Mikhail Kutuzov

A Russian night crossing of the Danube trapped Ottoman forces, and Grand Vizier Ahmed Pasha formally surrendered to Kutuzov in November 1811.

Negotiations began in Bucharest on 11 January 1812; in early May the Russians modified their demands on Canning's advice to enable progress.

The treaty was signed at Manuc's Inn in Bucharest on 28 May 1812 by Kutuzov's delegation and ratified on 5 July 1812, thirteen days before Napoleon invaded Russia.

The treaty ceded the Budjak and eastern Moldavia between Prut and Dniester rivers—renamed Bessarabia—to Russia, while Russia returned other occupied lands.

A supplementary annex to the treaty granted diplomatic couriers a right of neutral passage through Wallachia, provided they carried a specific lead seal.

Kutuzov was appointed commander-in-chief on the 17th (month not stated) and joined the army on 29 August 1812 at Tsaryovo-Zaymishche, ahead of Borodino.

Two armies of nearly a quarter of a million men fought near Borodino on 7 September 1812, during Napoleon's invasion of Russia.

Russian troops and most civilians abandoned Moscow on 14 September 1812; during the French occupation a fire burned from 14 to 18 September and destroyed the city.

Napoleon successfully took Moscow in September 1812, but the Russians refused to acknowledge defeat and prepared to fight on through the winter.

On 19 October 1812 Napoleon retreated from Moscow and marched south-west toward Kaluga, with Eugène de Beauharnais leading the advance.

The Battle of Maloyaroslavets on 24 October 1812 was an inconclusive encounter that led Napoleon to retreat along the same line as his advance, with disastrous results.

The Battle of Vyazma on 3 November 1812 (22 October old style) occurred at the beginning of Napoleon's retreat from Moscow; the retreating army's rearguard was defeated.

From 15 to 18 November 1812 Kutuzov attacked the remnants of the Grande Armée at Krasnoi, defeating Napoleon's retreating army in a series of skirmishes.