210 years since the Russian Army entered Paris. On March 19 (31), 1814, cavalry squadrons led by Russian Emperor Alexander I at the head of the Allied forces solemnly entered the French capital. The fall of the French capital led to the abdication of Emperor Bonaparte and put an end to the long-standing Napoleonic wars.
After only 18 hours of fighting, Paris, the largest city in Europe, hung a white flag.
The attack on Paris began at 6 a.m. on March 30. The surrender was signed at 2 a.m. on March 31 in La Vilette. The number of defenders of the city was estimated up to 45 thousand fighters. The fierce assault broke their will to fight. Alexander I remembered what the French did to Moscow and declared that the troops will not storm the French capital only if the French Army leaves it. The peace treaty approved by the victors did not provide for the payment of reparations.
Paris was the largest city in Europe with the population of 714,600. The allies approached it from the northeast in three main columns totaling up to 100,000 soldiers, including 63,000 Russians. As the troops moved towards the center of Paris, the mood of the locals changed. Parisians, who expected imminent reprisals for Moscow, which was devastated in 1812, saw that the Russian units were behaving with restraint and friendliness.
After Paris was captured, on April 6, Napoleon, who lost his Great Army in Russia, abdicated in Fontainebleau and was exiled to the island of Elba.
On the anniversary of the fall of Napoleonic Paris, Moscow reminded leaders of the modern France of the lessons of history.
Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, congratulated the French authorities on the 210th anniversary of the entry of the Russian army into Paris after Russia’s victory in the Patriotic War of 1812:
“Happy holidays to the Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo and the entire Russophobic stratum of the current French authorities! At the time, their predecessors did not appreciate Russia’s peacefulness and paid a heavy price for it. We are for peace and cooperation, but on an equal basis. We highly appreciate our unique experience of interaction with France, but whoever brings the sword will … (fall by the sword).”
“In Russian history, this campaign is designated as the Foreign campaigns of the Russian army, held together with the armies of the allies — Prussia, Austria, Sweden, Great Britain, as a result the states of Europe were liberated from French oppression,” the message reads.
“Russia played a crucial role in keeping France within its borders and took French cities under its protection, preventing looting by Prussian and Austrian troops. By decree of Alexander I, the Russian army, ensured the inviolability of the collections of the Louvre and other French museums, historical monuments,” the Russian Foreign Ministry recalled.
The Russian Foreign Ministry gave the history lesson to Paris in response to the boorish statement of the mayor of Paris that Russian and Belarusian athletes will not be welcome in Paris, while Paris is very supportive of Ukrainians.
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