Napoleonic Wars: The French Grande Armée enters Moscow. The Fire of Moscow begins as soon as Russian troops leave the city.

During the French occupation of Moscow, a fire persisted from 14 to 18 September 1812 and all but destroyed the city. The Russian troops and most of the remaining civilians had abandoned the city on 14 September 1812 just ahead of French Emperor Napoleon's troops entering the city after the Battle of Borodino.

The Moscow military governor, Count Fyodor Rostopchin, has often been considered responsible for organising the destruction of the former capital to weaken the French army in the scorched city even more.

Fire of Moscow 1812
Fire of Moscow 1812 (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
1813 moscow-pozar
1813 moscow-pozar (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Faber du Faur Moskau 1812
Faber du Faur Moskau 1812 (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Napoleon watching the fire of Moscow 01
Napoleon watching the fire of Moscow 01 (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Watch: Napoleonic Wars: Retreat from Moscow 1812

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Sources and further reading: Wikipedia — Fire of Moscow (1812), Napoleonic Wars, Grande Armée (CC BY-SA). Images: Wikimedia Commons.