Last Update 20th October 2002
"Be not misled by demonstrations of joy at Your entry on the part of the inhabitants of Vienna, demonstrations purchased, besought and compelled by frivolous persons, and thus overlook the prevailing mourning, the misery and distress of Your provinces." Archduke Charles to Emperor Francis I on his return to Vienna in 1806
For the third time the white-coated Austrian army came off second best to the army of the new Revolutionary France.
The optimistic Austrian spirit of mid 1805 was crushed to despair by the outcome of the campaign of 1805. Napoleon charged Austria a heavy price for its loss in the Treaty of Pressburg, signed 26th December 1805. The Tyrol, Vorarlberg and minor alpine provinces were stripped and ceded to Bavaria, the Venetian and Dalmatian territories in north Italy ceded to France in the new Kingdom of Italy, while in return Salzburg was ceded to Austria. Hanover passed to the Prussians and Cleves, Berg & Neuchatel became French states. Austria was forced to accept the notion of Kingship for Wurrtemburg and Bavaria, and that Napoleon was the King of Italy.