Napoleonic Wars: Battle of Eylau 1807

In 1807, Napoleon Bonaparte hoped to follow up his brilliant victories over Austria and Prussia with another decisive victory over the Russians in Poland. But amid freezing winter conditions, his attempted encirclement of General Bennigsen's Russian army near the East Prussian town of Eylau led, instead, to one of the most notorious battles of the Napoleonic Wars, fought in terrible conditions, with appalling losses on both sides.

Visit our online bookshop to find great books on this and other topics:

👕 Buy posters, t-shirts, hoodies, mugs & stickers at our merch store:

Get 20% off an annual license with this exclusive code: EPICHISTORYTV_ANN

#EpicHistoryTV #NapoleonicWars #Napoleon

[robertvoicescu]

The Augereau's failed charge part is just horrific. 5000 casualties in just 30 minutes is something you would expect to hear on the western front in Ww1.

[MrJethroha]

My favorite story from eylau is of one french soldier who, seeking an escape from the cold, hunkered down in a barn on the outskirts of the town. When he awoke, he realised that he was covered in snow and in the middle of an open field. He hadn't been moved, instead a company of his fellow soldiers had dismembered the barn plank by plank in order to burn it as firewood.

[russellkid]

The image of Augeraeu's corps suddenly finding themselves less than a third of a football pitch away from 70 cannon is perhaps the moment that has most viscerally affected me in this series. Imagine being one of those infantry and suddenly finding yourself face to face with something that threatens to kill you horribly from hundreds of yards away, and immediately knowing your fate. Like a reverse of the mist clearing at Austerlitz.

Thanks for the video, incredible as usual.

[許钟驗]

During the battle, the Russian attack on the French left flank almost overran Larrey's hospital. As French soldiers reeled back from the Russian onslaught, Larrey calmly finished the operation he was performing and announced that he would die with his casualties if need be. That very morning Larrey had assisted General Lepic with his arthritis so Lepic could fight, and it was lucky that he had done so. As the French soldiers reeled back, Lepic's cavalry rode to the rescue in a successful counterattack, driving the Russians back and keeping the hospital out of harm's way.

Later the same day, a colonel badly wounded at Eylau had to have his leg amputated, but as Larrey attempted to perform the operation, the man's leg would not stop shaking from his fear of the operation. Larrey slapped him in the face, and the officer demanded satisfaction for such an insult to his honor. As the man angrily spoke of honor, Larrey performed the operation, then apologized and explained that he knew the affront to the man's honor would cause him to forget the operation for a moment which was all the time Larrey needed to carry out the operation.

As the Emperor and Larrey left Eylau on the 17th, Napoleon noticed that Larrey no longer wore a sword. "You don't have a sword?" Napoleon asked. Larrey explained that his sword was lost during the battle as the Russians had overrun his baggage wagon. Napoleon removed his own sword and held it out to Larrey, telling him, "Here is mine. Accept it as a reminder of the services you rendered me at the Battle of Eylau."

[johnpijano]

Marshall Davout truely was one of the best generals in the Napoleonic age. Can't believe how many times Napoleon relied on him to be the key piece to achieve victory.

[Jon.A.Scholt]

Epic History TV is such a high quality channel and does such a fantastic job with Napoleonic content that is has made it hard to watch any other similar channels; or I should say, channels that wish they were similarly good.

Now I hope they grant us all our wish and they cover the Egyptian Expedition!

[AverageRenaissance]

Eylau was a major check on the invincibility of Napoleon's grand armee. The worst part were the losses of great veterans who had fought in Austerlitz, Ulm, and Jena. However, it did show that in the heat of battle, Napoleon and his Marshalls could rearrange and support each other to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. It was not a decisive victory, but it highlighted the brilliance and strength of his leaders. I think as bloody as Eylau was, it was a gut check for his Marshals that would give them the experience to achieve many more victories and endure the hard times to come.

Thank you to epic history. Hands down one of the best, if not the best, history channels.

[kogerugaming]

12:43 is one of the coolest part of the Napoleonic videos made by Epic History tv. The music, Napoleon's quote, then the commentator talking about Murat's charge.. The horrors, the bravery, the courage! All these men must be an entire different breed.

[DCabbagefarm]

11:33 never fails to give me chills. CHILLS! The way the music comes in, the weight of the moment, it's one of the best scene transitions I've ever experienced and I keep rewatching it

[sterlingpratt]

This battle is a little like watching a horror movie. Disasters, madness, terror, and death. Napoleon commanding from a cemetery. Perfect for Halloween.

[rcco]

Bennisgen's prevention of a French capitalisation on the victory by means of an ordered withdrawal, and the spanner it threw in the mechanisms of the Grande Armee, makes his decision to make battle at Friedland even more puzzling. He essentially threw away the tactical and strategic position, as well as the prestige, he wrested from the French at Eylau

[jmvm]

Fun fact. One of Augereaus Brigade commanders Gen Louis Binot, had been Gen Friants aide de camp since 1793, through the Egypt campaign until 1802. He then joined Gen Decaen overseas until captured by the British in 1804. Back to France and promoted to General he joined Augereaus corps, losing his life in Eylau.

[Hasdrubhaal]

I had no idea about how bad Eylau was. This could almost be seen as a forshadowing of what was to come later down the line. What a giant tragedy, for both sides.

Fantastic video as always! 🤘

[bundaskenyer]

This was one of the best EpichistoryTv episodes I've ever seen. The horrifying images, the music, and the sheer scale of losses really creates such an atmosphere that if I imagine myself there, I'm crumbling as I write. A perfect of a documentary video. This channel was the first to trigger my fascination with history, I really appreciate your work.

[carolousrexwittelsbach]

Davout:"And once again, the emperor gave me the entire responsibility of the battle. Every day this, they ask me to make a miracle, and I keep making them"

[avatar]

9:50 - 18:24
Almost 10 minutes of non-stop goosebumps and emotion, thanks to the graphics and enveloping narration!

[leosp]

Eylau is one of the most epic and dramatic battles in existence. Without doubt the narrowest victory for Napoleon. Thank you Epic History for this remarkable work.

[valdonchev]

"Good God, the Prussians are here, too!" has such incredible energy, it feels like something out of a movie.

[JFDA]

Despite the cold, hunger, snow and exhaustion, Napoleon's men fought for him like tigers. This alone shows why he was one of the greatest Generals of all time, his powers of leadership and motivation are almost unmatched.

[johnnyhoney]

This battle is more fascinating and intriguing than any other I can think of . Not a dull moment from the night battle before to the charge and everything after