Napoleon spent only a month in Moscow. He was much upset by the sight of the burning Mother See. Bonaparte never succeeded in realizing his plans. Historians have no consensus on the reasons for Napoleon's retreat from Moscow.
Tilsit Peace
Shortly before the capture of Moscow by Napoleon in 1812, peace reigned in most of Europe. But France was making rapid preparations for war. Thousands of soldiers entered the service, various corps were formed. At the same time, the French emperor made it clear that he did not want a new war. Why did Napoleon go to Moscow?
In 1811 he controlled the whole of Europe - from the Mediterranean Sea to the Neman River. Bonaparte counted on the help of the Russians in the war with England. After the victory at the Battle of Friedland in 1807, followed by the Treaty of Tilsit, France and Russia became allies. However, Alexander did not support the Napoleonic strategy and, in breach of the treaty, gave the British access to Russian ports. This behavior made Russia in the eyesNapoleon an enemy of France.
It is believed that Armand de Caulaincourt, who held the post of French ambassador to Russia for several years, warned Bonaparte against marching on Moscow. Napoleon, in his then opinion, made a terrible mistake, which could have a tragic effect on the fate of France. Russia is a large country with a harsh climate. French troops could easily get lost in its vast expanses.
Russian campaign
Caulaincourt foresaw that even if the troops manage to enter the Mother See, this will not bring good luck to the French army. However, Napoleon insisted that the war with Russia was part of an important strategic plan. For several months, he gathered detachments from all over Europe and sent them to the borders of the already enemy state.
Alexander understood that a collision was inevitable. He hesitated for a long time and pondered which strategy to choose. Go to meet the French? Or skip them to Moscow? Fearful of Napoleon's spies, Alexander shared his plans with only a select few generals.
Multinational Army
Bonaparte continued to ignore calls for caution. In 1812, Napoleon prepared very carefully for a campaign against Moscow. His army consisted of one and a half million people. In the ranks, they spoke not only French, but also other European languages. It was the army of twenty nations.
Initially, Bonaparte planned a lightning campaign, a show of force that was supposed to force the Russian Tsar to agreeon his terms. The main rival of Napoleon, who did not allow him to establish dominance over Europe, was England. The French commander sought to bring Britain to its knees and force it to make peace. That is why he signed a pact with Russia in 1807. In fact, it was the union of the strong with the weak.
The treaty obligated Russia to stop trading with England. But Alexander could not comply with such conditions. Trade with England was vital to the country's economy. There was also an ideological component to Napoleon's attack on Moscow in 1812. It was believed that the campaign, which, according to Bonaparte, should have been successful, would lead to the introduction of European culture into this Asian state.
Napoleon planned to defeat the Russian army in less than two months. However, according to many modern researchers, he did not seek to destroy the Russian Empire and deprive Alexander of the throne. He needed a local war. As for the Russian emperor, he considered Napoleon an enemy, but not France, whose history and culture he greatly revered. In the language of Voltaire, he spoke with the same pleasure as in his native.
Kutuzov's order
In the Battle of Borodino, the Russian army suffered significant losses. Kutuzov ordered to retreat in the direction of Mozhayskoye. His main goal was to save the army.
In Fili, on September 13, a council was held to discuss further actions. Most of the Russian generals insisted on the need for a battle near the walls of Moscow. But Kutuzov is nobodylistened. He interrupted the meeting, despite the protests of the generals, and ordered the surrender of Moscow to Napoleon.
French offensive
On September 14, the Napoleonic army was already in the vicinity of Moscow, or rather, on Poklonnaya Hill, where the famous memorial complex is located today. Here the French built fortifications. For about half an hour, Napoleon waited for the reaction of the Russian generals. But it didn't follow. Then the French troops began to enter the city.
According to eyewitnesses, already on the outskirts of Moscow, a certain man in a blue overcoat approached Napoleon. After talking for a few minutes with the French emperor, he left. There is an assumption that it was he who brought Napoleon the news that the city had been abandoned by both Russian troops and civilians. This news unsettled Bonaparte.
At the Moscow River
So, Napoleon got on his horse and rode into the Mother See. The cavalry followed him. Having passed the Yamskaya Sloboda, the French troops reached the Moscow River. The army was divided into several parts. After crossing the river, the French broke up into small detachments, took up guards along the alleys and main streets of Moscow. Napoleon here abandoned his usual self-confidence.
Desolate City
There was dead silence on the streets of the old Russian city. Having traveled along the Arbat, Napoleon saw only a few people, including a wounded French general who was at the quarters of a local pharmacist. Finally, the French reached the Borovitsky Gate. Napoleon, looking at the Kremlin walls, apparently was not satisfied. But the main disappointments were waiting for him ahead.
The Kremlin, like most buildings in Moscow, is empty. The Russian people decided to cede the ancient capital, but not to bow before the great commander. In those days, there were about six thousand inhabitants in Moscow, which accounted for 2.6% of the total population.
Atrocities of French soldiers
In the days of the occupation, there were frequent cases of looting. But not only from the French, but also from the indigenous population. Muscovites who remained in the city later claimed that the French command fought against violations of army discipline, but not very successfully. However, cases of rape were rare. Residents of Moscow, left without shelter and food, voluntarily made contact with the French occupiers.
