Investigation of the causes fire in Moscow in 1812

In September 1812, Moscow was burning continuously for six days.


On the role of the chief suspect for a long time claimed the Governor-General Fyodor Rostopchin. However, the idea seems to have belonged to Emperor Alexander I.

Commission of Historians, which on behalf of Mayor Yuri Luzhkov will look into the causes fire in Moscow in 1812, will face a difficult task. And not because of insufficient evidence. There is just something all right. Yes, and suspects in the arson of a dime a dozen. The problem is that any findings of the commission would be political.

If we approach the case impartially, it turns out that neither the army of Napoleon, nor patriotic Muscovites to the accident does not have exactly nothing to do with. Moscow burned down the central government in the person of Alexander I, who took a political decision, and performed his Moscow officials, who organized the destruction of the city entrusted to their care. Will this historical truth to the court on the eve of the 200th anniversary of the victory over Napoleon - the big question. However, knowledge of the facts in any case better than blind faith.

World War II in 1812 after crossing the Niemen, and the French entrance to the ... With the exception of the Battle of Borodino, it was anything but a classic confrontation between regular armies. ... Prior to 1812 was destroyed by fire, the ancient capital of the empire, similarly burned Vilna, Smolensk, and many other localities. The diary of a French officer in this regard by the descendants of the following impression: ...

Thanks to the scorched earth tactics in the Russian army finally managed to win the whole campaign. In this case, what is striking is not winning any battles! . In Western historiography there is a point of view that was the inspirer of Barclay de Tolly, the commander of the Russian army at the beginning of the war. However, at the time of the fire in Moscow, he has his command was removed. In addition, as an honest and, according to contemporaries, not enough stars from the sky campaigner, Barclay de Tolly and the step would not be stepped over without permission. Another thing - Mikhail Kutuzov, distinguished by a certain arbitrariness. But the burning of the First Throne Marshal assigned there is no way. There is evidence that he is undertaking to this relationship was not, and even interfered with the Moscow authorities to prepare for the destruction of the city. Finally, any professional military beginning of the XIX century, the idea of ​​fighting the enemy by destroying their own cities (as well as others ) are unlikely to come to a head. The idea of total war formulated by members of the German General Staff on the eve of World War I.. However, apparently the first time such a strategy has been applied much earlier and it was in Russia.

It is most clearly manifested in Moscow in autumn 1812. September second parts of the ... By this time the vast majority of the inhabitants of the ancient capital had already been outside the walls: the wholesale flight of Muscovites began immediately after the first rumors about the disappointing outcome of the Battle of Borodino. All these days the city had no ... Splash ' fire of patriotism, ... In Moscow, had virtually no civilian. Some agents in civilian clothes. First engaged in China- town and part of the city Yauzskaya. September 3, when Napoleon rode into the city, the fire blazed almost everywhere: Seating Yard, Pokrovka German settlement. The fire did not affect only the Kremlin, which, apparently, decided to spare - still a symbol of Russian statehood, the tomb of the great princes and kings. Although the heat of the huge fire could easily destroy and stone buildings of the citadel.

By the way, who is credited with the salvation of our main character - a big question. In the autumn of 1812 the Kremlin had great political importance to Napoleon, who was going there to negotiate with Alexander I.

Emperor of the French placed his bet that's where. But soon the fire began to approach the fortress walls of the Kremlin. According to eyewitnesses, Napoleon, looking at the ominous glow of the fire, said: ... This is a war of extermination. ... So that the salvation of the main monument in Moscow, at least in part, we are obliged to ...

On the ruins of the Count's.

Who gave the order to destroy Moscow? . The peak of the fire was in the first six days, although in some places there were new homes, burning right up to the French Army from Moscow in October. The fire affected two-thirds of Moscow and made a flourishing city in the mountain ash, charred beams and bricks. Of the 9151 house is completely burned down 6496, 122 out of 329 Church. In the fire died, according to various estimates, between 2 and 15 000 wounded Russian soldiers abandoned in Moscow.

By the way, Yuri Mikhailovich was not the first, who are interested in clarifying the causes of fire in Moscow. By the centennial of the War of 1812, this question has been studied thoroughly. And even then was dismissed as untenable version of the French - the arsonist, as well as speculation about the patriotic initiative of Muscovites. In the end, the suspect went to number 1. But with great political sensitivity. How to write a hundred years ago, ... - ... From censorship reasons, researchers did not pay attention to the lack of independence of actions the governor, so as not to cast a shadow over even reigning dynasty.

Count Fyodor Rostopchin left very contradictory testimony. That he was proud of his ... October 13, 1812 in a letter to the king of the mayor takes the responsibility to Kutuzov: ... And in his book ... likely to destroy than to give. I have seen many people who survived from Moscow after the fire, which boasted themselves lit their homes ...

As for patriotism, then, according to a study of Academician Tarle, Rostopchin home with his wife (by the way, converted to Catholicism ), spoke only in French, with their friends, too. Many years of life spent in the graph of Western Europe. As a contemporary of the golden age of Russian literature, according to the same Tarle, no idea, for example, the existence of Pushkin and Zhukovsky.

So, realizing the august will, Rostopchin hardly ... Just following orders.

Another three weeks before the start of the fire, and even two days before the Battle of Borodino Rostopchin already had a plan in case of surrender of the city. Alas, at the disposal of historians do not have the appropriate instructions for the signature of the highest. But not too urban, and ... Participation in the arson military officials are not subordinate governor, also testifies to this.

For example, in the minutes of September 24, the French Military Commission, the instigators of the next sudivshey ( all were arrested about 300 people), says that ...

The conclusion that the burning was planned at the very top, was made in the XIX century. Moreover, an apologist for autocracy, a trustee of the school district of St. Petersburg by Dmitry Runich. Having thoroughly studied the history of the fire, he came to this conclusion: ... In less than a century, as the mystery cleared up and the burning of Moscow, no doubt, be looked upon as one of the best pearls adorning the crown of Alexandra. Rostopchin is only the glory that he cleverly thought out and executed one of the great plans that have arisen in the human mind ...

After Alexander Borodin, I was a poor choice of further actions. Or destroy the city and leave the army of Napoleon with nothing, or to save the capital, but to agree to peace, which inevitably would have renunciation. And what is this choice? . So Moscow was simply doomed.

But every cloud has a silver lining. ... Garden Ring, for example, we are indebted to the events of two centuries ago. Because the outcome of the investigation of fire, started by the current mayor, could be the assignment of one of the main thoroughfares of the capital named after Alexander I.

Dennis Dobryakov.


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