The Battle of Austerlitz (1960) - full transcript

WITH MY BODY, THEY WILL RISE AGAIN

IN MEMORY OF SOLDIERS WHO DIED IN
THE BATTLE OF AUSTERLITZ, DEC 2ND, 1805

"I WISH I COULD BE MY OWN POSTERITY

AND READ WHAT A POET
WOULD MAKE ME FEEL, DO, AND SAY."

NAPOLEON

I TRIED TO BE THIS POET BY TAKING
VAN EYCK'S MOTTO:

ALS IK KAN! (AS BEST I CAN!)

ABEL GANCE

- What time is it?
- Seven o'clock.

- And the weather?
- Foggy and cold!

- Mr. Constant!
- Yes, General!



Why so glum?

- It's your new hat.
- What about it?

You know it's your duty
to break it in for me.

Twenty-two inches…

circumference…

I have a sensitive head.

Another two or three days of torture,

and I'll be able to wear it.

How tall am I today?

Still the same, five feet two inches.

Take a better look, you idiot!

Two more inches.

You're cheating again.

- Constant!
- Yes?



If you ever write a memoir,
add two inches.

Five feet, four inches.

Only you will have ever
known my real height.

What did the hatter tell you?

It was chaos in the store!

Everyone was crazy!

If peace with England was signed,

yours would be the most
famous name in history.

I don't need Mr. Poupart's
opinion on my politics.

Just the price of my hats.

- 60 francs each.
- No discount when I buy four?

No, Citizen General!

It's the size of your head, he said!
Everyone wanted to touch it!

I won't pay more than 40 francs!

Or I'll go elsewhere.

Theft!

Why are you waddling like a duck?

I'm breaking your shoes in, too!

My head may be the same as yours but,
alas, my feet are larger.

- It's obvious!
- Take this!

For your feet. Hats off to you.

Finished, Mr. Duplan?

Just a few more seconds, Madame!

My husband gets upset
at all the men around me.

Thank you!

Leave me, gentlemen!

The darling will finish off.

Yes, Madame!

As jealous as my husband.

- Did he bite you?
- Yes, Madame.

That's a good sign for you.
He only bites those who love me.

- Then he pleads my case, Madame.
- Not as well as you.

- Madame's milliners!
- Just a second!

Come back alone tomorrow
morning to do my hair.

Go now.

Talleyrand!

Why do you bring me these crybabies?
What's going on?

The news is well worth it.

Lord Cornwallis has taken great pains.

The English are offering you
the Treaty of Amiens.

Signed by your brother
Joseph on behalf of France.

- They all signed?
- Yes!

England, Russia, Spain, Portugal,

Morocco, Tunisia,
Algeria, Turkey and Greece.

For months, I've been working…

pardon, we have both been working,
for the fraternization of Europe.

We're smashing everything, it's wonderful!

Let me assure you that with this treaty,

without knowing it yet,
Europe is offering you the throne.

At last!

Thank you, gentlemen!

Long live England

and the reconciliation of
the peoples of Europe,

with the French Republic!

You are suffocating me, gentlemen!

I'm off to tell my wife.

- Is he at a loss for words?
- Yes, he's overjoyed!

Paris is eager for peace with England.

- Is it true?
- Yes.

- It's really been signed?
- Yes, last night.

- Ah!
- My love…

I almost have the throne.

You know, the prediction of
your witch in Martinique?

Yes.

It was true.

Yes.

As you say, darling!

- Will I be Queen?
- Even better.

More than a queen?

Anything is possible now.

What's wrong? Aren't you happy?

You love another.

- Who are you talking about?
- Your Italian.

- Grassini?
- She's returned to Paris.

I know you love her.

You know, yes,

but my feelings stop at her breast.

I haven't seen her in a year.

Close the window and draw the curtains.

Be quiet, you gossipers!

Could Charlemagne have done better?

- Four o'clock in the morning!
- He summoned us at midnight.

The lady is having the night of her life!

Ladies, you mean.

For he goes at night
to one lady in particular.

- Madame de Vaudey?
- Yes, not counting Grassini.

Hubert, apparently Josephine and Lydie.

Let us sleep!

Gentlemen, wake up!

You must earn what the people pay you!

To the King of England, Emperor of Russia,

Sultan of Turkey,

Shah of Persia, King of Bavaria
and Bey of Algiers.

I said Shah of Persia, not shadow!

- How do you spell "Shah"?
- With two aitches, General.

Good, continue!

Having raised France above
all the peoples of the West,

with the Treaty of Amiens, I have
closed the temple of war forever.

Hubert!

Have Talleyrand prepare
a treaty with Switzerland.

It will cede all of Valais to us.

And to prevent any discussion,

tell Berthier,

to have General Ney amass,

30,000 men on the Swiss border.

Now.

Your Majesty, France will never forget,

that,

England,

by granting us freedom of navigation

with the Treaty of Amiens,

will allow us to compete peacefully.

You!

For the Sultan.

Fear not, revered Sultan,

with the Treaty of Amiens, France
and England will evacuate Egypt.

Ah, for the Bey of Algiers.

No.

No.

An evacuation of Egypt
could complicate things.

I'll ask Talleyrand to reply.

He'll know better what to do.

Continue!

Madame Caroline Murat and General Murat!

Governor of Paris.

Consuls Cambacérès and Lebrun.

Miss Elisa Bonaparte.

Mr. Joseph and Mr. Louis Bonaparte.

Mr. Benjamin Constant.

Mr. Palma. Miss George.

General Bernadotte.

General Lannes.

Madame de Salle.

General Augereau.

What a family!

Madame Pauline Leclerc.

Greetings.

- Have a seat.
- I cannot sit here, Madame.

You purposely chose a chair that
does not go with my dress.

Why do you hate my sister so?

You know very well.

Do you remember our night at
the Treaty of Amiens, four months ago?

What about it?

Perhaps…

A son!

A son!

Josephine, give me a son!

His Excellency, Charles Fox,

and Lord Cornwallis!

Fox, Bonaparte.

General, I cannot express the extent
of my admiration for you.

Is it true, My Lord, after the storming
of the Bastille you said,

"This is the most wonderful
event in history"?

I did and I still
consider it thus, General.

So the peace of Amiens is

the second most important
event in the history

between our people.

Glory be to you.

My brief stay in Paris has but one
purpose: On behalf of England, I greet,

thank and embrace you, the greatest and

most intelligent man of both countries.

The duty of my office calls.
I must leave immediately.

I must tell you something.

Do you know people are
talking about you in Paris?

Recognize your two victors, people,
bow your docile heads.

Pauline captures hearts while
Bonaparte captures cities.

Why take every comer?

You do the same with women,

except I'm not a hypocrite.

All Paris is talking.

I bought you a hotel, Rue de Courcelles,

a château in Villers-Cotterêts.

I've given you more jewelry than my wife.

Instead of thanks, as your
husband lies dying in St Domingue,

you sleep with Lafont,
a stupid little actor.

Bravo! You're jealous.

You don't raise the standard of the
family with your reckless spending.

But I support your businesses.
I keep your factories going!

- Oh please!
- Let people talk!

You can ask me anything.

I don't care about anyone but you.

If one day you look for
true love, you know where to turn.

You are the most beautiful
girl in the world.

Anything else, dear brother?

No! Yes!

You must leave and join your husband.

- No!
- I insist!

Here, every woman is jealous of you.

- Leave!
- No!

It's an order!

Fine! I'll go, since it's
what your wife wants.

- He’s hesitating.
- We must push him to…

- Now's the time!
- The crown is within his grasp.

If refused, we'll go to Corsica.

- I swear it!
- Me too!

Joseph, you are the head of
the family! You must insist on it.

Just a moment! I'll talk to him.

Talleyrand works for us.

Ah! My dear Carnot!

I'm happy to see you.

Why do you remain in opposition?

Am I not as much a Republican as you are?

I'm afraid it won't be the case
for much longer.

A statesman who governs,
this has not been seen since 1789.

Governing France,

after 12 years of such
extraordinary events,

is no easy task.

That is certain, but you are still
a soldier, my friend,

and that is your excuse

for confusing governing with commanding.

Do you forget, Carnot, that I have
just brought about peace?

Obtained maritime freedom
from the English.

Thereby saving French industry.

I signed amnesty for 140,000 emigrants!

Created a Civil Code! Have you forgotten?

No.

I also don't forget
the Revolution is what put you here.

France needed a leader.

A military leader.

Yes, a military leader.

It found one.

The people, alas,

always demand strength in the
aftermath of disorder.

Nobody stopped you from using yours.

You were better known than me.

The Revolution isn't to be used
for one's benefit.

The Revolution is over!

I criticized its excesses
without changing its principles.

I've not changed the colors of its flag.

We must respect the Constitution.

No constitution has remained unchanged.

It is always subordinated to men,
to circumstances.

Besides, the name and type
of government mean nothing,

provided citizens have equal rights,

and that justice is done.

There it is.

Your fiery sincerity and love for France.

And I hope,

you never have any other motive,

as you face history.

I'll need increasing strength and power,

to keep Europe balanced on my shoulders.

That, Carnot, is the real reason
driving me grudgingly to,

ah, how should I put it,

absolutism.

I know.

And that's why, General,

I ask you to withdraw
from a political life

that does not align with my principles.

Whatever may come,

I will always be your friend.

As you wish, Carnot.

It's dead in here! Let's have some fun!

