Napoleon Bonaparte was a French statesman and leader, and he was a critical part of the French Revolution and acted as the Emperor of France for around 11 years total. In history, he is recognized as being one of if not the greatest military leaders known to man. To this day, he is both commemorated and critiqued by people globally.
Image from: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/magazine/2018/01-02/why-napoleon-lost-battle-waterloo/
Youth
Napoleon was born to Carlo Buonaparte and Maria Ramolino in 1769 and had strong Italian roots. He credits his mother for influencing him from birth and continuing to do so until her death. At the age of 9, he went to a religious school and then departed from there to attend the military academy, Brienne-le-Chateau. He was a nationalist and supported Corsican’s separation from France. When he was 15 he transferred schools yet again and completed his education in Paris at the Ecole Militaire. He was the first person of Corsican to graduate from the esteemed school.
Ruler
Napoleon came to power as a dictator by rigging an election with aid from his brother, Lucien. He was officially Coronated in 1804 to be Emperor of the French at the Notre Dame. The reason people chose to vote for him was primarily his strong sense of authority that they believed could prevent total anarchy. From his top generals, he chose eighteen Marshals of the Empire to solidify any tenuous bonds with the military. The Empire began in May of 1804.
Hundred Days
After a treacherous journey, Napoleon came back to France after facing much adversity; he approached a regiment and taunted them to kill him. However, the group did not kill him and instead chanted “Vive L’Empereur” meaning long live the Emperor. He eventually arrived in Paris and lead the region for a period known as the Hundred Days. After fighting the Prussian and British armies he returned to Paris, only to find that the people had turned on him. This caused him to abdicate from his position and pass it down to his son. This ended his Hundred Days back as the leader of France.
Exile
Napoleon was exiled to the island named Saint Helena on the west coast of Africa, and the British left a group of soldiers on an island that separated Saint Helena from Europe, trying to prevent his return. The conditions in the home he moved into were unlike anything he had ever witnessed, he would often complain that there were poor provisions and that the floors were constantly cold and/or wet. No escape attempts by Napoleon were ever recorded, however, there are many rumors that he did manage to escape. A famous poet, Lord Byron believed that Napoleon was a true hero and that he was a remarkable example of a Romantic hero.
Death
On May 5, 1821, Napoleon Bonaparte was officially declared dead. He died at the age of 51, but the causes for his death are on the ongoing debate, it is the general belief that he died of some form of stomach cancer. It is a conspiracy that he was poisoned to death by Arsenic. Although his wish was to be buried in the River Seine in Paris, the British decided to bury him in Saint Helena. However, in the year 1840, Louis Philippe was granted permission to move his remains to his home, France. His funeral was held from the Arc de Triomphe (which he never saw complete) and went all the way to the Esplanade des Invalides.
Written by Orange Juice Stan
The Anonymous Helpers (TAH)
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