Origins and Transformations of the Russian Historiographical Myth about Napoleon Bonaparte’s Political Plans for Russia on the Eve and During the War of 1812

Abstract

The purpose is to rethink critically the Russian historiographical heritage of the War of 1812.

The research methodology is based on the principles of historicism and impartiality. The problematic-chronological and comparative-historical methods, including historiographical analysis and a critical-analytical approach are used.

Scientific novelty. For the first time in modern domestic historiography, the author has attempted to study thoroughly, involving various sources, the specifics of the formation and spread of myths in Russian official historiography about Napoleon Bonaparte’s political plans for Russia on the eve of and during the military campaign of 1812. For the first time in historiography, the author refuted the assertion of some Russian historians, which became widespread in historiography, that, allegedly, during his stay in Moscow, the French emperor planned to divide and destroy Russia.

Conclusions. The author traced the origins of the creation and spread of Russian myths and falsifications about Russian-French relations on the eve of the War of 1812 and Napoleon’s political plans during this campaign. Based on the works of official Russian historians, the author came to the conclusion that the distortion of historical realities arose in general due to the political order of the Russian government.