Allied European armies choose not to attack Napoleon’s much smaller force because they think he’s brilliant and assume he’s laid a trap somehow!

posted by LockeProposal on HistoryAnecdotes

In an inversion of Austerlitz, the sun burned off the mist on the plain by 11 a.m., allowing Blücher’s staff to count Napoleon’s army of only 21,000 infantry and 8,000 cavalry, against 75,000 Allied infantry and 25,000 cavalry, although Napoleon had more guns. So respectful were they of his skill as a tactician, however, that they assumed there must be a ruse, and didn’t counter-attack in full force, though they did engage with larger numbers.

Source:

Roberts, Andrew. "Defiance." Napoleon: A Life. New York: Penguin, 2014. 705. Print.

Further Reading:

Battle of Austerlitz / Battle of the Three Emperors

Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher, Fürst von Wahlstatt

Napoleone di Buonaparte / Napoléon Bonaparte / Napoleon I

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>In an inversion of Austerlitz, the sun burned off the mist on the plain by 11 a.m., allowing [Blücher](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b9/Bl%C3%BCcher_%28nach_Gebauer%29.jpg)’s staff to count [Napoleon](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/50/Jacques-Louis_David_-_The_Emperor_Napoleon_in_His_Study_at_the_Tuileries_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg)’s army of only 21,000 infantry and 8,000 cavalry, against 75,000 Allied infantry and 25,000 cavalry, although Napoleon had more guns. So respectful were they of his skill as a tactician, however, that they assumed there must be a ruse, and didn’t counter-attack in full force, though they did engage with larger numbers. ______________________ **Source:** Roberts, Andrew. "Defiance." *Napoleon: A Life*. New York: Penguin, 2014. 705. Print. ______________________ **Further Reading:** [Battle of Austerlitz / Battle of the Three Emperors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Austerlitz) [Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher, Fürst von Wahlstatt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gebhard_Leberecht_von_Bl%C3%BCcher) [Napoleone di Buonaparte / Napoléon Bonaparte / Napoleon I](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon) ___________________________ **If you enjoy this type of content, please consider donating to my [Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/HistoryLockeBox)!**

1 comments

[–] Mattvision 1 points (+1|-0)

Self-fulfilling prophecy?

Allied European armies choose not to attack Napoleon’s much smaller force because they think he’s brilliant and assume he’s laid a trap somehow!

1 comments

/s/HistoryAnecdotes