Editing 1812 Overture (section)

===Historical background: Napoleon's invasion of Russia===
[[File:French retreat in 1812 by Pryanishnikov.jpg|thumb|A scene depicting the French retreat from Russia in 1812, painting by [[Illarion Pryanishnikov]] (1874)]]
{{main|French invasion of Russia}}
On 7 September 1812, at [[Borodino (village), Mozhaysky District, Moscow Oblast|Borodino]], {{convert|120|km|mi|abbr=on}} west of Moscow, [[Napoleon]]'s forces met those of General [[Mikhail Kutuzov]] in a concerted stand made by Russia against the seemingly invincible French Army. The [[Battle of Borodino]] saw casualties estimated as high as 100,000 and the French were masters of the field. It was, however, ultimately a [[pyrrhic victory]] for the French invasion.<ref name="britannica">{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/74349/Battle-of-Borodino |title=Battle of Borodino |year=2010 |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |access-date=6 January 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100121052116/https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/74349/Battle-of-Borodino |archive-date= 21 January 2010}}</ref>

With resources depleted and supply lines overextended, Napoleon's weakened forces moved into Moscow, which they occupied with no delegation to receive the conquerors. Expecting a capitulation from [[Alexander I of Russia|Tsar Alexander I]], the French instead found themselves in a barren and desolate city. To make things worse, 48 hours after Napoleon's entry to the Russian city on 14 September 1812, three quarters of [[Fire of Moscow (1812)|Moscow was burned to the ground.]]<ref>{{Cite book|last=Riehn|first=Richard|title=1812: Napoleon's Russian campaign|publisher=McGraw-Hill|year=1990|isbn=978-0070527317|location=New York|pages=285}}</ref>

Deprived of winter stores, Napoleon had to retreat. Beginning on 19 October and lasting well into December, the French Army faced several overwhelming obstacles on its long retreat: [[famine]], [[typhus]], freezing temperatures, harassing [[cossacks]], and Russian forces barring the way out of the country. Abandoned by Napoleon in November, the {{lang|fr|Grande Armée}} was reduced to one-tenth of its original size by the time it reached [[Duchy of Warsaw|Poland]] and relative safety.<ref name=zamoyskibook>{{cite book |title=Moscow 1812: Napoleon's Fatal March |last=Zamoyski |first=Adam |year=2004 |publisher=Harper Collins |location=London |isbn=0-00-712375-2 |title-link=Moscow 1812: Napoleon's Fatal March}}</ref>

In 1869, the full edition of ''[[War and Peace]]'' by [[Leo Tolstoy]] was published. The novel reported a very accurate description of the Napoleonic invasion of 1812, reviving memories of the Russian resistance. This led to the commissioning of new monuments, paintings and also of new musical compositions, including Tchaikovsky's.