- He looks angry.
- He's expecting trouble.

Carnot has just had harsh words with me.

Maybe he's right?

Don't let him bring you down.

What about my family?

They urge me to ascend to the throne!
Are they right, too?

In these months of peace,
nothing would please me more,

than to renounce public life.

If the Bourbons heard you,
they would return.

- They would hang you, Fouché.
- You too, General.

What do you suggest, friends?

Well, you don't have
full political authority, that's

the chink in your armor.

That's the instability
of the three consuls system.

You must become a consul for life.

The last step before the throne.

- Think so?
- Yes.

He's right.

Better to negotiate with Europe
in the name of an empire,

than a tired, troubled republic.

Use your genius and
courage to quash anarchy.

To them you are a most desirable ruler.

Do you really think so, Talleyrand?

I speak not as Talleyrand but as
the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

- The greater your power…
- And by divine right!

The more you can unite Europe,

which, essentially, only admires strength.

Napoleon.

You know what our father told me
about you before he died?

I would save my life if only
I could see him again.

He whose sword made kings tremble.

He who would change the face of the world.

On behalf of the Bonaparte family:

obey our father.
The empty throne awaits you.

Take the crown!

We will be the basis of your new nobility.

- What do you think, Murat?
- Your soldiers will cry tears of joy!

Very well.

The empire, the empire!

You think I owe the people
a new sacrifice?

Konarev!

Plan an urgent referendum,
for lifelong consulship.

Do you know Madame de Staël?

Too well!

I received a letter from Madame Grassini.

She sends you her best wishes.

I was told you were beautiful, Madame.

I was told you were polite!

What are you talking about?

We were quoting Cornelius
about political instability

and just as it has the brilliance
of glass, it also has its fragility.

To my mind, Madame, it is not glass,
it is a diamond.

Would you share your favors between
General Moreau and my brother Lucien?

With them, I only share
my concern for your ambitions.

What if I find you a little somewhere
in exile, to allay these concerns?

You are as good an actress as Palma.

You're crazy, Juliette!

Perhaps, but less than all of you here!

Hypocrite! I saw you with Madame Récamier.

So what?

I'll tell your old wife!

Thank you, I'm suffocating.

They're all after me, like ants!

Carnot, my family…

- Constant…
- Oh no!

Not you, Benjamin.

- I don't have any brothers.
- Idiot!

- Can you see me as emperor?
- No worse than anyone else.

With heels.

- Is Madame alone?
- Yes.

It's funny.

As I was coming up the stairs,

I thought I heard a violin.

You were dreaming, my little Corsican.

Do you still love me?

What are you waiting for?
Close the window.

REFERENDUM: THE FRENCH PEOPLE HAVE
BEEN CONSULTED ON THE QUESTION

OF NAPOLÉON BONAPARTE
BECOMING CONSUL FOR LIFE

ANSWERED WITH AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF
3,577,259 IN FAVOR AND 8,400 AGAINST

THE FRENCH PEOPLE APPOINT
AND THE SENATE DECLARES

NAPOLÉON BONAPARTE CONSUL FOR LIFE

You're the scoundrel!

You were to put your sword at 18 Brumaire.

The 19th was a wall

which broke all memories.

- Even my gratitude?
- Yes!

I'll join the opposition.

You speak like Saint-Just,
but you act like Caesar!

This anonymous filth. A parallel with
Caesar, Cromwell and Bonaparte.

- Did you write it?
- Yes, it was I.

I also hear you're parodying me
in amateur theater with Elisa,

in an indecent outfit!

Yes.

Why provoke me?

To make you feel shame.

You treat your family like slaves!

I owe you nothing!

You owe us everything!

Fine.

- You're Interior Minister!
- A hollow title!

All your ministers are puppets
who cannot act.

You know by suppressing freedom you've

removed the most beautiful
word in our language.

I'm removing you from my life,
and from government!

I’ll sign the banishment papers now.

Leave! Go!

Come, mother.

- He's crazy!
- Go, let me talk to him, my child.

Mother, you swore you'd
never return to the palace.

I'd like to tear you away from here,
my child.

I tremble for you. All this theatrical
gilding scares me.

Especially for Lucien.

- No!
- Yes!

- You love him more.
- Yes.

Because he is the unhappiest.

All those who do not rise with me

will not be part of my family!

Calm yourself! Calm yourself!

Fine.

- I will appoint him Ambassador to Madrid.
- Thank you.

Oh, how conscious of your appearance
you have become!

You even have a mirror in your office!

Oh! No. It's Josephine's, she forgot it.

It's true, I do look like you.

But, mother, why bore yourself
in my palace?

Look at your daughters,
they spend one million a year!

Really? Maybe I should, too!

On the condition that you give me two.

- May it last!
- Yes, it will last a long time.

Why do you always rest
your hand like that?

Oh, I don't know, maybe it's
to prevent my habit,

of pulling the left sleeve
with my right hand.

You don't have a stomachache?
I remember your father…

Mother!

- I hadn't thought of it.
- Ah well!

- Maybe you're right.
- No!

Don't worry.

My little Napoleon!

I have bad news from London
and Saint Petersburg.

Luckily, I've already taken precautions.

For England and Russia,
you still represent the Republic.

It's the ideas of the
Revolution they hate.

The storms brewing against you will only

abate once you take the throne.

Indeed!

Fouché recently claimed the opposite.

Fouché? He was not well informed.

Yes, I know.

In fact, I intend to part with him.

He's in everyone's shoes, including yours.

If that's true, General,

he must be very uncomfortable in mine.

Your wit exasperates me, Mr. de Taleyrand.

Not Taleyrand, Talleyrand, with two els.

Two wings? I can't tell.

Good taste is your
personal enemy, General.

If you could get rid of it with
cannon fire, it would not exist.

You're a thief.

A coward.

A faithless man.

- With no faith in God.
- Nor you, General.

That's my business.

I do not believe in God, it's true.

But I do believe in you,
when you're not angry.

You always stand on my toes.

You were right to say that
Fouché is not to be trusted.

He's blinded by his enemy General Moreau,

and he doesn't understand
England is everywhere,

and is your mortal enemy.

Moreau and Fouché, yes. I thought so.

From this moment on…
Fouché is no longer Minister of Police.

I'll appoint Réal in his place.

And Régner…

to the Justice system.

Don't be foolish, Taleyrand, idiot!

With two els, General.

Take them off!

They're big enough now!

I'll be on the terrace.

You know I can't leave you alone.

Go to bed!

What's that?

Alert the guards!

- Over there! He had a knife!
- There, in the bushes!

I saw a shiny dagger.
That way! Shoot!

It's Cadoudal!

Thank you, Constant.

You saved my life.

Go to bed.

Leave me now.

You scared me.

I heard gunfire, General.

I need to talk to you.

Quickly, put on your usher's coat.

I don't want anyone to see your real face.

Give me a moment.

You heard, it was Cadoudal.

You are the living target of both
the Royalists and the Jacobins.

But England is pulling the strings.

All plots originate in London.

- Can you track the source?
- Yes.

We need to gain the trust of
their head of counter-espionage,

Sir Hammon.

Of course, it will be no easy task.

Méhée de La Touche!

- Their famous spy?
- He's locked up.

For his life, I obtained this
letter of accreditation

and their code grid,

which opens the most secret
doors of their services to me.

Magnificent!

What do you think?

- Did you draw this?
- Yes.

My plans to invade England,
but not Ireland.

They're false, of course.

I made it so they will buy it from you.

- Great idea, General!
- Tell them that you, Frioul,

usher of my private office, you alone
know my secret hiding place.

Put that away.

And tell them you'll sell them all
my military plans at a high price.

Find out more about
a plot by General Moreau,

which Talleyrand spoke of.

You're risking your life.

It's nothing against yours, General.

Keep the £50,000.

It's yours, you earned it.

These documents are fantastic.

How many conspirators?

Fifty. The most dangerous being Cadoudal.

Three groups aim to kill you
and restore the Bourbons to power.

A brave Frenchman will come either
via the coast or the Rhine.

I won't let that bunch of assassins
spoil all my work!

I'll give you my orders
for your secret police.

Thank you, Frioul.

Duroc!

Sit down. Write.

Surround Paris with posts and bivouacs.

Shoot on sight those who come out.

Garrison on the warpath.

Day and night police march on the Seine.

An army of watchmen on the Normandy coast.

Prepare the carriages.
I'm leaving tonight for Boulogne.

Duroc!

Madame de Vaudey will accompany me.

Incognito.

Please sit, gentlemen.

Decrès, I confirm that England

will never obtain any other
treaty than that of Amiens.

I will never suffer their bases
on the Mediterranean.

You had my approval for
2,200 ships and nine gunboats.

Yes, Sire, it's a question of acquiring
150,000 men and 10,000 horses.

- How far have you got?
- Let me show you.

This huge fleet is in
construction in your arsenals,

day and night, from Brest to Antwerp.

Hmm.

My compliments to you, sir.

A thousand years of outrage to avenge.
You have two months to finish.

You asked me for a report
on St. Helena, General.

St. Domingue,

will take the island from
England as soon as possible.

And since my boats are being seized…

Write, Daru!

I hereby decree,

that all English residing in France
will be taken prisoner.

My fleet will be divided
into eight squadrons.

Two at Etaples. Be seated
at the table, gentlemen!

Two in Wimereux, for
the vanguard and reserve.

