Napoleon who is he. "Napoleon was not stunted." The defeat of Napoleon, the reasons

He portrayed Napoleon as a man with a comical appearance and behavior: a short man, taking majestic poses. The emperor was indeed short, but not so tall as to be considered the subject of ridicule. If we shift his height - 5 feet and 2 inches - to our metric system, it turns out almost 170 cm. Today we would call such a man small, but at the turn of the 18-19 centuries, such growth was quite normal.

Napoleon is not only an emperor, but also an academician. He became a member of the French Academy of Sciences for mathematical research: in particular, for the fact that he deduced "his" theorem.

The emperor was a rather fearless man, but he was very afraid of cats.

Napoleon was considered a fan of good opera, especially Italian. But he showed no emotions either before or after the performance. The performers on the stage did not expect a single clap from him. It is clear that the rest of the audience, seeing that the emperor was not applauding, did not do it themselves. One can only imagine what the actors felt after finishing the performance and hearing the deathly silence ...

Napoleon, willy-nilly, enriched our Russian language. After all, it was his captive soldiers, hungry and chilled to the bone, who asked the Russians for help, addressing them "dear friend!" (in French - "sher ami"). This is how another apt word appeared in our vocabulary, denoting a rogue, a swindler and a crook - "ball skier".

Any ordinary person who is in a stressful situation is unlikely to sleep a wink of worries. But for Napoleon, the most decisive moments in his life were a reason to “reload the program” in his head: this was the case during the battles both at Austerlitz and at Wagram. The emperor fell asleep instantly - as if he were shutting down. Although he slept very little: about three hours a day was enough for him to have a good rest.

Napoleon was known not only for fearlessness (in everything except cats), but also for cruelty. Once, when a shell fell nearby, which was about to explode, all the "brave men" surrounding the commander fled. To teach them a lesson in courage, the emperor rode up to the shell on a horse and stood so that the deadly weapon was right above her belly. There was a deafening explosion, the horse with its entrails blown to shreds fell dead, and the rider was alive and well and demanded a new horse.

Napoleon could boast of excellent health: he never received any serious treatment for anything. And only during the last exile - to the island of St. Helena - did he fall ill with an incomprehensible disease that destroyed him a few years later. But there is an opinion that it was not a disease, but small portions of arsenic, which were daily mixed into the food of the disgraced emperor by his ill-wisher ...

—————————————

There is very little in common between the biographies of Napoleon and Hitler. But the magic of numbers is really amazing. Many significant events in their lives happened with a difference of 129 years.

Comparison table of dates:

(For verification, exactly those facts were taken to which most sources refer)

• - For some reason, many people confuse the year of Napoleon's birth, hence a number of absurdities with numbers arise. (By chance or on purpose, this is a completely different story);
• - Coming to power, a very flexible concept (It depends in what country and in what position);
• - Confusion in different styles of calendars.

(* Conclusion: It is quite indirect to talk about coincidences (they exist), because this way you can adjust many dates in the biographies of many successful adults (For example: Today, many go to school for the first time at the age of 7 - direct mysticism))

Similar patterns were observed in the biographies of the 16th and 35th President of the United States: Abraham Lincoln / John Fitzgerald Kennedy.

————————————

Napoleon Bonaparte was a brilliant military leader, diplomat, possessed of excellent intellect, phenomenal memory and amazing capacity for work. An entire era is named after him, and his deeds were a shock for most of his contemporaries. His military strategies are in textbooks, and the norms of democracy in Western countries are based on "Napoleonic Law."

Napoleon Bonaparte on horseback

The role of this outstanding personality in the history of France is ambiguous. In Spain and Russia, he was called the Antichrist, and some researchers consider Napoleon a somewhat embellished hero.

Childhood and youth

A brilliant commander, statesman, emperor Napoleon I Bonaparte was a native of Corsica. Born August 15, 1769 in the city of Ajaccio in a poor noble family. The parents of the future emperor had eight children. Father Carlo di Buonaparte led a law practice, mother Letizia, nee Ramolino, raised children. They were Corsicans by nationality. Bonaparte is the Tuscan version of the surname of the famous Corsican.

He was taught literacy and sacred history at home, at the age of six he was sent to a private school, at the age of ten - to the Oten College, where the boy did not stay long. After college, he continues his studies at the military school in Brienne. In 1784 he entered the Paris Military Academy. Upon graduation, he received the rank of lieutenant and from 1785 served in the artillery.

