French Russian War: causes, consequences, and historical impact

Russian Soldier

Napoleon

French/Russian War

As in every decisive point of war, so I have come about once more to add to the glory of the French Empire. The Grande Armee is ready for battle, and we are to cross Neman shortly on the morrow. Poland must not fall to the Russians, and if needs be, we shall show the Russian emperor our true force; the force of the French army in her magnificent glory.

No other empire could have hoped to grow as largely as France, not Alexander the Great, not even Caesar's Roman Empire. No, it shall be a glorified and united Europe, and I shall see my reforms through. No ancient imperial order should stand in the way of revolution. Certainly Louis and his wife Marie Antoinette fared the worst for their mistreatment of the Jacobins during the Reign of Terror. And if I have to fight the fires of imperial Europe with the very fires that have angered the nation, then I must. Better that France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, Hungary, and my other conquests are to be subjected under the banner of one leader, rather than the divided and most unsavory flags of separate rulers.

I will see that it is done. How else can the people hope to progress in religion? In education, in true and proper reform? The legal system must be re-drawn up in the Napoleonic code. Religion should not be a weapon used to further vengeance and destruction. The countries are stuck in their traditional, ancient ways. They will fight in their traditional, ancient struggles. Only this grand revolution will open their eyes, as the colonials in America have opened up George's eyes in Britain. My armies will fight, ma chere, and they will be glorious. They are trained in such militant combat such as the enemy will never see. The prowess of the Grande Armee's leader knows no bounds.

16 December 1812

Who could truly outmatch an army over half a million strong? Who could match the glory of one European ruler, whose sole purpose in existence must be to subjugate the continent's nations into one kingdom, to bring about the downfall of our imperial rivals? Had this entry been written only months before, I might have had no answer. But it has only been two days since the Grand Retreat and I proudly say I know who can. Our mother country. Russia. Her name will ring with victorious triumph against the world's most ruthless conqueror. For she had the help of the elements, of Father Bear to the East.

You ask who could possibly curtail the revolutionary attempts of a madman. I say Russia can. I say Russia's massive landmass, her people, her Nature. In one single battle, we had reduced the strength of the French army to a mere half of their power. Nations upon nations who crowded underneath one flag, one ruler, fell apart at the onslaught of our guerilla tactics. Napoleon failed to realize that our country does not run only in Europe. Our massive Trans-Siberian relays allow us reinforcements from the East. We lost many men in battle, but our Emperor would have replenished his troops quickly.