At the beginning of the 19th century, Europe was engulfed in the flames of wars of anti-French coalitions. For 15 years, European powers tried to resist the growing military power of France and its overlord, Napoleon Bonaparte. Russia took an active part in these events, but all efforts were in vain. By 1812, a powerful military state, the French Empire, stretched from the Atlantic to the Vistula River. It was its army and potential that Russian officers and soldiers had to face in the Patriotic War of 1812. Russia not only survived this difficult battle, but also liberated Europe from Napoleonic oppression, raising the European peoples to fight French aggression. Peace was dictated in 1814 in Paris. In the 10th book of the “Great Commanders of Russia” series, you will learn about outstanding Russian commanders who glorified Russian weapons throughout the world and became legends in the military history of Russia.