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20 the French right; but here, quite unexpectedly, Davoust came up, and at the same time Soult rushed into the space so created, and isolated the centre and right. He was driven back, but was soon after supported by Bessieres and the imperial guard, and threw the enemy into confusion-the grand Duke Constantine very narrowly escaping from the victors. It was now an easy matter to surround the right wing, although the struggle with Lannes was still obstinate. The loss of life was then most appaling; for the Russians, cooped up on some frozen lakes, the French artillery from the heights broke the ice around them, so that about 20,000 were drowned. The Emperors of Russia and Austria got off the field with extreme difficulty, leaving 20,000 prisoners, and above 40 pieces of artillery.

After the victory at Austerlitz, Buonaparte formed the confederation of the Rhine, of which he took the title of Protector. In 1806 he proposed to take Hanover from Prussia and to give that territory to Great Britain. When this became known to the Prussian cabinet, the rage and the enthusiasm of revenge which it created are indescribable. The Queen of Prussia, and the gallant Prince Louis, (the King's brother) arrayed the people in heart or arms for this contemptuous insult.