And, prepare the first appointments,

in the new Order of the Legion of Honor.

Berthier! Inspection tomorrow at dawn.

I was waiting for you.

Come, quick.

Come here!

I hear you're still seeing
Eugene in Paris.

It's to give your wife
the wrong impression.

Oh, my love!

I'll be more at ease here.

Oh, yes!

What's this?

It's what's left of my bathing suit.

- Your generals took it from me.
- What?

- So they saw you completely n…
- Well, yes.

But I lost them.
They know nothing of our love nest.

You're scandalous!

Sadly, scandal doesn't pay the bills.

If you were
more generous, I wouldn't need...

Where are the invoices?

Under your pillow.

- No!
- Yes!

I warn you I'm in a hurry.

You won't refuse me!

I only have but half an hour.

Ready for departure, General.

But an American inventor has been
waiting to talk to you for weeks.

Again? I don't have time!

Excuse me.

I have been waiting six weeks
for you to see me.

But sir, who gave you permission?

Well, I would like to show you something.

You're the only man of our era
who can understand me.

I come on behalf of Livingston
who signed the treaty,

through which you sold us Louisiana.

For 14 million, it's called a gift.

A gift indeed.

The Americans will never forget the
addition of a new star to their flag.

That's why I didn't want
to give this to the English.

What is this crappy boat?

The means to conquer England.

I already have hundreds, look!

In the Channel.

Sweet follies! Utopias!

But this one will work.

And headwinds, Nelson's squadrons,
what can beat those?

This can.

Oh yes? Where are the sails, sir?

Do you see sails, General? There are none.

- Oars?
- None of those either.

Driven by the Holy Spirit?

Steam.

Steam?

I can build a boat
powered by a steam engine,

that moves in any weather
and three times faster.

I'll present your submission
to the academy.

If your invention came true,
it'd change the world.

Yes, it would change the world.

Your name?

My name is Robert Fulton.

You love France and I love your country.

This would be the best way
to affirm our friendship.

Steam!

Steam!

See you soon.

Indeed, why not?

Take great care of that parcel,
it contains a steamboat.

I'm sorry, General, that I must
bring you bad news.

This is from the secret service.

A note from English minister Drake
to the Duke of Enghien.

"It matters not by whom
the animal is struck down,

you must simply all
be prepared to join the hunt."

The Duke of Enghien?

Mr. Fouché!

Well, well!

Your friend Fouché wants
to win back his stripes.

You seem upset, Mr. Fouché.

The air is full of daggers around you.

I see your eyesight is improving.

General Pichegru is hiding on
Rue des Petits-Champs.

He met last night with General Moreau
on Rue Montmartre.

What else?

As for the elusive Cadoudal,

I know he's planning an ambush,

to stab you himself tomorrow
on the road to Malmaison.

Since I am no longer Minister of Police,

I have informed my replacement.

So I am a dog?

To be knocked down in the street.

I will take the liberty of operating
in a private capacity tomorrow,

and Cadoudal will not escape me.

But here is some more news,

a report from police in Strasbourg.

"The Duke of Enghien,
residing in Ettenheim,

gathers many emigrants there,

including General Dumouriez."

Dumouriez!

Pichegru!

Moreau!

Three Republican traitors in the
service of a windbag king!

All three supposed friends of mine!
Former comrades!

What mockery!

They want close combat?

Fine!

I will meet war with war.

Mr. Réal, Minister of Police.

Mr. Régner, Justice Minister.

We've arrested Cadoudal's servant.

He confessed that a young man,
the object of general respect,

was about to join
the conspirators in Paris.

The Duke of Enghien.

Him.

Enghien lives close to the border,
he knows Mr. Drake very well.

He must be the suspect prince.

Take him as a hostage before Louis XVIII
to ensure your peace of mind.

Méneval!

Put an end to these horrific attacks.

Isn't he the grandson of the great Condé,

and the Bourbon family?

Who say your blood is less
dear than theirs.

Write!

The Council, meeting in this very place,

on 19th Ventôse 1802,

before Talleyrand, Réal,

Régner, ministers in office, decides:

Order to Generals Caulaincourt and
Ordener to enter the Duchy of Baden,

with 300 dragoons,

to go to the city of Ettenheim to take,

the Duke of Enghien.

A violation of German soil?

With no certainty the
conspirator is the Duke of Enghien?

Let's wait until he is on French
soil before we apply the law!

It's him!

I can feel it.

If not, he'll pay for the others.

I will instill terror,

as far as London.

Mr. Fouché.

You will work with Mr. Réal,

until the day I give you
back your ministry.

Because, in spite of everything,

I consider you to be the
best informed man in France.

Gentlemen, dismissed.

It's serious. Read my handwriting,
is it legible?

"Question the Duke of Enghien immediately

about his alleged conspiracy,

with Cadoudal and Pichegru.

If his answers leave
doubt in favor of the accused,

I order his execution suspended."

Now go, and keep me posted
at my wife's place.

Ah, check!

Leave me!

Two seconds too late.

Réal had asked not to be awakened.

When he saw your letter under his door...

Two seconds too late!

Because my
Minister of Police wanted to sleep?

You should have broken
the door down, you idiot!

No surprise that the court condemned…

the Duke of Enghien to death
after his confession.

But…

this judgment was to take place

only after Mr. Réal had questioned him,

on a crucial point.

This is a crime that leads nowhere.

More than a crime, General, it's a fault.

- You advised me.
- No!

I advised you to have him
taken hostage, not killed.

Be quiet!

I am destiny's plaything.

I wanted to save him.

Why didn't he write before?

He did write, General.

But I had found the moment
inopportune, after the judgment.

Why didn't you give me this
letter before the execution?

You ordered everything
over by four o'clock.

There is, what I say,

and what to do, at certain times.

If you'd given me this letter,

I'd have pardoned him.

Savary, you bear the greatest
responsibility for this murder.

Get out!

Imbecile!

A Minister of Police who
doesn't wish to be woken,

is a useless idiot!

There are cases in politics,

from which one can only
escape through mistakes.

Your four newspaper editors are waiting.

See them.

Gentlemen!

All these conspirators wanted
to kill me, and thus the Revolution.

I had to defend it.

The Duke of Enghien was plotting,
like the others.

Excuse me?

I thought…

I have spilled blood,

and I may spill more,

but not in anger,

because bloodletting

is a part of political medicine.

There!

Thank you, gentlemen!

Ah no, Constant, too hot!

- What is it?
- You must immediately be crowned emperor.

Then once you have a successor,

the temptation to murder you

would be removed.

Fouché, no!

A dictatorship under the title of
Protector was enough for Cromwell.

Lifelong consulate is enough
to achieve your aims.

We fought Europe,

to forge republics,
not to give it monarchs.

To do the opposite would be absurd.

In politics, absurdity is not an obstacle.

You are defending your places
as consuls at my side.

- Oh, General!
- Yes!

France will accept a Bourbon
if she is denied a Bonaparte.

Emperor? With a republican army?

Allow General Soult to respond.

I am entrusted with representing the army.

It is ready to proclaim
you king or emperor,

and sees this as the only solution
for the French Revolution's salvation.

- Impossible!
- Enough.

Thank you, gentlemen.

General, the foreign ambassadors
are here for the hearing.

On my way.

- What are those papers?
- Of no importance.

No secrets, Fouché!

So it's war you want?

General. What are you accusing us of?

Your multiple attempts
to have me assassinated!

Buying my generals!

The sordid drawings in your gazettes!

Every wind from England
brings only hatred and outrage!

Do you want to adhere to
the Treaty of Amiens or not?

Six months later, your troops still
occupy Malta and Alexandria.

Do you want peace or war?

If war, you'll have it!

Until one of our nations is in ruins!

If you have doubts about my views
on Egypt, My Lord,

I can assure you,

yes, I have thought much about Egypt,

but I'll not compromise
peace to reclaim that land.

That's not all, My Lord!

The rock of Malta, is of great
maritime importance to you,

but is of greater importance to me.

By holding it, you are violating
a solemn treaty signed with us.

For me…

I'd rather you held Montmartre,

than Malta!

You think you intimidate
the French with your weapons?

You can kill us, My Lord,

but intimidate us? Never!

We just want to live in harmony.

Then respect the treaty, to the letter!

Or I'll cover the Amiens treaty
with a black cloth.

In the same places, General,

from where you chased the people,

where Henri III was assassinated…

Henrietta of England poisoned,

You have just made a serious
affront to my country.

Woe to those who do not
respect the treaties.

Ah!

Mr. Dédouville, you will report the
insults suffered at the Russian court.

Write this in code.

To Admiral Villeneuve in Toulon.

Sit there!

Nelson must believe I
have new ambitions for Egypt.

How naïve!

Set sail for the south.

Then hurry to the English Channel.

If we can hold the strait for six hours,

we'll hold the world.

His Excellency, Count Dédouville,
Ambassador of France.

- Were they all in black?
- All of them.

So that little Czar Alexander,

and his courtesans dared mourn
the Duke of Enghien before you.

Yes, General.

- No sign of civility?
- An icy silence.

He wants to act the avenger? Him?

A son who let his father be
murdered by his current advisors.

Even worse, General.

Czar Alexander signed a
secret treaty with Prussia,

to split your forces between
England and the continent.

Duroc!

Take my place!

Write!

Your Majesty,

The Russia's mourning
is an insult to our courts,

which condemned the Duke of Enghien.

