HISTORICAL DICTIONARY A–Z - Russia: A Reference Guide from the Renaissance to the Present - page 243

Rooftop view of Moscow, overlooking the Uspensky Cathedral and the Moscow River, ca. 1918 (Library of Congress)

history between 1712 and 1918. In 1771, the
city suffered from a plague epidemic that led to
widespread riots. In 1812, still an important
urban center, Moscow was invaded by Napoleon
Bonaparte's armies after their victory at the Bat-
tle of BORODINO . As the French prepared to enter
Moscow, thinking that its capture would lead
Czar ALEXANDER I to sue for peace, a series of fires
broke out, quickly negating its value to the
French occupiers. A month later, Napoleon left
the city and began his disastrous retreat in the
middle of the Russian winter. Architectural
change came to Moscow, first as part of the
reconstruction that followed the French occupa-
tion and later in the 19th century through the

efforts of an emerging wealthy business class
that sought to leave its mark on the city.
Moscow regained its status as the seat of Rus-
sia's government in March 1918, when the
newly installed Bolshevik regime transferred its
offices from Petrograd (St. Petersburg), while
German forces advanced on Petrograd. Moscow's
new status was made permanent after the estab-
lishment of the Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics in December 1922, with Moscow as
the Soviet capital. Joseph STALIN 's long rule left its
mark on Moscow, as part of his effort to trans-
form the city into a showcase of socialism. A sub-
way system known as the Metro was begun in
the 1930s with near-palatial stations. At the same