DNA From Dead Soldiers Sheds New Light on Napoleon’s Russian Nightmare

Recent DNA analysis of deceased soldiers' remains has shed new light on the devastating consequences of Napoleon's ill-fated 1812 invasion of Russia. Historians have long maintained that a combination of harsh winter conditions, hunger, and disease ravaged the Grande Armée, leading to the deaths of nearly 300,000 men. However, research suggests that two specific pathogens – Salmonella enterica Paratyphi C and Borrelia recurrentis – may have played a significant role in exacerbating the crisis.

The study, conducted by researchers in France and Estonia, analyzed DNA from the teeth of soldiers exhumed in Lithuania who were likely victims of infectious diseases. The analysis revealed evidence of the two pathogens, which are known to cause paratyphoid fever and relapsing fever respectively. Four of the soldiers tested positive for Salmonella enterica Paratyphi C, while two were infected with Borrelia recurrentis.

The findings are significant because they represent the first genetic evidence of Napoleon's soldiers being afflicted by these pathogens. Both diseases share symptoms with those described in historical records of the Grande Armée's retreat from Russia, including high fever, fatigue, and digestive problems. Given that many soldiers were already suffering from cold, hunger, and poor hygiene, it is likely that these pathogens further drained their strength.

While the study only investigated a small sample size of 13 soldiers, its findings suggest that infectious diseases could have contributed significantly to the devastation of Napoleon's campaign in Russia. As Nicolás Rascovan, co-author of the study, noted, "The presence of these previously unsuspected pathogens reveals that they could have contributed to the devastation of Napoleon's Grande Armée during its disastrous retreat in 1812."

The research also has broader implications for our understanding of infectious diseases and their role in historical events. By analyzing genetic data from historically relevant pathogens, scientists can gain valuable insights into the development of these illnesses and shed new light on infamous military failures like Napoleon's Russian campaign. The study's findings serve as a poignant reminder of the importance of considering the complex interplay between environmental factors, human health, and disease in historical events.

OMG, this is so mind-blowing!!! I never knew that the Russian invasion was affected by diseases too! I mean, we've always known about the harsh winters and hunger, but to think that these tiny bugs were killing people on top of all that? It's like, you can't even imagine how hard it must have been for those soldiers. And now we know that there are actually genetic evidence of these diseases?! That's like, science magic!

300k deaths are crazy but now we know what kinda death toll they were facin . These pathogens sound nasty . Guess the harsh winter and hunger weren't enough to take 'em down . Need more research, but it's mind blowin' to think these dudes were dealin with fever, fatigue, and digestive probs on top of all that .

I'm low-key fascinated by this new research on Napoleon's soldiers . It's mind-blowing to think that these diseases could've been a major factor in the Grande Armée's downfall . I mean, we already knew it was harsh winter and hunger, but to have Salmonella and Borrelia as part of the mix? That's just crazy . The fact that they only found this out now, like 200+ years later, is wild . It just goes to show how much more there is to learn about history and human health

I can only imagine how tough it must've been for those soldiers to be facing such harsh conditions on top of getting sick from these mysterious pathogens. It's like they were already losing their battles, you know? The thought that they might not have even known what was happening inside their bodies is just heartbreaking. And can you believe how many people lost their lives, over 300,000... it's just so tragic . I hope this study helps us understand more about what happened back then and maybe we can learn from it to prevent similar disasters in the future .

just think about it... 300k+ soldiers dieing from some super nasty bugs on top of freezing temps & hunger... that's like us thinking climate change isnt real & then having a global pandemic meanwhile scientists are finally piecing together the truth & its like wow... we didnt know

I'm totally fascinated by this recent DNA analysis of deceased soldiers' remains! It's crazy to think that these two pathogens, Salmonella enterica Paratyphi C and Borrelia recurrentis, could've played a major role in the devastation of Napoleon's 1812 invasion of Russia. I mean, we already knew it was harsh winter conditions, hunger, and disease that took a toll on the Grande Armée, but to actually have genetic evidence supporting this is mind-blowing .

I love how the study found symptoms like high fever, fatigue, and digestive problems in soldiers infected with these pathogens - it's like they're bringing history to life! And it's not just about Napoleon's campaign, either. This research has broader implications for understanding infectious diseases and their impact on historical events. It's a total game-changer .

I'm also curious to think about what other historical events could've been influenced by pathogens we don't even know about yet . This study is like the ultimate detective work, uncovering clues that were previously hidden in plain sight .

just imagine being part of a massive army marching through the harsh russian winter those soldiers were already fighting for their lives against the cold, hunger & disease... adding these two specific pathogens to the mix would've been like throwing more fuel on the fire it's crazy how much we can learn from history & how scientists are now uncovering all this new info about what really went down in those devastating events

Just heard about this new DNA research on Napoleon's soldiers in Russia...mind blown! Apparently, those harsh winters weren't the only thing that killed them , but also some nasty diseases like Salmonella and Borrelia . Can you believe it? Like, the Grande Armée was already struggling with hunger and cold, so these pathogens were just the cherry on top . Anyway, this study is super interesting because it's like, we finally have proof of what really happened back then . It also makes me wonder how many other historical events were affected by diseases that we didn't know about yet ... Food for thought!

