Battle of the Moskva (Borodino)

The Battle of the Moskva, known as the Battle of Borodino, was the bloodiest engagement of the Napoleonic Wars. Napoleon sought to break the Russian army before reaching Moscow. After a day of murderous frontal assaults on Russian redoubts, the French managed to pierce the enemy center without destroying the Russian army, which withdrew in order.

Since June 1812 the Grande Armée had advanced into Russia, harassed by the Russians without a decisive battle being fought. At Borodino, near the Moskva, the Russians erected a massive fortified line to finally confront Napoleon. He sought to inflict a decisive blow before reaching Moscow.

Napoleon concentrated attacks on the Russian left: the Shevardino redoubt fell on 5 September. On the 7th the main assault began at dawn on the Great Redoubt (Raevsky) and the Grand Redoubt. Ney, Davout, and Murat led the attacks. Heavy cavalry, the Young Guard, and massed artillery broke Russian defenses after multiple waves. Napoleon, cautiously, refused to commit the Imperial Guard.

Although Napoleon took the field and forced the Russians to withdraw, the battle was not strategically decisive. The Russian army survived, and Moscow, soon abandoned, did not end the war. Losses were colossal and the Grande Armée emerged drained, without definitive political or military victory.