Austerlitz, Battle of

Battle on 2 December 1805, in which the French forces of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte defeated those of Alexander I of Russia and Francis II of Austria at a small town in the Czech Republic (formerly in Austria), 19 km/12 mi east of Brno. The battle was one of Napoleon's greatest victories, resulting in the end of the coalition against France – the Austrians signed the Treaty of Pressburg and the Russians retired to their own territory.

After taking Vienna, Napoleon marched north in search of the Austrian and Russian armies, which were assembled at Olmütz waiting for reinforcements from Prussia. Determined to bring them to battle before fresh troops arrived, Napoleon pressed on and by 1 December the armies made contact close to Austerlitz. The Austrians planned a flank attack to cut off Napoleon's retreat. Napoleon took advantage of this, protecting his front with a thin screen and falling on the flank of the Russian force as it moved past him. He defeated the flank troops, then advanced upon the remainder of the Austro-Russian force, drove them into Austerlitz, and seized the road leading to Olmütz. The Austrians and Russians fell back, sustaining heavy casualties as their retreating troops were severely bombarded by French artillery.