12 September 1812
Napoleon takes Moscow

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Napoleon's capture of Moscow on 12 September 1812 is a Pyrrhic victory as the Russians, who made a desperate stand outside the city at the battle of Borodino on 6 September, have abandoned it and taken with them all supplies. Fires are raging throughout the city, destroying large parts of it. With no provisions for their troops, the French have no option but to withdraw before winter sets in. Napoleon returns to Paris on 5 December, leaving the army under the command of Marshal Murat. The last of the Grande Armée completes the retreat from Russia back across the river Niemen on 14 December.

'I had two important objects in view, on which I depended for the destruction of the French army, which were the maintaining the tranquillity of Moscow, and making the inhabitants quit it. I succeeded even beyond my expectations. Everything was quiet even to the very moment of the entrance of the enemy, and out of 240,000 inhabitants, there remained but 10 or 12,000, who were either trades people, foreigners, or of the lowest class, but not a single person of note, either of nobility, clergy or citizens. The senate, the tribunals, every person in office, had quitted the town some days before its occupation. I wished to hinder Napoleon from having the possibility of making acquaintances, from communicating with the interior and from putting in practice that influence that the French had acquired in Europe, by means of her literature, her fashions, her cookery and her language. By these means some reconciliation might have been brought about; some confidence might have been gained; and, in fine, some service exacted; but amongst those who were found in Moscow, all seduction was as unavailable as in the midst of the deaf and dumb.

'The principal feature in the Russian character is disinterestedness, and a tendency to destroy rather than give up, always ending their disputes in these words, "Well, then, it shall be for nobody." In the numerous conversations that I have had with merchants, manufacturers and the common people, I have heard them say, when expressing, with grief, their fear lest Moscow should fall into the hands of the enemy: "It would be much better to set fire to it."' Fedor, Count Rostopschin, Paris, 5 March 1823

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