The remains of more than 100 French and Russian soldiers who died on the battlefield nearly 200 years ago were given a ceremonial funeral Saturday outside Moscow.
The bodies included 120 soldiers who fought the Battle of Vyazma in 1812, in which Russian Empire forces defeated Napoleon’s retreating army after the failed invasion of Moscow in November 1812. There were also three women. , who are believed to have provided food and first aid to the troops, and three teenage boys, who are believed to be drummers, AFP reported.
When the bodies were found during a construction project in 2019, archaeologists initially thought the mass grave was from World War II, but researchers determined it was much older. Alexander Khokhlov, head of the archaeological expedition, said the discovery of metal uniform buttons helped establish the French army regiments in which some of the victims served.
The funeral ceremony was attended by officials from both countries and direct descendants of the battle’s leaders, Yulia Khitrovo, a descendant of Russian Field Marshal Mikhail Kutuzov and Prince Joachim Murat, a descendant of one of Napoleon’s most famous marshals. . “Death made them equal: they are all in the same grave,” Khitrovo said.
The event was seen as a moment of unity between France and Russia, who have been at odds with Russia’s crackdown on political protest and other issues.