I don’t usually comment but it’s crazy to think that all these years we were taught about Napoleon’s invasion of Russia without knowing that tiny little pathogens could be the real villain . I mean, can you imagine being stuck in freezing temps with no food or water and then getting hit with a disease on top? It gives me chills thinking about it . The fact that they found these specific pathogens in the soldiers' DNA is huge and shows how much we still have to learn about history . I wonder if this will lead to more research into ancient diseases and how they affected people back then . Anyway, I guess you could say Napoleon’s army got played by some tiny microbes .

So I was reading this article about the recent DNA analysis on deceased soldiers' remains from Napoleon's invasion of Russia and it's wild to think that these two specific pathogens – Salmonella enterica Paratyphi C and Borrelia recurrentis – might have played a major role in the devastation. I mean, we already knew the Grande Armée was hit hard by harsh winters, hunger, and disease, but this study suggests that these particular pathogens could've further drained their strength. It's crazy to think about how these diseases could be lurking beneath all the historical accounts of the Grande Armée's retreat from Russia.

I'm not sure what I find more shocking – the fact that these pathogens are now known to have been present in Napoleon's soldiers or that it took this study to shed new light on their role. It's like we've been missing a piece of history, you know? And it's not just about Napoleon's invasion either; this research has broader implications for our understanding of infectious diseases and how they impact historical events.

It's also mind-blowing to think that scientists can gain valuable insights into the development of these illnesses by analyzing genetic data from historically relevant pathogens. It's like, we're learning new things about old wars and it's actually helping us understand how diseases spread and evolve over time. It's wild stuff, man.

this is wild to think that these pathogens could've been the final nail in the coffin for those soldiers. i mean, we know winter conditions were brutal, but it's crazy that scientists are now saying that diseases could've played a major role too. it's like we're getting a new perspective on history and how disease can affect massive events.

Ugh just think about those poor guys stuck in the freezing Russian winter, already struggling with hunger & disease & then these nasty pathogens come along ...makes me shudder Salmonella & Borrelia, eh? always knew that Napoleon's invasion was a wild gamble but who knew the microbe game was just as brutal

anyway, research is cool but can we talk about the historical implications now? like, how did these diseases spread so fast in such harsh conditions? & what did the medical knowledge at that time even look like? got some serious questions

historians will be stoked to dig into this further but for now, just remember: even in ancient times, germs were the real MVPs

This is wild to think about, I mean we know it was brutal for those soldiers but to actually have genetic proof that diseases were playing a major role? It's crazy how much more context we can add to history with science like this. And what's even crazier is thinking about all the other historical events where disease might have played a part and we just don't know about it yet. This study is giving me goosebumps , I love learning new stuff like this!

Just imagine what it would've been like for those poor soldiers if they had access to antibiotics back then ! It's crazy to think that these two pathogens might've been the final nail in the coffin for Napoleon's army. I mean, can you even fathom being stuck in Russia with no heat, food, or proper medical care? It's like the whole situation was just a recipe for disaster. Anyways, it's awesome that scientists are finally getting some answers about this dark period of history . I think it's really cool how they're using DNA analysis to uncover more info about past diseases .

So, I was reading about this DNA analysis thingy that sheds some new light on what went down with Napoleon's army in Russia back in 1812... like, it's crazy to think that these pathogens might've played a bigger role than we thought . It's not like they're saying it was all one thing or another, but more like maybe the soldiers were already dealing with some stuff and then BAM! These diseases just added fuel to the fire . What do you guys think? Would've made a difference if they had better hygiene and stuff?

omg I cant believe they found out what killed so many soldiers it makes total sense now though, those pathogens sound super nasty and harsh winter conditions + hunger = recipe for disaster food poisoning is no joke especially if you're already weakened from the cold and lack of nutrition... this study is a game changer in understanding historical events and how diseases affected armies and its mindblowing that they found evidence of these specific pathogens in those soldiers' teeth

omg, can you even imagine being part of the Grande Armée during that brutal winter ? it's crazy to think that these soldiers were struggling with not just cold & hunger but also super rare diseases like paratyphoid fever & relapsing fever . the fact that scientists are now studying their DNA is totally mind-blowing , it's like they're giving us a glimpse into the past and saying "hey, we know what you guys went through" . i think this study is super important for understanding how diseases can affect military campaigns in the future , and also gives us a new perspective on history . btw, 300k+ soldiers dying is just heartbreaking #DNAAnalysis #Napoleon'sRussia #MedicalHistory

I mean, can you believe it? We're still discovering new ways that tiny microorganisms can have such a huge impact on history! I was reading this article about Napoleon's invasion of Russia and how harsh winter conditions and hunger killed most of his soldiers... but now we know that disease might've been even bigger of a factor than we thought . It's wild to think that scientists are still analyzing teeth from ancient corpses to figure out what killed people back in the 1800s

Man... thinkin' about Napoleon's invasion of Russia is like, super depressing . I mean, we knew it was bad, but to think that some ancient pathogens were just sittin' there waitin' to pounce on these poor guys? It's wild . I guess you could say the Grande Armée didn't stand a chance against those microscopic enemies . But at the same time, it's kinda cool that we're learnin' more about what went down back then. Like, it's not just 'cause they were all like "Oh no, Napoleon!" . It's because of these diseases too. It's like, a whole other layer of complexity to how history works . Anyway, I'm glad we're gettin' more info outta this stuff, even if it is kinda gross .