ガリーヴ氏による、「塩の罠から見るナポレオンとロシア軍」

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

Today I’ll suggest some specific measures to end this war. To start with, the very idea of deescalation as the ultimate goal is absolutely insane. It would mean repeating Napoleon’s mistake. Napoleon worked hard on deescalation – that’s why he lost a war he could’ve totally won🧵 pic.twitter.com/Y3RBFfXk7Z

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

You may object. Invasion to Russia with an enormous pan-European army doesn’t look like deescalation, does it? Yes, Napoleon’s means were destructive. And yet his goals were highly constructive. He didn’t want to overthrow the Russian empire, he wanted to reach a favorable peace pic.twitter.com/gIuBgUQLeM

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

Wars are not launched for military goals. They are launched for political goals. And the political goal of Napoleon was to force Russian Emperor Alexander I into the alliance against Britain and into the Continental Blockade system without breaking Russian empire pic.twitter.com/l8zPvl9AT6

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

Napoleon didn't view Alexander as an enemy. He didn't want to destroy him. Thus he avoided playing on inner social divisions of Russia . Napoleon launched a purely military campaign and didn't even try provoking a social chaos in Russia - as Russian authorities feared so much pic.twitter.com/FlINQytdzR

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

To start with, most Russian people were slaves. Calling them "serfs" is simply a lie. In 1600 Russian крепостничество was indeed comparable to European serfdom. But with every generation it would become worse. By the late 18th c it was very similar to American plantation slavery pic.twitter.com/jEnG8qDSNC

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

I'll give you an example. First *real* Russian code of laws Соборное Уложение 1649 allowed serfs to complain on their masters who mistreated them. Authorities would investigate these claims. In the age of Alexis they often recognised peasants were right and punished their masters pic.twitter.com/tunqTm7fDP

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

By the age of Peter it was impossible. Nope, nobody abolished this 1649 Code of Laws, it still functioned. But by 1700s we can find almost no cases when authorities would recognise serfs' complaints as valid. Yeah, you can complain. It's just 99% it will be dismissed as a lie pic.twitter.com/S31t8aMHFp

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

That's why it's absurd to analyze the statute law without considering how it is enforced. Statute law regarding the peasants' rights didn't change much. But the law enforcement changed completely, peasants were stripped of every real instrument to enforce their theoretical rights pic.twitter.com/FGBxXluqfv

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

The apotheosis of Russian slavery was reached in the reign of Catherine who stripped peasants of even a formal right to complain on their masters. Now they were whipped and exiled to Siberia for even attempting to complain against their owner pic.twitter.com/iMDu64y51t

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

This is the elephant in the room so often ignored when discussing Russian Empire. Yes, it had European high culture, beautiful palaces strong army. But it was paid by 70% of population reduced to plantation slaves, sold on auctions and slave markets, like in Jamaica or Barbados pic.twitter.com/4hWXTznk9m

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

That wasn't a purely Russian phenomenon. After 1500 peasants all over Europe to the East of Elbe were losing their freedom. It was widely criticised by urban elites, e.g. Stralsund alderman Balthasar Prutze in 1614 described Pomeranian serfdom as ‘barbaric and Egyptian servitude’ pic.twitter.com/Qbw2yjkty9

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

In a sense Russia followed this Eastern European trend with peasants becoming less free with every year. However, in Russia it went lower than anywhere else, to the literal plantation slavery. Why? It was the combined policy of state and aristocracy not checked by any other force pic.twitter.com/xLmf47XbJF

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

Enslavement in East Germany didn't go that far, partially because it was sabotaged by the urban elites who feared landlords and resented them. So relative freedom of peasants was a result of elite war. But Russian urban classes were weak and the power of aristocracy unchecked pic.twitter.com/BC8NRgXfN3

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

What used to be limited serfdom in 1600 by 1800 evolved into a literal chattel slavery. Consider this advert: "For sale three beautiful girls of 14 and 15 y. They do needlework, knit purses with monograms, one knows plays gusli. See them and ask the price at Arbat 1 apt N1117" pic.twitter.com/t26e7Gm5NX

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

What did serfs think? Official propaganda claimed they are happy. One aristocrat wrote to Catherine how deeply serfs love their masters "Yeah, that's why they're killing masters so often" wrote Catherine on the fields She knew everything. She just wouldn't do anything about it pic.twitter.com/GqlSJVQAch

