The Prussians in 1806:
Dispelling the Myths
Prologue
by James Gaite, UK
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On 14th October 1806, the French Emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte, and his talented Marshal, Louis Nicolas Davout, defeated the Prussian army at the Battles of Jena and Auerstädt. During the next thirty-nine days, the French Grand Armée, led by its inspired Marshalate, proceeded, through a vigorous and exhausting pursuit, to isolate and destroy what remained of Prussia’s much vaunted army. The legend of Prussian invincibility, which had dominated military and political thinking for the past five decades, was destroyed in little over a month.
In the two centuries that have followed these epic events, many theories have been proffered to explain the outcome of this most brilliant of Napoleonic campaigns. Through this article, it is my intention to evaluate the reasoning behind these arguments that have polarised over the years into two classes of opinion - the “traditional” view, which was put forward in the decade or two after the events, and the “revisionist” theory, which arose at the start of the twentieth century. I have deliberately omitted any personal opinions from this article and, consequently, an overall conclusion - it is my intention that the reader makes up his - or her - mind as to the cause of the Prussian annihilation.
More Prussians in 1806 Part I
The Prussians in 1806 Part II
The Prussians in 1806 Dispelling the Myths Part III [FE63]
The Prussians in 1806 Dispelling the Myths Part IV [FE65]
Prussians in 1806 Dispelling the Myths Part Va: Tactics [FE66]
Prussians in 1806 Dispelling the Myths Part Vb: Jena [FE68]
1806: A Precis
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