LIS 385T.16 - Fall 1997: The Napoleon Project
User-System Interface Design Course

Borodino

Cossacks
Cossacks awaiting
a French cavalry charge
About this painting
Napoleon's hope for battle was rewarded at Borodino. It was one of the major battles of the War of 1812 in Russia. The Russian commander Kutuzov, following the surrender of Smolensk to the French forces, made the decision to stage a decisive battle against the Napoleonic army. The death toll was catastrophic -- 58,000 Russian troop members died and nearly 50,000 Napoleonic forces including 47 generals. Both sides claimed victory. But Napoleon had failed in his attempt to totally destroy the Russian army, forcing Russia to surrender, and to agree to his terms of surrender.

The Russians continued to retreat and Napoleon became convinced that Moscow would herald the end of the Russian war effort.


March Through Russia (Image Map):

The advance: Niemen River | Kovno | Vitebsk | Smolensk | Borodino | Moscow |
The retreat: Malo-Jaroslavetz | Orsha | Berezina | Smorgoni |