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

Problem of serfdom was linked to the military problem. Old Muscovy was built on their idea of "justice". Muscovites were either white or black. Black people черные люди had to pay taxes and work. Black people (like these) owed "pulling" тягло to the Tsar. That was their duty pic.twitter.com/EEUj49EB7L

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

White people, or more correctly, the "white bone", had to fight. That was their duty to the Tsar. That wasn't always true factually, but at least theoretically military service was considered the duty of the white, noble class. Peasants work, noblemen fight pic.twitter.com/PSv1xDwMdQ

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

Btw when you are reading old Russian texts, you should keep in mind that "white" and "black" are not racial, but purely social terms. When Poland-Lithuania and Muscovy were negotiating on finishing the Livonian War, Poles suggested that Moscow is weak because of its inner threats

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

Poles told: "You just conquered Kazan, it can rebel at any time" Muscovites told: "All the princes, murzas,and uhlans (=nob;es) in Kazan are exterminated извелись. Only the black people remained, they can't do anything" = We cleansed the elites, the rest can't launch resistance pic.twitter.com/UiSHjwCkfU

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

Theoretically Muscovy had some justice - whites fight, blacks work. Since Peter I it changed. First of all, to launch his total war against Sweden he introduced the draft рекрутчина. The state was forcibly drafting a number of commoners every year for a life long military service pic.twitter.com/zUWkXkjbrJ

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

Military service was brutal. You were drafted since as young as 15 or 16. After they chose you for service, they'd put your to chains so you can't escape and transport you to the army, where you'll be subject to excruciating discipline and drilling with little chance of promotion pic.twitter.com/GUYilt8i4G

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

Discipline was maintained by punishments like "dragging through the lines". Two lines get sticks and beat a punished soldier dragged through. Typically 3 000 was enough to kill, but they could give 5 000+. In 1800s they would typically kill one soldier from a regiment per week pic.twitter.com/pAFeJGezPE

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

Discipline in most European armies was brutal from the modern perspective. However, Russian army had a lifelong service. In late 18th c it was reduced to 25 y. but practically speaking it didn't matter. Once you're drafted, you never get out. A soldier = unburied corpse pic.twitter.com/5XHXuUIIOw

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

Very importantly, while Muscovy had some idea of justice: commoners work, noblemen fight, Russian Empire didn't even try to keep it. While subjecting commoners to serfdom, taxation, corvee and the most hated duty - military draft - it relieved nobility from any duty at all pic.twitter.com/AXYzkQ6yqf

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

In 1760s nobility was relieved of compulsory service, be it civil or military. This created a hugeasymmetry. Commoners, work, pay, fight - in terrible conditions - while nobility is free to do whatever. Russian Empire was much more obviously unjust than the previous regime pic.twitter.com/0GlKoRRniB

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

This created a huge social tension. Both greatest Cossack rebellions in Russia - of Razin and Pugachev - never presented much danger military-wise. But wherever Cossacks went, serfs would massacre their masters en masse. Besides, many soldiers would desert and join the Cossacks pic.twitter.com/t8rkFPEFAY

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

If American dream was to be a millionaire, a Russian dream was to be a Cossack. That's what pretty much every Russian peasant wished. They didn't aim to be nobles, social envy doesn't go that far, only Cossacks. Cossacks knew it and offered Cossack status to whoever who joins pic.twitter.com/njgUi3NhgY

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

This tension seldom led to soldier mutinies. It mostly led to voting by legs via desertion. Russian soldiers deserted en masse to Ottomans, Chechens, Old Believers, Cossack rebels, to whoever would give them the way out. They were instrumental in remodelling Persian army in 1800s pic.twitter.com/G6t4WKppH1

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

To put it simply, Russian Empire had enormous, incredible social tensions even among its ethnic Russian population (minorities made it even more complicated). Imperial government was very anxious Napoleon would play it. And you guess what? He didn't (I'll pause for like 15 min) pic.twitter.com/T3k6f03lCb

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

Trying to negotiate wasn't wrong idea. But the question is - what leverage will you use to negotiate? Threats work only that far. Moral preaching, too. Usually you need to give some carrot. NB you should give not what *you* consider to be carrot, but what *they* view as such

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

How were the large animals initially domesticated? I really like the theory that ancient people used the same trick modern hunters use - salt traps. They would give animals salt (which they need badly), so they have to come. Even husbandry has an element of bribe and negotiation pic.twitter.com/nT8YH0Pv5j

