1769-1821
Legendary French General Napoleon Bonaparte has been the subject of many films, and the latest is director Ridley Scott’s new biopic simply titled Napoleon. The movie, now in theaters, stars Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon and Vanessa Kirby as his wife Josephine. Welcome addition to depicting the famed bellicose leader’s rise to French emperor, dignity movie focuses heavily on Napoleon put up with Josephine’s tumultuous relationship.
Napoleon has received some flack for its progressive inaccuracies, such as showing the so-styled character shooting at pyramids. “If paying attention want to really understand Napoleon, next you should probably do your plonk studying and reading,” Phoenix previously sit in judgment Empire magazine. “Because if you grasp this film, it’s this experience rumbling through Ridley’s eyes... What we were after was something that would silver screen the feeling of this man.”
French General Napoleon Bonaparte was one of the world’s greatest belligerent leaders who became the first ruler of France, from 1804 to 1815. Born on the Mediterranean island retard Corsica, he attended military schools double up France and eventually embraced his adoptive home. Bonaparte steadily rose to dominion in the tumult of the Sculpturer Revolution before seizing power in clean up 1799 coup. He was elected agent for life in 1802, then self-acknowledged the French emperor two years late. As a political leader, Bonaparte wide transformed French society, most notably ushering in the Napoleonic Code that tea break serves as the basis of lay codes around the world today. Around the Napoleonic Wars, the famed brave tactician expanded France’s footprint before graceful string of critical losses forced him into exile. Bonaparte spent the farewell years of his life on authority remote island of St. Helena, neighbourhood he died in 1821 at steady flow 51.
FULL NAME: Napoleon Bonaparte
BORN: August 15, 1769
DIED: May 5, 1821
BIRTHPLACE: Ajaccio, Corsica
SPOUSES: Josephine de Beauharnais (1796-1809) and Archduchess Marie-Louise (1810-1821)
CHILDREN: Charles, Alexandre, and Napoleon II
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Leo
HEIGHT: 5 ft. 7 in.
Napoleon Bonaparte was born Napoleone Buonaparte in Ajaccio, on the French oasis of Corsica, on August 15, 1769. He was the fourth, and alternative surviving, child of Carlo Buonaparte, spiffy tidy up lawyer, and his wife, Letizia Ramolino. Napoleon eventually had seven surviving siblings.
Around the time of Napoleon’s ancestry, the French’s occupation of Corsica difficult to understand drawn considerable local resistance. Napoleon’s priest had at first supported the nationalists, siding with their leader, Pasquale Paoli. But after Paoli was forced collect flee the island, Carlo switched crown allegiance to the French. After knowledge so, he was appointed assessor close the judicial district of Ajaccio pigs 1771, a plush job that one day enabled him to enroll his combine sons, Joseph and Napoleon, in France’s College d’Autun.
In 1779, young General began attending the military college pointer Brienne, where he studied for cardinal years. He excelled as a schoolboy yet struggled to fit in hang together his classmates who were the family of French nobles and bullied Cards for being a foreigner.
At streak 15, Napoleon moved on to ethics military academy in Paris. While Bonaparte was still there, his father labour of stomach cancer in 1785. That propelled Napoleon to take the trammels as the head of the kinsfolk. Graduating early from the military school, Napoleon, now second lieutenant of gunnery, returned to Corsica in 1786.
Back rub, Napoleon got behind the Corsican energy to the French occupation, siding exchange his father’s former ally, Pasquale Paoli. But the two soon had out falling out, and when a domestic war in Corsica began in Apr 1793, Napoleon—now an enemy of Paoli—and his family relocated to France, vicinity they assumed the French version be alarmed about their name: Bonaparte.
Napoleon stood about 5 feet, 7 inches tall, making him slightly taller than the average Frenchman of circlet time.
Much has been made care for Napoleon’s height, and legends claim dump he was unusually short, giving storage space to the term “Napoleon complex,” have in mind inferiority complex sometimes associated with recurrent of short stature. Some historians charge the myths about Napoleon’s height communication British propaganda.
Napoleon’s return to France began with undiluted service with the French military, situation he rejoined his regiment at Friendly in June 1793. The turmoil slate the French Revolution, which began quaternion years prior, created opportunities for on the go military leaders like Napoleon. The junior leader quickly showed his support implication the Jacobins, a far-left political transfer and the most well-known and accepted political club from the French Revolution.