In his early youth, Napoleon lived in solitude, was fond of literature and military affairs. In 1788, while in Corsica, he participated in the development of defensive fortifications, worked on a report on the organization of the militia, etc. He considered literary works paramount, hoping to become famous in this field.

With interest he reads books on history, geography, on the size of state revenues of European countries, works on the philosophy of legislation, and is fond of the ideas of Abbot Reinal. He writes the history of Corsica, the stories "Conversation of Love", "The Prophet in Disguise", "The Earl of Essex" and keeps a diary.

The works of the young Bonaparte, with the exception of one, remained in manuscripts. In these works, the author expresses negative emotions in relation to France, considering it the enslaver of Corsica, and love for the homeland. The young Napoleon's recordings have a political connotation and a revolutionary spirit.

Napoleon Bonaparte met the French Revolution with enthusiasm, in 1792 he joined the Jacobin Club. After defeating the British for the capture of Toulon in 1793, he was awarded the rank of brigadier general. This becomes a turning point in his biography, after which a brilliant military career begins.

In 1795, Napoleon distinguished himself in dispersing the royalist rebellion, after which he was appointed commander of the army. The Italian campaign undertaken in 1796-1797 under his command demonstrated the talent of a commander and glorified him throughout the continent. In 1798-1799, the Directory sent him on a long-distance military expedition to Syria and Egypt.

The expedition ended in defeat, but it was not considered a failure. He voluntarily leaves the army to fight the Russians under his command. In 1799 General Napoleon Bonaparte returned to Paris. The Directory regime at this time is already at the peak of the crisis.

Domestic policy

After the coup and the proclamation of the consulate in 1802, he became consul, and in 1804 - emperor. In the same year, with the participation of Napoleon, a new Civil Code was published, which was based on Roman law.

The internal policy pursued by the emperor is aimed at strengthening his own power, which, in his opinion, guaranteed the preservation of the gains of the revolution. Carries out reforms in the field of law and administration. He undertook a number of reforms in the legal and administrative spheres. Some of these innovations still form the basis of the functioning of states. Anarchy was ended by Napoleon. A law was passed providing for the right to property. French citizens were recognized as equal in rights and opportunities.

Mayors were appointed to cities and villages, and a French bank was created. The economy began to revive, which could not but rejoice even the poor. Army kits allowed the poor to earn money. Lyceums were opening all over the country. At the same time, the police network expanded, a secret department was established, and the press was heavily censored. Gradually there was a return to the monarchical system of government.

An important event for the French government was the agreement concluded with the Pope, thanks to which the legitimacy of Bonaparte's power was recognized in exchange for the proclamation of Catholicism as the main religion of the majority of citizens. Society in relation to the emperor was divided into two camps. Some citizens declared that Napoleon betrayed the revolution, but Bonaparte himself believed that he was the successor of her ideas.

Foreign policy

The beginning of Napoleon's reign came at a time when France was waging hostilities with Austria and England. A new victorious Italian campaign eliminated the threat at the French borders. The result of the hostilities was the subordination of almost all European countries. In the territories that were not part of France, kingdoms subject to the emperor were created, the rulers of which were members of his family. Russia, Prussia and Austria enter into an alliance.

At first, Napoleon was perceived as the savior of the homeland. The people were proud of his achievements, there was a national upsurge in the country. But the 20-year war tired everyone. The Continental blockade proclaimed by Bonaparte, which led to the decline of the economy of England, its light industry, forced the British to sever trade relations with European states. The crisis hit the port cities of France, the supply of colonial goods, to which Europe had already got used to, was stopped. Even the French court suffered from a lack of coffee, sugar and tea.

The situation was aggravated by the economic crisis of 1810. The bourgeoisie did not want to spend money on wars, since the threat of attack by other countries remained in the distant past. She understood that the goal of the emperor's foreign policy was to expand her own power and protect the interests of the dynasty.

The beginning of the collapse of the empire began in 1812, when Russian troops defeated the Napoleonic army. The creation of the anti-French coalition, which included Russia, Austria, Prussia and Sweden, in 1814 became the collapse of the empire. This year she defeated the French and entered Paris.

Napoleon had to abdicate the throne, but the status of the emperor remained with him. He was exiled to the island of Elba in the Mediterranean. However, the exiled emperor did not stay there for long.

