In 1812, Napoleon led the largest army in European history into Russia, only to face a devastating retreat marked not by weapons but by disease. Researchers have identified two significant pathogens that contributed to the downfall of his famed Grande Armée, based on DNA extracted from the teeth of soldiers who perished during the retreat from Moscow.
The study, conducted by a team at the Institut Pasteur and published in the journal Current Biology, utilized a technique known as shotgun sequencing to analyze ancient DNA from the remains of 13 soldiers discovered near Vilnius, Lithuania. According to lead researcher Nicolás Rascovan, the analysis revealed the presence of Salmonella enterica, specifically from the Paratyphi C lineage, which is associated with paratyphoid fever, as well as Borrelia recurrentis, the bacterium responsible for relapsing fever.
These pathogens likely thrived in the poor sanitary conditions faced by the soldiers, who suffered from symptoms consistent with historical accounts, including fever and diarrhea. Rascovan explained that a plausible explanation for the high mortality rate among the troops was a combination of extreme fatigue, cold weather, and multiple diseases, including paratyphoid fever and louse-borne relapsing fever.
While relapsing fever may not have been directly fatal, it could severely diminish the strength of already weakened soldiers. This contrasts with a previous study from 2006 that had identified bacteria linked to typhus and trench fever in a limited number of soldiers. Rascovan noted that despite advancements in technology, the earlier findings remain valid and, when viewed alongside the new evidence, provide a more comprehensive understanding of the infectious disease landscape that decimated Napoleon”s forces.
By the end of the retreat, estimates suggest that around 300,000 men had perished, underscoring the profound impact of infectious diseases on military campaigns. This research highlights how even a formidable leader like Napoleon could not escape the destructive forces of microbes.
