Battle of Hradec Kr�lov� - the decisive clash of the Austro-Prussian War, which took place on July 3, 1866. The battle pitted the Austro-Saxon army under Ludwig von Benedek with the Prussian army led by Helmut von Moltke. The Austrian party suffered a crushing defeat.

The battle at Hradec Kr�lov� is generally involved more than four hundred thousand soldiers. This has become the largest military conflicts on Czech territory. The attack on the Austro-Prussian forces Saxon started before seven-thirty in the morning. Initially, the army led by the Austrian commander of Hungarian origin Benedek managed to reflect attacks. This increase was caused and efficient modern cannon with great range. Conversely, when the battle over short distances were the technical advantage Prussians who had rifles in service with faster charging back. The main role in the Austrian defeat but apparently played a strategic mistake when Benedekov�ch important part of the units involved in several hours of fighting with the Prussians proniknuv��mi behind the defensive line. Missing so crucial to the section through which the Prussians quietly came to the village Chlum in the Austrian rear. Surprise for the Austro-Saxon generals were perfect when their camp began firing from Chlumu. Neither desperate counterattacks on the hill occupied by the Prussians already reversed the situation and Benedek had no choice but to zavelet organized retreat.

In the outcome matches the number of casualties: the Austrian part it was about six thousand men, Prussians lost two-thirds fewer fighters. The defeat of Austria meant not only the loss of some territories (Veneto and Schleswig-Holstein), but also a retreat from its superpower status.