Scientists have identified deadly bacteria in the DNA of Napoleon’s soldiers’ teeth, offering new insights into the causes of death during the 1812 Russian retreat. The study, published in the journal Current Biology, analyzed DNA from remains of French soldiers buried in a mass grave in Vilnius, Lithuania, revealing the presence of pathogens that caused paratyphoid fever and louse-borne relapsing fever. These infections were previously unknown as contributing factors to the soldiers’ mortality.
The research highlights that the combination of harsh winter conditions, starvation, and the spread of infectious diseases like paratyphoid and louse-borne relapsing fever significantly contributed to the deaths of approximately 300,000 soldiers during the invasion of Russia. Historians have long documented the extreme hardships faced by Napoleon’s Grande Armée, but the study provides concrete evidence of the role of microorganisms in the soldiers’ demise.
Lead researcher Nicolás Rascovan emphasized that analyzing ancient DNA allows scientists to identify infections that earlier accounts could not fully explain. The study underscores the dire sanitation conditions among the soldiers, with the co-occurrence of pathogens transmitted through food/water and body lice illustrating the severity of their plight. The findings also suggest the potential for further research into the broader disease landscape of the 1812 campaign by examining more remains from different locations.