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Bacteria Blamed for Napoleon's Army Retreat Failures

10/27/2025

Summary

Story summary

French researchers identified two previously unrecognized bacteria that contributed to Napoleon's army's demise during the 1812 retreat from Russia.
Analyzing 13 teeth from soldiers buried in Vilnius, they found evidence of relapsing fever and paratyphoid fever.
Experts caution against overgeneralizing from the small sample, noting that extreme starvation and harsh winter amplified the infections, making the campaign a medical catastrophe alongside a military failure.

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Story summary

French researchers identified two previously unrecognized bacteria that contributed to Napoleon's army's demise during the 1812 retreat from Russia.
Analyzing 13 teeth from soldiers buried in Vilnius, they found evidence of relapsing fever and paratyphoid fever.
Experts caution against overgeneralizing from the small sample, noting that extreme starvation and harsh winter amplified the infections, making the campaign a medical catastrophe alongside a military failure.