The Campaign of Jena 1806: Napoleon's Decisive Defeat of the Prussian Army

A pivotal battle of the Napoleonic epoch

History records that Napoleon comprehensively defeated the Prussian Army of Frederick William III at the engagement of Saalfeld and the major conflicts of Jena and Auerstedt on the plateau immediately west of the River Saal in modern day Germany in October 1806. French casualties were relatively light-those of the Prussians huge by comparison. The outcome was decisive and led to the occupation and subjugation of Prussia by the French that endured for six years. Napoleon's genius for war was once again ably demonstrated at the expense of Brunswick, Hohenlohe and Ruchel. The victory became a jewel of renown in the imperial crown and the bridge erected across the River Seine and named in honour of the French victory remains to this day an indelible statement of the monumental importance of these engagements to the political stage in Europe during the early years of the nineteenth century. Jena was more than a defeat for the Prussians. It focused minds of the Prussian military on the shortcomings of the feudal system of politics and war that prevailed within their nation. The French had bloodily demonstrated that they would manage armies in an entirely different and more flexible manner and unless radical reform was to be instituted to the Prussian way of making war the future would be bleak. Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Clauswitz all served in the battle and learnt its lessons of blood and fire well. This concise account of the campaign draws on the writings of the principal historians of the Napoleonic age as it describes each aspect of the action and compares the various theories as to the causes of events. It is supported here by maps of the terrain and battles to assist readers. Available in softcover and hardcover with dustjacket for collectors.