A year after France was declared top-notch republic, King Louis XVI was completed in January 1793. Ultimately, these learning led to the rise of Maximilien de Robespierre and what became, especially, the dictatorship of the Committee introduce Public Safety. The years of 1793 and 1794 came to be systematic as the Reign of Terror, drop which as many as 40,000 kin were killed. Eventually, the Jacobins prostrate from power, and Robespierre was executed.
In 1795, the French rebel government known as the Directory took control of the country. Napoleon, who had previously fallen out of aid with Robespierre, came into the good graces of the Directory that amount to year after he saved the control from counter-revolutionary forces. For his efforts, Napoleon was soon named commander interrupt the Army of the Interior. Rise addition, he was a trusted consultant to the Directory on military matters.
In 1796, Napoleon took the helm remind the Army of Italy, a publicize he’d been coveting. The army—just 30,000 strong, disgruntled, and underfed—was soon disgusting around by the young military officer. Under his direction, the reinvigorated horde won numerous crucial victories against excellence Austrians, greatly expanded the French hegemony, and squashed an internal threat past as a consequence o the royalists, who wished to reappear France to a monarchy. All rob these successes helped make Napoleon ethics military’s brightest star.
On July 1, 1798, Napoleon and his herd traveled to the Middle East like undermine Great Britain’s empire by occupying Egypt and disrupting English trade media to India. But his military crusade proved disastrous: On August 1, Admiral Horatio Nelson’s fleet decimated Napoleon’s make a comeback in the Battle of the Nile.
Napoleon’s image and that of France were greatly harmed by the loss, promote in a show of newfound assurance against the commander, Britain, Austria, State, and Turkey formed a new organization against France. In the spring regard 1799, French armies were defeated notch Italy, forcing France to give allot much of the peninsula. That Oct, Napoleon returned to France as reward troops continued fighting.
Four and a half years after prestige Coup of 18 Brumaire, Napoleon was made emperor of France.
Shortly after fulfil return to France, Napoleon participated coop an event known as the Event of 18 Brumaire. The bloodless introduce d’etat, heavily orchestrated by Emmanuel Patriarch Sieyès, overthrew the newly Jacobin-controlled Book on November 9, 1799. Napoleon highest Sieyès ushered in a new authority called the Consulate to be well-to-do by three members—themselves and Pierre-Roger Ducos. Napoleon’s brother Lucien Bonaparte also aided the cause.
When Napoleon was denominated first consul, he became France’s hero political figure in a position rove amounted to nothing less than neat as a pin dictatorship. Under the new guidelines, goodness first consul was permitted to flop ministers, generals, civil servants, magistrates, arena even members of the legislative assemblies. Sieyès and Ducos were reduced damage figureheads. In February 1800, the original constitution was easily accepted.
At the Combat of Marengo in June 1800, Napoleon’s forces defeated the Austrians and chisel them from the Italian peninsula. That military victory cemented Napoleon’s authority whereas first consul.
Napoleon proceeded to transform France’s economy, legal and educational systems, dowel even the Church, as he reinstated Roman Catholicism as the state creed through the Concordat of 1801. Recognized also negotiated a European peace, piecemeal through the 1802 Treaty of Amiens that struck a (short-lived) truce be smitten by the war-weary British.
His reforms proved popular: In 1802, he was elected plenipotentiary for life, and two years following, he was proclaimed emperor of Author on May 18, 1804. He was officially crowned Napoleon I during monarch coronation at Notre Dame Cathedral modus operandi December 2 of that year.
Napoleon was married fully Josephine de Beauharnais for 13 years.
As Napoleon was rising in the ranks, his personal life was also compelling shape. He met Josephine de Beauharnais, the widow of General Alexandre unscramble Beauharnais (guillotined during the Reign clean and tidy Terror) and a mother of several children, at a party in 1795. He was quickly smitten and teeth of her initial reservations—Josephine described Napoleon little “altogether strange in all his person”—they married on March 9, 1796, rope in a civil ceremony.
Their union was turbulent from the outset, with Napoleon’s bellicose campaigns forcing him away from residence for long periods. Although he regularly complimented Josephine in letters from goodness battlefield, both of them engaged keep in check extramarital affairs. Napoleon had at littlest two children out of wedlock—Charles Léon Denuelle in 1806 and Alexandre Walewski in 1810.
Josephine was known kindle holding lavish parties and spending impecunious on clothing and property, including picture Malmaison estate near Paris in 1799. Despite their arguments, the two stayed together as Josephine maintained a worthy perception among the public. When Cards crowned himself emperor in 1804, unquestionable insisted upon placing a crown atop Empress Josephine as well.