You'd have done better to mourn
for my friend,

your father.

None is more peace-seeking than I!

If you want war, tell me frankly.

Use the most cutting

valediction possible.

"Na-po-le-on."

More memorable.

I have the honor and pleasure of being

the first to call you Majesty.

Yes!

Emperor?

The title has been free since Charlemagne.

We believe, Sire,

that the new Empire's Constitution
and laws are now ready.

You know,

the title of French Emperor
is already on everyone's lips.

They were waiting for you to act.

You speak sweetly, Talleyrand!

You did this yourself, Your Majesty.

Myself, Cambacérès, Fouché, and
your brother Joseph waiting at the door,

simply assisted.

They know not to search for rank
on a battlefield,

when you can get it in an anteroom.

Let them in!

I see you've heard?

Right, Fouché?

Duroc!

My brothers and sisters
will be princes and princesses,

an annual allowance of one million.

My civil list will consist of the proceeds

of the Crown estates

and an annual income of 25 million.

You, Fouché, will take over the police.

Duroc, I name you
Grand Marshal of the Palace.

Draft this decree for me immediately.

Tomorrow morning, present to the Senate

the report in which Talleyrand completes
the plan, so that in the afternoon,

my official appointment as,

Napoleon I, Emperor of the French,

will be done.

Tomorrow? But General…

Pardon, sire, it's impossible!

In France, we admire the impossible!

You, Joseph!

Today, summon our uncle, Cardinal Fesch.

Tell him I appoint him
Grand Chaplain of the Empire.

Let him go and treat the
pope with obsequiousness,

to persuade him to consecrate me
at Notre Dame.

Are you crazy, Napoleon?

Pardon! Your Majesty!

For 18 centuries, no pope has left
the Eternal City.

And Charlemagne...

Pope Etienne came to France
to crown Pepin the Younger.

Pope Pius VII,

will come to Paris for the
coronation through seduction or fear.

Even if I have to fetch him
myself with soldiers.

But you didn't marry in church...

He need not know that.

And if he finds out,
the Church is accommodating.

Everyone get to work!

Every hour lost is another
chance for misfortune.

Constant!

What's that?

It's for the proclamation, Majesty!

Don't grovel, my boy. Let me see!

No!

I'll wear this carnival outfit,

tomorrow!

After the coronation,

have a frock coat made for me.

Simple, with no embellishments.

Next to your generals' resplendent suits?

Is that so the enemy cannot target you?

No. I hadn't even thought of that.

But…

You're right.

- The frockcoat's color must be…?
- Gray, clearly.

Now that you're about to become emperor,

it's no longer appropriate I
be a lady in waiting.

Perhaps…

first lady of your wife's palace.

It's already signed.

So of course, you'll send
Mademoiselle d'Avrillon away?

Of course.

Oh, my little invoices?

Little?

Balance for acquisition of
Tuileries Castle in Auteuil:

150,000 francs.

A folly, but delightful!

- Four servant women.
- There should be seven of them.

- Nine domestic staff.
- It's a very large house.

- A reader.
- To help me get to sleep in the evening.

- Three coachmen.
- Three?

Indeed.

You cost me more than my sisters do.

But less than Josephine.

This is the last time I settle
your debts. It's too expensive,

for such a cheap product.

You know very well, Majesty,
this is priceless. Unfasten me!

Let's be quick.

- Hmm?
- Yes.

Don't move the clock forward
like last time.

Oh!

- Me?
- Yes!

Let me in!

Open up or I'll break the hinges!

What's wrong with you?

I'm sick of this! Hear me?

Her perfume!

Enough!

Do I listen in when you take lovers?

I've decided to take my family's advice.

I want a divorce! You hear me?

What? Divorce?

Please.

Listen.

If you obey me…

You know I can't force you to leave.

I have resigned myself to you.

Do the same!

Spare me this kind of embarrassment.

Yes.

- I'll obey.
- Completely?

Even to the point that Madame de Vaudey,

be your first lady at the palace?

In a few weeks, you'll be Empress.

You know that by that time,

we will never leave each other.

- Yes.
- Huh?

I love you.

I know all about you.

I know today you changed
your dress five times to please me.

You know because you pay for them.

Yes.

It's true.

I also paid your supplier and refused,

to accept reduced staff for you.

You, at least,

you set the clocks back.

- What does that mean?
- Nothing.

Serious news, sire!

The Ambassador of England has left.

The Treaty of Amiens is no more.

If the English want to force us
to jump the ditch,

we'll jump it!

They may take a few colonies from us,

but I'll bring terror to London,

and they will shed tears of blood.

His Holiness Pius VII
has just left Nemours.

At last!

I must go halfway,

and meet him at Fontainebleau.

So, it's war?

First, the coronation!

Forgive me, Holy Father,

for ignoring church etiquette.

And I, General, have even worse
military etiquette.

There is something, Holy Father,

that bothers me.

You crown me emperor as if
forced to do so.

You sit before me looking like a martyr,

offering your sorrows to Heaven.

But you are not my prisoner.

What the hell, you're free as a bird.

Comedian!

I'm the comedian?

I'll give you a comedy
that will make you cry!

The world is my theater!

The role I play is that of master!

And author!

The actor owns you all:
pope, kings, peoples!

If I wanted it, you would
just be a poor priest.

Let me tell you something, sir.

Your stupid robes don't impress me.

And if you continue,

I will tear them apart with my spurs!

Tragic actor!

Nothing is ready, it'll be a disaster!

I'll get tangled up in it.

Napoleon! Napoleon!

A dress as long as the Empress'!

Impossible, Princess.
Protocol demands one yard less.

Change it then!

- No!
- Napoleon!

I refuse to carry Josephine's mantle!

Me too!

Officially, it's hold the mantle.

Fine, but only if our mantles are…

…held by our chamberlains.

Very well.

Sire, these are the symbols of power.

Yes.

You mean,

the accessories of power?

Good. Kellermann will carry the crown,
Pérignon the scepter,

Lefevre the sword, Berthier the orb,

and Talleyrand the basket for the mantle.

Mr. de Ségur, sort out the details

and establish a protocol for me.

- Very well, sire.
- Another thing.

As we will be at Notre-Dame, your
son will be on guard at the palace.

- Very well.
- Isabey!

I need seven large drawings of the
main phases of the coronation.

Garb, seating arrangements
for my family, etc.

- By when, Majesty?
- I'll be in Boulogne for five days.

When I return, everything should be ready.

That's imposs... I'll do my best, Majesty.

Pardon, Majesty…

A rumor is circulating that your mother
will not attend the coronation.

Correct.

Add her to your drawings anyway!

After the ceremony, have David paint
the greatest painting ever.

More beautiful than Veronese's Wedding
at Cana. It must be magnificent!

Mr. Rémusat!

Tell my uncle Pesch

that tonight he is to secretly oversee
my religious marriage, with my wife.

Talleyrand and Berthier as witnesses.

Also buy 14 horses for the
cavalcade at 2000 francs each.

No!

One thousand, five hundred francs each!

Show me the 12 young pages
and Josephine's dress.

Have the regent affixed to my sword and

adorn Josephine's dress with
the most precious jewels!

What to do with this mountain of costumes,

Mr. Rémusat?

Put them wherever you can.

His apartments are overflowing.

The large lounge will be
the artists' lodge.

Tell me, Isabey…

Here they are!

Open this!

Oh, it's marvelous!

What a great idea!

That's me!

Is that me?

I'm so little!

But I don't have red hair!

What about me? I'm not there?

Josephine made sure of it!

Madame, I wouldn't do such a thing.

It's a scandal, she taunts us!
Someone stole from me!

I won't stand for such insults!

Isabey, where is the doll?

It was here earlier, Your Majesty,
I don't understand.

I won't go!

- I've had enough!
- Please!

- I found the Princess.
- It's me!

- She squashed me!
- You will address me formally!

- I wouldn't squash a puppet!
- See? She called me a puppet!

Don't worry, Princess, I'll repair it.

Come, my friends.

At this very moment…

their coach is stopping
in front of Notre-Dame.

The emperor, in purple velvet
embroidered with gold

holding the scepter,
steps down from the coach.

To his left, the Empress,

gems sparkling on her white satin dress,

smiling, she looks like
she's 25 years old.

Don't worry, Mr. de Ségur, continue.

The emperor and the empress
enter the cathedral.

A hundred-thousand people shout.

The Pope descends from his pulpit,

and begins to sing
"Veni Creator Spiritus".

With both hands, the emperor touches,

the book of the Gospels presented
to him by the Grand Chaplain.

And he replies,

"Profiteor."

With his hand on the Gospels,
the emperor speaks.

Everyone kneels.

I swear,

to maintain the integrity of
the territory of the Republic,

to respect the laws of the Concordat,

to uphold the Legion of Honor,

and to govern,

solely for the happiness
of the French people.

This is the sacred anointing.

The pope blesses the imperial accessories,

and gives them to the emperor.

First, the ring, which he
slips on his finger.

And then, the mantle,

the hand of justice,

and then the crown.

The pope places it on the emperor's head.

The emperor takes the crown
from his own head,

and places it on the empress' head.

I thought the cavalcade
in the streets would never end.

- And it was so cold in Notre-Dame!
- Frioul, close the door!

I have very serious news.

The Austro-Russian armies
are marching on France.

