Third Coalition
Quick Summary
The Third Coalition was a military alliance formed in 1805 against Napoleon's French Empire. It comprised Great Britain, Russia, Austria, and Sweden, with the goal of compelling France to withdraw from occupied territories and restore independence to various European states.1
Napoleon's actions, such as proclaiming the French empire and crowning himself king of Italy, affronted Austria and encouraged the formation of the coalition. While Napoleon initially planned an invasion of Britain, naval defeats, notably at the Battle of Trafalgar, ended these ambitions.123
Napoleon then shifted his focus to the continental coalition. He achieved significant victories, including the encirclement and destruction of an Austrian army at the Battle of Ulm and a decisive triumph over Austrian and Russian forces at the Battle of Austerlitz. These victories led to the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire and shattered Austrian influence in Germany.2
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FranceThe Continental System…and defeat yet another anti-French coalition that was forming. He correctly assumed that he could still rely on his well-honed administrative bureaucracy to replace the decimated Grand Army.
Read More…and defeat yet another anti-French coalition that was forming. He correctly assumed that he could still rely on his well-honed administrative bureaucracy to replace the decimated Grand Army.
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GermanyEnd of the Holy Roman EmpireIn 1805 Austria joined the third coalition of Great Powers determined to reduce the preponderance of France (resulting in the War of the Third Coalition, 1805–07). The outcome of this war was even more disastrous than those of the wars of the first and second coalitions. Napoleon forced the main…
Read MoreIn 1805 Austria joined the third coalition of Great Powers determined to reduce the preponderance of France (resulting in the War of the Third Coalition, 1805–07). The outcome of this war was even more disastrous than those of the wars of the first and second coalitions. Napoleon forced the main…
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Christian, count von Haugwitz…during the War of the Third Coalition, he undertook the delivery of a Prussian ultimatum to Napoleon. Inspired by the Russian emperor Alexander I, the ultimatum threatened a declaration of war against France if Napoleon should refuse Prussia’s services as a mediator. In view of Napoleon’s unfavourable military position in…
Read More…during the War of the Third Coalition, he undertook the delivery of a Prussian ultimatum to Napoleon. Inspired by the Russian emperor Alexander I, the ultimatum threatened a declaration of war against France if Napoleon should refuse Prussia’s services as a mediator. In view of Napoleon’s unfavourable military position in…
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William Pitt, the YoungerPitt’s second ministry, 1804–06The Third Coalition against Napoleon’s France—an alliance with Russia, Sweden, and Austria engineered by Pitt—collapsed after the battles of Ulm and Austerlitz in 1805, and the year closed in disaster, in spite of Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar in October, which ended the invasion threat and ensured…
Read MoreThe Third Coalition against Napoleon’s France—an alliance with Russia, Sweden, and Austria engineered by Pitt—collapsed after the battles of Ulm and Austerlitz in 1805, and the year closed in disaster, in spite of Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar in October, which ended the invasion threat and ensured…
Read More