine Confederation, a French puppet. Without the threat from Austria and Russia, the French were able to concentrate on the Prussians and defeated them decisively at Jena's battle. However, many believe that the victory was not as decisive as it first appeared, as the Austrians were able to wage war against Napoleon in 1807, and the Russians were far from defeated. Furthermore, the English had defeated the French at Trafalgar, which meant complete control of the seas.<ref>Schroeder, Paul W. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0198206542/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0198206542&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=00562c16a0e9d3340b617341269f768a The Transformation of European Politics, 1763–1848]</i>, (Longman, NY, 1996), p. 518 </ref> The English, as a result, were determined to continue the fight against Napoleon, even after the battle. Nonetheless, the French had established supremacy in Europe that had not been seen since the days of the Romans.  ====Why did Napoleon Win?====There were several reasons as to why the French won at Austerlitz. One of them was Napoleon's military genius. He had cleverly convinced his enemies that he was weaker than he was by his insincere proposal for peace negotiations. This fooled the Tsar and encouraged him to stand and fight. This played into Bonaparte's hands.<ref> Chandler, p. 409</ref> Then, the French strategy and tactics during the battle were brilliant. Napoleon predicted where and when the allies would attack and then attacked them at their weakest point. This meant that he and his troops could rout a massive army in less than a day's fighting. Another reason for the French victory was the French army's superior organization. The corps system was flexible and could react to any changes on the battlefield.<ref> Stutterheim, Karl. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009MH68O4/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B009MH68O4&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=6f88b6558dbf081d32734a4acf4e7c1a A Detailed Account of the Battle of Austerlitz]</i>. Pine-Coffin, John (trans.) (London: Thomas Goddard, 1807) p. 46 </ref>  The French officers were also much better than the allies, who only had their position because of their birth and were often incompetent. The average French soldier at Austerlitz was a battle-hardened veteran who was inspired by the ideals of the Revolution. The French cannon was superior to the allies, but not much so. One of the main reasons Napoleon defeated Austria Russia's combined armies were fighting in an eighteenth-century manner. Their organization, tactics, and strategy were old-fashioned, according to a German observer of the battle.<ref> Stutterhein, p. 19</ref> The French had changed the nature of warfare, and the Allies did not recognize this.  Furthermore, the Tsar interfered with his commander's decisions, and many Generals only agreed with his tactics out of respect for his Royal Person. This meant that the great Russian General Kutsov was sidelined. He had proposed different tactics, and this was to draw Napoleon further into eastern Europe, to weaken him before the allies would destroy him. This was actually what Kutsov would do when Napoleon invaded Russian in 1813. The Tsar's failure to listen to his most experienced soldier contributed to his disastrous defeat. Another reason for the French's victory was the failure of the Prussians to send their army on time. They could have helped to turn the tide of the battle if they had been present.<ref>Chandler, p. 409</ref>  ====Conclusions====Austerlitz was a great victory. However, it was not the decisive victory that it has often been portrayed. Napoleon was able to inflict a defeat on the Coalition. Napoleon won because he duped the allies into thinking that he wanted negotiations, which prompted them to seek a battle, which he had expected and wanted. The allies perhaps should have avoided a battle and allowed Napoleon's army to suffer from an overextended supply line in winter. During the actual battle, Napoleon's strategy worked very well. His strategy and tactics were superb. Then his army was superior to the allies, except their cavalry. His units were well-led, motivated, and flexible, while the allies were using led by often incompetent officers and poorly organized. These factors all allowed Napoleon to defeat a slightly larger army and establish French supremacy in much of Europe.<ref>Abbot, p. 376</ref> <youtube>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhQe2cjr5XQ</youtube> ====Reference====