Battle of Borodino

Quick Facts: Who was Battle of Borodino?

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Battle of Borodino

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The pivotal 1812 battle marking the turning point in Napoleon's invasion of Russia.

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Origins & Early Life

The Battle of Borodino or the Battle of the Moskva took place on the outskirts of Moscow near the village of Borodino on 7 September 1812, during Napoleon's invasion of Russia. The Grande Armée fought against the Imperial Russian Army. After the Russian retreat at the Battle of Smolensk, the road to Moscow lay open. Napoleon fought against General Mikhail Kutuzov, whom the Emperor Alexander I had appointed to replace Barclay de Tolly on 29 August after Smolensk was razed and captured by the French and Polish forces. Approximately a quarter of a million soldiers were involved in the battle, and it was the bloodiest single day of the Napoleonic Wars.

Career & Major Achievements

In the battle, up to 50 French generals and marshals were killed or wounded, as well as 29 Russian generals; hence Sir Robert Wilson referred to it as the Battle of the Generals. After the Battle of Borodino, Napoleon remained on the battlefield with his army; the Imperial Russian forces retreated southwards. What followed was the French occupation of Moscow, while the retreating Russians resorted to scorched earth tactics to trap Napoleon and his men within their own largest city. The main results of the battle were that Napoleon managed to take the Russian strong but unfinished defensive positions: the redoubt and the flèches, though he was unable to end the war as he hoped. In particular, Napoleon's reluctance to deploy his Imperial Guard, as he wished to negotiate with Alexander to make him re-join against the British, has been widely criticized by historians as a large blunder, as it allowed the Russian army to retreat into territory increasingly hostile to the French.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Napoleon with the French Grande Armée began his invasion of Russia on 24 June 1812 by crossing the Niemen river. As his Russian army was outnumbered by far, Mikhail Bogdanovich Barclay de Tolly successfully used a "delaying operation", defined as an operation where a force under pressure trades space for time by slowing down the enemy's momentum and inflicting maximum damage on the enemy without, in principle, becoming decisively engaged, using a Fabian strategy as a defence in depth by retreating further eastwards into Russia without giving battle. After the Battle of Smolensk, the Tsar replaced the unpopular Barclay de Tolly with Mikhail Kutuzov, who on 18 August took over the army at Tsaryovo-Zaymishche and ordered his soldiers to prepare for battle. Kutuzov understood Barclay's decision to retreat was correct, but the Tsar, the Russian troops and Russia could not accept further retreat. A battle had to occur in order to preserve the morale of the soldiers and the nation.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1812: 1812 Milestone — The Battle of Borodino or the Battle of the Moskva took place on the outskirts of Moscow near the village of Borodino on 7 September 1812, during Napoleon's invasion of Russia.

Notable Quotes by Battle of Borodino

“Sir Robert Wilson referred to it as the Battle of the Generals.”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Battle of Borodino

True or False: “The primary objective of the French forces at Borodino was to secure a decisive, immediate victory leading to the collapse of Russian resistance.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While Napoleon sought victory, the main result was that he failed to end the war as hoped, allowing the Russians to retreat into hostile territory.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Battle of Borodino