The French had followed after Kutuzov, but…
November 1805 CE
Prussian intentions are unknown and could be hostile, the Russian and Austrian armies have converged, and French lines of communication are extremely long, requiring strong garrisons to keep them open.
Napoleon realizes that to capitalize on the success at Ulm, he has to force the Allies to battle and defeat them.
On the Russian side, Kutuzov also realizes Napoleon needs to do battle; so instead of clinging to the "suicidal" Austrian defense plan, Kutuzov had decided to retreat.
He had ordered Pyotr Bagration to contain the French at Vienna with six hundred soldiers, and had instructed Bagration to accept Murat's ceasefire proposal so that the Allied Army could have more time to retreat.
It is later discovered that the proposal had been false and had been used in order to launch a surprise attack on Vienna.
Nonetheless, Bagration had been able to hold off the French assault for a time by negotiating an armistice with Murat, thereby providing Kutuzov time to position himself with the Russian rearguard near Hollabrunn.
Murat had initially refrained from an attack, believing the entire Russian army stood before him.
Napoleon had soon realized Murat's mistakes and orders him to pursue quickly; but the allied army has already retreated to Olmütz.
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Austria, Archduchy of
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Bavaria, Wittelsbach Duchy of
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Portugal, Bragança Kingdom of
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Russian Empire
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Britain (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland)
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Baden, Electorate and Margravate of
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Austrian Empire
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France, (first) Empire of
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Bavaria, Kingdom of
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Central Europe
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