1812Reputable sourceWell documented
The Invasion of Russia
On the timeline · around 1812 ·
What happened
Napoleon led the largest army Europe had ever seen — over half a million men of his Grande Armée — into Russia. The Russians retreated, burning everything behind them, and though Napoleon reached a devastated, abandoned Moscow, he was forced into a catastrophic winter retreat. Only a fraction of his army survived.
Why it matters
The Russian catastrophe destroyed the Grande Armée and shattered the myth of Napoleon's invincibility. It emboldened his enemies across Europe to rise against him and marked the beginning of his end.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Napoleon Bonaparte · Reputable source