Photo credit: artwork by Georges Rouget/Wikipedia.org
The transfer of the remains of Charles-Etienne Gudin, who died during the Russian-French War of 1812, to the representatives of the French consulate in Moscow took place at the State Historical Museum. The remains were found about two years ago during excavations in Smolensk, according to the website of the Russian Military Historical Society (RVIO).
The ceremony was attended by Pierre Malinovsky, President of the Foundation for the Development of Russian-French Historical Initiatives, Nikolai Makarov, Head of the Institute of Archeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Igor Morozov, Head of the RVIO Project Department, and representatives of the French consulate in the Russian capital.
The general died of wounds received during the battle of Smolensk, for over two hundred years the place of his burial was unknown. The remains of General Gudin were found by members of an expedition that brought together Russian and French specialists. The project was supported by the Trianon Dialogue Forum.
The criminologists of the Investigative Committee of Russia worked with the remains of the general. The isolated DNA was compared with the DNA of a close relative of Gudin.
As we reported earlier, it was decided that the remains of a Napoleon's ally will return to France almost a year ago. The remains will be buried in the Pantheon of the National Residence of the Invalids.
Russkiy Mir
