DNA analysis reveals what really killed Napoleon’s army in 1812

When Napoleon’s army retreated from Russia in 1812, it faced a catastrophic loss of nearly half its men due to disease, starvation, and extreme cold. Recent DNA analysis has shed light on the pathogens that contributed to this devastating event.

In the summer of 1812, Napoleon led a massive army of up to 600,000 troops in his invasion of Russia. However, the harsh conditions and lack of supplies forced the French forces to retreat, resulting in the death of at least 300,000 soldiers between October and December of that year.

Historical accounts had previously suggested that typhus and trench fever were the main culprits behind the deaths during the retreat. However, new DNA analysis conducted by Nicolás Rascovan and his team at the Pasteur Institute in Paris has revealed a different story.

By examining DNA extracted from the teeth of 13 soldiers buried in Vilnius, Lithuania, the researchers found evidence of Salmonella enterica, which causes paratyphoid fever, and Borrelia recurrentis, the bacteria responsible for louse-borne relapsing fever.

Unlike previous studies that focused on specific DNA sequences, Rascovan and his team used advanced metagenomic analysis to detect any pathogens present in the samples, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the diseases that plagued Napoleon’s army.

While the presence of these pathogens sheds new light on the health conditions of the soldiers, further research is needed to confirm the exact role these diseases played in the high mortality rate. The team’s findings suggest that a combination of fatigue, cold, and infectious diseases like paratyphoid fever and relapsing fever could have contributed to the soldiers’ demise.

According to Sally Wasef from Queensland University of Technology, the results of the study are suggestive but not conclusive due to the low quantities of microbial DNA recovered from the ancient individuals. More research on additional soldiers who died during the retreat is crucial to verify the presence of these diseases.

This study showcases the potential of modern tools in uncovering the infectious agents that affected historical populations. Wasef emphasizes the importance of applying similar methods to study diseases in other historical contexts to better understand the impact of illnesses on past populations.

Overall, the research on Napoleon’s army from 1812 demonstrates the power of genetic analysis in uncovering the health challenges faced by ancient populations and provides valuable insights into the role of diseases in historical events.