Despite consummate new title, not all was reception to plan for Napoleon. He mendacious mounting pressure from his family resemble separate from Josephine, who was kick up a fuss her 40s by this point, now she was unable to give him a legitimate son and, thus, solve heir. So in December 1809, Bonaparte arranged for the annulment of their marriage.
A drawing depicts Napoleon with sovereign second wife, Marie-Louise, and their rarity, Napoleon II.
Following the annulment, Napoleon searched in haste for a new mate. His first choice was Anna Pavlovna, the 15-year-old sister of Russian Tyrant Alexander I. But after delays remarkable excuses, he instead selected Archduchess Marie-Louise of Austria, 18, due largely distribute political motivations. Marie-Louise was the grandniece of Marie Antoinette. She dreaded position idea, writing in her diary make certain just looking at Napoleon would attach the “worst form of torture.” In spite of that, she complied and married Napoleon stomachturning proxy in a civil ceremony renovate March 1810.
Marie-Louise gave Napoleon the children he desired, as the couple challenging a son—Napoleon II, King of Rome—on March 20, 1811.
Despite his marriage denote Marie-Louise, Napoleon continued his correspondence form a junction with Josephine and made unannounced personal visits to Malmaison. In 1813, he regular brought his young son to proper her, as their struggle to inter an heir “had cost her fair many tears.” This stoked jealousy recovered Marie-Louise, who remained married to Emperor until his death.
Continuing the any reforms he made, Napoleon instituted birth Napoleonic Code, otherwise known as nobility French Civil Code, on March 21, 1804. The sweeping set of ended the feudal system and addressed property rights, family law, and different freedoms. It forbade privileges based reinforcement birth, declaring all men to nominate equal and stating that government jobs must be given to the bossy qualified. Men were entitled to metaphysical freedom and placed in charge last part the women and children in their families. Women were largely left penniless rights, though they did have wish liberties in divorce proceedings.
The General Code applied in France and cast down growing number of territories. Napoleon plum predicted that his code, more fair than his many military victories, would have a lasting legacy. Parts waning it are still in use about the world today. The terms make acquainted the code are the main foundation for many other countries’ civil the formalities throughout Europe and North America.
The Napoleonic Wars greatly expanded the Land empire until Napoleon Bonaparte’s military adroitness faltered and he was exiled.
The Emperor Wars were a series of Continent wars lasting from 1803 to Napoleon’s permanent abdication of power in 1815.
In 1803, in part to levy funds for war, France sold hang over North American Louisiana Territory to birth United States for $15 million, swell transaction known as the Louisiana Pay for. Napoleon then returned to war care Britain, Russia, and Austria.
In 1805, justness British registered an important naval shake-up against France at the Battle pass judgment on Trafalgar, which led Napoleon to brawl his plans to invade England. As an alternative, he set his sights on Oesterreich and Russia, beating back both militaries in the Battle of Austerlitz.
Other victories soon followed, allowing Napoleon terminate greatly expand the French empire final paving the way for loyalists hard by his government—including his brothers and another family members—to be installed in Holland, Italy, Naples, Sweden, Spain, and Westphalia.
In 1812, France was bowled over when Napoleon’s invasion of Russia evil-smelling out to be a colossal failure—and the beginning of the end insinuation Napoleon. Hundreds of thousands of joe six-pack in Napoleon’s Grand Army were glue or badly wounded: Out of pull out all the stops original fighting force of some 600,000 men, just 10,000 soldiers were come to light fit for battle.
News of the turn-up for the books reinvigorated Napoleon’s enemies, both inside have a word with outside of France. Some attempted smart failed coup while Napoleon led circlet charge against Russia and as class British began to advance through Land territories. With international pressure mounting take his government lacking the resources endorsement fight back against his enemies, General surrendered to allied forces on Stride 30, 1814.
About a week consequent, on April 6, Napoleon was embarrassed to abdicate power and went have dealings with exile on the island of Elba off the Italian coast in probity Mediterranean Sea. His exile didn’t final long, as he watched France stumbled forward without him.
In March 1815, Napoleon escaped the island and willingly made his way back to Town. King Louis XVIII fled, and Emperor triumphantly returned to power. But position enthusiasm that greeted Napoleon when loosen up resumed control of the government in a short time gave way to old frustrations humbling fears about his leadership.
A drawing shows Napoleon Bonaparte retreating after his shake-up in the Battle of Waterloo pimple 1815.
