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1800 CE
1810 CE
1807 CE: Napoleon and Tsar Alexander I sign the Treaties of Tilsit, entering a Franco-Russian alliance.
1810 CE: Tsar Alexander I pulls Russia out of the Continental System.
1812 CE: Napoleon's massive Grande Armée crosses the Niemen River, beginning the Russian campaign.
1812 CE: Napoleon captures Vilnius.
1812 CE: Napoleon fights Barclay de Tolly at the Battle of Smolensk; the French capture the city, but the Russians retreat, continuing their war of attrition.
1812 CE: Napoleon's Grande Armée clashes with the Kutuzov's Russian army at the Battle of Borodino.
1812 CE: Napoleon briefly occupies Moscow, which is engulfed in flames. He orders a retreat after failing to secure peace.
1812 CE: Napoleon wins the Battle of Maroyaroslavets but is forced to retreat along the devastated Smolensk route.
1812 CE: Napoleon reaches Smolensk during his retreat from Moscow; his fighting strength has dwindled to 60,000.
1812 CE: The Grande Armée completes its dramatic crossing of the Berezina River, narrowly avoiding destruction.
1812 CE: Napoleon heads to Paris, gives control of the Grande Armée to Joachim Murat; the disastrous Russian campaign is over.