Why Did Napoleon Invade Russia

After taking power of France and taking control of most of Europe through military victories, the French Empire’s territory grew expanding the state’s sovereign control over a multitude of nations. Due to an embargo that Napoleon passed to punish the British, which affected Russia’s economy and trade, Russia decided to continue trade with Great Britain; this lead to Napoleon to invade Russia (the location of these events), “to teach Alexander a lesson” (Greenspan 2012). Russia is a vast country that covers the north most part of Asia and between France and Moscow are many rivers that need to be crossed. The weather in Russia is also unruly as was displayed on the night of June 27th, 1812 in the city of Vilna where “an electric storm [poured] down freezing rain, hail and sleet [killing] a number of troops and horses” (Greenspan 2012). The Russian environment was a harsh mistress to the unprepared French soldiers. As this occurred in late June, it should have been a clear sign to Napoleon about the Russian winter that was to come, however, his only thought was about the conquest of Moscow and the surrender of the Czar. As Napoleon
The withdrawal of the Russian army “[prompted] the citizens of Moscow to [begin] a massive and panicked exodus” (Geographia). When Napoleon arrived, he found the city to be empty of people and lacking in supplies. What made things worse was that during that night, “fires broke out in the city and by the next day the French were lacking shelter as well” (Geographia). Napoleon decided to wait in Moscow for Alexander to surrender, but after a month of no surrender, Napoleon decided to retreat. Sadly it was too late as Napoleon had over stayed his welcome in Moscow and Russia’s cruel winter had set