Order of Battle at the Austerlitz campaign

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This is the complete order of battle of the French and Third Coalition armies during the Battle of Austerlitz.

France Republic with mainland in Europe and numerous oversea territories

France, officially the French Republic, is a country whose territory consists of metropolitan France in Western Europe and several overseas regions and territories. The metropolitan area of France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean. It is bordered by Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany to the northeast, Switzerland and Italy to the east, and Andorra and Spain to the south. The overseas territories include French Guiana in South America and several islands in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans. The country's 18 integral regions span a combined area of 643,801 square kilometres (248,573 sq mi) and a total population of 67.3 million. France, a sovereign state, is a unitary semi-presidential republic with its capital in Paris, the country's largest city and main cultural and commercial centre. Other major urban areas include Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Lille and Nice.

Battle of Austerlitz A battle of the Napoleonic Wars

The Battle of Austerlitz, also known as the Battle of the Three Emperors, was one of the most important and decisive engagements of the Napoleonic Wars. In what is widely regarded as the greatest victory achieved by Napoleon, the Grande Armée of France defeated a larger Russian and Austrian army led by Emperor Alexander I and Holy Roman Emperor Francis II. The battle occurred near the town of Austerlitz in the Austrian Empire. Austerlitz brought the War of the Third Coalition to a rapid end, with the Treaty of Pressburg signed by the Austrians later in the month. The battle is often cited as a tactical masterpiece, in the same league as other historic engagements like Cannae or Gaugamela.

Contents

La Grande Armée

The French army was under the supreme command of Emperor Napoleon, with Marshal Louis Alexandre Berthier as his chief of staff. General of division Nicolas-Marie Songis des Courbons commanded the artillery. The overall strength of the French army during the battle is estimated to have been about 73,000 men of all arms and 139 artillery pieces. This number also includes three battalions of men which made up the Army's train d'artillerie.

An emperor is a monarch, and usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife, mother, or a woman who rules in her own right. Emperors are generally recognized to be of a higher honour and rank than kings. In Europe, the title of Emperor has been used since the Middle Ages, considered in those times equal or almost equal in dignity to that of Pope due to the latter's position as visible head of the Church and spiritual leader of the Catholic part of Western Europe. The Emperor of Japan is the only currently reigning monarch whose title is translated into English as Emperor.

Napoleon 18th/19th-century French monarch, military and political leader

Napoléon Bonaparte was a French statesman and military leader who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led several successful campaigns during the French Revolutionary Wars. He was Emperor of the French as Napoleon I from 1804 until 1814 and again briefly in 1815 during the Hundred Days. Napoleon dominated European and global affairs for more than a decade while leading France against a series of coalitions in the Napoleonic Wars. He won most of these wars and the vast majority of his battles, building a large empire that ruled over much of continental Europe before its final collapse in 1815. He is considered one of the greatest commanders in history, and his wars and campaigns are studied at military schools worldwide. Napoleon's political and cultural legacy has endured as one of the most celebrated and controversial leaders in human history.

Marshal is a term used in several official titles in various branches of society. As marshals became trusted members of the courts of Medieval Europe, the title grew in reputation. During the last few centuries, it has been used for elevated offices, such as in military rank and civilian law enforcement.

Garde Impériale (French Imperial Guard)

Strength: 5,500 men and 24 guns. Marshal Jean-Baptiste Bessières.

Jean-Baptiste Bessières Marshal of France

Jean-Baptiste Bessières, 1st Duc d' Istria was a Marshal of France of the Napoleonic Era. His younger brother, Bertrand, followed in his footsteps and eventually became a divisional general. Their cousin, Géraud-Pierre-Henri-Julien, also served Napoleon I as a diplomat and Imperial official.

Infantry military service branch that specializes in combat by individuals on foot

Infantry is the branch of an army that engages in military combat on foot, distinguished from cavalry, artillery, and tank forces. Also known as foot soldiers, infantry traditionally relies on moving by foot between combats as well, but may also use mounts, military vehicles, or other transport. Infantry make up a large portion of all armed forces in most nations, and typically bear the largest brunt in warfare, as measured by casualties, deprivation, or physical and psychological stress.

