Why did Napoleon lost in Russia in 1812? DNA analyzes have the key

In Russia, it is a historical date, but for France, it is above all the memory of a stinging defeat. For example, In 1812, Napoleon launched a military campaign to invade the Russian Empire. Similarly, Widely higher in number, French soldiers go so far as to take Moscow, before being rejected by a Russian counter-offensive. For example, Balance sheet. Consequently, hundreds of thousands of deaths on each side, and the beginning of a long descent for the French emperor who sees his allies turn against him following this debacle.

Troops beaten by lice – Why did napoleon lost russia

But why is this Russian campaign of Russia why did napoleon lost russia so much scientists, far beyond historians? Therefore, Because French defeat is also due to factors other than military. In addition, Previous studies have identified pathogens that would have undermined Napoleonic troops, already weakened by the violent Russian winter.

In a study not yet published in a scientific journal. but placed on the Biorxiv server on July 16, 2025, and spotted on August 5 by Sciencealert, a team of scientists led by Rémi Barbieri, of the Pasteur Institute, practiced a DNA why did napoleon lost russia analysis on the remains of soldiers. 13 of them could have been studied, in particular their teeth, in order to know what they were suffering before dying.

Doctors of the time had mentioned typhus, but no trace of the bacteria responsible for this disease had been found. Here. the researchers were able to highlight the presence of a strain of Salmonella Enterica, a bacteria which causes a paratyphoid, a violent fever. But also traces of Borrelia Recurréntis, another bacteria causing fever and transmitted by lice.

Lice had already been detected before among the bodies found after these battles. Especially in a 2006 study signed… Didier Raoult! But this time. scientists made sure that the soldiers had not been injured by weapons: they died in another way, and bacterial infections are the first suspects. In addition, the two bacteria identified in this study had never been found on site.

All these why did napoleon lost russia corpses were found in a pit identified in Vilnius, Lithuania, which contained 3000 bodies. Men buried with their horses and their uniforms, unarmed. But the authors of the study warn: it would take much more complete analyzes to understand exactly how these. infections played a decisive role in the outcome of the battle.

A question always relevant

Historians document retirement from Moscow. between October 19 and December 14, 1812, believing that losses are due to exhaustion, cold, hunger and disease. The French had arrived in a city in flames and ruins, and had no choice but to go back.

From the start, typhus was considered the main infection that affected the troops, and this study does not exclude it. As the analysis is based only on 13 bodies, other soldiers may have been infected. The more solid DNA analyzes than they were still a few years ago allow us why did napoleon lost russia to assert that the paratyphoid fever caused deaths. but the authors specify: ” In view of the extreme conditions which characterized this retreat, the presence of multiple simultaneous infections is extremely plausible. In several cases. it could also be that the fever was not directly fatal, but that it would have weakened the troops.

The debate may have more than two centuries, knowing what has beat the Napoleonic army is still today topical. In 2023. Vladimir Putin denounced French support for Ukraine, comparing the attitude of Emmanuel Macron with that of Napoleon, and recalling how the conquest of 1812 had turned short for the emperor. So, did the Russians have the lice on their side during this campaign? Certainly. But how long it played in the conflict, the question remains open.