List of battles of the French invasion of Russia Facts for Kids

The French invasion of Russia in 1812 was a huge military campaign led by Napoleon Bonaparte, the Emperor of France. He marched his "Grand Army," which was the largest army ever seen at that time, into Russia. This invasion lasted from June to December 1812.

Napoleon's goal was to force Emperor Alexander I to stop trading with Great Britain. This was part of Napoleon's plan to weaken Britain by blocking its trade across Europe. However, the invasion turned out to be a disaster for Napoleon and his army.

This page lists the important battles and sieges that happened during this famous invasion. It shows where and when these fights took place, and which side won.

Key Battles of the Invasion
List of Battles and Sieges
See also

Key Battles of the Invasion

The invasion involved many battles and sieges. A siege is when an army surrounds a city or fort to try and capture it. Here are some of the most important fights:

The Advance into Russia

Napoleon's army moved quickly into Russia. The Russian army often retreated, using a "scorched-earth" tactic. This meant they burned crops and homes as they left. This made it hard for the French army to find food and supplies.

Battle of Smolensk (August 1812): This was one of the first major battles. The French captured the city, but it was largely destroyed by fire. This meant Napoleon didn't get the supplies he hoped for.
Battle of Borodino (September 1812): This was the biggest and bloodiest single-day battle of the invasion. It happened close to Moscow. Both sides suffered huge losses, but Napoleon's army managed to push the Russians back.

The Occupation of Moscow

After Borodino, Napoleon entered Moscow. He expected the Russians to surrender. However, the city was mostly empty, and soon after, a massive fire broke out. This fire destroyed much of Moscow. Napoleon and his army stayed in Moscow for over a month. But with winter approaching and no sign of surrender from the Russians, they had to leave.

The Retreat and Its Challenges

The journey back from Moscow was even more difficult than the advance. The harsh Russian winter, lack of food, and constant attacks from the Russian army caused huge losses for Napoleon's forces.

Battle of Maloyaroslavets (October 1812): This battle forced Napoleon to retreat along the same devastated route he had used to advance. This meant even less food and supplies.
Battle of Berezina (November 1812): This was a critical moment during the retreat. Napoleon's army had to cross the Berezina River while being attacked by Russian forces. Many soldiers died trying to cross.

List of Battles and Sieges

This table provides details about the different battles and sieges that happened during the French invasion of Russia.

