Napoleon’s Invasion of Russia
A detailed look at the turning point for the French emperor
What preceded the campaign into Russia? What exactly happened in that enormous, vast country in the summer and winter of 1812 and where did things go wrong for Napoleon? An overview of Napoleon’s campaign in Russia.
Napoleon’s victory at Austerlitz (the Three Emperors’ Battle) on 2 December 1805 was one of his most brilliant. He was outnumbered but his military insight was sublime. Emperor Napoleon defeated almost all of France’s enemies (Austria and Russia) with a few ingenious military manoeuvres, except one: England! After this victory, Napoleon was full of self-confidence and issued a proclamation:
On the day of Austerlitz, you lived up to my expectations of your intrepidity. You have adorned the eagles with eternal glory. In less than four hours, an army of 100,000 men, led by the emperors of Russia and Austria, has been destroyed and dispersed … and you only have to say “I was at the Battle of Austerlitz” to hear the reply “There goes a brave man”.
Alexander-Napoleon
After several disputes, Tsar Alexander (1777–1825) and Emperor Napoleon met on a raft in the middle of the Memel River, then a border river between Russia and Prussia, on 25 June 1807. They were both accompanied…
