It’s easy to think of Frederick the Great as an unstoppable military genius, especially when you consider his earlier triumphs. But even the best generals have their off days, and for Frederick, one of his earliest and most painful lessons came at the Battle of Kol\u00edn on 18th June 1757. This wasn’t just a minor setback; it was his first major defeat, a crushing blow that forced him to abandon his siege of Prague and drastically rethink his strategies during the Seven Years’ War.<\/p>\n
To properly understand Kol\u00edn, we need to set the scene a bit. The Seven Years’ War (1756-1763) was a truly global conflict, but in Europe, it largely boiled down to Prussia, allied with Great Britain, against a formidable coalition of Austria, France, Russia, Sweden, and Saxony. Frederick II, King of Prussia, had kicked things off by invading Saxony in 1756, a pre-emptive strike intended to disrupt the Austrian-led alliance before it could fully mobilise.<\/p>\n
Frederick’s initial campaigns were, by and large, incredibly successful. He was a master of rapid manoeuvre and decisive action. After securing Saxony, he pushed into Bohemia, aiming to knock Austria out of the war quickly. His stunning victory at the Battle of Prague in May 1757 seemed to put him on the cusp of achieving this audacious goal. Prague itself, the capital of Bohemia, was now under siege by the Prussians.<\/p>\n
However, Empress Maria Theresa<\/a> of Austria was not one to back down easily. Despite the defeat at Prague, her forces were still formidable. A new Austrian army, under the command of Field Marshal Leopold Joseph von Daun, was rapidly assembling to relieve the beleaguered city. Daun was a cautious but highly competent commander, known for his defensive prowess and his ability to wear down aggressive opponents. Frederick, confident from his earlier successes, underestimated Daun’s strategic capabilities and the morale of the Austrian troops. This overconfidence would prove costly.<\/p>\n With Prague under siege, Frederick faced<\/a> a critical strategic decision. He couldn’t afford to be caught between the city’s defenders and Daun’s approaching relief army. His solution was typical of his aggressive style: confront and defeat Daun before he could reach Prague. Leaving a substantial force to continue the siege, Frederick took around 34,000 men and 100 guns to intercept Daun, who commanded roughly 54,000 men and 167 guns. This numerical disadvantage for the Prussians was significant, but Frederick had overcome such odds before.<\/p>\n Frederick’s army marched southeast from Prague, eventually locating Daun’s forces dug in on a series of low hills near Kol\u00edn. Daun had chosen his ground well. His main line stretched for several miles, anchored on his left by the village of K\u0159e\u010dho\u0159 and his right by wooded terrain. The Austrian front was protected by a number of ravines, streams, and patches of thick woods, making a direct assault difficult. More importantly, Daun had deployed his artillery on the higher ground, giving him a commanding view of the battlefield and excellent fields of fire.<\/p>\n Frederick, observing the Austrian position<\/a>, initially considered a frontal assault. However, the strength of Daun’s defences quickly dissuaded him. Instead, he devised a more complex plan, one that relied on the rapid movement and disciplined execution for which his army was famous.<\/p>\n Frederick’s plan was audacious. He intended to conduct a wide flank march around the Austrian right wing, hoping to roll up their line from the side. This manoeuvre, if successful, would avoid the strongest parts of Daun’s defences and potentially shatter the Austrian formation.<\/p>\n The plan involved three main phases:<\/p>\n It was a brilliant plan on paper, relying on speed, surprise, and the inherent discipline of the Prussian army. However, it also carried significant risks, not least the danger of extending the Prussian lines too thinly and exposing them to counter-attacks.<\/p>\n The morning of 18th June dawned, a warm and clear day, perfect for battle. Frederick’s plan was set in motion.<\/p>\n The initial stages of the flank march went relatively well. Zieten’s cavalry and infantry began their wide circuit. However, a critical misunderstanding, or perhaps an excess of zeal, derailed Frederick’s careful timing. General Moritz of Anhalt-Dessau, commanding a part of the Prussian main column, saw an opportunity to attack what he perceived as a vulnerable Austrian position near the village of Nov\u00e1 Ves. Without waiting for Zieten to complete his march and without Frederick’s direct order, he launched an attack.<\/p>\n This premature assault was a disaster for the Prussian plan<\/a>. It immediately alerted Daun to Frederick’s true intentions, robbing the flank march of its crucial element of surprise. Daun quickly shifted reserves to reinforce his threatened right flank, redeploying his artillery to meet the new threat.<\/p>\n Despite the setback, Frederick felt compelled<\/a> to support Moritz’s now-engaged troops. This led to a series of piecemeal and uncoordinated Prussian attacks against the heavily fortified Austrian right and centre. The Prussian infantry, renowned for their discipline and fire discipline, fought with immense bravery, launching wave after wave of assaults.<\/p>\n However, they were met by equally determined Austrian defenders<\/a>, who held their ground with tenacity. The Austrian artillery, positioned on the commanding heights, poured devastating fire into the advancing Prussian ranks. Ravines and thickets, initially obstacles to Frederick’s grand flanking manoeuvre, now became choke points and killing zones for the Prussian infantry.<\/p>\n The fighting was particularly fierce around the villages of K\u0159e\u010dho\u0159 and Nov\u00e1 Ves. Prussian grenadiers<\/a> and musketeers repeatedly tried to break through, suffering horrific casualties. Austrian counter-attacks, often led by Croatian light infantry and grenadiers, further complicated the Prussian efforts, forcing them to fight on multiple fronts.<\/p>\n As the day wore on, Frederick grew increasingly desperate. He committed more and more of his reserves, throwing them into the meat grinder. His cavalry, despite several valiant charges, found it difficult to break the Austrian squares and were often repulsed by artillery and infantry fire.<\/p>\n Daun, by contrast, remained cool and methodical. He carefully managed his reserves, feeding them into the line where they were most needed. He recognised that the Prussians were bleeding themselves dry against his well-prepared positions. His defensive strategy was proving incredibly effective, turning Frederick’s aggressive tendencies against him.<\/p>\n Frederick, famously, was at the forefront of the fighting, trying to rally his troops, sometimes even shouting at them in frustration. At one point, he reputedly told his retreating guards, “Do you want to live forever, you dogs?” \u2013 a testament to his desperation and his belief in unwavering discipline.<\/p>\n By late afternoon, the Prussian attacks had largely run out of steam. They had taken heavy casualties and made little headway against the resolute Austrian defence. The numerical superiority of the Austrians, combined with their advantageous defensive positions, began to tell.<\/p>\n Around 6 PM, Daun sensed his moment. He ordered a general counter-attack along the entire front. The fresh Austrian reserves, coupled with the exhausted and disorganised Prussian troops, proved decisive. The Austrian advance pushed the Prussians back, creating gaps in their lines and increasing the pressure on their flanks.<\/p>\nFrederick’s Tactical Gamble<\/h2>\n
Reconnaissance and the Austrian Position<\/h3>\n
The Flank March Plan<\/h3>\n
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The Battle Unfolds<\/h2>\n
Zieten’s Premature Attack<\/h3>\n
The Prussian Assaults and Austrian Defence<\/h3>\n
Frederick’s Desperation and Daun’s Steadfastness<\/h3>\n
The Turning Tide and Prussian Retreat<\/h2>\n
Austrian Counter-Attack<\/h3>\n
The Prussian Collapse<\/h3>\n