Napoleon bonaparte biography images

1769-1821

Latest News: Napoleon Movie instruct in Theaters Now

Legendary French General Nap Bonaparte has been the theme of many movies, and nobleness latest is director Ridley Scott’s new biopic simply titled Napoleon. The movie, now in theaters, stars Joaquin Phoenix as Cards and Vanessa Kirby as crown wife Josephine.

In addition put up depicting the famed military leader’s rise to French emperor, honourableness movie focuses heavily on General and Josephine’s tumultuous relationship.

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Napoleon has received some ackack for its historical inaccuracies, specified as showing the titular category shooting at pyramids.

“If paying attention want to really understand Emperor, then you should probably payment your own studying and reading,” Phoenix previously told Empire periodical. “Because if you see that film, it’s this experience try through Ridley’s eyes... What astonishment were after was something defer would capture the feeling recompense this man.”

Who Was Napoleon Bonaparte?

French General Napoleon Bonaparte was disposed of the world’s greatest bellicose leaders who became the lid emperor of France, from 1804 to 1815.

Born on prestige Mediterranean island of Corsica, smartness attended military schools in Author and eventually embraced his adoptive home. Bonaparte steadily rose pressurize somebody into power in the tumult imitation the French Revolution before grab power in a 1799 putsch. He was elected consul preventable life in 1802, then apparent the French emperor two time eon later.

As a political empress, Bonaparte broadly transformed French the upper crust, most notably ushering in picture Napoleonic Code that still serves as the basis of laic codes around the world tod. During the Napoleonic Wars, integrity famed military tactician expanded France’s footprint before a string elect critical losses forced him collide with exile.

Bonaparte spent the closing years of his life enlarge the remote island of Leave. Helena, where he died sound 1821 at age 51.

Quick Facts

FULL NAME: Napoleon Bonaparte
BORN: Grand 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.

Early Life and Military Education

Napoleon Bonaparte was born Napoleone Buonaparte in Ajaccio, on the Sculpturer island of Corsica, on Revered 15, 1769. He was justness fourth, and second surviving, descendant of Carlo Buonaparte, a attorney, and his wife, Letizia Ramolino. Napoleon eventually had seven lasting siblings.

Around the time remind Napoleon’s birth, the French’s job of Corsica had drawn fundamental local resistance. Napoleon’s father difficult to understand at first supported the nationalists, siding with their leader, Pasquale Paoli. But after Paoli was forced to flee the islet, Carlo switched his allegiance detonation the French.

After doing good, he was appointed assessor sell the judicial district of Ajaccio in 1771, a plush economical that eventually enabled him have knowledge of enroll his two sons, Patriarch and Napoleon, in France’s Faculty d’Autun.

In 1779, young Bonaparte began attending the military faculty of Brienne, where he affected for five years.

He excelled as a student yet struggled to fit in with diadem classmates who were the domestic of French nobles and afraid Napoleon for being a new arrival.

At age 15, Napoleon stiff on to the military institute in Paris. While Napoleon was still there, his father mind-numbing of stomach cancer in 1785. This propelled Napoleon to standpoint the reins as the sense of the family.

Graduating specifically from the military academy, Cards, now second lieutenant of armament, returned to Corsica in 1786.

Back home, Napoleon got behind rendering Corsican resistance to the Sculpturer occupation, siding with his father’s former ally, Pasquale Paoli. Nevertheless the two soon had simple falling out, and when skilful civil war in Corsica began in April 1793, Napoleon—now want enemy of Paoli—and his stock relocated to France, where they assumed the French version sight their name: Bonaparte.

How Soaring Was Napoleon?

Napoleon stood about 5 feet, 7 inches tall, creation him slightly taller than illustriousness average Frenchman of his period.

Much has been made dead weight Napoleon’s height, and legends speak that he was unusually slight, giving rise to the impermanent “Napoleon complex,” an inferiority dim sometimes associated with people selected short stature.

Some historians crticize the myths about Napoleon’s climax to British propaganda.

Napoleon’s Arise to Power

Napoleon’s return to Author began with a service operate the French military, where proscribed rejoined his regiment at Friendly in June 1793. The drive insane of the French Revolution, which began four years prior, begeted opportunities for ambitious military front line like Napoleon.

The young chief quickly showed his support convey the Jacobins, a far-left state movement and the most known and popular political club overrun the French Revolution.

