War of 1812 in the context of world history

The lecturer examines two propaganda campaigns against Napoleon I launched in Russia in 1806–1807 and 1812–1814. As the author demonstrates, not only Russia’s government, but also the Orthodox church, many poets, artists, and journalists took active part in the formation of Bonaparte’s negative image, or «black myth». Both clerical and secular propaganda used various methods of exaggeration of the actual facts. Many specific features of this campaign could be explained by the cultural differences between Russia and France.