In 1812 Napoleon invaded Russia with the largest army Europe had ever seen. As it advanced, the Russian army retreated, and by September Napoleon's army had marched 470 miles into the depths of Russia. 70 miles west of Moscow near the village of Borodino, the Russian army, under a new commander, General Kutuzov, finally made a stand. The battle that followed was the bloodiest day's fighting of the Napoleonic Wars, and proved one of the most infamous battles of history.