Battalion military unit size

A battalion is a military unit. The use of the term "battalion" varies by nationality and branch of service. Typically a battalion consists of 300 to 800 soldiers and is divided into a number of companies. A battalion is typically commanded by a lieutenant colonel. In some countries, the word "battalion" is associated with the infantry.

Light infantry Type of infantry

Light infantry is a designation applied to certain types of foot soldiers (infantry) throughout history, typically having lighter equipment or armament or a more mobile or fluid function than other types of infantry, such as heavy infantry or line infantry. Historically, light infantry often fought as scouts, raiders and skirmishers—soldiers who fight in a loose formation ahead of the main army to harass, delay, disrupt supply lines, and generally "soften up" an enemy before the main battle. After World War II, the term "light infantry" evolved, and now generally refers to rapid-deployment units that specifically emphasize speed and mobility over armor and firepower. Some units or battalions that historically held a skirmishing role have kept their designation "light infantry" for the sake of tradition.

I Corps

Strength: 13,000 men and 24 guns. Marshal Jean Baptiste Bernadotte.

III Corps

Strength: 4,300men (including 830 cavalry) and 12 guns. Marshal Louis Nicolas Davout.

IV Corps

Strength: 23,600 men and 35 guns. Marshal Nicolas Jean de Dieu Soult

V Corps

Strength: 12,700 men and 20 guns. Marshal Jean Lannes

Grenadier Division

Strength: 5,700 men. General of Division Nicolas Oudinot (present, but convalescent) - effective command given to Grand Marshal of the Palace General of Division Géraud Duroc.

This famous, albeit provisional, formation was composed of elite companies from several regiments that were on garrison duty.

2ème, 3ème, 15ème, 28ème and Peale Régiments d'Infanterie Légère

Cavalry Reserve

Strength: 7,400 sabres and 36 guns. Marshal Prince Joachim Murat

Army of the Third Coalition

Opposing the French at Austerlitz were the combined imperial armies of Russia and Austria, under the nominal command of Tsar Alexander I and Emperor Francis II, respectively. However, overall field command was taken by the Russian General Mikhail Illarionovich Golenischev-Kutuzov. The Austrian forces were led by Lieutenant General Prince Johann von Liechtenstein. Total strength during the battle is approximately 85,400 men and 278 guns of all types.

The Russian Imperial Guard

Strength: 6,730 infantry, 3,700 horsemen, 100 Pioneers and 40 guns. Grand Duke Constantine

Advanced Guard of the Tsar's Army

Strength: 9,200 infantry, 4,500 horsemen and 42 guns. Lieutenant-General Peter I. Bagration
Infantry

Cavalry

Advance Guard of General Friedrich Wilhelm von Buxhoeveden

Strength: 3,440 infantry, 3,440 horsemen and 12 light guns. Feldmarschall-Leutnant Michael von Kienmayer

First Column

Strength: 13,240 infantry, 250 cavalry, 40 light and 24 heavy guns. Lieutenant-General Dmitry Dokhturov

Second Column

Strength: 11,250 infantry, 300 horsemen, and 30 light guns. Lieutenant-General Louis Alexandre Andrault de Langeron

Third Column

Strength: 7,700 infantry and 30 light guns. Lieutenant General I. Przebyszewski

Fourth Column

Strength: 23,900 infantry, 52 light and 24 heavy guns. Lieutenant-General Mikhail Miloradovich and Feldmarschall-Leutnant Johann Kollowrat

Fifth (Cavalry) Column

Strength: 5,375 horsemen, 24 light pieces. Feldmarschall-Leutnant Prince Johann von Liechtenstein with Feldmarschall-Leutnant Ludwig Prinz zu Hohenlohe-Bartenstein and Lieutenant-General Alexander Essen

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References

Austrian generals by Digby Smith, compiled by Leopold Kudrna

"Russian-Austrian Order-of-Battle at Austerlitz: 2 December 1805" by Stephen Millar