La Bataille de Prusse 1809

which was ready to be collapsed by an aggressive coalition of Russian and Austrian armies. Napoleon has led historians to believe that the former was true---that the Coalition was trapped into battle on Napoleon’s plan.

Engaging a Hungry and Overextended French Army

But the condition of the French was not advantageous by any stretch of the imagination, and had Alexander’s plan to isolate the French from their line of communication on December 2 had somehow been successful, today’s historian might be writing on the genius of Alexander and how he wore Napoleon out during the battle of December 2 by engaging a hungry and overextended French army in a battle they never should have joined. The evidence of the time showed that the Russians and Austrians had the advantage, and that it would be no surprise if they had overwhelmed the ragged French at Austerlitz. News from the Battle of Trafalgar had also done its part to create a perception of French failure. The King of Naples abrogated his treaty with the French upon hearing of Trafalgar and threw his lot in with the Coalition that fall. Russian, British and Neapolitan forces combined forces in Italy and marched north. However grim that sounded to the French at the time, of course, the French recovered, sowing the seeds for Naples becoming yet another fiefdom of the Bonaparte family with first Joseph, and then Prince Murat, sitting on the Neapolitan throne. However, in the moment, the Coalition had the advantage as it would appear the French world was collapsing around them. Dr. James Shosenberg, a Canadian historian writing for Military History Magazine in 2005 in an article about the Austerlitz campaign…” What was worse for the French, on October 30, Archduke Charles had attacked Masséna at Caldiero (in Northern Italy), then skillfully extricated his powerful army from Italy and disappeared into the Alps. There, he had combined his army with Archduke John’s, and the two brothers were now moving north. Napoleon was in trouble, and he knew it. The Grande Armée was deep in enemy territory, his immediate force was heavily outnumbered and huge coalition reinforcements were on the way. Moreover, Prussia, impressed by Third Coalition successes, was showing great interest in joining it. To win the war, all Kutuzov had to do was avoid battle.”

Napoleon’s Undercutting Of The Coalition Plan

But Napoleon knew that he could overcome the perceptions of the time, or better yet the headlines of the day, by a carefully designed plan that would undercut the Coalition plan.

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