Why did napoleon invade russia?
Napoleon invaded Russia in order to further complete his mastery of Europe. As he had virtually defeated all other nation states in Europe, Russia was the only remaining real threat (aside from the United Kingdom). Once Napoleon invaded Russia a scorched earth strategy was adopted by Marshall Kutuzov of the Russian Imperial Army. This caused Napoleons troops to suffer throughout the famed Russian winter without any supplies to raid due to the scorched earth. Napoleon even captured Moscow but found the city empty of most people and supplies. If I were his adviser I would probably tell Napoleon to try and form some sort of non-aggression pact with the Russian Empire. As Russia was so vast and potentially powerful and war based on a whim would be a huge mistake.
He was in the process of attempting to defeat all of the other great powers of the European world. He couldn’t go West because that was ocean and England could stop him there. North didn’t offer him much, and there was sea there, so there wasn’t much chance there. South, he had already been beaten by the British and the Mediterranean stood in his way. So, he went East. The Russians were just next in line to be conquered. Also, the Russians were part of the nations that wanted to take Napoleon out, so defeating them was one less nation trying to stop him.
Because he thought he was invincible. He won all the major battles, but wasn’t able to supply his troops and was forced to withdraw, losing 400,000 men out of his 500,000 man ‘Grande Armee’ He actually had a Treaty with Russia but wanted too much, if he had focused on Britain the Sun would have set on the Empire….
