# Napoleon invades Russia (1812)

URL: https://history-russia.com/timeline/1812-napoleon-invades-russia
Categories: battle

On 24 June 1812 Napoleon's Grande Armée of about 600,000 men crossed the Neman River. The Russian armies under Barclay de Tolly and Bagration retreated, burning supplies. Kutuzov took overall command in August. The invasion began the Patriotic War of 1812, a defining national epic.

## Why it matters
The invasion began the Patriotic War of 1812, a defining national epic.

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

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — French invasion of Russia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_invasion_of_Russia)
- [Wikipedia — Russian Empire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Empire)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Napoleon invades Russia](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Napoleon+invades+Russia)
- [Wikipedia — Timeline of Russian history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Russian_history)