They threaten Bavaria,

and are already on the outskirts
of the Black Forest.

Our secret agents are formal.

If the emperor does not land
in England within two weeks,

he'll be in a terrible bind.

We may have pushed him to
the throne too quickly.

- We must warn him immediately!
- No.

Let him savor his triumph a while,
his rest will benefit us.

And I need to think.

It's freezing here. Frioul, make a fire!

He's disappeared, lazy man!

Here they are! Let's go to meet them.

And…

not a word of this!

Mother Letizia!

See what advantage I took of the pope?

A feast of Church and Army.

Wow! What a day!

Worse than a battle, but I think I won.

What a great performance!

That's it! The curtain has fallen.

It is to me, ladies, to me alone,
that you are so charming.

Pauline, did you watch the ceremony?

Did you see the pope's face?

When I took the crown from his hands
and put it on my head myself?

What God gave me,
beware those who touch it.

Oh, mother!

What a pity you did not come!

It was magnificent!

If you'd seen how wrapped up I was,
like a magot!

It felt like we were at the opera.

Joseph…

If father could see us!

- Ah, if only…
- Yes, I know, mother.

It will go on.

I have never been so tired,
I'll sleep well tonight.

Duroc! Berthier! Ségur!

Prepare the coaches.
We leave tonight for Boulogne.

- Decrès!
- Sire?

Read my last dispatch to Villeneuve.

"Mr. le Vice-Admiral,
I hope that you have arrived in Brest.

Act fast, with my squadrons
assembled there.

Enter the Channel. England is ours.

We are ready, everything is on board.

In 24 hours, it will be over."

How long has he been gone?

- Two weeks.
- And since?

Every minute, our observers
hope to see his squadrons arrive.

If the wind is good, it shouldn't be long.
Eh, Bernadotte?

Soult, what do you think?

- Mr. Robert Fulton!
- Ah, Robert Fulton.

Sorry, but your boat sank in front of
the Ile des Cygnes in Paris.

Yes.

The academy's report presents
you in a negative light.

Since then, I have been developing
a new propeller ship.

It travels against the current at a
speed of three and a half miles per hour.

- Bougainville can attest to that.
- Yes.

Your ideas are good, but the
academy rejects your inventions.

As utopian and purely theoretical.

As such…

Look, I also designed the Nautilus.

I went underwater in it myself.

I managed to stay
underwater for five hours!

And I covered six leagues like this.

And my torpedo!
Here is the model of my torpedo.

I can blow up an enemy ship 60 feet away.

- I did experiments.
- Yes, but without results.

English ships won't dare approach.

A gun hammer is attached by a long rope

to a box containing 100 pounds of powder.

It's still only a model, of course, but…

if you give me a little time...

No! That's the one thing I don't have.

It's very interesting, but I have no time,

to adapt it to my squadrons.

Frioul! Hat!

Your Majesty…

I came to you out of confidence
in the greatest man in Europe,

but I was wrong, I'm sorry.

I just hope that…

Your Majesty will not regret it one day.

I never regret anything!

Goodbye, sir.

Your Majesty, news!

From a secret agent who traveled
across Spain and France,

without taking even an hour to rest.

Admiral Villeneuve's squadron is in Cadiz,

remaining anchored from fear of Nelson.

What are you saying, Daru?

That good-for-nothing is in Cadiz!

Where he'll be blocked.

What a navy!

What an admiral!

It's unheard of!

Pitiful!

He sacrifices everything
as long as he saves his own skin!

What the hell can I do,

with people like that?

Two years of preparation!

A hundred and fifty thousand stranded!

All these sacrifices,

for nothing!

In Cadiz!

When we were waiting for him in Boulogne!

Since we must abort that plan…

we'll meet our enemies in Vienna.

Berthier, write!

My 150,000 men,

stationed from Brest to Ambleteuse,

will leave immediately.

They will, in utmost secrecy,

travel across France and Germany,

for three weeks, to Vienna.

But it's 500 leagues away!

Yes! Yes!

Shoes! Shoes!
Take care of that right away, Daru!

Listen carefully to what I say.

The forces of Hanover,

along with Marmont,

will join Duisburg on September 29th.

Behind Ulm.

You, Soult…

will arrive on the Rhine
on September 24th,

with your 40,000 men,

preceded by the 22,000 horses
of Murat's cavalry.

There, you'll find Davout's 20,000 men,

Lannes' 18,000,

Ney's 24,000,

Augereau's 14,000,

with my imperial guard,

and myself.

Frioul! The map of Ulm!

From now on, we will call our
ranks the Grand Army.

We leave for Paris in one hour!

We'll surround the
Austrians without firing a shot!

Yeah, well, it'll be hard work!

Where is the little corporal
leading us now?

- New Year's Eve in Vienna!
- Who said we wouldn't go?

VIENNA

SCHOENBRUNN

Generals, I must speak with His Majesty.

- Nothing from my wife?
- No, sire.

Quick, Berthier,
I have to make a decision.

"Paris, serious reactions
to the Trafalgar disaster.

Economic and financial unrest
demands rapid military success."

Next!

"People are rushing the banks
to get their bills refunded."

- The exact state of the army?
- Cold and hungry.

Desertions multiply,
hospitals are crowded.

A quarter of the troops are missing.

That's very serious!

Our position is very far away,
300 leagues from our bases.

And many men are assigned to
these long communications.

A winter campaign is impossible,
so we must act now.

News, Marshal!

From your secret envoy in Prussia, sire.

Read it!

"The immediate
mobilization of 180,000 men,

is decreed by King Frederick William."

We must leave now for Bruenn.

Sire, you already face

Kutuzov's 30,000 men in Moravia,

who joined a Russian army
of 70,000 men in Olmeutz.

- Our numbers?
- Forty thousand.

Against 100,000? No hesitation!

But, sire, 180,000 Prussians
will join them in two weeks!

All the more reason to
go on the offensive before,

a Russian retreat impedes us.

- A retreat by the Russians?
- It's obvious.

The Russians are not crazy
enough to risk my offensive,

without reinforcements.

If the army learns the
unfortunate news from Paris,

it will fall to pieces.

You must guard yourselves on all sides.

If you want to attack,
a French victory is difficult.

What did you say, Berthier?

You know very well that by
appearing to constantly attack,

I'm in fact defending myself.

Ségur, write!

Dear Josephine…

Ségur…

who's the turkey in her Sunday best?

Marie-Louise.

The Austrian emperor's daughter.

I pity the fool who marries her.

What was I saying?

- Dear Josephine…
- Not one letter since I left!

That's neither courteous nor tender.

From your great heights,
deign to care for your slave,

a slave who… etc.

Sign off, my boy.

Gentlemen!

We leave for Bruenn immediately.

Long live the emperor!

Long live the emperor!

General Rey!

Have the footing here

dug out to increase its steepness
on the enemy's side.

Strengthen it.

We'll call it…

Santon Hill.

We'll demolish that farm…

and use the beams to
reinforce Santon Hill's defenses.

Berthier! Tell General Saint-Laurent
to advance his canons,

as far as Czernowitz.

Take a good look at this land, men.

It will be a battlefield and
you'll play a role.

Bring me the exact topography in one hour.

What are you writing there, young man?

All I see and everything you say, sire.

To establish the truth later.

You'll have a lot to write
in 48 hours' time.

General Marescot!

Throughout this area,
dig out traps for enemy cavalry.

Is that a château, Soult?

That's where I set up
my headquarters, sire.

Château Austerlitz overlooks
a village by the same name.

- Say that again!
- Château Austerlitz.

What's wrong?

It's exactly where I set up
the headquarters of,

my unit in Boulogne.

What unit?

You'll see.

Retreat, quickly! I have them!

Retreat? You said this
would be the battlefield!

I changed my mind, for reasons
I need not explain.

- What time is it?
- Ten o'clock, sire.

Soult, evacuate Château Austerlitz.

Evacuate the château?

It's dangerously exposed.

I can already hear Lichtenstein's
cavalry rushing towards it.

- Where do you hear it, sire?
- In my head, of course!

HEADQUARTERS OF THE EMPEROR OF RUSSIA

His Majesty the Czar

will receive General Kutuzov.

- Kutuzov!
- Always Kutuzov!

Strike this name from our conversations!

- He's in there!
- Let him hear me!

I don't care.

He was once a great man.

Fit for a museum!

General Weyrother,

Chief of Staff, Austro-Russian armies,

and Marshal Buxhowden!

I think, General, that we should

request that our emperor
take command of the troops.

We will relegate Kutusov
to a subordinate role.

Because we want to apply,

General Weyrother's genius
plans to the letter.

Isn't that right, sir?

Not exactly genius, but logical.

Because my unit follows the theory,

of the great Frederick's oblique order,

taking Bonaparte's Castiglione
strategy as an example.

Well said, General.

After a false frontal attack,

I will do as Bonaparte
would do in my position:

Surround him by a wing to force him
to fight on two fronts,

so as to cut him off
from the road to Vienna,

push him back into Bohemia, defeated,

and definitively isolated,

from his forces in Austria and Italy.

Magnificent!

His Majesty awaits
Prince Dolgorukov and his staff!

Let's get to work!

Let's evaluate the forces on site.

I accept command of the army.

His Majesty Francis II,

Emperor of Austria!

We've decided, Majesty,

that General Weyrother
will prepare the battle plans.

And, if you permit it,

I shall lead our armies.

