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The Battle of Austerlitz: Napoleon's Greatest Victory

History Hit

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The night was freezing cold. The hard ground shrouded in mist. By dawn the soldiers were on the move. It was 2 December 1805 and just outside what is now Brno, 3 mighty armies were about to fight one of the greatest battles in history. By the time the sun set, the French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte had achieved a stunning victory, a victory so decisive that it would set the course of European history for a decade. It was the Battle of Austerlitz.

Did Napoleon really fire cannonballs onto frozen ponds? Watch this video to find out!

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20 Comments

@Kjleed13 2 years ago

It’s a shame we’re getting more history lesson on YouTube than the actual History Channel.

@Jisaacs91 2 years ago

Napoleonic videos will never get old

@Bantercaptainxbox 12 days ago

Fin Taylor brought me here

@gregwilliamson3001 2 years ago

I wonder what Dan Snow was thinking during his interview with Ridley Scott, whilst Scott proudly boasted about belittling his historical advisers on the set of ‘Napoleon’, by asking them, “How do you know? We’re YOU there?” It seems that movie directors are now our historians?

@AJSTRIKER1 2 years ago

Thanks to Tristan Tate who shared this video to me and now i see Napoleon"s battle was much more interesting than the movie which i didn't and wouldn't see

@ejfheoshrjde 2 years ago

I wish the Napoleon movie had centered around Austerlitz instead of whatever it was Scott released.

@romanclay1913 2 years ago

“Never interrupt your enemy when he is defeating himself.”
--------- ― Napoleon Bonaparte

@TheCountofToulouse 2 years ago (edited)

While Austerlitz is famous because of it's scale, some of Napoleons victories in Italy are no less incredible. He was able to turn the tables on opponents that had him flanked, out numbered and surrounded by making pivotal decision at exactly the right time. By comparison, what made Austerlitz work was all the little things Napoleon did leading UP to the battle to cast the illusion of disorder, weakness, confusion, lack of supplies, ragged, demoralized and ill prepared. Surrendering the high ground, the Pratzen heights, was the cherry on the illusion cake that caused the Russian's to swell with confidence and take the bait.

@Matt-ls1ng 2 years ago

So badly depicted in the movie

@kariannecrysler 2 years ago

The use of terrain is top notch. The setup at the meeting highlighting the “best possible approach” for the opposition is brilliant. There’s definitely something to be said about Napoleon’s tactical thinking. Too bad bravado encroached upon that a little too much… or maybe lucky it did.