EPISODE · May 27, 2026 · 6 MIN
The Romanovs' War with Napoleon: 1812 and the Burning of Moscow
from The Romanov Dynasty: Rise, Power, and Bloody End — Fexingo History · host Fexingo
In 1812, Napoleon Bonaparte launched his Grande Armée of over 600,000 men into Russia, expecting a quick victory. Instead, he met a scorched-earth retreat, the bloody Battle of Borodino, and the burning of Moscow. This episode follows the campaign from Napoleon's invasion to the catastrophic retreat, exploring the Russian strategy of General Mikhail Kutuzov, the role of Tsar Alexander I, and the myth of General Winter. We discuss the Battle of Borodino in detail—its staggering casualties, the death of Prince Pyotr Bagration, and how it became a symbol of Russian resistance. We also examine the fire of Moscow, whether it was a deliberate act of scorched earth or an accident, and the harrowing retreat along the Smolensk road, where the Grande Armée was destroyed by cold, hunger, and Cossack attacks. The episode touches on the cultural legacy of 1812 in Russian memory, from Tolstoy's War and Peace to Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, and how the victory solidified the Romanov dynasty's hold on power for another century. #NapoleonicWars #RussianHistory #InvasionOfRussia1812 #BattleOfBorodino #MikhailKutuzov #AlexanderI #GrandeArmée #ScorchedEarth #BurningOfMoscow #PyotrBagration #Cossacks #GeneralWinter #Tchaikovsky182Overture #WarAndPeace #RomanovDynasty #MilitaryHistory #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
What this episode covers
In 1812, Napoleon Bonaparte launched his Grande Armée of over 600,000 men into Russia, expecting a quick victory. Instead, he met a scorched-earth retreat, the bloody Battle of Borodino, and the burning of Moscow. This episode follows the campaign from Napoleon's invasion to the catastrophic retreat, exploring the Russian strategy of General Mikhail Kutuzov, the role of Tsar Alexander I, and the myth of General Winter. We discuss the Battle of Borodino in detail—its staggering casualties, the death of Prince Pyotr Bagration, and how it became a symbol of Russian resistance. We also examine the fire of Moscow, whether it was a deliberate act of scorched earth or an accident, and the harrowing retreat along the Smolensk road, where the Grande Armée was destroyed by cold, hunger, and Cossack attacks. The episode touches on the cultural legacy of 1812 in Russian memory, from Tolstoy's War and Peace to Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, and how the victory solidified the Romanov dynasty's hold on power for another century. #NapoleonicWars #RussianHistory #InvasionOfRussia1812 #BattleOfBorodino #MikhailKutuzov #AlexanderI #GrandeArmée #ScorchedEarth #BurningOfMoscow #PyotrBagration #Cossacks #GeneralWinter #Tchaikovsky182Overture #WarAndPeace #RomanovDynasty #MilitaryHistory #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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The Romanovs' War with Napoleon: 1812 and the Burning of Moscow
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