Blackwell Reference Online

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The formation of the Third Coalition in July 1805 led napoleon i to abandon plans for invading England and to march the grande armée from Boulogne to the east. He first defeated an Austrian army at ulm and then confronted an allied force of Austrian and Russian troops north of Vienna. He feigned weakness, first asking for an armistice and then presenting an apparently vulnerable right flank to his enemy. Tsar alexander i , who had assumed command of the allied force, took the bait. In the ensuing conflict (December 2, 1805), his weakened center was overwhelmed by the French who then shattered the Russian left wing. Two days later the Austrians sued for peace, agreeing to give up territories in Italy and Germany. The Russians retreated home. Austerlitz was one of Napoleon's greatest set-piece victories and, with the defeat of Prussia at jena-auerstädt the following year, gave him dominance of the continent. (See also napoleonic wars ) ... log in or subscribe to read full text