Hey there! Let's talk history. So, in the year 1812, during a conflict known as the Napoleonic Wars, Napoleon, the Emperor of France, invaded Russia. This invasion led to a major battle near a town called Borodino, which took place on September 14, 1812. After the battle, the French troops moved towards Moscow, the capital of Russia. Now, here's where things get interesting. The Russian troops and most civilians had already left Moscow, thinking it was a smart move to avoid the French. As Napoleon's troops marched into an empty Moscow on September 14, a big problem started to unfold - a fire broke out and it lasted from the 14th to the 18th of September. This fire essentially destroyed most of the city! The person often blamed for this disaster is a man named Count Fyodor Rostopchin. He was the Moscow military governor at the time, and many historians think he intentionally organized the destruction of the city to make life even harder for the French army. By making Moscow a burned-out, devastated city, Count Rostopchin aimed to weaken the French troops further. This event turned out to be a significant turning point in the Napoleonic Wars, as the destruction of Moscow forced Napoleon to retreat from Russia in the harsh winter, causing him severe losses and eventually leading to his downfall. It's a fascinating piece of history, isn't it?