Photo credit: gazeta.ru
A study of the DNA of the remains found in Smolensk proved that they belonged to Charles-Étienne Gudin de La Sablonnière, a friend and closest ally of the Emperor Napoleon. This was told by Pierre Malinovsky, who heads the Foundation for the Development of Russian-French Historical Initiatives, RIA Novosti reports. According to him, the DNA examination showed a connection with the brother, mother and son of the general.
General Guden died during the Patriotic War of 1812 in Smolensk. His remains were found on the Royal Bastion, which in 1812 was the site of fierce fighting. The wounds from which the buried person died coincide with the wounds received by the general in the battle. It is planned that his remains will be reburied in France with all honors.
The Russian-French expedition that discovered the burial site worked in Smolensk this summer. The work involved not only archaeologists, but also anthropologists, topographers and students.
Earlier, a descendant of General Alberic D’Orlean thanked the participants of the international expedition. He said that the history of his family had close ties with Russia. One of the family members during the French Revolution fled to Russia to save his life. In 1812, General Güden died there. During the Second World War, another relative died in a concentration camp where many Soviet citizens were detained. Alberic D’Orlean added that his wife was also Russian.
Russkiy Mir
