200 years after Napoleon defeat, Russia and France bury their dead

The remains of French and Russian soldiers who died during Napoleon's catastrophic retreat from Moscow in 1812 will be laid to rest Saturday in a rare moment of unity between the two countries.

A ceremony near the western city of Smolensk will see the re-burial of 126 people killed in one of the bloodiest battles of Napoleon’s Russian campaign.

The interment takes place as France marks the bicentenary of the military leader’s death this year.

Descendants of 19th-century Russian and French military leaders as well as dozens of re-enactors are expected to attend the burial in Vyazma, a town more than 200 kilometres (120 miles) west of Moscow.

Remains of 120 soldiers, three women and three teenagers were discovered in a mass grave by archaeologists from both countries in 2019.

The dig was led by Pierre Malinowski, the Kremlin-connected head of the Foundation for the Development of Russian-French Historic Initiatives.

The three women are believed to be so-called “vivandieres”, who provided first aid and kept canteens in the French army, while the three adolescents are believed to have been drummers.

All are thought to have fallen during the Battle of Vyazma on November 3, 1812 at the beginning of the French army’s retreat from Moscow and before the horrific crossing of the Berezina River.

The ceremony, complete with a gun salute, will mark a rare moment of unity between Russia and Europe at a time of heightened tensions over a litany of issues including the Kremlin’s increasingly harsh crackdown on political opposition.

‘Sign of reconciliation’

“Direct descendants of the main players in the conflict are meeting here together in a sign of reconciliation to commemorate the Russian and French soldiers that their ancestors commanded more than 200 years ago,” Malinowski told AFP.

Yulia Khitrovo, a descendant of Russian field marshal Mikhail Kutuzov — considered a national hero for repelling Napoleon’s invasion — added: “Death made them equal: they are all in one grave now.”

Prince Joachim Murat, a descendant of one of Napoleon’s most celebrated marshals, called the upcoming ceremony a “symbol of mutual respect” between the once-warring sides.

The site was first discovered during construction work and was initially believed to be one of the many World War II mass graves that dot western Russia.

But research by the Russian Academy of Sciences later showed that the remains were of victims of Napoleon’s campaign, most of them in their 30s at the time of their death, said anthropologist Tatyana Shvedchikova.

Alexander Khokhlov, head of the archaeological expedition, said that the discovery of metal uniform buttons helped establish that some of the victims served in the French army’s 30th and 55th line infantry regiments and 24th light infantry regiment.