Why did Napolean invade Russia?

So, we all know Napoleon’s invasion of Russia… didn’t exactly go to plan. But what was he actually trying to achieve? And were his goals even remotely realistic?

Let’s rewind a bit. When Napoleon rose to power in 1799, Europe looked pretty different. Fast forward to 1812—right before he launched his big move into Russia—and the map had changed a lot. By that point, he’d already beaten the Prussians, Austrians, and Russians in earlier wars and reshaped a bunch of borders.

After those victories, Napoleon pushed the so-called Continental System—basically a fancy “don’t trade with Britain” club. It was meant to squeeze the British economy. But Russia? Not a fan. By 1810, they’d had enough of the trade restrictions and started trading with Britain again. Napoleon, of course, was not happy about that.

But the tension between France and Russia wasn’t just about trade. There were bigger, deeper issues. First off, they were ideological opposites. Napoleon believed in