Battle of Austerlitz

The Battle of Austerlitz (Bitva u Slavkova) also known as the Battle of the Three Emperors, was one of the greatest victories by Napoleon, effectively destroying the Third Coalition against the French Empire. On 2 December 1805 (20 November Old Style, 11 Frimaire, XIV, in the French Republican Calendar), a French army, commanded by Emperor Napoleon I, decisively defeated a Russo-Austrian army, commanded by Tsar Alexander I, after nearly nine hours of difficult fighting. The battle took place near Austerlitz (Slavkov u Brna) about 10 km (6 miles) south-east of Brno in Moravia (present day Czech Republic). The battle is often regarded as a tactical masterpiece.