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

You *have to* bribe. If Napoleon wants sth from Alexander - join the Continental Blockade - he has to offer him something he needs. But Napoleon couldn't. He used preaching, seductiion, force, but in vain. Because he didn't have a real material carrot and the British did pic.twitter.com/OzueRYHUxJ

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

Any form of Russian-French alliance was doomed, because Napoleon couldn't offer Alexander salt. He tried to use military leverage, and it didn't work out. Why? Because to maximise the damage on Alexander he should've offered salt to those who needed the salt Napoleon had

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

You need to give people want they want they want. Now what do they want? That's usually very simple to understand, they won't shut up about it. They may express indirectly through projections though. For example based orthodox Russia is largely a projection of Western right wings pic.twitter.com/VUdjFyRM5L

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

Western right wings desire a great Christian conservative power which will save them from the wokes. They dream about it day and night. That's a very need and of course they project their need to the nearest available candidate - Vladimir Putin, viewing him as a parental figure pic.twitter.com/DBKTwVIfOl

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

The same way Western intellectuals idolise Dugin. Why? Because it's their projection. Since the days of Plato intellectuals have been dreaming of taking a position of a Philosopher, advising a tyrant. The smartest of them like Plato and Carl Schmitt tried, it usually ended badly pic.twitter.com/yurgyJ4GSR

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

Western intellectuals know they'll never become Tyrant's advisors. But they want to believe that in some frozen Hyperborea there is a tyrant consulted by a mysterious philosopher. They chose Dugin to project their own needs on him. Why Dugin? Well, he has a beard, easy to idolise pic.twitter.com/t37d3lRZuZ

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

Why Dugin is so well known in the West, his importance being hugely exaggerated, and Galkovsky - the most important figure of modern Russian nationalism, who created its language of hatred, is unknown? Perhaps he doesn't look menacing, difficult to project your own dreams on him pic.twitter.com/3kfw0eN1pn

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

If you want to negotiate with someone you usually need to offer them salt they *really* need and not what you think they need. How do you know what they really need? Usually they won't shut up about it and will project 24/7. That's how you figure out what you must offer them

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

Now what Russian people were projecting on the eve of Napoleon's advance? Oh, that's pretty easy. Primarily - the abolishment of serfdom. Dreaming, projecting and praying for Napoleon's conquest of Russia started long before he crossed the border 24th of June 1812 pic.twitter.com/L1N6GunTnc

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

Russian police archives contain lots of cases of serfs arrested for treasonous talk. Most importantly, that the imminent Napoleonic invasion brings them freedom. Earliest arrests that I know of were done in 1807, but in months preceding the invasion, the number expanded greatly

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

A typical treasonous rumour - the real cause of war is that Napoleon wants to liberate Russian serfs. And that he wrote to Tsar Alexander he'll fight against him until he liberates peasants. As you see, it's pure projection. Serfs were projecting on Napoleon their real needs

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

Governor of Moscow Rostopchin wrote to the emperor Alexander. Yes, we amassed huge levies. But they'll become nothing as soon as the "rumours of a supposed freedom will rise the people to earn it and massacre nobility which is the only aim of low classes in all their mutinies" pic.twitter.com/LOPWMt1XXU

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

Few weeks before the Napoleonic invasion, general Raevsky wrote to emperor Alexander: "I'm afraid of Napoleon's proclamations that could give freedom to the people, I'm afraid of internal unrests in our country" pic.twitter.com/xFBhZSr9lD

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

What is missed in the history of Napoleonic invasion is how eagerly peasantry tried to switch to Napoleon. Governor of Tver Kologrivov learnt that villages in Porechsky district "fantasise about belonging to the French forever". Indeed, they decided they're now French subjects

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

Polish-Lithuanian support of Napoleon is well known. It was quite common, even though Napoleon didn't play fully. He didn't even declare the restoration of independent Rzeczpospolita - if he did, he'd get *way* more support. But people collaborated even in purely Russian lands

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

Attacks on landlords, burnings of their houses were starting weeks before the French would actually come to a town. After Napoleon occupied Moscow, many villages in the Moscow region refused to obey their masters claiming that since Napoleon rules in Moscow, he's their Tsar now pic.twitter.com/q17XBxs0IA

Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani

Interestingly enough, governor of Moscow Rostopchin ascribed these unrests to the "bad influence of the levy". Peasants were drafted to the levy en masse without proper training or control and they turned into the unruly force dreaming of Russia's defeat. Many had to be disbanded