A battle fought by Austria and Russia against France, near the town of Austerlitz in Moravia. Alexander I of Russia persuaded Francis I of Austria to attack before reinforcements arrived. Their complicated plan to encircle the French allowed Napoleon to split their army and defeat each half. It was a decisive battle; the Russian army was forced to withdraw from Austria, and Austria signed the Treaty of Pressburg (1805), in which it recognized Napoleon as King of Italy, and ceded territories in northern Italy, the Alpine regions, and on the Adriatic coast.