The Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) shook Europe to its core. Empires crumbled, borders were redrawn, and millions of soldiers and civilians died. However, unlike the World Wars of the 20th century, the memory of Napoleon does not evoke a straightforward horror. For some, he is a monster, for others, a genius, and for still others, a tragic hero. The culture of memory about the Napoleonic Wars in each European country is unique, colored by national myths and historical experience. This article is a journey through the battlefields, museums, and mental maps of Europe. France: from cult to debate In France, Napoleon was long a national hero, almost a saint. The Emperor is buried in the Invalides under a magnificent dome. His ashes were transferred there in 1840 from Saint Helena — an act of national reconciliation. However, in the 21st century, the attitude has become more critical. In 2021, President Macron laid a wreath at his tomb but stated that Napoleon was a complex figure, who restored slavery in French colonies and was responsible for millions of deaths. Nevertheless, French textbooks still pay tribute to his military genius, and the "Russian Campaign" is taught as a tragic but great chapter. The cult of Napoleon among the people is no longer the same, but the image of the "little corporal" remains part of the identity. Russia: The Patriotic War of 1812 as a point of convergence In Russia, Napoleon is an enemy, "the twelve tongues." The memory of the 1812 War is not so much about military losses as about a miraculous salvation and national unity. The main monument is the Christ the Saviour Cathedral (originally built in honor of the victory). Borodino Field is a pilgrimage site for military history clubs. Tolstoy created an epic myth: "the oak of the people's war." In the Soviet era, the focus shifted to the partisan movement and Kutuzov's military artistry. In post-Soviet Russia, the memory of 1812 became part of patriotic education, especially after the f ... Read more