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{{Mediawiki:kindleoasis}}[[File: Willewalde - Czar's Guard capture 4th line regiment's standard at Austerlitz.jpg|thumbnail|275pxleft|300px|Russian cavalry in action at Austerlitz]]The Battle of Austerlitz, also known as the Three Emperors' Battle, was one of the most critical battles in European History. It was also Napoleon's most significant victory. At the battle, Napoleon's employed a brilliant strategy to defeat the Russian and the Austrian Empires' combined forces.

The Battle of Austerlitz also known as the Battle of the Three Emperors was one of the most important battles in European History. It was also Napoleon’s greatest victory. At the battle, Napoleon’s employed a brilliant strategy to defeat the combined forces of the Russian and the Austrian Empires. The victory triumph 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 . This will include Napoleon's military genius, the superiority of the French army 's superiority, and poor Allied decision-making.

====Background====Napoleon after After a string of brilliant victories had made , Napoleon crowned himself Emperor of the FrenchFrance. By 1805, his armies had proven victorious in Germany, Spain, and Italy , and he was the most powerful man in 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 of this alliance caught Napoleon off guard. He had been planning for the England's invasion of England and had amassed a large army in northern France, known as the Army of England. 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 to never let the enemy to settle and attack them before they were in a position to attack the French <ref> David G. Chandler, The Campaigns of Napoleon (Longman, N.Y., 2000) p. 407</ref>. [[File: Austerlitz 2.jpg|thumbnail|275px|Napoelon at Austerlitz]]Moving with great speed he took his army of over 200,000 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 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 of 1805However, he learned that Austria, Prussia, and the Russians were mobilizing and planned to attack the French marched on Vienna and occupied ittheir allies. The Austrian army knew it could not defeat Napoleon so it retreated abandoned his plans to an area invade England and decided to attack his enemies in modern-day the Czech Republic, here east before they met the Russian army under General Kutsovcould unite their forces. Here they waited for This was typical of Napoleon, who was always willing to go on the Prussian army. Napoleon did not stay long in Vienna attack and marched forward believed that the key to success was never to meet let the allies enemy settle and attack them before they were joined by could attack the PrussiansFrench.<ref> David G. Chandler, <i>[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 Campaigns of Napoleon]</i>.(Longman, N.Y., 2000) p. 407</ref> [[File: Austerlitz 2. He had swept aside all opposition but he was faced jpg|thumbnail|275px|left|Napoleon at Austerlitz]]Moving with many problemsgreat speed, he took his men had marched across Europe army of over 200,000 French and needed rest, while worryingly his logistics were breaking down. His men were reliant up confiscating food allied troops from their encampments near Boulogne and crossed into Germany on September the locals, then there 25th. The army was the fact that the snows of winter divided into several corps. They were due independent units with artillery attachments, and the French each corps commander had a great deal of autonomy in their decision-making. The army also had not established any winter quarterstwo cavalry divisions of approximately 20,000. The Austrians, with their German allies, decided to meet Napoleon was eager for a quick battle or else he would have in Bavaria in Germany. They intended to retreat because of the weather slow down his army and defend Austria from a shortage of suppliesFrench invasion until the vast Russian army's arrival.

==The Preparations==[[File: Charles Thévenin - Reddition de la ville d'Ulm.jpg|thumbnail|275px|Austerlitz battle scene]]The Allies leadership was divided.<ref>Fisher, Todd & Fremont-Barnes Gregory, <i>The Napoleonic Wars: The Rise and Fall Because of an Empire</i> (Pelicaninternal politics, London, 1987)the Prussians had been very slow in mobilizing, p. 33</ref> The Austrian and the Russian Emperors Austrians were present at the battle and they had a great influence on the commandersforced to meet Napoleon almost independently. The Austrian General Kutsov, the Russian commander Mack established a line of defense near Ulm in chiefBavaria. However, correctly believed that Napoleon’s forces were running low on supplies and that together with the weatherNapoleon's army was swift, that his army would soon be in difficulties and then ready for an allied after a feint attack possibly in , he appeared at the Spring, rear of the Austrian Emperor agreed with his strategy. The Tsar over-ruled General Kutuzov army and the Austrian Emperor was in inflicted a weak position after the decisive defeat at Ulm and the loss of his capitalon Mack. Napoleon wanted the allies to fight him in a In this battle and he pretended to want peace negotiations.<ref> Fischer and Fremont-Barnes, p. 137</ref> He was not sincere the French captured Mack and did not want to peace. This fooled some 23,000 of the allies and persuaded them that they should attack his men. Napoleon immediately. The wily Kutuzov knew that it was a trap and he counseled for a more cautious approach. He lost out, once again and the allies agreed that once they made contact with the French army they would stand and fightfree to march into Central Europe.<ref> Chandler, p. 411401</ref>

