The Battle of Austerlitz: Napoleon’s Masterpiece

By Bobby Darvish, Iranian-American Ex-Muslim, Former Vegan, Former Democrat, Former Socialist, Former CAIR-Columbus Executive Director, Former Muslim Forum of Utah President, Christian Conservative LDS Priest

The Battle of Austerlitz, also known as the Battle of the Three Emperors, was one of the most significant and decisive engagements of the Napoleonic Wars. Fought on December 2, 1805, near Austerlitz in the Austrian Empire (modern-day Slavkov u Brna, Czech Republic), this battle saw Napoleon Bonaparte’s forces achieve a remarkable victory against the combined armies of Russia and Austria. The battle demonstrated Napoleon’s military genius and led to the Treaty of Pressburg, altering the balance of power in Europe and temporarily deterring Prussia from joining the anti-French coalition.

Prelude to the Battle

Following his stunning victories at Ulm and the occupation of Vienna, Napoleon sought to bring the Third Coalition—comprising Britain, Austria, and Russia—to a decisive battle. With his Grande Armée positioned deep within Austrian territory, he deliberately weakened his right flank to lure the enemy into attacking. The Russian Tsar Alexander I and Austrian Emperor Francis II, eager to crush the French, took the bait and advanced toward Napoleon’s seemingly vulnerable right flank.

Napoleon had carefully studied the terrain around Austerlitz, including the Pratzen Heights, a crucial elevated position. As expected, the Allies launched their main assault on the French right, believing they could encircle Napoleon’s forces. However, this played directly into his strategic plan.

The Battle Unfolds

At dawn on December 2, 1805, the Allies attacked the French right flank, which was deliberately weakened under Marshal Nicolas Soult’s command. As they committed their forces, Napoleon unleashed his masterstroke: a central attack on the Pratzen Heights. This move, executed with precision by Soult’s corps, shattered the Allied center.

Meanwhile, the French right, under Marshal Louis-Nicolas Davout, withstood repeated assaults from the Austrian and Russian troops, buying enough time for Napoleon’s central thrust to collapse the enemy’s position. The French forces encircled and devastated the remaining Allied troops, forcing them into a chaotic retreat. Thousands of Russian soldiers drowned in the frozen lakes near the battlefield as they fled.

Aftermath and Consequences

The Battle of Austerlitz was a decisive French victory. The Austro-Russian army suffered between 25,000 and 36,000 casualties, including prisoners, while Napoleon’s forces sustained only around 9,000 casualties. The defeat shattered the Third Coalition, forcing Austria to sign the Treaty of Pressburg on December 26, 1805. This treaty ceded significant territories to France and its allies, including Bavaria and Italy, further consolidating Napoleon’s power in Europe.

Additionally, the victory at Austerlitz dissuaded Prussia from immediately joining the anti-French coalition. However, Prussia would later enter the conflict in 1806, leading to another major engagement in the War of the Fourth Coalition.

Legacy of Austerlitz

Napoleon considered Austerlitz his greatest victory, and it solidified his reputation as one of history’s greatest military strategists. His use of deception, terrain analysis, and precise timing in executing his battle plan remains studied in military academies worldwide. The battle also marked the height of French dominance in Europe before the eventual decline of Napoleon’s empire following the disastrous Russian campaign of 1812.

Austerlitz stands as a testament to the effectiveness of well-planned maneuver warfare and the impact of leadership on the battlefield. It remains one of the most studied battles in military history, symbolizing the zenith of Napoleonic warfare.

Citations

• Chandler, David G. The Campaigns of Napoleon. Macmillan, 1966.

• Roberts, Andrew. Napoleon: A Life. Penguin Books, 2014.

• Riehn, Richard K. 1812: Napoleon’s Russian Campaign. John Wiley & Sons, 1990.

• Esdaile, Charles. Napoleon’s Wars: An International History, 1803-1815. Penguin Books, 2007.

• Rothenberg, Gunther E. The Art of Warfare in the Age of Napoleon. Indiana University Press, 1978.