What historical event was Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture referencing?

Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture is referencing the Napoleonic Wars, a series of conflicts between Napoleon Bonaparte's French Empire and various European powers that occurred from 1803 to 1815. The overture, composed in 1880 to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Russian victory over Napoleon in 1812, captures the events of the French invasion of Russia and the subsequent Russian resistance. It evokes the historic battle with its use of cannons, church bells, and patriotic themes, symbolizing the victory of Russian forces over Napoleon's Grand Army and the triumph of nationalism.