1812 CE
Napoleon Enters Burning Moscow
About this moment
The fire of Moscow was a catastrophic urban fire that destroyed almost all of Moscow in September 1812 during the French occupation of the city following the French invasion of Russia. The Russian troops and most of the remaining civilians had abandoned the city on 14 September 1812 just ahead of French Emperor Napoleon's troops entering the city after the Battle of Borodino. There is disagreement among historians over the cause of the fire.