With the newly utilized modernizations of the Russian military Napoleon was successfully pushed back after fighting his only decisive battle to a draw and defeated in direct combat over many skirmishes throughout his invasion in Vyazma and Vinkovo . Russian gained a sense of nationalism in its defeat of this great enemy that would shape its military policy for decades to come. As Napoleon put it "The Russians learned [how to win]" and gained a sense of invincibility towards future endeavours. Immediately following the invasion Russia wished to push back into continental Europe towards Paris. Tzar Alexander vowing he “shall not make peace as long as Napoleon is on the throne" and eventually pushing all the way to Napoleons stronghold to end the wars. These militaristic campaigns under the Monarchy instead of fostering the expected nationalism and patriotism towards the state created the seeds of dissent that …show more content…
When the officers and newly literate members of the Russian military chased Napoleon through Western Europe they were inevitably exposed to enlightened ideals and the ever increasing voice of the people in political circles. Russia at this time consisted a small number nobility and an overwhelming majority of serfs and peasant farmers. Power was entirely centralized towards on the Tzar and the early signs of the citizens demanding for representation in government and abolition of serfdoms began following the 1812-1813 campaigns. 14 Secondly as an unintended side effect of Napoleon’s invasion the Russian military and to a lesser extent its citizen experienced for the first time a sense of militaristic superiority and dependency on the tactics used. As stated previously the true modernization did not begin until Tzar Paul attempting to provide formation structure and discipline to what essentially at the time operated as a militaristic mob of interlocking units that did not fight united or sober. Several years in the future