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Scientists say they have discovered traces of the deadly pathogen that infected Napoleon’s soldiers during his fateful retreat from Russia in 1812, giving a clearer picture of the French general’s downfall.
The study, published Nov. 3 in the journal Current Biology, analyzed DNA taken from the teeth of French soldiers buried in mass graves in France. Vilnius, Lithuania.
These soldiers served on Napoleon’s disastrous invasion of Russia in the winter of 1812. They were among the approximately 300,000 French soldiers who lost their lives on this expedition.
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teeth Researchers said it contained bacteria that cause paratyphoid fever and louse-borne relapsing fever, indicating an outbreak of several infectious diseases among soldiers weakened by starvation and freezing temperatures.
Although these two pathogens had not previously been identified among Napoleon’s soldiers, historians have documented the harsh circumstances of their deaths for more than two centuries.
Scientists say new DNA evidence found in a mass grave in Vilnius reveals a deadly infectious disease outbreak among retreating soldiers of Napoleon’s army. (Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images)
After the march to Moscow, Napoleon’s expedition quickly collapsed. The French emperor was forced to retreat amid Russia’s harsh winter, dwindling supplies, and fierce counterattacks.
Study author Nicholas Raskovan told Reuters that Vilnius “was an important stop on the 1812 retreat route.” The mass grave contains the remains of up to 3,000 soldiers.
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“Many soldiers arrived exhausted, hungry and sick,” said the microbiologist.
“A significant number died there and were quickly buried.” mass grave. ”
”[The study] Name an infectious disease that cannot be solved by symptom-based accounts alone. ”
Raskovan said starvation, numbing temperatures and typhus had long been known as the main causes of death, but the study conclusively proved that paratyphoid fever and louse-borne relapsing fever also existed.
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These “may have contributed to the debility and death,” Raskovan added.
4 out of 13 soldiers tested positive Paratyphoid bacteriaand two others tested positive for relapsing fever bacteria.
The findings shed light on the health crisis that exacerbated Napoleon’s military collapse in 1812. (The Print Collector/Heritage Images via Getty Images)
Both bacterial infections cause fever. headache and weaknessand can spread rapidly in crowded, unsanitary conditions.
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Paratyphoid fever is spread through food and water, while louse-borne relapsing fever is spread by body lice.
Mr. Raskovan emphasized that he is studying. ancient dna “Let’s name an infectious disease that cannot be solved by symptom-based explanations alone.”
Napoleon’s Grand Army faced hunger, fatigue, and infection as troops evacuated from Russia’s harsh winter conditions. (VCG Wilson/Corbis via Getty Images)
“The co-occurrence of pathogens with different transmission routes highlights how dire the hygiene situation is,” he said.
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“Future studies in more sites and individuals will improve the picture of the disease in 1812.”
Reuters contributed reporting.
