Umberto Eco: Napoleon Sold a Quarter of America to Attack Russia

Recently a conspiracy theory has been circulating on the internet that suggests that Napoleon sold a quarter of America to fund his invasion of Russia in 1812. The theory has gained traction in Russia and some other countries and has been shared widely on social media.

But is there any truth to this theory? Let’s take a closer look at the facts.

First of all, it is true that Napoleon launched a massive invasion of Russia in June 1812. He led an army of over 600,000 soldiers, the largest army in European history up to that point, into Russia with the intention of forcing Tsar Alexander I to make peace with France.

However, there is no evidence to suggest that Napoleon sold a quarter of America to finance this invasion. In fact, Napoleon did not even own any part of America at the time.

It is true that Napoleon had sold the vast territory of Louisiana to the United States in 1803, but this was nine years before the invasion of Russia and it only represented a small portion of North America. So, it is impossible that he could have sold a quarter of America to fund his campaign.

Moreover, Napoleon’s financial resources at the time were severely limited. France was still recovering from years of war and the cost of maintaining such a large army was astronomical. Napoleon had to rely on loans from bankers and even forced countries he had conquered to pay him tribute.

So, while it is true that Napoleon launched a catastrophic invasion of Russia in 1812, there is no evidence to support the claim that he sold a quarter of America to finance it. It is likely that this conspiracy theory is just another example of the power of the internet to spread misinformation and fake news.

In conclusion, while it is always important to question official narratives and consider alternative perspectives, we should also be cautious about accepting conspiracy theories without any evidence to back them up. The truth is often more complex and nuanced than we initially believe.