The Road to Borodino: Europe on the Brink

In the summer of 1812, Napoleon Bonaparte stood at the zenith of his power, commanding an empire that stretched across continental Europe. Yet one adversary remained defiant: Tsar Alexander I’s Russia. Determined to force Russia into his Continental System—an economic blockade against Britain—Napoleon assembled the Grande Armée, the largest military force Europe had ever seen. Over 600,000 soldiers, drawn from France and its satellite states, crossed the Niemen River on June 24, 1812.

Russia’s strategy, devised by General Barclay de Tolly, was one of calculated retreat. By drawing Napoleon deeper into Russia’s vast interior, they aimed to stretch French supply lines and exhaust their forces. However, this tactic enraged Russian nobility and soldiers alike. The symbolic surrender of Smolensk in August intensified calls for a decisive stand. When Mikhail Kutuzov replaced Barclay as commander-in-chief, he chose the village of Borodino, 120 kilometers west of Moscow, as the battleground.

The Armies Collide: Preparations for Carnage

By September 5, Kutuzov’s 120,000 troops fortified a 5-mile front along the Kolocha River. The Russian position, though not ideal, featured two key strongpoints: the Raevsky Redoubt (a central artillery bastion) and the Bagration Fleches (arrow-shaped earthworks on the left flank). Napoleon, with 130,000 men, recognized the need to break through these defenses to reach Moscow.

The battle began on September 5 with a French assault on the Shevardino Redoubt, a forward outpost. After brutal fighting, the Russians withdrew, but the engagement cost both sides 5,000 casualties—a grim preview of the slaughter to come.

September 7, 1812: A Day of Unprecedented Bloodshed

At dawn, Napoleon’s 587 guns opened fire, heralding Europe’s largest artillery duel until World War I. The French attacked in three waves:

1. The Fleches: A Meat Grinder
Marshal Davout’s corps stormed the Bagration Fleches, facing point-blank artillery fire. Russian General Bagration personally led counterattacks, but a French cannonball shattered his leg (he died days later). By noon, the Fleches fell after six assaults, with entire divisions annihilated.

2. Raevsky Redoubt: Cavalry Charges and Heroism
At 3 PM, 10,000 French and Saxon heavy cavalry charged the Raevsky Redoubt. Saxon cuirassiers breached the defenses, but Russian guards cavalry launched a desperate countercharge. The battle dissolved into a swirling melee of slashing sabers and trampling hooves.

3. The Final Stand
By evening, the French held the redoubt, but both armies were spent. Napoleon refused to commit his Imperial Guard, preserving his last reserve. Kutuzov withdrew under cover of darkness.

The Aftermath: Pyrrhic Victory and Strategic Defeat

Casualties were staggering:
– French: 30,000–35,000 killed/wounded (including 49 generals).
– Russians: 44,000 casualties (23 generals lost).

Though Napoleon technically won, the battle failed to cripple the Russian army. On September 14, the French entered Moscow—only to find it abandoned and burning. With winter approaching and supply lines collapsing, the Grande Armée began its disastrous retreat, losing 90% of its men by December.

Legacy: Borodino in History and Memory

– Military Tactics: Borodino showcased the lethality of massed artillery and the limitations of frontal assaults.
– Cultural Impact: Tolstoy immortalized the battle in War and Peace, depicting its chaos and human cost.
– National Myth: In Russia, Borodino became a symbol of resilience, celebrated annually as a victory over invasion.

Napoleon later reflected: “The French showed themselves worthy of victory, but the Russians proved themselves invincible.” Borodino marked the beginning of his empire’s unraveling—a testament to the perils of overreach and the indomitable will of a people defending their homeland.