The Prussian king Friedrich Wilhelm III, influenced …
Years: 1806 - 1806
September
The Prussian king Friedrich Wilhelm III, influenced by his wife Queen Louise and the war party in Berlin, had made the decision in August to go to war independently of any other great power, save the distant Russia.
Another course of action might have involved openly declaring war the previous year and joining Austria and Russia in the Third Coalition.
In fact, the Tsar had visited the Prussian king and queen at the tomb of Frederick the Great in Potsdam that very autumn, and the monarchs had secretly sworn to make common cause against Napoleon.
Had Prussian forces been engaged against the French in 1805, this might have contained Napoleon and prevented the eventual Allied disaster at Austerlitz.
In any event, Prussia had vacillated in the face of the swift French invasion of Austria, then hastily professed neutrality once the Third Coalition was crushed.
When Prussia does eventually declare war against France on September 25, its main ally Russia still remains far away, remobilizing.
The electorate of Saxony will be Prussia's sole German ally.
Another course of action might have involved openly declaring war the previous year and joining Austria and Russia in the Third Coalition.
In fact, the Tsar had visited the Prussian king and queen at the tomb of Frederick the Great in Potsdam that very autumn, and the monarchs had secretly sworn to make common cause against Napoleon.
Had Prussian forces been engaged against the French in 1805, this might have contained Napoleon and prevented the eventual Allied disaster at Austerlitz.
In any event, Prussia had vacillated in the face of the swift French invasion of Austria, then hastily professed neutrality once the Third Coalition was crushed.
When Prussia does eventually declare war against France on September 25, its main ally Russia still remains far away, remobilizing.
The electorate of Saxony will be Prussia's sole German ally.
Locations
People
- Alexander I of Russia
- Charles XIV John of Sweden
- Frederick William III of Prussia
- Joachim Murat
- Johann Philipp Palm
- Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
- Napoleon
Groups
- Saxony, Electorate of
- Berg, Duchy of
- Sweden, (second) Kingdom of
- Bavaria, Electorate of
- Brunswick-Lüneburg, Electorate of (Electorate of Hanover)
- Prussia, Kingdom of
- Russian Empire
- Britain (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland)
- Austrian Empire
- France, (first) Empire of
