On September 7, 1812, at the Battle of Borodino, Napoleon Bonapartre won a "pyrrhic victory against Russian General Mikhail Kutuzov in the most ferocious battle of the Napoleonic era. More than 70,000 were killed. A short excerpt from the article:
"Aftermath
The fighting at Borodino cost Napoleon around 30,000-35,000 casualties, while the Russians suffered around 39,000-45,000. With the Russians retreating in two columns towards Semolino, Napoleon was free to advance and capture Moscow on September 14. Entering the city, he expected the Tsar to offer his surrender. This was not forthcoming and Kutuzov's army remained in the field. Possessing an empty city and lacking supplies, Napoleon was forced to begin his long and costly retreat west that October. Returning to friendly soil with around 23,000 men, Napoleon's massive army had effectively been destroyed in the course of the campaign. The French army never fully recovered from the losses suffered in Russia."