You'll stay close to me.

Write quickly!

Here is the Lichtenstein cavalry.

General Kutusov!

Time is of the essence, gentlemen.

His Majesty Francis II and myself,

would like to know your feelings,

about an immediate offensive.

Our experience advises an
evacuation of Olmeutz,

to a stronger place, and to move
our armies back 20 leagues.

Why should we flee, General?

No, Majesty, we do not flee, but retreat,

which will allow us
to await reinforcement,

from His Majesty the King of Prussia's
300,000 men.

What if Napoleon comes after us?

No, he won't dare leave his headquarters.

He's far too cunning, he must be careful.

- He has only 40,000 men, Majesty.
- How many do we have?

A little over 100,000, Your Majesty.

Two against one, and yet you are afraid?

You don't know him, then?

Let us not face a possible defeat.

Do not laugh at our greatest warrior!

His Majesty courts too much risk here.

He should be in St. Petersburg,
among his people.

Prince Bagration questions
the courage of our Czar!

My mind is made up.

Definitively.

Let me prove to you, Your Majesty,

that you were right to trust us.

Letting me attack Marshal Soult's
French cavalry,

before Vyskov with my
3,000 horses tomorrow.

We shall gladly attend,

this prologue to our personal operations.

Isn't that right, Francis?

- Savary!
- Yes.

Has the emperor lost his mind?

He knows there's only one detachment
in Vyskov,

yet they have no reinforcements
or orders to retreat,

attacked by this pretentious
little Dolgorukov's 3,000 horses.

Sire, look at Soult,
he is weeping with fury!

You cannot let this detachment
of the 4th line be crushed!

These are my men, sire.
I don't understand you.

Let me counterattack and
cover them with my artillery!

Just 500 riders, and I'll take them all
back to Siberia in an ambulance!

- But sire...
- Since when do I need advice?

The battle hasn't begun.
I eschew the appetizer.

- Allow us, Sire…
- Be quiet!

You are children!

My brave friend!

I simply wanted to prove to Your Majesty,

to beat Napoleon, we only have
to approach bravely.

If I had any doubts about
our immediate offensive,

you destroyed them!

Your Majesty!

I'm ordered to announce the
surrender of your troops in Vyskov.

How many dead?

Unknown. Perhaps 200.

How many prisoners?

Four officers and 100 cavalrymen.

I've never seen such indifference.

So?

You want our lines to fall back?

Yes! We absolutely must retreat.

Davout and Bernadotte are
still too far away.

Savary, write! To His Majesty Alexander I…

I send General Savary to compliment
him on his joining the army.

And kindly request a meeting
to discuss an eventual armistice.

Furthermore, may God… etc.

He must be sick.

What he's doing is insane.
Speak with Larey, his doctor.

- General Morlan…
- Very well.

Accountant General… Commissary General…

Marshal Bessières.

Thuillard, Chief Postmaster.

What's this? No napkins, this is war!

Oh for goodness sake!

General Savary!

Remove his blindfold!

No!

I do not accept a personal meeting
with your master, General.

But I agree to send him a delegate,
Prince Dolgorukov.

General Kutuzov.

Przybyszewski.

Didn't I tell you that the day Bonaparte
was afraid, he would be lost?

If he doesn't accept our terms, we attack!

Let's not miss the opportunity.

Sire! Sire!

Both emperors are in Austerlitz.

Marshal Soult evacuated without losses.

Murat!

Deploy a few hundred Mamluks
in front of our lines.

As soon as they see the Russian cavalry,

fall back hastily,
feigning the greatest terror.

Leave them prisoners.

- Mamluks do not flee!
- Do what you must!

But make it seem there's
panic in our ranks.

Let them think I plan to retreat.

Sire!

His Majesty Alexander prefers
not to speak with you.

He asks you to meet his
envoy, Prince Dolgorukov.

I'll go.

It's out of range of our canons.

You can't put your life
on the line to talk to that twerp?

My eagerness will increase
my enemy's presumption.

He'll think me ready to do
anything for an armistice!

General Exelmans!

Go with him, you'll answer for his life.

My life for his!

- Berthier!
- Sire?

Watch me with a spyglass.

If at the end of the meeting,
I raise my arm,

have my proclamation
read aloud everywhere,

so Dolgorukov may repeat it
to his emperors.

What proclamation?

Savary, write!

Soldiers,

The Russian army

wishes to avenge the shameful
surrender of Austria at Ulm.

But, we occupy formidable positions,

and by marching to my right,

they expose their flank!

You disclose your plans before battle?

Why do you want the enemy to know?

You are not a psychologist, Lannes.

Though I disclose my plans,
they won't believe it,

and will have the opposite response.

Excellent!

Soldiers,

This victory,

will end the campaign,

and the peace treaty I sign
will be worthy of you,

and my people!

Since you have been
appointed by Alexander I…

will you tell me the Russian
conditions for peace?

The new European balance demands,

you leave the country, General.

I am the emperor, not a General, mister.

And I am not a "mister".

I am a prince and private advisor
to His Majesty Alexander I,

Czar of Russia.

All of Russia?

I could take some from him.

If you wish immediate peace,
you must abandon,

Italy, Belgium, Savoy, Piemont…

that we may establish bastions there.

You must leave!

Scoundrel!

You have neither tact nor moderation,
speaking to me like that!

If your emperors have nothing
but stupid proposals,

we'll settle elsewhere.

Stand back!

That will be all.

Savary!

Follow him along our front lines.

This will edify you, sir.

Soldiers!

The Russian army comes before you,

to avenge the shameful surrender
of the Austrians at Ulm.

We occupy formidable positions.

When the Austro-Russians
march to my right,

they'll expose their flank!

What a superb coincidence!

Your emperor unveils
his battle plan the day before.

Does he take us for imbeciles?

Does he imagine that we will change ours?

How naive!

Let's go!

Long live the emperor!

Long live the emperor!

What do they think they'll do?

- Swallow us up?
- Maybe, but it won't be easy.

What happened to presenting arms?

Here! Take it if you like, it's rusty!

- I can't take any more.
- You should be retired.

What are you doing here at your age?

I'm watching you.

But now I can't take it anymore.

- You're watching me?
- Yes!

But why?

To find out how far you'll make us walk!

You strange man!

- So you're watching me?
- Yes!

- But you never watch me.
- What?

Yes, I was a veteran at Arcole.

But you never paid me
the slightest attention,

Mr. Alboise de Pontoise Seine-et-Oise!

Yet such a name is memorable!

So I figured when I have the honor,

I would tell shorty I was watching him.

Shorty?

Yes, that's what I call you.

Everyone calls you that behind your back,
no one dares say it to your face.

We all call you shorty.

Fine. Shorty.

But I'd like to know what you
blame me for, Malboise.

No, Alboise de Pontoise Seine-et-Oise!

I blame you for the Old Guard
being taken out of commission.

In Arcole and Rivoli it was still
military service,

but afterwards?

Go home, you're too old.

Don't insult me, Majesty.
Age matters not to your soldiers!

You're not a man, you're a grunt!

What did you call me?

A man who grunts like you is a grunt.

Cute retort.

Almost as good as shorty!

Don't bother, General,
I lost it in Marengo.

Come, gentlemen, before I weep.

Have him made a sergeant!

Ségur!

Set smoke at fake camps
between Turas and the ponds.

- Very well, Sire.
- You heard me, fake camps!

Kutuzov is gathering his
troops on the Pratzen plateau.

I know.

Why don't you take
this magnificent position?

Because I would only gain
an ordinary victory.

By abandoning it to them, I tempt them.

If they dare come down from
those heights to flank my right,

even with 300,000 men,
they'll already have lost.

You're always right. In any case, I...

A bad master general is better
than two good generals.

That's it!

Russian outposts have been set up.

- Stupid move!
- They'll fall into your trap!

Like a cat that tries to catch
the mouse in the mirror.

Before tomorrow evening,
the enemy armies will be mine.

Write that down, boy!

Buxhowden!

Gentlemen, our emperors want
to fight the battle at dawn.

And since I know the land...

What about Napoleon, do you know him?

He has overtaken us.

It is impossible to gather
my troops on the Pratzen plateau,

if he attacks us.

Kutuzov, age has made you fearful.

I have planned for this eventuality.

He will not attack.

Believe me.

Once, your troops are gathered,

you will clear the plateau,

then lead your 32,000 men
towards the ponds.

What?

Abandon the plateau?

That's insane, I refuse!

I will never do that, you hear me,
never in my life!

General, that is my plan!

- Who goes there?
- Arcole, Rivoli!

Tomorrow, we play for the whole of Europe.

Berthier, write down my orders
as I go along.

Sire, why surround the
village of Austerlitz,

you evacuated this morning?

Because, thanks to you, Soult,
I hope to sleep there tomorrow.

Write that down, my boy.

So…

They must have…

90,000 men.

We have 60,000. They're already defeated.

Go on!

I assume the Austro-Russians,

want to capture the Grand Army,

by cutting my lines of retreat at Vienna.

To encourage them, to follow their plans,

and to make them attack my right to the
south, here, near the frozen ponds,

I overly reduced troop numbers
on my right.

To turn around, the emperors will have
to weaken the Pratzen plateau,

from which all their columns
must leave with Kutusov.

This plateau will therefore
become very vulnerable,

and that is where I'll direct all
our effort when the time comes,

to cut their army off in the middle.

