War of the Third Coalition facts for kids

Quick facts for kids War of the Third Coalition
Part of the Napoleonic Wars and the Coalition Wars
Napoléon at the Battle of Austerlitz, by François Pascal Simon, Baron Gérard
Date 18 May 1803 – 18 July 1806 Anglo–French war since May 1803 Formation of the Third Coalition (December 1804 – August 1805) Trafalgar Campaign (March–November 2005) Ulm Campaign and Austerlitz (September – December 2005) Invasion of Naples (Feb.–July 2006) Location Central Europe, Italy, and Atlantic Ocean Result French victory Treaty of Pressburg (22 Dec. 1805) Consolidation of the French Empire Creation of the Confederation of the Rhine (12 July 1806) Dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire French conquest of Naples Formation of the Fourth Coalition a few months later
Belligerents
Third Coalition:  Holy Roman Empire  Russia  United Kingdom  Naples Sicily  Sweden	France French satellites: Spain  Bavaria  Italy  Batavian Republic Württemberg Etruria
Commanders and leaders
Francis II Karl Mack von Leiberich Archduke Charles Alexander I Mikhail Kutuzov Henry Addington William Pitt the Younger Lord Grenville Viscount Nelson  † Ferdinand IV	Napoleon I André Masséna Pierre-Charles Villeneuve Michel Ney Louis-Nicolas Davout Pierre Augereau Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte Jean Lannes Joachim Murat Jean-de-Dieu Soult Auguste Marmont Édouard Mortier Charles IV Federico Gravina Charles Louis Eugène de Beauharnais
Casualties and losses
160,000 90,000 20,000 killed and wounded 70,000 captured 50,000 25,000 killed and wounded 25,000 captured 20,000	62,050 55,500 13,500 killed 37,000 wounded 5,000 captured 2,800 1,200 killed 1,600 wounded 2,250 350 killed 1,900 wounded 1,500 300 killed 1,200 wounded

The War of the Third Coalition was a major European conflict from 1803 to 1806. It was part of the larger Napoleonic Wars. During this war, France and its allied countries, led by Emperor Napoleon I, fought against an alliance called the Third Coalition. This alliance included the Holy Roman Empire, Russia, and Great Britain.

The main battles in Central Europe ended when Napoleon won the Battle of Austerlitz in 1805. However, fighting continued in Italy for a while longer. Napoleon's victory changed the map of Europe.

What Was the Third Coalition?

The Third Coalition was an alliance of European countries. They joined forces to try and stop the growing power of Napoleon's France. Great Britain was already at war with France since 1803. Other countries like Russia and Austria (part of the Holy Roman Empire) joined later. They were worried about France's control over other parts of Europe.

Who Fought in the War?

On one side was the Third Coalition. This included:

• The Holy Roman Empire (mainly Austria)
• The Russian Empire
• The United Kingdom
• The Kingdom of Naples and Sicily
• Sweden

On the other side was the French Empire. France had many allies, sometimes called "satellite states." These were countries that France had conquered or strongly influenced. They included:

• Spain
• Bavaria
• The Kingdom of Italy
• The Batavian Republic (now the Netherlands)
• Württemberg
• Etruria

All the countries involved in the War of the Third Coalition. Blue shows the Coalition and their allies. Green shows the French Empire and its allies.

Key Events of the War

The war had several important parts. It started with Great Britain and France already fighting. Then, other countries formed the Third Coalition.

The Trafalgar Campaign

This part of the war was fought at sea. It happened from March to November 1805. France and Spain wanted to invade Great Britain. To do this, they needed to control the sea.

The most famous battle was the Battle of Trafalgar. It took place on October 21, 1805. The British navy, led by Admiral Horatio Nelson, fought against the combined French and Spanish fleets.

• Outcome: The British won a huge victory. They destroyed many French and Spanish ships. This battle made sure that Napoleon could not invade Great Britain. Sadly, Admiral Nelson was killed during the battle.

The situation at the Battle of Trafalgar at 1:00 PM.

The situation at the Battle of Trafalgar at 5:00 PM.

The Ulm Campaign

While the sea battle was happening, Napoleon moved his army, called the Grande Armée, across Europe. This land campaign took place in September and October 1805. Napoleon's goal was to defeat the Austrian army before the Russian army could join them.

• Strategy: Napoleon used a clever plan. He marched his army very quickly. They surrounded the Austrian army near the city of Ulm in Germany. The Austrians were surprised and trapped.
• Outcome: The Austrian army, led by General Karl Mack von Leiberich, was forced to surrender at Ulm. This was a big victory for Napoleon without a major battle. About 70,000 Austrian soldiers were captured.

The French army gathered near the Rhine River in early September. About 210,000 soldiers prepared to cross into Germany.

The French invasion in late September and early October surprised the Austrians. It cut off their supply lines.

The French moved west to capture the Austrian army.

Marshal Murat was very important during the Ulm Campaign.

The Battle of Austerlitz

After Ulm, Napoleon continued to advance. The main battle of the war happened on December 2, 1805. This was the Battle of Austerlitz, also known as the "Battle of the Three Emperors." Napoleon fought against the combined armies of Austria (led by Emperor Francis II) and Russia (led by Tsar Alexander I).

• Location: The battle took place near Austerlitz (in what is now the Czech Republic).
• Napoleon's Plan: Napoleon pretended his army was weaker than it was. He made the Allied forces attack his right flank. When they did, he launched a surprise attack through the center of their lines.
• Outcome: Napoleon won a brilliant victory. The Allied armies were badly defeated. This battle is considered one of Napoleon's greatest military successes.

Napoleon with his troops the night before the battle. He is asking local farmers about the enemy's movements.

Allied (red) and French (blue) positions at 6:00 PM on December 1, 1805.

By 2:00 PM, the Allied army was dangerously split. Napoleon chose to attack their left side.

Invasion of Naples

Even after Austerlitz, fighting continued in Italy. In February 1806, French forces invaded the Kingdom of Naples. This was because Naples had joined the Third Coalition against France.

• Outcome: The French quickly conquered Naples. Napoleon's brother, Joseph Bonaparte, was made the new King of Naples.

Results of the War

The War of the Third Coalition ended with a clear victory for France.

• Treaty of Pressburg: After Austerlitz, Austria signed the Treaty of Pressburg on December 22, 1805. Austria had to give up a lot of land to France and its allies.
• French Empire Grows: Napoleon's power in Europe became much stronger. The French Empire expanded.
• Confederation of the Rhine: In July 1806, Napoleon created the Confederation of the Rhine. This was a group of German states allied with France. It replaced the old Holy Roman Empire, which was officially dissolved.
• New Coalitions: Even though France won, other European powers were still worried about Napoleon. A few months later, a new alliance, the Fourth Coalition, was formed to fight against France again.

Images for kids

• 

  In The Plumb-pudding in danger (1805), James Gillray drew a cartoon about Napoleon's attempts to make peace with Britain in January 1805.

• 

  Inspecting the troops at Boulogne, 15 August 1804

• 

  The situation in Europe in 1805 before the Ulm Campaign and the war began.

• 

  The situation from October 7 to 9. With Kutuzov's army too far away, the Austrians were in a difficult spot.

• 

  Dürenstein is on a point of land. Steep mountains go into the river, which curves around the point. The French could not see from one end of the battlefield to the other.

• 

  The Battle of Caldiero, 1805

See also

In Spanish: Tercera Coalición para niños