Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Napoleon on the Battlefield of Eylau (1808)

Antoine-Jean Gros: Napoleon on the Battlefield of Eylau

After a series of decisive victories on the battlefields of Central Europe, Napoleon's forces fought the Russians and Prussians at the Battle of Eylau. Though technically a victory for Napoleon (the opposing forces had to withdraw) the battle was a bloodbath on both sides and punctured the myth of Napoleon's invincibility. Marshal Ney summed up the battle as follows: "Quel massacre! Et sans résultat." ("What a massacre! And without result.")

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