14 October 1806, afternoon
The Prussian line breaks
About 1 p.m. Napoleon, now with most of his 96,000 men at hand, orders a general attack. His flanks push hard to turn both Prussian wings while the centre attacks Hohenlohe’s line. Both flank attacks succeed, the Prussian line gives way, and Murat’s cavalry ride into the retreating troops.
Murat leads a charge at Jena, painting by Henri-Georges Chartier, 1895Wikimedia Commons, Henri-Georges Chartier, Public domain (Chartier-Murat at Jena.jpg)
Rüchel’s 15,000 arrive from Weimar after the line has broken. Hohenlohe rides up to take command of them, and they advance near Kapellendorf, but they are overrun and flee in rout, and Rüchel is badly wounded. Murat’s cavalry follow the fugitives towards Weimar.
French troops present captured Prussian standards to Napoleon on the evening of Jena, painting by Édouard Detaille, late 19th centuryWikimedia Commons, Édouard Detaille, Public domain (Detaille-Le Soir D'Jena.jpg)
Napoleon’s army loses 5,000 to 6,000 men. The Prussians and Saxons lose 26,000 to 27,000 killed, wounded and captured, 7,200 of them Saxons, and 150 guns. Napoleon believes that he has beaten the main Prussian army.
Sources
- David G. Chandler, The Campaigns of Napoleon (1966).
- F. Loraine Petre, Napoleon’s Conquest of Prussia 1806 (1907).
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