The participants of history clubs of the Czech Republic replayed the Battle of Austerlitz. The performance was held on the field where the French army defeated the Russo-Austrian army on December 2, 1805.
The participants of history clubs of the Czech Republic replayed the Battle of Austerlitz. The performance was held on the field where the French army defeated the Russo-Austrian army on December 2, 1805.
The Battle of the Three Emperors is replayed in the Czech Republic every year. Several thousand spectators enjoy the performance.
This time about a thousand actors came to the battlefield. The performance directors replayed a crucial point of the battle when Napoleon’s army seized Pratzen Heights and surrounded the Russo-Austrian army.
The main character of the performance is Napoleon Bonaparte played by Mark Schneider, a U.S. actor, who has played Napoleon for seven years.
He comes to the Czech Republic on every anniversary of the Battle of Austerlitz to play Napoleon. According to the organizers, Mark Schneider ideally fits for the role of Napoleon: he is looking like the famous emperor, he is interested in war history and speaks good French.
Mark Schneider’s mother is French, his father is an American. Since his childhood the actor has been fascinated with the history of Napoleonic wars and loves France.
In the replay of the battle, Napoleon is the only emperor. The script does not include any episodes with participation of the Russian Emperor Tsar Alexander I and Holy Roman Emperor Francis II. The Russian army numbering one hundred servicemen is commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Pyotr Bagration. The roles of Russian soldiers and officers are played by Czechs.
The participants of the replay stress that they do not side with any army and the aim of the performance is to keep historic memory of the event.
Mark Schneider, a U.S. actor (center), playing French Emperor Napoleon in the replay of the Battle of Austerlitz.
The Battle of Austerlitz in 1805 was the most crushing defeat of Russia in the 19th century. The Russian army of 60,000 lost 21,000 servicemen who were killed, wounded or taken as prisoners of war. The commander of the Russo-Austrian army Mikhail Kutuzov was wounded, Tsar Alexander I narrowly escaped captivity. Following the Battle of Austerlitz, Napoleon had complete dominance of Europe. Only seven years later, the Russian army crushed the French army in the Patriotic War of 1812.
