Napoleon’s Bloodiest Day: Borodino 1812

In 1812 Napoleon invaded Russia with the largest army Europe had ever seen. As it advanced, the Russian army retreated, and by September Napoleon’s army had marched 470 miles into the depths of Russia. 70 miles west of Moscow near the village of Borodino, the Russian army, under a new commander, General Kutuzov, finally made a stand. The battle that followed was the bloodiest day’s fighting of the Napoleonic Wars, and proved one of the most infamous battles of history. Special thanks to Alexander Averyanov for kind permission to use his paintings ’Battle of Smolensk’, ’Artilleryman’s Exploits’, ’Prince Pyotr Bagration at Borodino: The Last Counterattack’, ’Horse Guards at the Battle of Borodino’, ’The Fighting for Shevardino Redoubt’, ’The Fighting for Bagration Flèches’. Special thanks to Egor Zaitsev for kind permission to use his painting ’Prayer Before the Battle of Borodino’.