Have Caffarelli set off at
two o'clock in the morning.

Tell him there'll be a great battle.

Murat's cavalry won't be enough!
What more can you give me?

Hautpoul and Nansouty's cuirassiers,

Beaumont and Walther's dragoons,
Milhaud and

Kellermann's hunters.

Are you sure this place is flat?

I checked it out myself.

I predict a very large
cavalry engagement there.

Your divisions, those of
Vandamme and Saint-Hilaire…

will cross the Volbach.

Here, this stream,

via the villages of…

Jurkovicz and Puntowitz.

These names hurt my tongue.
We'll change them!

And you'll seize the
Pratzen plateau at all costs.

But wait! Only on my order.

Pardon?

I don't understand Russian.

Oh, right, yes!

And I don't understand German.

General, you know I'm French and
don't understand much German or Russian.

Fine. I hope everyone understands French?

- Yes.
- Alright, so…

We've noticed,

troop movements to
the left of the enemy here.

So, I deduce,

that the Corsican is weakening
his center with the intention,

of strengthening his left flank.

Thus, the bulk of our two armies,
along with Kutuzov's column,

which will descend from
the Pratzen plateau,

will impede the French right flank
and cut off the road to Vienna.

To be precise, gentlemen,

the bulk of the army,
along with Kutuzov's column,

descended from the Pratzen hills,

will turn away the French right flank
and surround them by the ponds

in order to completely
cut them off on the road to Vienna.

This is all very well, General.

But if our enemies attack Pratzen,

during our descent, what do we do?

This is unlikely.
I don't think it should be considered.

You know Bonaparte's audacity.
If he wished to attack, he'd have

done so today.

If so, he faces defeat.

But I think him too clever to be reckless.

Let's say he falls back,

or changes his position…

Even then, our armed forces' positions

will remain the same.

I think, gentlemen, you understand,

that my plan,

is a simple copy of Bonaparte's
in Castiglione.

Kobelnitz!

Set up the third division
around this château.

Reinforce it with two
battalions of skirmishers,

and a detachment of
General Margaron's cavalry.

Sire, the 3rd division has but
the 3rd line and Corsican hunters.

Have them focus on Telnitz.

It's the closest point to the ponds.

Have them hide in the shallows,
hidden amongst the reeds.

Watch for fog, you don't
want to shoot each other.

- Hear that, Berthier?
- Yes, sire.

The 3rd division will await orders.

Be sure to clarify which recognition
signals you'll use: drums and trumpets.

Above all, don't let them walk
across frozen ponds.

What?

Was my trap that visible?

No, sire, but Lannes and
the rest of us figured

you wanted to attract the Russians
to these ponds,

when you examined the thickness
of the ice with your sword.

Your officers will have the details
of this operation before dawn.

Gentlemen, know that

this battle signals the end
of Napoleon's reign.

And, after the victory,

we'll meet at the walls of Bruenn.

General, Bonaparte has
only one strength remaining.

May I ask you which one?

His soldiers' memory of their
republican victories.

The Republic?

Ah!

He's nearly killed it, and this morning,
we'll finish it off.

Count on me, that's the
only thing I am here for.

General Kutuzov!

You didn't hear what Weyrother said,
you were asleep.

No, I heard.

My dear, sir, you must learn,

that the Russian bear only ever
sleeps with one eye closed.

But why do you want me to
intervene against a man who

wants to imitate the inimitable?

Ah, if my hands were free!

I obtained this from my spies.

Here.

What is it?

This is the secret code
for French trumpet signals.

Know what I think, Langeron?

I'm not at all keen on
a Frenchman telling me that.

If I could kill this tyrant myself,
I would.

All the same, if I were a
French officer as you are, Langeron,

and could serve a leader like him,

I'd be on the other side.

Where is my orderly? Sleeping, I expect.

Langeron, hand me my coat.

Right, let's go!

- Berthier!
- Sire?

Take orders for General Friant.
Tell him to stop at Grossfriegen.

He's there already.

Friant traveled 36 leagues from Vienna,

to Grossfriegen in 48 hours?

Some exhausted soldiers were left behind,
but the bulk of the troops are here.

General Friant, sire!

How wonderful,

of you to come to our aid without orders.
You are brave!

- What a soldier! What a leader!
- We love you, sire!

You must have five regiments
of infantry and…

Six dragoons under your command,
Sire, or what remains of them.

Seven to eight thousand men in all.

Hold your position in Grossfriegen.

In reserve, with Eblé.

There, ready to pounce on Sokolnitz.

I expect them at this position.

You bear a magnificent responsibility.

You're worthy of it!

Davout!

Assist him with all your divisions.

He'll be facing
much of the enemy's forces.

You can count on me, sire.

But at seven against one,
we'll struggle to stay alive.

Rapp!

With your Mamluks and hunters,

and with Marshal Bessières' support,

maintain the initiative,
and attack compromised points.

Watch out for Alexander's knights-guards.

Murat, with your 11,000 horses,
you must find the breach,

to disrupt the Prince of Lichtenstein's
82 squadrons.

You know the Austrian cavalry
is the best in the world?

- Your Majesty?
- Get Grenadier Fills from Oudinot.

With Lejeune's help, he'll draw
sketches of me and the battle.

To motivate crowds you first need,

to appeal to their eyes.

Let us confirm by the fires
of the enemy's camps,

if our predictions were correct.

- Who goes there?
- Arcole!

Rendezvous at six o'clock, men.

Are the signals between
my six corps all set?

Yes, Majesty.
In three hours it will be operational.

These signals are too slow!

Volta should fix that
with his electricity.

Chappe, give my orders at dawn.

Berthier, double them
by dispatch rider, in code.

Daumesnil! Ivan!

Mount up, men!

Caffarelli! Oudinot! Morlan! Rapp!

- Are we near Pratzen?
- Alas, yes, Majesty!

You're in grave danger.

General Langeron has Cossack
outposts on the outskirts.

I don't like your advice. Come.

- General!
- Yes!

Napoleon is here, nearby, in person!

Go after this group and take
the emperor dead or alive!

Go!

Go, get him!

Go!

Get the horses out of the mud.
I'm returning to camp.

Sire, you will be lost!

No, I won't!

Hey!

Damn idiot! Watch where you step!

Wait a moment… Oh get lost!

Oh, shit!

I beg your pardon, General! Majesty!

- I was sleeping.
- Alboise de Pontoise!

Pardon, "de Seine-et-Oise"!

A sergeant and still complaining?

There are no kicks in...

- Alboise de Seine-et-Oise?
- No, "de Pontoise".

Long live the emperor!

Long live the emperor!

Long live the emperor!

Long live the emperor!

Long live the emperor!

Your Majesty, the enemy is
burning the camps! Look!

Who goes there?

Long live the emperor!

This way! This way!

Sire!

Sire, we were looking for you everywhere.

Majesty, aren't you worried the fires will

betray our positions?

No.

They'll think we're burning
our camps to cover the retreat.

Long live the emperor!

Rapp!

Best night of my life.

Long live the emperor!

I'm getting worried.

It's all for show, Your Majesty!

He wants to frighten us
with his huffing and puffing.

You don't believe his plans?

No, he's not that naive.

But the thousands of fires?

They cover his retreat.

They're ready to leave.

And they're burning their camps,
as I predicted.

What was that?

That's the order for Kutuzov
to start his descent from the plateau.

But he's only just arrived.

I want his men to come down
as soon as they arrive.

We will cut them off!

And…

if the fog will help us,

then I promise you, Majesty,
we will capture the entire army!

Marvelous, Francois!

Look at the star!

This is the star we saw
at Marengo and Rivoli!

Heaven is speaking to me!

It's for victory…

Pontoise!

The marshals will arrive
at six o'clock this morning.

Depending on the enemy's
movements this night,

I'll give my final orders.

- Wake me in one hour.
- Very well, sire!

Look, the fog thickens in the valley.

It's a veritable gift from heaven!

It will assist our flanking maneuver.

The French have lost, this time!

The time has come!

Everyone move out!

Fall in!

Forward! March!

Departure and deployment of all troops!

Forward! March!

Stop!

- Jawohl!
- Yes, sir.

Departure and deployment of all troops!

Departure!

What about General Weyrother's order?

Who commands the right wing, him, or me?

I refuse!

Langeron and Przybyszewski
have not received the orders.

Everyone is in charge!

There is no cooperation.

These two youngsters never stop,

polishing their nails and
contradicting each other.

We will lose the battle,

if I don't break their center.

Moreover, if you go down there,

it will bring about terrible confusion.

We should stay on the plateau,

and save them.

Thank you, Mikhail Illarionovitch!

Their Majesties give the order to
commence the descent.

Very well, I'll go!

Since it's an order.

They don't know what they're doing.

Prepare for the descent!

Lannes!

- Is he not here?
- Here he is.

It's so cold!

Terrible fog this morning.

- Where is the emperor?
- Still sleeping.

It's time. I'll wake him.

Sire!

Sire!

I bring you the latest reports.

Sire, I am ashamed!

All your commanders are here.

Now, gentlemen…

A great day is about to commence.

Fills!

May it be remembered in your drawings.

Pictures also win victories,

in their own way.

Everything I planned is happening.

The enemy throws himself
at our right flank.

What a mistake!

They could have attacked, but no,

they want to cut me off from Vienna,

and capture my entire army.

They must think me young.

I won't change my positions.

