War in Russia · 1812

Name: War in Russia
Start: 1812

After the Treaties of Tilsit Russia and France were allies; by 1812 the Continental System and the march on Moscow shattered that peace. The Grande Armée — over 600,000 men on paper — crossed the Niemen in June: the largest army Europe had yet seen.

Marshals of the campaign

12 marshals

(general)

Key events

1812
Politics
The breach with Russia over the Continental System and the Polish question: Napoleon gathers the Grande Armée on the Niemen — the largest host Europe has yet seen.
24 Jun
Politics
The Grande Armée crosses the Niemen. Barclay de Tolly commands the First Western Army; Bagration the Second — the Russian strategy is to retreat and refuse battle.
16 Aug
Battle
At Smolensk Davout and Ney force a crossing of the Dnieper; the Russians withdraw — the road to Moscow opens, but at the cost of time and supplies.
18 Aug
Battle
At Polotsk on the northern front Saint-Cyr defeats Wittgenstein — the Baltic front holds while the main army marches east.
17 Aug
Politics
Alexander I appoints Kutuzov commander-in-chief; the army unites at Borodino for a stand before Moscow.
7 Sep
Battle
At Borodino Napoleon wins a bloody victory: Bagration is mortally wounded, the Russian army withdraws intact — Moscow lies open.
14 Sep
Politics
The French enter Moscow. Fires destroy much of the city; Kutuzov blocks the southern route — the army waits in vain for peace.
24 Oct
Battle
At Maloyaroslavets Kutuzov blocks the southern route; Napoleon turns the army north onto the ravaged Smolensk road — the retreat begins.
19 Oct
Politics
Napoleon leaves Moscow. Cossacks under Platov and the winter close in on the columns; discipline collapses on the march west.
17 Nov
Battle
At Krasnoi Ney's rearguard is shattered — the Grande Armée loses its last cohesion before the Berezina.
26 Nov
Battle
At the Berezina Victor and Oudinot hold the bridges while the remnants cross under Tutchkov's fire — the army escapes encirclement but not destruction.
Dec
Politics
The survivors cross back over the Niemen. Of the army that invaded Russia, fewer than 100,000 return — the aura of invincibility is broken.

Sides and key participants

Campaign results

For France

Catastrophic defeat: the Grande Armée ceases to exist as a fighting force
Moscow occupied but not held — no peace with Alexander I
Loss of the army's best cadres, horses, and artillery
The disaster set the stage for the War of the Sixth Coalition

For the coalition

Russia preserved its independence and became the leading power of the anti-French coalition
Kutuzov's strategy — retreat, stand at Borodino, cut off supplies — was vindicated
Patriotic War and partisan raids broke the invader's logistics and morale
The campaign proved that Napoleon's army could be destroyed in a war of attrition

Key events

1812

Politics

The breach with Russia over the Continental System and the Polish question: Napoleon gathers the Grande Armée on the Niemen — the largest host Europe has yet seen.

24 Jun

Politics

The Grande Armée crosses the Niemen. Barclay de Tolly commands the First Western Army; Bagration the Second — the Russian strategy is to retreat and refuse battle.

16 Aug

Battle

At Smolensk Davout and Ney force a crossing of the Dnieper; the Russians withdraw — the road to Moscow opens, but at the cost of time and supplies.

18 Aug

Battle

At Polotsk on the northern front Saint-Cyr defeats Wittgenstein — the Baltic front holds while the main army marches east.

17 Aug

Politics

Alexander I appoints Kutuzov commander-in-chief; the army unites at Borodino for a stand before Moscow.

7 Sep

Battle

At Borodino Napoleon wins a bloody victory: Bagration is mortally wounded, the Russian army withdraws intact — Moscow lies open.

14 Sep

Politics

The French enter Moscow. Fires destroy much of the city; Kutuzov blocks the southern route — the army waits in vain for peace.

24 Oct

Battle

At Maloyaroslavets Kutuzov blocks the southern route; Napoleon turns the army north onto the ravaged Smolensk road — the retreat begins.

19 Oct

Politics

Napoleon leaves Moscow. Cossacks under Platov and the winter close in on the columns; discipline collapses on the march west.

17 Nov

Battle

At Krasnoi Ney's rearguard is shattered — the Grande Armée loses its last cohesion before the Berezina.

26 Nov

Battle

At the Berezina Victor and Oudinot hold the bridges while the remnants cross under Tutchkov's fire — the army escapes encirclement but not destruction.

Dec

Politics

The survivors cross back over the Niemen. Of the army that invaded Russia, fewer than 100,000 return — the aura of invincibility is broken.

Campaign results

For France

Catastrophic defeat: the Grande Armée ceases to exist as a fighting force
Moscow occupied but not held — no peace with Alexander I
Loss of the army's best cadres, horses, and artillery
The disaster set the stage for the War of the Sixth Coalition

For the coalition

Russia preserved its independence and became the leading power of the anti-French coalition
Kutuzov's strategy — retreat, stand at Borodino, cut off supplies — was vindicated
Patriotic War and partisan raids broke the invader's logistics and morale
The campaign proved that Napoleon's army could be destroyed in a war of attrition