Historical_background:_Napoleon.27s_invasion_of_Russia 1812_Overture

a scene depicting french retreat russia in 1812, painting illarion pryanishnikov (1874)

on september 7, 1812, @ borodino, 120 km (75 mi) west of moscow, napoleon s forces met of general mikhail kutuzov in concerted stand made russia against seemingly invincible french army. battle of borodino saw casualties estimated high 100,000 , french masters of field. was, however, pyrrhic victory french invasion.

with resources depleted , supply lines overextended, napoleon s weakened forces moved moscow, occupied little resistance. expecting capitulation displaced tsar alexander i, french instead found in barren , desolate city, parts of retreating russian army had burned ground.

deprived of winter stores, napoleon had retreat. beginning on october 19 , lasting december, french army faced several overwhelming obstacles on long retreat: famine, typhus, frigid temperatures, harassing cossacks, , russian forces barring way out of country. abandoned napoleon in november, grande armée reduced one-tenth of original size time reached poland , relative safety.

anachronism of nationalist motifs

although la marseillaise chosen french national anthem in 1795, banned napoleon in 1805 , not have been played during russian campaign. reinstated french anthem in 1879—the year before commission of overture—which can explain use tchaikovsky in overture. however, veillons au salut de l empire served unofficial anthem of napoleon s regime had been largely forgotten 1882, while educated russians of time familiar tune of la marseillaise , recognize significance.

although god save tsar! russian national anthem in tchaikovsky s time, had not been written in 1812. there no official russian anthem until 1815, time until 1833 anthem molitva russkikh, prayer of russians, sung tune of god save king.