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THIS MONTH'S PAINTING
Interview between Napoleon I and Francis II after the Battle of Austerlitz (4 December, 1805), by Jean-Antoine Gros (1771-1835)
A decree passed on 3 March, 1806, ordered the commissioning of 18 paintings in commemoration of the great moments of Napoleonic rule. The victorious campaign of 1805, and in particular the Battle of Austerlitz, took the lion's share of subjects on the list. Gros, he was ordered to reproduce the interview of Francis II of Austria and Napoleon I of France after the battle. © RMN
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NAPOLEONIC PAGES
The official description of the Battle of Austerlitz, according to Napoleon's instructions
Starting during the Consulate, Napoleon Bonaparte ordered the Dépôt général de la guerre to write the history of his campaigns. The Consul, and later Emperor, gave the first 'instructions', and then corrected the proofs written by others. The aim was to create works similar to those written by Berthier for Egypt and Marengo, accompanied by a set of maps.
The description of the Battle of Austerlitz was begun as the beginning of 1806. Philippe Tranchant, comte de Laverne, held to be the main writer, had the honour of being described as the author.
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200 YEARS AGO
1-2 December (10-11 Frimaire), Napoleon won a crushing victory at Austerlitz over an allied army of Russian and Austrian troops
7am
The allied troops led by Kienmayer attacked the troops of Colonel Schobert of the 3 de Ligne and the Tirailleurs du Po firmly lodged in the village of Telnitz. Even though much greater in numbers, the attackers could not dislodge the tenaciously resisting French.
8am
Buxhöwden started moving his troops down from the Pratzen heights to support the attack Telnitz. Allied commander Langeron also left the heights to attack the nearby village of Sokolnitz.
8-30am
Noticing as the morning mist cleared that the allies had significantly weakened the centre on the Pratzen heights in order to support the attacks upon Telnitz and Sokolnitz, Napoleon sent Soult to take the heights; he completed his mission in a mere half-an-hour.
9am
In attempt to make up for the mistake of abandoning the Pratzen Heights, Kutuzov launched all his troops (including the imperial Russian guard) in an attempt to retake the plateau. At the same time, Bagration (to Kutusov's right) performed an orderly retreat under pressure from Lannes and Murat. At the same time, the French imperial guard moved to bring support to Soult on the Pratzen Heights.
11am
After violent cavalry engagements, Kutusov ordered a retreat towards Austerlitz, a movement which turned into general flight in the afternoon.
Circa 1pm
Caught between Soult and Davout, the Austro-Russian left wing was forced flee over the frozen marshes east of Telnitz
6 December (15 Frimaire), an armistice is signed between France and Austria
7 December, Napoleon adopts, by decree, the children of the officers and soldiers who died at Austerlitz.
Wishing you an excellent Austerlitz commemoration.
Peter Hicks
Historian and Web editor
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© this Napoleon.org weekly bulletin is published by the Fondation Napoléon. Reproduction or all or part of this bulletin is forbidden, without prior agreement of the Fondation Napoléon.
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THIS WEEK
SNIPPETS
- Watch the Austerlitz re-enactment from your armchair
- Napoleon's tooth sold at auction
JUST PUBLISHED
The December book of the month:
-- GOETZ Robert, 1805: Austerlitz: Napoleon and the Destruction of the Third Coalition
PRESS REVIEW
- The Nelson Dispatch, vol. 8, Part 12, October 2005
NEW ON THE WEB
Act of Union, a full text digital resource regarding the act of union between Great Britain and Ireland
Go to the Napoleonic Directory and select "History" in the web site
scroll bar menu
WHAT'S ON
- Conference: Two centuries of Napoleon's rule in the Eastern Adriatic, Koper, Zadar, Republics of Croatia and Slovenia
- Festival: Sixth Marie-Louise Week, Parma, Italy
- Exhibition: "Battle in a sittingroom." The Austerlitz wallpaper, Rome, Italy
- Exhibition: Napoleonica: arms, medals, prints, memorabilia of the Napoleonic period, Arezzo, Italy
- Exhibition: In the Service of Napoleon. The Dutch in time of War 1792-1815, Delft, Netherlands
- Exhibition: Napoleon on Campaign, the emperor's bivouac, at the Arc de triomphe de l'Etoile, Paris, France
- Exhibition: Napoleon: An intimate portrait, Washington, USA
- Exhibition: Napoleone e il Piemonte. Capolavori ritrovati, Alba, Italy
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