Context
The Russian campaign is in full swing. After Smolensk, Kutuzov's Russians chose to give battle at Borodino, on the Moskva River, 120 km from Moscow.
Forces
France: About 130,000 men. The Grande Armée weakened by the march and previous fighting.
Russia: About 120,000 under Kutuzov. Bagration held the Semionovskoye redoubts.
Course of the battle
On 7 September, the French attacked the Russian fortified positions. Fighting raged around Bagration's fleches and the Great Redoubt. Davout was wounded. Poniatowski broke through the Russian right wing. By evening, the Russians withdrew in good order. Napoleon did not commit the Guard. Casualties were terrible on both sides (about 70,000 dead and wounded in total).
Consequences
Napoleon entered Moscow on 14 September. The city was on fire, the population had fled. Kutuzov refused a decisive battle. The Grande Armée would have to retreat; the retreat from Russia became a nightmare.