# Fire of Moscow (1812)

URL: https://history-russia.com/timeline/1812-fire-of-moscow
Categories: main-event

Napoleon entered Moscow on 14 September to find it largely abandoned. Fires broke out that night and destroyed about three quarters of the city; Governor Rostopchin is usually blamed. Alexander refused to negotiate. Napoleon left Moscow on 19 October. The loss of Moscow and Alexander's refusal to talk doomed the French campaign.

## Why it matters
The loss of Moscow and Alexander's refusal to talk doomed the French campaign.

Ruler at the time: [Alexander I](https://history-russia.com/rulers/alexander-i)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Fire of Moscow (1812)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_of_Moscow_(1812))
- [Wikipedia — Fyodor Rostopchin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fyodor_Rostopchin)
- [Wikipedia — Russian Empire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Empire)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Fire of Moscow](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Fire+of+Moscow)
- [Wikipedia — Timeline of Russian history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Russian_history)