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Discover the dramatic tale of Napoleon's disastrous invasion of Russia in 1812. From the blazing inferno in Moscow to the brutal winter retreat.
In the aftermath of the Imperial Russian Army’s retreat from the Battle of Borodino in early September, French troops under the Emperor Napoleon began to mar...
Dive into the flames of history with our latest documentary exploring the dramatic and catastrophic Fire of Moscow in 1812.
During the French occupation of Moscow, a fire persisted from 14 to 18 September 1812 and all but destroyed the city. The Russian troops and most of the remaining civilians had abandoned the city on 14 September 1812 just ahead of French Emperor Napoleon 's troops entering the city after the Battle of Borodino .
The capture of the city was a hollow victory for the French, as the Russians—most likely on orders of governor Fyodor Rostopchin —set much of the city on fire in a scorched earth tactic (though the cause of the fire is disputed). For four days until 18 September, the city burned.
Is it true that in 1812 Napoleon lost 90% of his troops? And if so, how did it happen and why? Minard lays out some answers to these questions in the form of statistics and line width: tactical...
The Fire of Moscow in September 1812. Christian Johann Oldendorp. Follow Russia Beyond on Twitter. The Russians believed that Napoleon's troops destroyed the city. However, the French...
