Recent DNA analysis reveals the shocking truth behind Napoleon's ill-fated Russian campaign, exposing a darker truth than previously thought.
Historians have long pointed to typhus as a leading cause of death among Napoleon's soldiers, but new research has uncovered that enteric and relapsing fever may have been responsible for thousands more fatalities. The study, conducted by scientists at France's Institut Pasteur, analyzed the remains of 13 soldiers found in a mass grave in Vilnius, Lithuania.
The researchers extracted DNA from the soldiers' teeth and sequenced it to identify any bacterial pathogens present. To their surprise, none of the men showed signs of typhus, but rather fragments of two other bacteria: Salmonella enterica and Borrelia recurrentis. The former is responsible for enteric or typhoid fever, while the latter causes relapsing fever.
Enteric fever's name references its symptomatic similarities with typhus, and it was not recognized as a distinct disease until later in the 19th century. Relapsing fever is often transmitted by body lice, which would have been present among Napoleon's soldiers due to their poor hygiene conditions.
The discovery of these two bacteria casts doubt on the long-held narrative that typhus was the primary cause of death among Napoleon's troops. The researchers believe that the use of different sequencing technologies in earlier studies may have led to false positives and misidentifications.
Moreover, the study has revealed an unexpected connection between the strain of Borrelia recurrentis found in Napoleon's soldiers and a similar lineage discovered 2,000 years ago in Iron Age Britain. This finding suggests that the disease was present in Europe for much longer than previously thought and highlights the importance of studying ancient DNA to better understand historical events.
Overall, this study offers a fresh perspective on one of history's greatest military blunders, revealing that the true enemy may have been not just external forces but also internal health threats.
Historians have long pointed to typhus as a leading cause of death among Napoleon's soldiers, but new research has uncovered that enteric and relapsing fever may have been responsible for thousands more fatalities. The study, conducted by scientists at France's Institut Pasteur, analyzed the remains of 13 soldiers found in a mass grave in Vilnius, Lithuania.
The researchers extracted DNA from the soldiers' teeth and sequenced it to identify any bacterial pathogens present. To their surprise, none of the men showed signs of typhus, but rather fragments of two other bacteria: Salmonella enterica and Borrelia recurrentis. The former is responsible for enteric or typhoid fever, while the latter causes relapsing fever.
Enteric fever's name references its symptomatic similarities with typhus, and it was not recognized as a distinct disease until later in the 19th century. Relapsing fever is often transmitted by body lice, which would have been present among Napoleon's soldiers due to their poor hygiene conditions.
The discovery of these two bacteria casts doubt on the long-held narrative that typhus was the primary cause of death among Napoleon's troops. The researchers believe that the use of different sequencing technologies in earlier studies may have led to false positives and misidentifications.
Moreover, the study has revealed an unexpected connection between the strain of Borrelia recurrentis found in Napoleon's soldiers and a similar lineage discovered 2,000 years ago in Iron Age Britain. This finding suggests that the disease was present in Europe for much longer than previously thought and highlights the importance of studying ancient DNA to better understand historical events.
Overall, this study offers a fresh perspective on one of history's greatest military blunders, revealing that the true enemy may have been not just external forces but also internal health threats.
! I mean, we all thought it was those typhus guys who got him, but turns out it was probably something even creepier like relapsing fever? Salmonella and Borrelia recurrentis are just so much more sinister. And to think we've been celebrating him as a total hero for ages... now he's kinda got this shadowy side going on 
. The fact that they found the same bacteria in ancient Britain is just mind-blowing - it's like, our ancestors were dealing with the same health issues thousands of years ago 
.
! Like, we always knew Napoleon was a total boss 
, but this revelation is wild 
! Who knew enteric fever and relapsing fever were the real MVPs 
? I'm loving how scientists are like "hey, let's dig up some old bones and get to the bottom of it" 
. And can we talk about how cool it is that they found a connection between ancient Europe and Iron Age Britain 
? It's like, the past is way more fascinating than we thought 
! Typhus might've been a major contender in the 1800s, but enteric fever and relapsing fever were probably the real deal-breakers 
. This study is giving me life 
!
I'm kinda surprised by this new info. I mean, we always knew typhus was a big deal in Napoleon's army, but to think there might've been other factors at play... it's like, what else could have gone wrong for them? 
Poor guys were already struggling with harsh winter conditions and all that. And now we know they might've had enteric fever too? That's some messed up luck right there 
. I guess this study is a good reminder that our understanding of history isn't always cut and dry... there's usually more to the story than we think 
. I always thought typhus was the big villain behind Napoleon's campaign, but it looks like enteric and relapsing fever might've gotten the better of him 
. Those guys were living in pretty rough conditions, what with poor hygiene and all... no wonder they got hit hard by body lice 
. It's wild that we only found out about this now, after so many years. And that connection to ancient Britain is just mind-blowing 
, but I had no idea he might've been up against some tiny vampires instead of just Czar Alexander 
. Seriously though, this study is a game-changer and shows how much more there is to learn from history than we ever thought possible 
. And can you imagine being an ancient Brit trying to deal with relapsing fever? 
Like, that's some crazy stuff right there! Anyway, I'm all about getting the facts straight and giving credit where it's due, so props to these scientists for digging up this new info 
.
. Like, who wouldn't want to blame a pesky infestation for their demise? It's almost like they were all just... really dirty 
. But seriously though, this is kinda cool that scientists are finally getting some closure on the whole typhus thing, and it's wild that relapsing fever might have been the real culprit. And omg, the connection to ancient Britain?! That's some wild stuff 
).
and how she always had these amazing tomatoes growing in it... I mean, what's up with that? How do they even grow so big and healthy?! She would say it's because of the soil quality and stuff, but I think it's just magic 
