On September 7, 1812, the Battle of Borodino (or Battle of Moscow) marked a significant engagement in Napoleon Bonaparte‘s Russian campaign (French Invasion of Russia). It involved a clash of nearly 200,000 men. Due to repeated and sustained heavy artillery fire, the fighting was notably intense. Strategic points, such as Bagration’s redoubts or Raevsky’s redoubt, were fiercely contested before the Tsar’s army eventually retreated. Both warring factions suffered substantial losses, with tens of thousands of soldiers and officers killed, along with numerous wounded.
History acknowledges a French tactical victory, though it was not decisive for the outcome of the Russian campaign. Following the Battle of Borodino, Napoleon’s forces continued their march towards Moscow. However, Russia also claims victory and does not concede defeat.
—>Both Napoleon and Kutuzov employed strategic and tactical maneuvers during the battle. The Russians, under Kutuzov, adopted a defensive strategy, allowing the French to attack their fortified positions.
Why Did the Battle of Borodino Take Place?
In 1812, Napoleon I embarked on the Russian campaign. The political decisions made by Alexander I, the Russian Emperor, which went against Napoleon Bonaparte’s plan, prompted his march toward Moscow. Notably, the lifting of the Continental Blockade against the United Kingdom played a role. The Russian campaign lasted just over five months, from June 24 to December 14, 1812.
The Battle of Moscow, also known as the Battle of Borodino, occurred on September 7, 1812, two days after the Battle of Shevardino. In this context, Napoleon aimed to secure a decisive victory against his opponent. The primary objective was to force the Russian Emperor to sign a peace treaty on Napoleon’s terms, including adherence to the Continental System (or Continental Blockade), designed to economically isolate the United Kingdom.
Who Participated in the Battle of Borodino?
The Battle of Borodino pitted the Russian Empire against France and its allies, including Italy, Bavaria, Westphalia, Saxony, the Duchy of Warsaw, and the Grand Duchy of Hesse. Among the French commanders were Napoleon I, Michel Ney, Joachim Murat, Louis Nicolas Davout, and Eugène de Beauharnais. On the Russian side, key commanders included Mikhail Kutuzov, Michael Andreas Barclay de Tolly, and Pyotr Ivanovich Bagration, who succumbed to his wounds a few weeks after the battle.
How Did the Battle of Borodino Unfold?
Taking place on September 7, 1812, near the village of Borodino, also known as the Battle of Moskova, the engagement involved hundreds of thousands of soldiers on both sides. The Russian artillery held a strategic position on the “Great Redoubt,” while Napoleon had only a fraction of his forces, as not all had crossed the Niemen River.
On the morning of September 7, the French army initiated the combat, targeting Bagration’s redoubts and advanced fortified positions where a significant portion of the enemy troops were situated. Although Napoleon initially succeeded, he could not hold the position against Bagration’s counterattack. Throughout various assaults, the Russians and French alternately occupied this strategic position.
France then executed a diversionary maneuver led by Eugène de Beauharnais, diverting the attention of the Russian troops from Louis Nicolas Davout. The latter assaulted the Raevsky redoubt and two other key locations in the battle. Numerous artillery exchanges followed, resulting in the deaths of several Russian generals and officers. This partly explains why some of the Tsar’s cannons were not utilized. Napoleon’s forces continued to shell the Russian positions, taking advantage of this strategic superiority. The Russian army was routed and forced to flee the battlefield.
Who Won the Battle of Borodino?
Officially, the French army won the Battle of Borodino. Napoleon conquered the main Russian strategic positions, including Bagration’s redoubts and the Raevsky redoubt, allowing him to continue his march towards Moscow, which he reached seven days later. This French tactical victory is sometimes disputed due to significant human losses and its limited impact on the rest of the Russian campaign.
While the road to Moscow was open for Napoleon, his army was depleted. The question remains whether the Russians deliberately retreated to draw the French deeper into Russia, where they became vulnerable to winter conditions and attacks.
How Many Casualties Were There in the Battle of Borodino?
The Battle of Borodino resulted in particularly high casualties on both sides. The French army suffered nearly 21,450 wounded and over 6,500 dead. Issues with the food supply led to the deaths of some invalid soldiers due to hunger or neglect. Desertions and illness also took a toll on the French troops. The Russians are estimated to have lost 44,000–52,000 men, without a precise distinction between the dead and wounded. Among them were around twenty generals, including Pyotr Ivanovich Bagration.
What Were the Consequences of the Battle of Borodino?
Napoleon I continued his march while implementing the scorched-earth strategy, weakening the enemy by destroying production systems, resources, and buildings crucial for their war effort. The French army captured Moscow on September 14, 1812, seven days after the Battle of Borodino. However, the Muscovites set the city ablaze in the evening, preventing the French soldiers from having winter quarters. Nearly a month later, the French troops were compelled to leave Moscow without securing Russia’s surrender.
The Tsar’s army quickly recovered from its losses and continued to resist. In contrast, Napoleon’s soldiers were ill-prepared for the harsh Russian winter. Ultimately, the French army chose to retreat as the Russians refused to capitulate. The Russian campaign and its consequences marked the beginning of the decline of Napoleon’s influence in Europe.
