On November 4th, 1804, Napoleon and his Grand Army undertook an arduous march of 575 kilometers from Berlin to Warsaw, the capital city of the former European powerhouse, Polish-Lithuania.
As Napoleon rode on horseback, he couldn't help but notice the throngs of Polish citizens lining the streets. They enthusiastically waved small flags bearing the insignia of the Empire of France as the army made its way through the streets of Warsaw. The atmosphere was electric, with Poles whistling, cheering, shouting, and showing their exuberant support for the French forces.
"It's reminiscent of that when we first arrived in Italy," Murat, who was riding a horse next to him, commented.
"You are right, it exactly looked like this," Napoleon concurred, his eyes glancing at the sea of faces before him. Memories of their triumphant march through Italy flooded his mind. The similarities between that moment and this one were striking.
