After Napoleon defeated Austria and Russia at the Battle of Austerlitz on 2 December 1805 he was the ‘Master of Europe’ and could dictate terms on his continental enemies. Upon hearing the news of Austerlitz, British Prime Minister William Pitt referred to a map of Europe and said to an aide: “Roll up that map; it will not be wanted these ten years.”
Pitt’s words were prescient, particularly when it came to Germany. In July 1806, 16 German states joined together in a new body called