Fire
What preceded Napoleon's retreat from Moscow is described in many works of art. First of all, in Lermontov's poem "Borodino". As soon as the French entered the city, arson was set up in different parts of it. Napoleon was sure that they were organized by local residents on the orders of Governor Rostopchin.
The next day after the capture of Moscow by Napoleon, a strong wind arose. It lasted over 24 hours. The flames engulfed the surroundings of the Kremlin, Solyanka, Zamoskvorechye. The fire destroyed most of the city. About four hundred residents of Moscow, representatives of the lower classes, were accused of arsonand shot by the French invaders. The burning Moscow made a painful impression on Bonaparte himself.
Defeat or win?
The capture of Moscow to Napoleon initially seemed an absolute victory over Russia. But everything was not as rosy as the proud Corsican thought. He was struck by the inflexibility of the Russian army, ready to destroy their city to spite the enemy. Napoleon in the early days traveled along the route from the Arbat to the Moscow River. Later, for safety reasons, he moved exclusively along the coast.
From Russia, Bonaparte continued to manage his empire all this time. He signed decrees, decrees, appointments, awards and dismissals of officials. Napoleon settled in the Kremlin and publicly announced his intention to stay in winter apartments in the Mother See. The French commander ordered the Kremlin and monasteries to be brought into a state suitable for defense.
After Napoleon came to Moscow, several Russian organizations operated here. For a month, the municipality, a self-government body opened in Rumyantsev's house, was engaged in the search for food, saving burning churches, and helping victims of the fire. The members of this organization worked involuntarily, and therefore, after the departure of the French army, none of them was accused of collaborationism.
The French organized the municipal police on October 12th. Napoleon, who traveled on horseback in the early days of various Moscow districts, visited monasteries. He also visited the Orphanage, the head of which asked himpermission to write a report to Empress Maria. Napoleon not only allowed, but also asked to convey to Emperor Alexander his desire to establish peace.
It is worth saying that during his stay in Moscow, Napoleon tried three times to inform the Russian Tsar about his peaceful intentions. However, I never received a response. Many researchers believe that Napoleon planned to free the Russian peasants from serfdom. He wanted to hold this event as the last and most reliable means of influencing Alexander. And most of all this was feared by the nobility. As you know, the campaign against Moscow was not successful. Napoleon's plans were not destined to come true.
Desecration of temples and monasteries
The French did not particularly stand on ceremony with Moscow shrines. In many temples they set up stables. Forges were organized to melt down silver and gold utensils.
When the Russians returned to Moscow, the famous Assumption Cathedral was closed. It was opened only after restoration. The fact is that the relics of the saints and the tombs were mutilated, the icons were split and soiled. The mayors decided to hide from the eyes of Muscovites the temple, defiled by unbridled soldiers.
However, some historians argue that the rumors about the destruction of Russian shrines by the French are exaggerated. No one was allowed into the Kremlin, except for the guards. Churches and monasteries were turned into barracks. However, the French did not aim to offend the feelings of the Orthodox.
Retreat
About October 18, Napoleon finally realized thatthe idea of concluding a peace agreement with the Russian emperor is futile. He decided to leave Moscow. In addition, the weather deteriorated, frosts began. The reasons that forced Bonaparte to abandon his original plans are controversial among historians. But one of the main factors that influenced the course of further events was looting, drunkenness of French soldiers. The situation that developed in the ranks of the Napoleonic army had a depressing effect on Bonaparte. He realized that it was impossible to lead fighters to St. Petersburg in such a state.
Tarutin fight
On October 20, the French army under the command of Murat faced Kutuzov. This happened in front of Tarutin, on the Chernishna River. The clash turned into a battle, as a result of which the French army was thrown back behind the village of Spas-Kuplya. This event showed Bonaparte that Kutuzov, after the Battle of Borodino, managed to regain his strength and would soon deliver a strong blow to the French army.
Before leaving, Napoleon ordered Mortier, a marshal temporarily appointed to the post of Moscow Governor-General, to set fire to all wine shops, public buildings, and barracks in Moscow before leaving. On October 19, the French army moved along the old Kaluga road. Only Mortier's corps remained in Moscow.
In Trinity
At the end of October 1812 Napoleon's army left Moscow. Nevertheless, Bonaparte still hoped to attack Kutuzov's army, defeat it, reach the regions of Russia not devastated by the war and provide his army with food andfodder. He made his first stop in the village of Troitskoye, located on the banks of the Desna River. His main headquarters was here for several days.
In Troitsky, Napoleon changed his mind about attacking Kutuzov. Indeed, in this case, a battle was to be fought, no less large-scale than Borodino, and this could only mean the final defeat of the French troops.
In 1812, Napoleon left Moscow contrary to his original plans. Finally, he ordered to blow up the Kremlin. But Marshal Mortier managed only partially to fulfill Bonaparte's order. In the confusion, the French destroyed the Water Tower, damaged the Nikolskaya and Petrovsky towers.
The rout that was started by French soldiers was continued by Russian peasants and Cossacks. They drank, looted and vandalized. In 1814, the emperor issued a manifesto, according to which most of the marauders who hunted during the days of the French occupation were amnestied.
