5. A Daring Duo
As the French army advanced upon Vienna, there was a mood of uncertainty in the air. The war was still on, but the hostilities might end at any moment with an armistice and peace treaty. It was against that backdrop that the French vanguard neared the Tabor Bridge on November 13th, 1805, and halted.
Two of Napoleon’s more daring generals, Joachim Murat and Jean Lannes, then casually ambled to the bridge, behaving in a carefree manner. As confused Austrian guards aimed their muskets at their breasts, the French commanders were laughing and expressing their pleasure at the “just concluded” armistice and peace treaty. Once they reached the other side, still seemingly without a care in the world, they asked to see Count Auersperg, wondering if he had already gone to attend the peace signing ceremony.