AUSTERLITZ, a small t. in Moravia, about 12 m. e.s.e. from the t. of Brfinn. stands on the Littawa, and has a pop. of 3800. A. has a handsome palace; but it is celebrated chiefly as the place where Napoleon I., in Dec., 1805, defeated the combined forces of Austria and Russia, under the command of their respective emperors. After the capitu lation of Mack, at Ulm, Oct. 17, Napoleon had marched on without opposition to Vienna, of which he took possession Nov. 11, 1805. The Russian and Austrian forces had retreated to Moravia, and Napoleon had fixed his head-quarters at Brfinn. Towards this locality the troops of Alexander and Francis marched in five parallel columns to offer battle. The movements of the allies were ill-conducted, and evidently made with out a due knowledge of the strength of the French army. which was concealed by the tactics of Napoleon. It amounted to about 80,000 men: while the Vied armies numbered 84,000, of which 16,000 were cavalry. The battle commenced at seven, on the morning
of Dec. 2, and the Russian line was soon broken. The left wing of the allies suffered severely towards the close of the engagement, and endeavored to save themselves by crossing a frozen lake; hut Napoleon ordered his artillery to tire upon thd ice, which was broken up, and about 2000 perished in the water. According to Alison, the allies lost 30,000 in killed, wounded, and prisoners, and the French 12,000. Russian and French accounts make their respective losses smaller. The battle was followed by an armistice, the terms of which were dictated by Napoleon; and immediately after, on the 26th of Dec., by the treaty of Presburg, which determined that Austria should surrender the Venetian territories, and also her possessions ill Swabia and the Tyrol.