Austerlitz

December 2, 1805
Strategic Context
In early 1805, Austria and Russian join the Third Coalition to help Britain and Sweden defeat Napoleonic
France. Napoleon Bonaparte acts quickly, before the Coalition can concentrate its forces or entice Prussia to
join them. Bonaparte marches east, pouncing on and destroying an Austrian army at Ulm before the Russian

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army arrives in theater. Bonaparte continues his rapid advance to destroy the Russian army, nominally
commanded by Tsar Alexander I but in practice by Mikhail Kutusov, but settles for occupying Vienna as
Kutusov escapes his trap. Kutusov urges a fighting withdrawal to weaken Bonaparte but Alexander favours a

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battle. Bonaparte feigns weakness, requesting a truce, appearing nervous, even ceding the Pratzen Heights,
key terrain between the two armies. This only confirms Alexander’s intent to fight, and so an attack plan is
drawn up.

Stakes
+ A French victory would leave only
one significant Coalition army in the
field, the Austrians in northern Italy,
splintering the Coalition.
+ An Allied victory would encourage
Prussia to join the Coalition and
threaten the long French lines of
communication across Europe.
By Jonathan Webb, 2014 ©
 Austerlitz, 1805
Strength

 Grande Armée  Allies

 Napoleon Bonaparte  Alexander I

 Mikhail Kutusov

 74,500  77,100
 157 guns  318 guns
 Well  Well

By Jonathan Webb, 2014 ©

Europe c.1807
The battlefield is relatively open but the many gentle slopes can obscure visibility. The most prominent high features are the centrally located Pratzen Heights and
the steeper but considerably smaller Santon Hill in the north. The lowest areas are near the water features, the most prominent being the Goldbach Creek and the
Littawa River. The water features are largely frozen although the Goldbach is still a significant obstacle with its rough, marshy ground, and bridges covered by towns.
Small towns dot the battlefield with the largest being Lapanz Market in the northwest, Sokolnitz along the Goldbach in the south, and Austerlitz itself in the east.
Grande Armée Kritschen 0 1 2 km
(Bonaparte) Boesnitz

N
Santon Olmutz Road
Hill
Walspitz
Bellowitz Holubnitz
Latein

Lapanz Jirschikowitz Blasowitz

Markt

Austerlitz
Puntowitz Stary
Vinogrady

Krzenowitz
Turas Pratzen Pratzen
Kobelnitz
Heights

Wazan

Goldbach Creek
Littawa River

Hostieradek

Sokolnitz

Augezd

Telnitz Allies
Satschan Pond (Alexander/Kutusov)
The Allies
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Grande Armée Kritschen 0 1 2 km
Lannes
(Bonaparte) Murat Boesnitz

Symbol guide Landmarks

Santon Olmutz Road
Lannes/ Bagration
Hill N
Bessieres Murat Walspitz
Bellowitz Holubnitz
Latein
Lichtenstein
Bernadotte

Lapanz Jirschikowitz Blasowitz

Bernadotte
Markt
Constantine
Constantine

Soult
French
Bessieres
Allies Austerlitz
Puntowitz Stary
Bernadotte
Vinogrady
Infantry
Soult
Infantry
Turas
Kobelnitz
CavalryPratzen CavalryPratzen
Heights
Krzenowitz Kollowrath

Soult
Kollowrath Wazan
Lichtenstein
Goldbach Creek
Littawa River
Davout
Hostieradek Buxhowden
Buxhowden
Sokolnitz
Grande Allies
Armée
(Alexander I/Mikhail Kutusov)
(Napoleon Bonaparte) Augezd

Allies
77,100
74,500
Telnitz
Satschan Pond
Buxhowden
(Alexander/Kutusov)
 Austerlitz, 1805
Casualties & Aftermath
French: Allies:

8,800 27,000
or or
12% 35%
The French victory was decisive, at least temporarily. The Austrians immediately sought peace,
giving up a large war indemnity and much of northern Italy in the Treaty of Pressburg, while the
Third Coalition collapsed. France and Prussia even agreed to a treaty of alliance but it did not
last. Prussia began mobilizing in August 1806, soon to be joined by Britain, Russia and
Sweden in the Fourth Coalition against France. Bonaparte again convincingly defeated the
Allies in 1806-1807. Austerlitz did not even keep the Austrians down for long: in 1809, the
Austrians joined Britain in the Fifth Coalition, winning brief glory against Bonaparte at the Battle
of Aspern-Wessling before being defeated at the Battle of Wagram.

By Jonathan Webb, 2014 ©

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By Jonathan Webb, 2014 ©