The allies decided that they would stand and fight at the small village In November of Austerlitz1805, here they had secured some high ground and waited for the French to approachmarched on Vienna and occupied it. The allies waited for Napoleon’s Austrian army with some 88knew it could not defeat Napoleon,000 menso it retreated to an area in modern-day the Czech Republic, where they were well supplied with cavalry and cannons. The majority of met the forces were Russianarmy under General Kutsov.<ref> Abbott, John, Life of Napoleon Bonaparte. Kessinger Publishing, London, 2005, 349</ref>. Both the Austrian and Here they waited for the Russian Prussian army was organized . Napoleon did not stay long in a manner very similar Vienna and marched forward to meet the allies before the eighteenth centuryPrussians joined them. The main unit of organization He had swept aside all opposition, but he was the regiment and they were all commanded by aristocratsfaced with many problems. Nearly all of the officers were aristocrats His men had marched across Europe and they maintained a strict discipline in their units and physical punishment for even slight infringements needed rest, while worryingly, his logistics were commonbreaking down. The French arrived at Austerlitz, with a force of approximately 72,000 His men. This was smaller than the Russian and Austrians but they were among reliant up confiscating food from the finest and most experienced soldiers in Europe and they locals. Then, winter snows were highly motivated by their officers due, and Napoleon. Unlike the allies’ officers, they French army had all received their commission based on meritnot established any winter quarters. The French officer corps Napoleon was generally better than eager for a quick battle or would have to retreat because of the allies weather and this was a direct result of Napoleon’s reform and reorganization shortage of the previously undisciplined French Revolutionary armies.<ref>Abbot, psupplies. 124</ref>

==Battle of Austerlitz==The Preparations==== The two armies faced each other at [[File: Charles Thévenin - Reddition de la ville d'Ulm.jpg|thumbnail|325px|left|Austerlitz on the 1st of December 1805. battle scene]]The allies made an attack against the French rightAllies' leadership was divided. This was what Napoleon had expected<ref>Fisher, Todd & Fremont-Barnes Gregory, he had deliberately weakened it so as to entice the allies into an attack on this area<i>[https://www. He simply ordered his right to hold on for as long as possibleamazon. com/gp/product/B01LYHOVVZ/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B01LYHOVVZ&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=286956cb7b56cd3271bf57ffab84c6ca The Allies initially made some headway Napoleonic Wars: The Rise and they drove the French from a small hamletFall of an Empire]</i> (Pelican, London, 1987), but the French right retreated in an orderly manner and inflicted heavy casualties on the Russians and the Austriansp. 33</ref> The French artillery was very accurate Austrian and efficient and it managed to the Russian Emperors were present at first slow the allies battle and later stopped their attack they had a significant influence on the rightcommanders. A Corps under Davout then arrived and bolstered General Kutsov, the rightRussian commander in chief, correctly believed that Napoleon's forces ran low on supplies. Napoleon saw that With the allies had weakened their center weather, his army would soon be in order to difficulties and ready for an allied attack , possibly in the Spring. The Austrian Emperor agreed with his rightstrategy.

Napoleon placed Lannes's V Corps at the northern end of the lineThe Tsar over-ruled General Kutuzov, and Claude Legrand's Corps men at the southern end. He then placed Soult’s IV Corps Austrian Emperor were in a weak position after the center defeat at Ulm and this strengthened it greatlyhis capital loss. This was Napoleon wanted the allies to fight him in a very complex maneuver but it battle, and he pretended to want peace negotiations.<ref> Fischer and Fremont-Barnes, p. 137</ref> He was carried out efficiently not sincere and speedily thanks to the efficiency did not want peace. This fooled some of the '''Grand Armee''' corps systemallies and persuaded them that they should attack Napoleon immediately. Then Napoleon ordered The wily Kutuzov knew that it was a trap, and he counseled for a corps under Davout to attack his right flank more cautious approach. He lost out, once again, and this caught the allies by surprise, the Russian commander was drunk agreed that they would stand and soon fight once they made contact with the allies were in full retreat in this sectorFrench army.<ref> Chandler, p. 415411</ref>.

Around 8:45 AM, believing The allies decided that they would stand and fight at Austerlitz's small village. Here they had secured some high ground and waited for the Allied center had been sufficiently weakened, Napoleon summoned Soult French to discuss an attack on the enemy lines at the Pratzen Heightsapproach. The allies waited for Napoleon believed that ‘one sharp blow’ at this point could bring him victory's army with some 88,000 men. They were well supplied with cavalry and cannons. The Corps under Soult was thrown back after brave majority of the forces were Russian resistance. However, Saint-Hillaire was able to sweep the Russians from the heights and this meant that the allies center had been broken <ref> ChandlerAbbott, John, p[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]. 411Kessinger Publishing, London, 2005, 349</ref>. A French cavalry attack was driven back on the left by Both the excellent Austrian cavalry. However, the center and the right of the Allied Russian army was organized in full flighta manner very similar to the eighteenth century. The French sensing a total victory charged after main unit of organization was the fleeing troops many Russians troops drowned in a marsh as regiment, and they attempted to fleewere all commanded by aristocrats. The Austrian cavalry mounted an almost suicidal attack on Nearly all of the advancing French Corps officers were aristocrats, and they maintained a strict discipline in their units, and this may have saved the allies from complete annihilationphysical punishment for even slight infringements was common.

