Why did Napoleon attack Moscow and not Petersburg?

Why did Napoleon attack Moscow and not Saint Petersburg the actual capital of Russia?

There are a few reasons why Napoleon attacked Moscow and not Saint Petersburg.

Moscow was the political and religious center of Russia. It was the seat of the Russian Tsar, and it was also home to the Russian Orthodox Church. Napoleon believed that by capturing Moscow, he would be able to demoralize the Russian people and force them to surrender.
Saint Petersburg was a newer city, and it was not as well-defended as Moscow. Napoleon believed that he could take Moscow more easily than Saint Petersburg.
The weather was a factor. The invasion of Russia took place in the summer, and Napoleon believed that he would be able to capture Moscow before the winter set in. However, the Russian winter was much colder than Napoleon had expected, and his army was not prepared for it.
In the end, Napoleon's decision to attack Moscow proved to be a costly mistake. The French army was decimated by the Russian winter, and Napoleon was forced to retreat. The Russian campaign was a major turning point in the Napoleonic Wars, and it ultimately led to Napoleon's downfall.

In addition to the reasons mentioned above, there are a few other factors that may have influenced Napoleon's decision to attack Moscow. For example, Napoleon may have believed that the Russian people would be more likely to surrender if he captured their capital city. He may also have been motivated by a desire to avenge the defeat of the French army at the Battle of Borodino.

Ultimately, the reasons why Napoleon attacked Moscow are complex and multifaceted. However, the factors mentioned above played a significant role in his decision.


From Tilsit it was much shorter and safer way to attack Saint Petersburg, wasn't it?

Yes, it was much shorter and safer to attack Saint Petersburg from Tilsit. Saint Petersburg is located on the Baltic Sea, while Moscow is located in the center of Russia. This means that Napoleon would have had to travel through much of Russia to reach Moscow, while he could have reached Saint Petersburg by following the coast. Additionally, Saint Petersburg was not as well-defended as Moscow, so Napoleon would have had a better chance of capturing it.

However, there are a few reasons why Napoleon decided to attack Moscow instead of Saint Petersburg. First, Moscow was the political and religious center of Russia, and Napoleon believed that by capturing it, he would be able to demoralize the Russian people and force them to surrender. Second, Napoleon believed that the Russian army would be more likely to defend Moscow than Saint Petersburg. Third, Napoleon may have been motivated by a desire to avenge the defeat of the French army at the Battle of Austerlitz, which was fought near Saint Petersburg.

In the end, Napoleon's decision to attack Moscow proved to be a costly mistake. The French army was decimated by the Russian winter, and Napoleon was forced to retreat. The Russian campaign was a major turning point in the Napoleonic Wars, and it ultimately led to Napoleon's downfall.

It is interesting to consider what might have happened if Napoleon had attacked Saint Petersburg instead of Moscow. It is possible that he would have been successful in capturing the city, and that this would have led to a different outcome for the Napoleonic Wars. However, it is also possible that he would have met with the same defeat, and that the Russian campaign would have ended in the same way.

Was he just misinformed?

It is possible that Napoleon was misinformed about the best way to attack Russia. Some historians believe that he was misled by his advisors, who told him that the Russian army would not be able to withstand a French invasion. Others believe that Napoleon simply underestimated the Russian people's willingness to fight for their country.

Whatever the case may be, Napoleon's decision to attack Moscow was a major miscalculation. The Russian winter proved to be too much for the French army, and Napoleon was forced to retreat. The Russian campaign was a major turning point in the Napoleonic Wars, and it ultimately led to Napoleon's downfall.

In conclusion, it is impossible to say for sure whether Napoleon was misinformed about the best way to attack Russia. However, it is clear that his decision to attack Moscow was a major miscalculation, and that it ultimately led to his downfall.