French citizens and the military were dissatisfied with the situation, they feared the return of the Bourbons and the nobility. Bonaparte escapes and on March 1, 1815 moves to Paris, where he is greeted with enthusiastic exclamations from the townspeople. Hostilities are resumed. This period went down in history as "One Hundred Days". The final defeat of the Napoleonic army took place on June 18, 1815 after the Battle of Waterloo.

The deposed emperor was captured by the British and sent back into exile. This time he found himself in the Atlantic Ocean on the island of St. Elena, where he lived for another 6 years. But not all Englishmen were negative about Napoleon. In 1815, impressed by the fate of the deposed emperor, he created the "Napoleonic cycle" of five verses, after which the poet was reproached for being unpatriotic. Among the British there was another admirer of Napoleon - Princess Charlotte, daughter of the future George IV, on whose support the emperor was counting at one time, but she died in 1817 during childbirth.

Personal life

Napoleon Bonaparte from a young age was distinguished by his amorousness. Contrary to popular belief, Napoleon's height was above the average by the standards that existed in those years - 168 cm, which could not but attract the attention of the opposite sex. Masculine features, posture, which are visible on the reproductions, presented in the form of a photo, aroused the interest of the ladies around him.

The first lover to whom the young man proposed was the 16-year-old Desiree-Eugenia-Clara. But at that time, his career in Paris began to develop rapidly, and Napoleon could not resist the charm of Parisian women. In the French capital, Bonaparte preferred to have affairs with women older than himself.

An important event in Napoleon's personal life, which took place in 1796, was his marriage to Josephine Beauharnais. Bonaparte's beloved turned out to be 6 years older than him. She was born to a family of a planter on the island of Martinique in the Caribbean. From the age of 16 she was married to the Viscount Alexandre de Beauharnais, gave birth to two children. Six years after marriage, she divorced her husband and at one time lived in Paris, then in her father's house. After the revolution of 1789, she again went to France. In Paris, she was supported by her ex-husband, who by that time held a high political post. But in 1794, the viscount was executed, and Josephine herself spent some time in prison.

A year later, miraculously finding her freedom, Josephine met Bonaparte, who was not yet so famous. According to some reports, at the time of her acquaintance she was in love with the then ruler of France Barras, but this did not prevent him from becoming a witness at the wedding of Bonaparte and Josephine. In addition, Barras granted the groom the post of commander of the Italian army of the republic.

Researchers say that the lovers had a lot in common. Both were born away from France on small islands, experienced hardships, were in prison, both were dreamers. After the wedding, Napoleon went to the positions of the Italian army, while Josephine remained in Paris. After the Italian campaign, Bonaparte was sent to Egypt. Josephine still did not follow her husband, but enjoyed social life in the capital of France.

Tormented by jealousy, Napoleon began to make his own favorites. According to researchers, Napoleon's lovers were from 20 to 50. A series of novels followed, which led to the emergence of illegitimate heirs. Known about two - Alexander Colonna-Walewski and Charles Leon. The Colonna-Valevsky family has survived to this day. Alexander's mother was the daughter of a Polish aristocrat Maria Walewska.

Josephine could not have children, so in 1810 Napoleon divorced her. Initially, Bonaparte planned to intermarry with the imperial Romanov family. He asked Anna Pavlovna's hand from her brother. But the Russian emperor did not want to be related to the ruler of non-royal blood. In many ways, these disagreements influenced the cooling of relations between France and Russia. Napoleon marries the daughter of the emperor of Austria, Marie-Louise, who bore him an heir in 1811. This marriage was not approved by the French public.

Ironically, it was Josephine's grandson, not Napoleon's, who later became the French emperor. Her descendants reign in Denmark, Belgium, Norway, Sweden and Luxembourg. There were no descendants of Napoleon, since his son had no children, and he himself died young.

After being expelled to the island of Elba, Bonaparte expected to see his legal wife next to him, but Marie-Louise went to her father's domain. Maria Valevskaya came to Bonaparte with her son. Returning to France, Napoleon dreamed of seeing only Marie-Louise, but the emperor never received an answer to all the letters sent to Austria.

Death

After the defeat at Waterloo, Bonaparte whiled away time on the island of St. Elena. The last years of his life were filled with suffering from an incurable disease. May 5, 1821 Napoleon I Bonaparte died, he was 52 years old.

