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eighteenth century French philosopher Voltaire had condemned it as ‘neither holy, nor Roman, nor an empire’. Therefore, Francis II of the Holy Roman Empire loosened his ties and consolidated his realm by assuming the title ‘Kaiser Francis I of Austria’.
    After his coronation, Napoleon continued to extend his influence in Italy and on 26 May 1805, he crowned himself ‘king of all Italy’ in Milan. Nine days later, he annexed the Ligurian Republic, with it’s all-important port of Genoa – fertile recruiting ground for the under strength French navy. Europe saw the move as confirmation that Napoleon had not curbed his territorial ambitions …
    Anglo-Russian negotiations now reached an impasse. A treaty drawn up in St Petersburg in April 1805 was despatched to London for Pitt’s approval, before providing the basis of an ultimatum to Napoleon. But the Russian understanding of Britain’s position, even after months of discussion, was flawed. There were a number of clauses that angered Pitt, but amongst them there was one that stated Britain would hand over Malta to a Russian garrison. The Russians had not raised this point in discussions and Pitt refused to ratify the treaty. When the news reached St Petersburg, Czartoryski reported that he had never seen the tsar, ‘more dissatisfied and more out of control’. 2 Determined to bring matters to a head, Alexander decided to send the ultimatum to Napoleon anyway, assuring Pitt that Britain would not be committed to any agreement without her assent. But within a few days of its despatch came news of Napoleon’s annexation of Genoa. Alexander recalled the document immediately, exclaiming: ‘This man is insatiable, his ambition knows no bounds; he is a scourge of the world; he wants war; well he shall have it, and the sooner the better.’ 3
    The tsar signed the treaty with Britain, excluding the contentious clauses, and on 28 July 1805 the act of ratification was finally complete. On 9 August Austria signed too, reassured of her own security by Napoleon’s apparent preoccupation with an invasion of Britain. The foundations of the Third Coalition were in place, strengthened by the commitment of Sweden and Naples to the cause. But despite Russia’s best efforts, Prussia could not be drawn in. By careful diplomacy Talleyrand lured King Frederick William III away from the coalition, with the prospect of the coveted prize of Hanover as reward for his neutrality.
    Allied war plans had long been the subject for discussion while the diplomatic wranglings of the coalition dragged on. Now the alliance was officially in place, preparations for war were pressed forward with someurgency, the intention being to gain the advantage while the French army was arrayed along the Channel coast. Grandiose schemes involving half a million Allied soldiers marching in a vast Europe-wide sweep, entranced the protagonists. Although vastly impressive on paper, these plans were, in practice, to prove far beyond the capabilities of the coalition’s commanders.
    Napoleon left Milan early in July 1805 and returned to France. After a pause at Saint-Cloud he continued on to Boulogne, where he arrived in the bosom of his army on 3 August. By now any realistic hopes he held for a successful invasion of Britain had long since faded, but to his enemies, his presence at the coast would no doubt cast shadows over his intentions.
    A year had passed since his last visit, at a time when he genuinely hoped to launch an invasion. Then, his senior army commanders had been warned to be ready, their soldiers already well-rehearsed in rapid embarkation. However, in order for the vast flotilla of invasion barges to cross the Channel safely, they needed the protection of French warships, but these were all bottled up in port by the British Royal Navy. Undeterred, Napoleon had ordered Admiral Latouche-Tréville to prepare to break out of Toulon, release ships from other blockaded ports, and clear the Channel for