The Watershed: Napoleon’s Campaigns against Prussia and Russia, October 1806–March 1807

Abstract

Few campaigns are as justly famous as Napoleon’s against Prussia in the autumn of 1806.¹ Napoleon had always admired Frederick the Great and his Prussian army Now, two decades after the great king’s death, he faced the same army and Napoleon had a healthy respect for his enemy born of the formidable reputation that the Prussian army had for discipline, leadership and sheer fighting prowess. Napoleon was not taking any chances with Prussia and mobilized the largest army he had ever fielded. The expectation was that the Prussians would defeat Napoleon’s legions and that this time around Napoleon had taken on more than he could handle.²