I want to confound their pride,

and end this war with a heavy strike!

In half an hour, the entire line
must be on fire,

and by four this afternoon,
the enemy armies must be destroyed!

Gentlemen, I'm counting on you!

Long live the emperor!

Caffareli, over here!

Go!

- What time is it?
- Seven o'clock, sire.

Look, sire. The troops on the
Pratzen plateau are mobilizing,

and your enemies descend
into the fog, where your

troops are hiding. The time has come!

Don't interrupt the enemy
while he's making a mistake.

How much time do you need
to capture Pratzen?

- Twenty minutes.
- Soult.

Prepare for the best work of your life.
But wait!

Do not leave until I give the order!

Long live the emperor!

Present arms!

Present arms!

Soldiers!

We must finish this campaign…

with a clap of thunder!

Sire, the sound of horses
can be heard on the right

coming from the ponds.

The first Russian columns
committing suicide!

By sundown, their army will be mine.

Write that down, Ségur!

Chappe! Can we see your signals
at 800 yards?

Yes, Your Majesty!

Communicate to Santon Hill.

Have Claparède open fire with
grapeshot from its 18 cannons.

In one minute!

Yes, Your Majesty!

Sire, see how both of Lannes'
divisions are set in motion!

Down there! Suchet's division
is on the foothills!

There, Caffarelli,

protected by Kellermann's cavalry.

And far away, over there,
that enormous mass is the enemy!

The 82 Austro-Russian squadrons!

A battle of titans is brewing!

It's so beautiful, so magnificent,

to experience this with you.

I want to find the title of my
chapter for this day, December 2nd.

Here's the title, my boy.

The Sun of Austerlitz.

For God's sake, we can't stand
around here like statues!

So that he wins the battle
only with his eyes.

They wanted the Pratzen plateau
as a dessert,

we'll give it to him as an appetizer!

To battle!

Attack!

You!

Music for the battalion!

We'll break their flanks!

Let's hear the music!

Sire!

A squad of the Old Guard just
attacked without orders.

My God! Run and stop them,
they'll be killed!

Those grunts have no shame.

Marshal Berthier.

- To die for me?
- No?

Alboise!

Pontoise Seine-et-Oise!

It's gone!

At least he can't pull it anymore!

Stop! Combat position!

Stop!

The French are 100 paces away.

Tell me…

Do you see movement down there?

Yes, Captain.

Perhaps it is the 108th line.

In the marsh, looking for us.

As soon as we get back, pound this swamp.

Trumpets!

Decipher this for me!

Go ahead, play!

It's the 108th line. Answer it!

Weapons on the sling!
Nothing to fear, men!

March!

Charge! Cross bayonets!

Captain! Captain!

Onwards!

Charge!

Fall in!

Gather round!

Fall in!

- What have you done?
- Half the company has fallen!

Flee to Sokolnitz!

Fall in! Fall in!

Save yourselves!

Run!

The 108th will spread panic.

Now we can take the village!

They're attacking Sokolnitz!

Fire on the defense!

Fire!

- At your orders, General!
- Sound the retreat!

Stay here with the 14th.
I'll cover it with my squadron.

Prepare to retreat and cover all sides!

Fire!

Quietly!

Murat!

If Sokolnitz falls, our right falls!

Let them have it!

- Rush to Bagration!
- Yes!

Your Majesty!

The traitor Langeron has taken Sokolnitz,

allowing Kienmayer to take Telnitz.

Then Friant is on the way
and will be here in minutes.

Meanwhile, our line is broken
by Dokhturov's unit,

which has just joined Kienmayer!

Przybyszewski is already surrounding
your right in order to break it!

It doesn't matter.

They're carrying out their plan.
I've not started mine. Berthier!

Let Davout proceed to weaken our lines

to the Sokolnitz marshes
while we wait for Friant to arrive.

Double up at Chappe.

- But your right will break!
- No! Bending is not breaking!

Let Friant make his junction
with the 3rd line,

and fight to the last.

But, sire!

Friant has but 10,000
exhausted men remaining,

against 50,000! It's impossible!

You speak of manpower? I ask only
that he hold position, not advance!

Until reinforcements and
Bourcier's regiments arrive.

Now, leave!

You're pathetic!

Eblé!

- Is it time, sire?
- No!

I await Murat and Lannes
to relieve my left.

I fear only Bagration and Kutusov.

- I'm going!
- No, not yet!

I only hope Lannes…

- Murat!
- Yes!

- The emperor sent me!
- Your turn, Murat!

Take your 11,000 horses
across Olmeutz road,

and bring Bagration to Austerlitz,
drums beating.

Cut off the Russian lines for now.
Advance!

Nansouty! Cattaneo!

We've been played!

We must prevent the French
from seizing the plateau!

It's been 15 minutes, sire!

Soult!

Don't forget, that the battle's fate
depends on taking possession of Pratzen.

Look, General, the French are coming!

Does it not seem to you, Your Majesty,
that your plans are compromised,

and that by forcing Kutusov
to bring his columns down,

you have prematurely withdrawn
from the plateau?

Don't be alarmed, Majesty. Within an

hour their right
will be cut off and imprisoned.

Dokhturov and Langeron
will turn them away.

Stop the decent and advise Lichtenstein

get me out of this mess!
Intensify shooting!

Officers, follow me!

Kutuzov can retreat before battle,
but never during!

Napoleon won't reinforce his right flank?

We're surrounded on three sides!

Why is Buxhowden idle with his 50,000 men?

I'm leaving with the emperors!
It's too hot here!

You're not at a carnival, coward!

Go back!

Soult is here!

Soult on the plateau? My God! My God!

We'll be cut off by Dochtouroff!

Enough!

We need the Austrian infantry
to come to our aid!

Prepare to fire!

Finally! We're on the Pratzen plateau!

Thank you, Soult! You are the best
tactician in Europe!

The Russian Imperial Guard and the
bulk of the Austrian army are annihilated.

What news of my right flank?

- Sire, Friant and Davout will be defeated!
- I'm on my way!

Soult, and his entire army corps,

Oudinot and his ten battalions,

forty canons and myself.
We leave now to the ponds.

Bernadotte,

stay here in Pratzen,
fire non-stop on the enemy,

when you see them on the frozen ponds.

Yes, sire!

Langeron, I expected the success of
your column and that of Przybyszewski.

What more could I do?

We're nearly lost while you
immobilize 29 battalions!

You see only enemies around you!

You can't see anything in your condition!

- I command you to stop!
- You're drunk!

Run to the marshes!

Of victory we sing!

I've seen battles lost before,

but I never imagined
such a terrible defeat.

- What time is it?
- Five o’clock.

Sire, the enemy is defeated!

Gentlemen, the battle is won!
In five hours, we vanquished Europe!

The Russian Imperial Guard is crushed,
the Austrian cavalry is fleeing,

Kollowrath's column
annihilated in the ponds.

Write it down!

All of you, and my soldiers,

have surpassed my expectations.

I am proud of you!

We must prepare a decree.

The State adopts all the children
of French soldiers killed at Austerlitz.

Six thousand francs for their widows.

Yes. The other one.

- You disobeyed me.
- Huh?

- You disobeyed me!
- Yes.

And if we bury it,
my second ear will listen to,

what the dead say down there.

All those who shouted this morning,
"long live the emperor!"

It may not be nice to hear,

what they think now.

Whence those cries?

From thousands of helpless
Russians in the lakes.

Sire, what do we do with the
thousands of wounded?

Our ambulances are overflowing!

Light fires for them while
they wait for help.

It's awful!

Remove coats from the dead
to cover the injured!

How silent it is.

At least here we hear the moans
of those we might save.

HONOR TO NAPOLEON AND HIS SOLDIERS
KOUTOUZOV

D'Alboise!

I saw him!

- He spoke to me.
- Oh!

And?

He wanted to pull my other ear!

AUSTERLITZ CASTLE
HQ OF THE MAJESTIC EMPEROR OF FRANCE

And another thing!

When he comes back, you'll all stand,

and shout madly, "long live the emperor!"

And then you'll march behind him!

Long live the emperor!

Unprecedented victory, Your Majesty!

Abandoned by their men,
the two emperors have fled to Hungary!

Sire, General Friant!

Sire!

I bring you the 45 flags taken from
the enemy for the

anniversary of your coronation.

Sire, look at the bonfires and
your soldiers' enthusiasm.

Majesty, would you give the order
to play the Marseillaise?

- It was almost three years ago.
- Tonight, yes.

It's appropriate.

Long live the emperor!

What's the damage, Berthier?

Only 2000 soldiers out of commission.

The enemy lost 15,000 dead,
30,000 prisoners,

and leaves 186 canons to France,
over there.

The world never saw such a victory.

Release the prisoners.

I want to see only free men before me.

A bridge will be built in Paris,
bearing the name Austerlitz.

And two triumphant arches.

One at Place du Carrousel,

the other at the top of
the Champs-Elysées.

We'll melt these cannons
to erect a bronze column.

- Where, sire?
- Place Vendôme.

Soldiers!

On the day of the battle of Austerlitz,

you have decorated your eagles
with immortal glory!

An army of 100,000 men,
commanded by two emperors,

was dispersed or drowned in lakes
in less than five hours.

My people will see you again with joy,

and you will only have to say,

you were at the Battle of Austerlitz,

for them to answer,

"That is a brave man!"

THE END

Subtitle translation by: Emma Sayers