According to one version, the cause of death was oncology, according to another - arsenic poisoning. Researchers who adhere to the version of stomach cancer appeal to the autopsy results, as well as to the heredity of Bonaparte, whose father died of stomach cancer. Other historians mention that Napoleon got fat before his death. And this became an indirect sign of arsenic poisoning, since with oncology, patients lose weight. In addition, traces of high concentration of arsenic were later revealed in the emperor's hair.

According to Napoleon's will, his remains were transported to France in 1840, where they were reburied in the Parisian House of Invalids on the territory of the cathedral. Around the tomb of the former French emperor, there are sculptures by Jean-Jacques Pradier on display.

Quotes

History is just a version of the events that happened in our interpretation.

The depths of baseness to which a person can fall are immeasurable.

There are two levers by which people can move - fear and self-interest.

Revolution is a conviction backed by bayonets.

It is more likely to meet a good ruler who came to power by inheritance than by election.

Chapter 5 ANOTHER NAPOLEON

When, in a conversation with a random old woman on the road, Napoleon jokingly called himself a tyrant, in his joke "there was a grain of a joke." He really concentrated immense power in his hands. At the end of his life, Bonaparte explained this to his English doctor, who rebuked Napoleon for the lack of freedom of the press:

Of course, France lacked the freedom of discussion that is characteristic of England, although sometimes I met very strong opposition in the Senate. Indeed, there was not much freedom of speech and freedom of the press in the country, but what could I do with the banker or other independent persons who opposed the measures I was taking? .. I do not deny that the old French constitution was bad and required significant changes, but when I returned from Elba, the constitution that I handed over to the French was excellent, and its only drawback was that I left myself too little power ... I could not put a person in jail, impose a fine, impose taxes or collect them from persons exempted from military service; in addition, a law on freedom of the press was introduced under the constitution.

A respite on the island of Elba gave Napoleon the opportunity to escape from the squirrel wheel of wars and state work, to think a little, and to overestimate something. Therefore, before leaving the island, Napoleon told the attendants that now his policy would be different - directed towards greater liberalism and greater civil liberties.

In general, all his life he went to what he said shortly before his death: "I was going to create a Europe in which citizens would have the same nationality and could move from one end of Europe to another with one passport ..."

This was announced after the fact, so many historians believe that Napoleon came up with such a version already on St. Helena, but in fact he "strove for world domination." Historians, of course, know better than Napoleon, where he aspired. Therefore, we will accept their version, not the Napoleonic one. After all, who is Napoleon? So, a small fry. I did not know what I was doing ... But historians - these are the minds!

But even then it turns out that Napoleon was objectively moving in the direction that he designated on Saint Helena as the final point - to the Europe that we see today. Absence of state borders, standardized social space, freedom of the press, freedom of conscience, secularization of the state, reliance on science.

The question is different: could he bring this project to the end?

Arriving in Paris, Napoleon not only gave France a new constitution, which was adopted by an absolute majority at the national plebiscite, but also uttered a lot of words about peace, realizing that the nation was exhausted. However, it was precisely peace that he could not give France. Because the allies, who at that time were just sharing his inheritance in Vienna, instantly stopped swearing and decided to re-enter the fight with the returned emperor.

At the same time, they seriously called Napoleon a threat to peace in Europe! Strange psychological aberration. As if it was Napoleon who was forging anti-French coalitions one after another! .. He simply smashed them, each time "fining" the instigators of the war with territorial infringements, so that in the future it would be discouraged. But, apparently, he punished little, since literally a year or two later a new coalition arose. Defending himself, Bonaparte defeated his enemies and thus was guilty in their eyes.

Sometimes anti-French coalitions are called anti-Napoleonic, trying to turn their eyes from Europe to the figure of Bonaparte, who, like, was the cause of all evil. At the same time forgetting that the first anti-French coalition was formed "before Napoleon." Let me remind you that the soul of the first coalition was the Russian Tsarina Catherine II. It was she who, in the fight against the French Revolution, made a bet on intervention. She signed with the Prussian and Austrian courts, urging them to attack France. The failed escape of King Louis from France was also organized with Russian money.

In 1792, Catherine entered into a military alliance with Austria, Prussia (they had already concluded an alliance among themselves by that time) and Sweden. She writes a note "On measures to restore the royal government in France", in which she proclaims: "The cause of the French king is the business of all sovereigns." Napoleon is not yet in the historical arena. And the coalition already exists.

