Primary sourceSpeech1 December 1805
Proclamation at the Bivouac before the Battle of Austerlitz
Napoleon I, Emperor of the French · 1 December 1805
Napoleon's address to his soldiers on the eve of the Battle of Austerlitz in 1805, urging them to victory.
Napoleon personally delivered this address to rally his troops before the decisive Battle of Austerlitz.
About this source
What it is
This is a proclamation spoken or issued by Napoleon Bonaparte to his army on 1 December 1805, the night before the Battle of Austerlitz. The French text survives and is preserved on Wikisource among his collected speeches and proclamations.
Why it matters
The proclamation shows how Napoleon used words to inspire his soldiers before one of his most famous victories. It reveals his skill as a military leader who combined strategy with rousing language, and it reflects the national pride and rivalry with Austria, Russia and Britain that shaped the Napoleonic wars.
Look closer
- What emotions is Napoleon trying to stir in his soldiers?
- How does he describe the enemy, and why might he choose those words?
- What does this proclamation leave out about the risks and costs of the coming battle?
This speech is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Napoleon Bonaparte on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
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