The monograph is an experience of historiographic research of the Patriotic War of 1812 from the first publications to the present. The author from the standpoint of modern historical science critically analyzed the process of the origin and development of scientific ideas about the history of Napoleon's campaign in Russia. The work pays special attention to criticism of subjectivist views that have developed in historiography under the influence of various, mainly socio-political, factors. In the center of the story is an analysis of the scientific positions of leading researchers, as well as a historiographic analysis of the socio-political and military-historical problems of the Twelfth Year.