The second coalition included Russia, England, Austria. Napoleon puts an end to this coalition under Marengo. Then he is just a simple French general in the service of the republic, of which there are many.

The third coalition against France is created by England, Russia, Austria and Sweden. Napoleon rises again, goes and smashes the coalition at Ulm and Austerlitz. Napoleon has just been crowned, and France has been subjected to international ostracism for the third time in a short period of time.

The fourth coalition of restless states includes Prussia instead of Austria. Napoleon crushes Prussia throughout Prussia, and the Russians at Friedland.

In the spring of 1809, the fifth anti-French coalition began to take shape (England, Austria). Napoleon again leaves the throne, takes up his sword and smashes opponents at Wagram.

The sixth anti-French coalition includes Russia, England, Austria and Sweden. This is already 1813-1814. Napoleon fights like a lion, but it all ends with the island of Elba.

The seventh anti-French coalition is being formed after Napoleon's return to Paris and his loud statements about peace. But the allies do not need peace. They need to crush the revolution and, if possible, restore the status quo.

And after that, someone turns their tongue to accuse Napoleon of aggression and expansion? .. For a quarter of a century, all of Europe has been trying to suppress social innovations in France, and Napoleon becomes guilty as a result of the judgment of history! Well, the winners are not judged. The winners are judged.

Why was Europe so stubborn? Why was she so anxious to destroy the gains of the French Revolution? .. The French Revolution had painfully shaken the minds of Europe. The French Ambassador to Russia described the behavior of the residents of St. Petersburg who learned about the collapse of the Bastille in the following way: “I cannot express the enthusiasm that the fall of this state prison and this first triumph of freedom aroused among merchants, small traders, the bourgeoisie and part of the educated society. The French, Russians, Danes, Germans, British, Dutch - everyone on the streets congratulated each other, kissed, as if they had gotten rid of the too heavy chain that hung on them. "

All enlightened Europe breathed with the ideas of revolution. And that is why the old Europe so wanted to cut off this breath. Having promised his compatriots peace and offered peace to Europe, Napoleon guessed that there would be no peace. The allies declared him "the enemy of humanity", apparently considering themselves the best friends of the latter.

Again it was necessary to fight for freedom. What could France, worn out by decades of war, give her emperor? All over France there were just under 200 thousand people under arms. But Napoleon could not use all of them at once. Army units were scattered throughout the country. Only in the eternally rebellious royalist Vendée was an army of 65 thousand people, and it was impossible to shoot it.

Thus, in the hands of Napoleon to fight the invaders, there were 128 thousand people and about 350 guns. There were also about 200 thousand people of the National Guard - semi-civilians, not dressed in uniform and a third of them not armed, who had to be gathered all over the country, brought into a divine form, taught in actions as part of combat punishment, and rebuilding.

And what did the allies put up and could put up? They immediately fielded 700 thousand people, and with a tighter reserve, the total army of the allies already numbered more than a million people!

The fate of France was sealed.

However, Napoleon was not used to surrender without a fight. He had two choices (actually three, but the third is a little lower) - either to wait for the allied forces to unite and invade France, thereby exposing the country to another devastating invasion and atrocities of the occupiers, or to try to defeat the enemies one by one, as he did it is always.

Napoleon chose the best path. He entered Belgium with his army, attacked Blucher's army and defeated it. At the same time, Blucher lost 20 thousand, and Napoleon - 11 thousand. But the defeat was incomplete due to the unintentional delay of Marshal Ney, who did not manage to reach Linyi and finish off the retreating Blucher army.

Napoleon dispatched 36,000 men under the command of Marshal Pears to pursue Blucher's army. And he himself rushed to Wellington's army, which was stationed near Brussels.

Wellington was in a good position on the high ground near Waterloo. Despite the fact that Wellington had no fewer people than Napoleon, despite the fact that he occupied an advantageous position and stood on the defensive, Wellington understood: Grandmaster Napoleon would beat him, and the only chance for luck was the help of Blucher's army, who still had about 50 thousand fighters. And Napoleon, in turn, starting the battle, hoped for the approach of Pear. And although Pear had fewer people than Blucher, the emperor knew that if the marshal came up, the battle would be won. And he waited for Pears until the last minute. However, Blucher had time, but Pear was not.

The battle was lost.