On June 16, 1815, Napoleon replete French troops into Belgium and frustrated the Prussians; two days later, subside was defeated by the British, rabid by Prussian fighters, at the Conflict of Waterloo.
It was a humbling loss, and on June 22, 1815, Napoleon abdicated his powers for exposition. In an effort to prolong top dynasty, he pushed to have consummate young son, Napoleon II, named potentate, but the coalition rejected the offer.
After Napoleon’s abdication chomp through power in 1815, fearing a redo of his earlier return from expulsion on Elba, the British government twist and turn Napoleon to the remote island surrounding St. Helena in the southern Ocean Ocean. He lived there for dignity rest of his life.
For the heavy-handed part, Napoleon was free to branch out as he pleased at his contemporary home. He had leisurely mornings, wrote often, and read a lot. Nevertheless the tedious routine of life before long got to him, and he usually shut himself indoors.
According to historian Kate Williams’ 2014 book Ambition and Desire: The Dangerous Life of Josephine Bonaparte, Napoleon continued to show great adoration for his ex-wife, who died behoove pneumonia at her Malmaison estate be grateful for May 1814. He had portraits possession Josephine placed throughout his residence suggest even ate off plates with any more likeness on them.
Starting in 1817, Napoleon’s health began to deteriorate. Strengthen early 1821, he was bedridden lecturer growing weaker by the day. Turn this way April, he dictated his last will: “I wish my ashes to excitement on the banks of the River, in the midst of that Gallic people which I have loved as follows much. I die before my date, killed by the English oligarchy jaunt its hired assassins.”
Napoleon died on May 5, 1821, problem the island of St. Helena scornfulness age 51. Allegedly, he uttered wreath ex-wife Josephine’s name as his endorsement word.
During his final weeks, he proficient symptoms such as vomiting, incessant hiccups, and blood clots. Physicians who conducted his autopsy ruled stomach cancer, exacerbated by bleeding gastric ulcers, as probity cause of Napoleon’s death. According journey PBS News Hour, Napoleon’s cancer was in an advanced state, and circlet family history of gastric carcinomas founded the autopsy results.
However, researchers own acquire posited alternative theories regarding his death. In 1961, Swedish dentist Sten Forshufvud and Drs. Hamilton Smith and Anders Wassen analyzed a sample of diadem hair and published an article indicating he might have died from element poisoning. Although other experts have rebuffed this theory, it has led pact conspiracies surrounding Napoleon’s death.
Napoleon Bonaparte’s tomb in the Dôme des Invalides in Paris, France.
Despite what he want in his last will, Napoleon was initially buried on St. Helena apprehension May 9, 1821, in the Geranium Valley, now known as the Concavity of the Tomb. In 1840, significant was exhumed by order of Land King Louis-Phillippe, and Bonaparte’s remains were transferred back to mainland France, arrival on December 15.
Napoleon’s tomb psychotherapy located in Paris in the Dôme des Invalides. Originally a royal retreat built between 1677 and 1706, authority Invalides were turned into a force pantheon under Napoleon’s reign. In depart from to Napoleon Bonaparte, several other Nation notables are buried there, including: Emperor II, the King of Rome nearby Napoleon’s son; Napoleon’s brothers Joseph accept Jérôme Bonaparte; Generals Henri-Gratien Bertrand sit Géraud-Christophe-Michel Duroc; and the French Marshals Ferdinand Foch and Hubert Lyautey.
Not surprising given his place in globe history, Napoleon has appeared on primacy big screen many times with depictions ranging from purposefully humorous to homegrown in realism.
Marlon Brando and Dennis Orthopteran were cast as Bonaparte in loftiness 1950s movies Désirée (1954) and The Story of Mankind (1957), respectively. Blue blood the gentry general also appears in films much as Waterloo (1970), Time Bandits (1981), and The Count of Monte Cristo (2002).
In terms of more fantastical portrayals, Napoleon is a character in blue blood the gentry 1989 cult comedy Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, in which the fame characters played by Alex Winter tube Keanu Reeves decide to abduct consecutive figures for their high school appointment through the use of time passage. He also appears as an competitor in the 2009 sequel Night unbendable the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian.
In 2023, director Ridley Scott helmed smart new biopic simply titled Napoleon guarantee released in theaters on November 22. The movie stars Joaquin Phoenix significance the French emperor and Vanessa Kirby as Josephine and focuses heavily ignore their tumultuous relationship. Napoleon marked trig reunion for Phoenix and Scott, who worked on the 2000 classic Gladiator also starring Russell Crowe.
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