Date	Battle	Region	French and Allies	Russian Forces	Outcome
1 July 1812	Battle of Grodno (1812)	Lithuania-Grodno	First French Empire	Russian Empire	French victory
9–10 July 1812	Battle of Mir (1812)	Lithuania-Grodno	Duchy of Warsaw	Russian Empire	Russian victory
19 July 1812	Battle of Ekau	Courland	First French Empire Kingdom of Prussia	Russian Empire	French victory
23 July 1812	Battle of Saltanovka	Mogilev	First French Empire	Russian Empire	French victory
24 July – 18 December 1812	Siege of Riga (1812)	Livonia	First French Empire Kingdom of Prussia	Russian Empire United Kingdom	Russian victory
25 July 1812	Battle of Ostrovno	Mogilev	First French Empire Napoleonic Naples	Russian Empire	French tactical victory
26–27 July 1812	Battle of Vitebsk (1812)	Vitebsk	First French Empire	Russian Empire	French victory
27 July 1812	Battle of Kobrin	Lithuania-Grodno	Kingdom of Saxony	Russian Empire	Russian victory
30 July – 1 August 1812	Battle of Klyastitsy	Vitebsk	First French Empire	Russian Empire	Russian victory
8 August 1812	Battle of Inkovo	Smolensk	First French Empire	Russian Empire	Russian victory
11 August 1812	Battle of Swolna	Vitebsk	First French Empire	Russian Empire	Indecisive
12 August 1812	Battle of Gorodechno	Lithuania-Grodno	Austrian Empire Kingdom of Saxony	Russian Empire	French victory
14 August 1812	First Battle of Krasnoi	Smolensk	First French Empire	Russian Empire	French victory
16–18 August 1812	Battle of Smolensk (1812)	Smolensk	First French Empire Duchy of Warsaw	Russian Empire	French victory
17–18 August 1812	First Battle of Polotsk	Vitebsk	First French Empire Kingdom of Bavaria	Russian Empire	Indecisive
19 August 1812	Battle of Valutino	Smolensk	First French Empire	Russian Empire	French victory
22 August 1812	Battle of Dahlenkirchen	Livonia	First French Empire Kingdom of Prussia	Russian Empire	Russian victory
N.S.: 5 September 1812 O.S.: 24 August 1812	Battle of Shevardino	Moscow	First French Empire Napoleonic Italy Napoleonic Naples Duchy of Warsaw	Russian Empire	French victory
N.S.: 7 September 1812 O.S.: 26 August 1812	Battle of Borodino	Moscow	First French Empire Duchy of Warsaw Napoleonic Italy Napoleonic Naples Kingdom of Bavaria K. of Westphalia K. of Württemberg Kingdom of Saxony Gr. Duchy of Hesse	Russian Empire	French victory French occupy Moscow
14 September – 19 October 1812	French occupation of Moscow Fire of Moscow (1812)	Moscow	First French Empire	Russian Empire	French tactical victory Russian strategic victory Fires destroy Moscow French abandon Moscow
26/30 September – 1 October 1812	Battle of Mesoten	Courland	Kingdom of Prussia	Russian Empire	French victory
18 October 1812	Battle of Tarutino	Kaluga	First French Empire Napoleonic Naples	Russian Empire	Russian victory
18–20 October 1812	Second Battle of Polotsk	Vitebsk	First French Empire	Russian Empire	Russian victory
24 October 1812	Battle of Maloyaroslavets	Kaluga	First French Empire Napoleonic Italy	Russian Empire	French tactical victory Russian strategic victory
31 October 1812	Battle of Chashniki	Vitebsk	First French Empire	Russian Empire	Russian victory
3 November 1812	Battle of Vyazma	Smolensk	First French Empire Duchy of Warsaw Napoleonic Naples Kingdom of Bavaria K. of Westphalia K. of Württemberg Kingdom of Saxony Gr. Duchy of Hesse Gr. Duchy of Berg Gr. Duchy of Baden	Russian Empire	Russian key victory
9 November 1812	Battle of Liaskowa	Smolensk	First French Empire	Russian Empire	Russian victory
13 November 1812	Battle of Nowo Schwerschen	Minsk	Lithuanian PGC Duchy of Warsaw	Russian Empire	Russian victory
13–14 November 1812	Battle of Smoliani	Vitebsk	First French Empire	Russian Empire	Russian victory
14–16 November 1812	Battle of Wolkowisk	Lithuania-Grodno	Austrian Empire Kingdom of Saxony First French Empire	Russian Empire	French victory
15 November 1812	Battle of Kaidanowo	Minsk	First French Empire Lithuanian PGC Duchy of Warsaw K. of Württemberg	Russian Empire	Russian victory
15–18 November 1812	Battle of Krasnoi (2nd)	Smolensk	First French Empire Duchy of Warsaw	Russian Empire	Russian victory
21 November 1812	Battle of Borisov	Minsk	Duchy of Warsaw First French Empire	Russian Empire	Russian victory
23 November 1812	Battle of Loschniza	Minsk	First French Empire	Russian Empire	French victory
26–29 November 1812	Battle of Berezina	Minsk	First French Empire Duchy of Warsaw Napoleonic Italy Napoleonic Naples Kingdom of Bavaria K. of Westphalia K. of Württemberg Kingdom of Saxony Gr. Duchy of Hesse	Russian Empire	Indecisive Russian tactical victory French strategic victory