Chapter Three “THE WORLD IS PAINTED IN ANOTHER COLOR ONLY WITH BLOOD” In July 1903, the delegates elected to the Second Congress of the RSDLP gathered in Brussels, where 13 sessions of the Congress were held. But the Belgian police forced the delegates to leave the country, and the congress moved its meetings to London.

Chapter 34. Another look at who What happened to me? After all the research, after all the discussions, after writing all these pages, I must say that there is a lot of mystery in everything that happened. I feel like I am a victim of an accident, in which

Chapter Seventeen NAPOLEON AND THE MAGNETIZER On May 12, 1813, Hoffmann wrote in his diary: "In the afternoon I saw the emperor ... on the bridge, where he watched as cavalry and artillery paraded past him (a special feeling)." What is this “special feeling”? A week later, Hoffmann with

Napoleon ... nothing has been done in the war, while there is still something to be done. In any case, victory is incomplete where more can be achieved. Napoleon The French Emperor is recognized as a leader among the greatest military leaders in history

Napoleon I Real name Napolione di Buonaparte (born in 1769 - died in 1821) French emperor, politician and talented military leader. Thanks to victorious wars, he significantly expanded the territory of the empire, made the majority dependent on France

CHAPTER VI ANOTHER BREED BIRD It was 1830, and a storm was blowing from France. Once again, the Marseillaise was heard in the Parisian streets, and the Bourbons, hated by the people, were overthrown. Newspapers brought news of this to Copenhagen, and there were probably hot heads among their readers,

Chapter III. Napoleon and Metternich Metternich's three-year stay in Paris will remain one of the most interesting periods of his career. Here he had to show all his diplomatic talent in order to overcome the difficulties with which the role was associated

NAPOLEON About half of the world, the genius wiped his feet, So that the sweet trail would lick him

Chapter 17. Nikita Bogoslovsky: “Russia stole the anthem From another country” It is impossible to compete with Nikita Bogoslovsky in terms of sarcastic and mock perception of life. He was a witty man of genius, and in old age he was in excellent "joke" form. I felt it

Chapter 4 Napoleon was also short. Prince Tenishev well remembered the order of the emperor. He based the education of the cadets on the "carrot and stick" system with a clear preponderance towards the first half of this pedagogical binomial.

Chapter 4 "HE WAS DIFFERENT!" (1993–2004) The love of money is a sin - a rat who is buying it, It is willing to make money and acquisitions ... This animal will not be satisfied with the longest ruble, the most profitable share ...

Chapter Twelve (3) A Cry to God. Diaspora man as another We easily reconcile with Others in the thirtieth kingdom; but if he, with all his customs, becomes a close neighbor, it is annoying. To hate a neighbor abroad, you need reasons, you need a conflict. Diaspora

Napoleon was not just another crazy dictator who wanted to control all of Europe, although, of course, you have every reason to think so. In fact, Napoleon was a much more complex person than you were told in your class at school. Among other things, he helped the conquered states to embark on the path of democracy, and also gave his descendants the opportunity to rule a renewed and expanded empire. He passionately loved his wife Josephine, but left her in order to marry a young lady of royal blood, who could give him the heirs that the empire so needed. Despite the fact that he treated his second wife with kindness and understanding, during his exile on Elba, he resorted to threats to kidnap her when she refused to join him. Below you will learn about ten more interesting and exciting facts from the life of this incredible person.

10. Napoleon's real name was different

At birth, he was given the Corsican name Napoleone di Buonaparte. But, since at the time of his birth, Corsica had already been part of France for a year, this was enough to change the course of history. In his twenties, Napoleon changed his name and surname to more French-sounding ones, being completely absorbed in dreams of a military career. However, this did not allow him to escape reminders of his origins, and until the end of his life he was haunted by such nicknames as "little Corsican" and "Corsican dictator".

9. He knew almost nothing about tactics.


Napoleon did not become a military genius overnight - he had to study long and hard. At the age of nine, Napoleon entered a religious school located in mainland France to study French. He later went to the military school in Brienne, where he spent five years studying before he could get into the military academy in Paris. After the death of his father, Napoleon's family fell below the poverty line and he was able to complete a two-year study program in just one year to save money. He became the first Corsican to graduate from the Military Academy.

