Franz von Weyrother
Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
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When the [War of the Third Coalition](/wiki/War_of_the_Third_Coalition "War of the Third Coalition") broke out, Weyrother was promoted to *Generalmajor* ([major general](/wiki/Major_general "Major general")). After the death of the Allied army [chief of staff](/wiki/Chief_of_staff "Chief of staff"), [Johann Heinrich von Schmitt](/wiki/Johann_Heinrich_von_Schmitt "Johann Heinrich von Schmitt") at the [Battle of Dürenstein](/wiki/Battle_of_D%C3%BCrenstein "Battle of Dürenstein") on 11 November 1805, the Allied commander\-in\-chief, the Russian General [Mikhail Kutuzov](/wiki/Mikhail_Illarionovich_Kutuzov "Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov") requested that Weyrother be made [chief of staff](/wiki/Chief_of_staff "Chief of staff") of the Austro\-Russian army. Although the two men soon fell out, as Kutuzov wanted a defensive strategy, Weyrother gained the favour of Tsar [Alexander I of Russia](/wiki/Alexander_I_of_Russia "Alexander I of Russia") with his aggressive strategy. With the Tsar's support, he created the plan for the [Battle of Austerlitz](/wiki/Battle_of_Austerlitz "Battle of Austerlitz")Chandler, p 416–417 in which the Allies were crushed by [Napoleon](/wiki/Napoleon "Napoleon") on 2 December 1805\. The defeat was so bad, the Russians accused Weyrother of being in the pay of the French. Weyrother withdrew from military life and retired to Vienna, where he died aged 51\.
His inappropriate dispositions for the battle at Austerlitz are satirised by [Leo Tolstoy](/wiki/Leo_Tolstoy "Leo Tolstoy") in [War and Peace](/wiki/War_and_Peace "War and Peace").


Was Weyrother's aggressive strategy at Austerlitz an example of good military leadership?