DNA Reveals Fatal Paratyphoid Relapsing Fevers in Napoleon's 1812 Army

Recent scientific studies using ancient DNA analysis from soldiers' remains reveal that Napoleon Bonaparte's 1812 invasion of Russia was devastatingly affected by infectious diseases beyond the historically suspected typhus. Researchers identified DNA of Salmonella enterica, which causes paratyphoid fever, and Borrelia recurrentis, responsible for relapsing fever, in the teeth of soldiers buried in a Vilnius mass grave. These diseases likely contributed significantly to the massive casualties during the catastrophic retreat, compounding the effects of starvation, freezing conditions, and poor hygiene among troops. The findings challenge prior assumptions focusing mainly on typhus and trench fever, suggesting a more complex array of pathogens weakened the Grande Armée. This new evidence offers deeper insight into the biological factors that turned the retreat into a fatal ordeal, illustrating how disease silently decimated Napoleon’s forces amid logistical failures and harsh winters. Experts emphasize that while typhus and trench fever may still have been present, the newly detected pathogens played a crucial role in the army's decline.