8. Napoleon was an ardent nationalist, but not in favor of France


From 1789 to 1793, Napoleon officially supported the Corsican revolutionaries in their struggle against French rule, despite the fact that he himself was an officer in the French army at that time. This was a rather difficult situation since the French Revolution broke out in 1789. In Corsica, three sides fought among themselves at once: royalists, revolutionaries and Jacobins, who were supported by Napoleon. He even managed for some time to lead an uprising against the French army, but after a quarrel with one of the leaders of Corsica, he moved to France and abandoned the case. Later he wrote the following about this: “When the nation perished, I was born. Thirty thousand Frenchmen were vomited on our shores, drowning the throne of freedom in waves of blood. This disgusting sight was the first that I saw. "

7. Napoleon was still young when fame came to him


Napoleon's military career developed quite rapidly. In 1795, he saved the government from counter-revolutionary forces, thanks to which he immediately received a promotion and was appointed commander of the internal troops and military adviser. But he was only 26 years old. The following year, he was given the command of the Italian army (don't let the name mislead you - the army had nothing to do with territorial Italy). Napoleon quickly corrected this misunderstanding with the name, having won a number of key victories against the Habsburgs. The victories brought him great fame and power in France. Returning there, he managed to launch two new newspapers and even organize his first coup d'état in 1797, which was aimed at destroying the remaining royalists in the government.

6. The supposed small stature of Napoleon was only the fruit of British propaganda


In the days of Napoleon, in France they used a unit of measure for length called the "royal foot". It was equal to the leg length of the king, who was currently at the throne. According to this measurement system, Napoleon was 5 feet 6 inches, which translated into British feet was 5 feet and 3 and a half inches. However, the average height of the French in those days was exactly 5 feet 3 inches, so Napoleon was even slightly taller than the average French citizen. Napoleon's short stature was just British propaganda, presenting him as a little man, always angry because nature had cheated him for his tall stature.

5. No one can say exactly how Napoleon died.


Ever since 1821, the year of Napoleon's death, there have been two different opinions about how exactly he died. Some believe that he was poisoned by Count Montolon, who added arsenic to him. This opinion is supported by the fact that when his body was transported in 1840, it was in surprisingly good condition, and arsenic is one of the well-known preservatives. But after his hair samples were tested for arsenic, the results were extremely inconclusive. There were traces of arsenic in his hair, which was used in the production of rat poison, but St. Helena at that time was suffering from an invasion of rats, and could easily have been poisoned by it. Another opinion refers to the autopsy results, signed by at least seven doctors, which say that Napoleon died of stomach cancer. The history of his family also proves the truth of this theory: Napoleon's grandfather, father, his brother Lucien and his three sisters died of stomach cancer.

4. He managed to write a short romantic story


His story, Clisson and Eugenie, has clear parallels with his real life, when he was romantically involved with a woman named Eugenie Clari, also known as Desiree. In Napoleon's story, a war-weary French revolutionary soldier meets and falls in love with Eugenia in a public bath. After Clisson leaves the service, he and Eugenia marry and become parents. After a while, war comes to their peaceful corner, and Clisson feels obliged to defend his homeland. During one of the battles, Clisson is wounded and he sends his comrade to Eugene with a request to give her a letter. Instead, he seduces her and she stops writing letters to Clisson. Heartbroken Clisson writes a final letter to his unfaithful wife and her new lover, and deliberately goes under enemy fire to finally die. In reality, Desiree has gone much further than her book character. After marrying a former French general who was awarded the title of heir to the Swedish throne, she became Queen of Norway and Sweden.

3. We were able to learn hieroglyphs only because Napoleon passionately wanted to take over Egypt


Napoleon's expedition to Egypt brought scientists a magnificent discovery - the famous Rosetta Stone with three identical texts in different languages. It was he who helped scientists decipher the inscriptions made during the time of Ancient Egypt. Unfortunately for Napoleon, the British recaptured Egypt in 1801. The French General Menou tried to defend his rights to the Rosetta Stone, trying to bring it with him to France. Nevertheless, the stone went to the British, as they were the winning side.

2. He believed that his touch could heal the sick


Once Napoleon visited soldiers suffering from the plague during the siege of a city in Syria to dispel rumors that he allegedly poisoned them (yes, even in those days there were conspiracy theories). Thus, Napoleon ended up in a local hospital in order to kill two birds with one stone: to convince the soldiers of his innocence and to cheer them up, showing that the plague is not so terrible, since he is their commander, he is not afraid to get infected. At the same time, the famous painting was painted, which depicts Napoleon, touching the sick and dying and imitating the gestures of healers.

