La Bataille d’ Austerlitz 1805© Marshal Enterprises

Victory Helped Sustain the Myth of French Gloire Rapp was faced with this scenario: Tsar Alexander had ordered the Russian Guard to charge Vandamme’s division which had been pressed towards the Coalition center. The Russians were in the midst of destroying this formation, as the elite Russian horsemen had already penetrated into the center of the French squares sabering the Vandamme’s infantry. Napoleon saw this and said to Rapp who was right next to him, "they are in disorder yonder, go to them that they may be set to rights." Rapp then ordered his Guard cavalry, "soldiers' you see what has happened below there, they are sabering our comrades; let us fly to their rescue." Rapp, in fact, led this small group of horsemen directly into the Russian Guard, and despite heavy casualties, led the French cavalry through the mass of Coalition cavalry and destroyed them as an entity. This climax to the battle clinched the victory for the French army and helped sustain the myth of Imperial gloire. For the rest of the Napoleonic Wars, Rapp never lost a battle despite nearly losing his life many times for his emperor. The exploits of Davout and Soult; of Lannes and Rapp, along with the leadership of Napoleon, would create a myth of invincibility that would hold forth on the European Continent for another decade. The Battle of Austerlitz, more than any other event, was the catalyst for this legend. Of course, Austerlitz remains alive in the hearts and minds of millions, even though the place where the battle took place is no longer called Austerlitz. Every time a Parisian takes a train from the Gare d’Austerlitz; or a citizen of Austerlitz, Netherlands; Austerlitz, New York; or Austerlitz, Kentucky think about the name Austerlitz, then they are reminded of the great battle and what happened over 200 years ago. Austerlitz is the Soul of the French Revolution.

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