The Fevers That Felled Napoleon’s Army - Summary - DentalSpire

The Fevers That Felled Napoleon’s Army

Genomic sequencing identifies pathogens behind one of military history’s greatest medical mysteries

  • January 12, 2026

  • 3 min

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Objective:

To identify infectious diseases that may have contributed to the collapse of Napoleon's army during the 1812 retreat from Russia.

Key Findings:
  • Genetic traces of paratyphoid fever and relapsing fever were identified in the soldiers.
  • Four of the 13 individuals tested positive for S. enterica, and two for B. recurrentis.
  • Historical accounts align with symptoms of paratyphoid infection, including diarrhea and fever.
Interpretation:

The findings suggest that multiple infections, exacerbated by harsh conditions, contributed to the high mortality rate among Napoleon's troops.

Limitations:
  • The small sample size limits the ability to determine the full range of diseases affecting the soldiers.
  • Clinical differentiation of overlapping symptoms would have been impossible at the time.
Conclusion:

The study underscores the importance of ancient DNA analysis in understanding historical disease outbreaks and their impact on military campaigns.

Original Source(s)

The Fevers That Felled Napoleon’s Army

  • January 12, 2026

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