1. Napoleon loved cats


You've probably heard that Napoleon was mortally afraid of cats. In fact, it was not like that. It was his nephew, Napoleon III, who suffered from ailurophobia, not the great emperor. Our Napoleon was rather superstitious, and, like many Europeans, believed that black cats bring misfortune. Moreover, during his time in exile on St. Helena, Napoleon picked up a kitten, which he named Ben. Ben and Napoleon were inseparable and spent a lot of time together. Thus, one of the greatest conquerors in history was a true cat-lover and romantic writer.

Napoleon Bonaparte is the first French emperor and one of the most talented military leaders ever. He possessed a high intellect, a fantastic memory and was distinguished by an amazing capacity for work.

Napoleon personally developed battle strategies that allowed him to emerge victorious in most battles, both on land and at sea.

As a result, after 2 years of hostilities, the Russian army entered Paris in triumph, and Napoleon abdicated the throne and was exiled to the island of Elba, which is in.

However, less than a year later, he escapes and returns back to Paris.

By then, the French were worried that the Bourbon monarchical dynasty might take power again. That is why they greeted with enthusiasm the return of Emperor Napoleon.

Ultimately, Napoleon was overthrown and taken prisoner by the British. This time he was sent into exile to the island of St. Helena, in which he stayed for about 6 years.

Personal life

From his youth, Napoleon had a keen interest in girls. It is believed that he was small in stature (168 cm), but at that time such growth was considered quite normal.

In addition, he had good posture and strong-willed facial features. Thanks to this, he was very popular among women.

Napoleon's first love was 16-year-old Desiree-Eugenie-Clara. However, their relationship did not turn out to be strong. Once in the capital, the future emperor started many romances with Parisians, who were often older than him.

Napoleon and Josephine

7 years after the French Revolution, Napoleon first met Josephine Beauharnais. A stormy romance ensued between them, and from 1796 they began to live in a civil marriage.

Interestingly, at that time, Josephine already had two children from a previous marriage. In addition, she even spent some time in prison.

The couple had a lot in common. They both grew up in the provinces, faced difficulties in life, and also had prison experience.

When Napoleon participated in various military campaigns, his beloved remained in Paris. Josephine enjoyed life, and he languished with longing and jealousy for her.

The famous commander could hardly be called one-man, and even rather the opposite. His biographers suggest that he had about 40 favorites. From some of them children were born to him.

Having lived with Josephine for about 14 years, Napoleon decides to divorce her. One of the main reasons for the divorce was that the girl could not have children.

An interesting fact is that initially Bonaparte offered his hand and heart to Anna Pavlovna Romanova. He proposed to her through her brother.

However, the Russian emperor made it clear to the Frenchman that he did not want to be related to him. Some historians believe that this episode from the biography of Napoleon influenced further relations between Russia and France.

Soon the commander married the daughter of the Austrian emperor Maria Louise. In 1811 she gave birth to his long-awaited heir.

Another interesting fact is worth paying attention to. Fate developed in such a way that it was Josephine's grandson, and not Bonaparte, who became emperor in the future. His descendants still successfully reign in several European countries.

But the genealogy of Napoleon soon ceased to exist. Bonaparte's son died at a young age without leaving any offspring.

However, the wife, who lived with her father at that time, did not even remember her husband. She not only did not express a desire to see him, but did not even write him a single reply letter.

Death

After the defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, Napoleon lived out his last years on the island of St. Elena. He was in a state of deep depression, and suffered from pain in his right side.

He himself thought he was sick with cancer, from which his father died.

The true cause of his death is still debated. Some believe that he died of cancer, while others are convinced that arsenic poisoning took place.

The latest version is explained by the fact that after the death of the emperor, arsenic was found in his hair.

In his will, Bonaparte asked to bury his remains in France, which was done in 1840. His grave is located in the Parisian House of Invalids on the territory of the cathedral.

Photo of Napoleon

At the end, we suggest looking at the most famous photos of Napoleon. Of course, all portraits of Bonaparte were made by artists, since cameras simply did not exist at that time.

Napoleon and Josephine

If you liked the biography of Napoleon, share it on social networks.

If you generally like the biographies of great people and - subscribe to the site. It's always interesting with us!

Did you like the post? Press any button.