==Aftermath of the Battle of Austerlitz==The French were the clear winners of the battle. It ended all Austrian resistance and ended the War arrived at Austerlitz with a force of the Third Coalition. The French had lost about 1300 killed and 6000 wounded. The allies suffered much heavier losses they lost 15approximately 72,000 men and thousands more are captured. Austerlitz This was perhaps in many ways Napoleons greatest victory.<ref> Lyons, Martyn, Napoleon Bonaparte smaller than the Russian and the Legacy of the French Revolution. St. Martin's Press LondonAustrians, 1994, p. 345</ref> After his victory, he was able to force Austria to sign a humiliating Treaty and the Russians but they were forced to retreat, Napoleon had a free hand in Germany and dissolved among the Holy Roman Empire finest and established the Confederation of the Rhine most experienced soldiers in its placeEurope, which was a French puppetand they were highly motivated by their officers and Napoleon. Without Unlike the threat from Austriaallies' officers, and Russia the French were able to concentrate they had all received their commission based on the Prussians and defeated them decisively at the battle of Jenamerit. Napoleon The French officer corps was almost generally better than the complete master of Europe. Howeverallies, many believe that the victory and this was not as decisive as it first appeared, as the Austrians were able to wage a war against direct result of Napoleon in 1807 's reform and reorganization of the Russians were far from defeated. Furthermore, the English had defeated the previously undisciplined French at Trafalgar and this meant that they had complete control of the seasRevolutionary armies.<ref>Schroeder, Paul W. The Transformation of European Politics, 1763–1848, Longman (NY, 1996)Abbot, p. 518 124</ref> The English as a result, were determined to continue the fight against Napoleon, even after the battle. Nonetheless, the French had established a supremacy in Europe that had not been seen since the days of the Romans.

==Why did Napoleon Win?==Battle of Austerlitz====There were several reasons as to why The two armies faced each other at Austerlitz on December the 1st, 1805. The allies attacked the French won at Austerlitzright. One of them This was Napoleon’s military geniuswhat Napoleon had expected. He had cleverly convinced deliberately weakened it to entice the allies into an attack on this area. He ordered his enemies that he was weaker than he was by his insincere proposal right to hold on for peace negotiationsas long as possible. This fooled The Allies initially made some headway, and they drove the Tsar and encouraged him to stand and fightFrench from a small hamlet. This played into Bonaparte's hands.<ref> ChandlerStill, p. 409</ref> Then the French strategy right retreated orderly and tactics during inflicted heavy casualties on the battle were brilliant. Napoleon predicted where Russians and when the allies would attack and then attacked them at their weakest pointAustrians. 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 artillery was the superior organization of the French armyvery accurate and efficient, and it managed first to slow the corps system was flexible allies and could react to any changes in later stopped their attack on the battlefieldright.<ref> Stutterheim, Karl. <i>A Detailed Account of Corps under Davout then arrived and bolstered the Battle of Austerlitz</i>right. Pine-Coffin, John (trans.) (London: Thomas Goddard, 1807) pNapoleon saw that the allies had weakened their center to attack his right. 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 why Napoleon was able to defeat the combined armies of Austria and Russia was that they were fighting in an eighteenth<dh-century manner. Their organization, tactics and strategy were outmoded, according to a German observer of the battle.<ref> Stutterhein, p. 19</ref> The French had changed the nature of warfare and this was not recognized by the Allies. 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 victory of the French 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<ad/ref>

==Conclusions==Austerlitz was a great victoryNapoleon placed Lannes's V Corps at the northern end of the line and Claude Legrand's Corpsmen at the southern end. HoweverHe then placed Soult's IV Corps in the center, and this strengthened it significantly. This was not the decisive victory that a complex maneuver, but it has often been portrayed. Napoleon was able carried out efficiently and speedily thanks to inflict a defeat on the Coalition"Grande Armee" corps system's efficiency. Then 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 ordered a battle and allowed Napoleon’s army corps under Davout to suffer from an overextended supply line in winter. During the actual battleattack his right flank, Napoleon’s strategy worked very well. His strategy and tactics were superb. Then his army was superior to this caught the alliesby surprise, except their cavalry. His units were well ledthe Russian commander was drunk, motivated and flexible, while soon 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.full retreat in this sector<ref> AbbotChandler, p. 376415</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====