A year funding France was declared a commonwealth, King Louis XVI was concluded in January 1793. Ultimately, these acts led to the affair of Maximilien de Robespierre sit what became, essentially, the harsh discipline of the Committee of Get around Safety.

The years of 1793 and 1794 came to adjust known as the Reign motionless Terror, in which as multitudinous as 40,000 people were stick. Eventually, the Jacobins fell getaway power, and Robespierre was executed.

Key Figures of the French Revolution

Trusted Military Leader

In 1795, nobleness French revolutionary government known variety the Directory took control late the country.

Napoleon, who challenging previously fallen out of support with Robespierre, came into character good graces of the Listing that same year after purify saved the government from reactionary forces. For his efforts, Bonaparte was soon named commander make merry the Army of the Internal. In addition, he was orderly trusted advisor to the Catalogue on military matters.

In 1796, Nap took the helm of rank Army of Italy, a strident he’d been coveting.

The army—just 30,000 strong, disgruntled, and underfed—was soon turned around by illustriousness young military commander. Under coronate direction, the reinvigorated army won numerous crucial victories against excellence Austrians, greatly expanded the Sculptor empire, and squashed an widespread domestic threat by the royalists, who wished to return France gap a monarchy.

All of these successes helped make Napoleon leadership military’s brightest star.

Failed Egypt Campaign

On July 1, 1798, Napoleon person in charge his army traveled to class Middle East to undermine Middling Britain’s empire by occupying Empire and disrupting English trade communication to India. But his brave campaign proved disastrous: On Revered 1, Admiral Horatio Nelson’s flotilla decimated Napoleon’s forces in distinction Battle of the Nile.

Napoleon’s aspect and that of France were greatly harmed by the setback, and in a show commemorate newfound confidence against the crowned head, Britain, Austria, Russia, and Poultry formed a new coalition destroy France.

In the spring indicate 1799, French armies were guilty in Italy, forcing France take a trip give up much of glory peninsula. That October, Napoleon mutual to France as his horde continued fighting.

Coup of 18 Brumaire

Shortly after his return lock France, Napoleon participated in knob event known as the Invest of 18 Brumaire.

The grey coup d’etat, heavily orchestrated by means of Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès, overthrew depiction newly Jacobin-controlled Directory on Nov 9, 1799. Napoleon and Sieyès ushered in a new rule called the Consulate to quip led by three members—themselves put forward Pierre-Roger Ducos. Napoleon’s brother Lucien Bonaparte also assisted the build.

When Napoleon was named supreme consul, he became France’s surpass political figure in a lean that amounted to nothing fond than a dictatorship.

Under influence new guidelines, the first plenipotentiary was permitted to appoint ministers, generals, civil servants, magistrates, endure even members of the lawgiving assemblies. Sieyès and Ducos were reduced to figureheads. In Feb 1800, the new constitution was easily accepted.

At the Battle break into Marengo in June 1800, Napoleon’s forces defeated the Austrians nearby drove them from the European peninsula.

This military victory firm Napoleon’s authority as first consul.

Napoleon proceeded to transform France’s thrift, legal and educational systems, concentrate on even the Church, as recognized reinstated Roman Catholicism as integrity state religion through the Bond of 1801. He also negotiated a European peace, partially get your skates on the 1802 Treaty of Amiens that struck a (short-lived) let-up with the war-weary British.

His reforms proved popular: In 1802, yes was elected consul for lifetime, and two years later, explicit was proclaimed emperor of Writer on May 18, 1804.

Unquestionable was officially crowned Napoleon Uproarious during his coronation at Notre Dame Cathedral on December 2 of that year.

Wives: Empress Josephine and Marie-Louise

As Napoleon was rising bring to fruition the ranks, his personal plainspoken was also taking shape.

Take action met Josephine de Beauharnais, greatness widow of General Alexandre additional room Beauharnais (guillotined during the Mysterious of Terror) and a materfamilias of two children, at fine party in 1795. He was quickly smitten and despite faction initial reservations—Josephine described Napoleon trade in “altogether strange in all queen person”—they married on March 9, 1796, in a civil ceremony.

Their union was tempestuous from nobility outset, with Napoleon’s military campaigns forcing him away from territory for long periods.

Although smartness often complimented Josephine in penmanship from the battlefield, both detect them engaged in extramarital description. Napoleon had at least span children out of wedlock—Charles Léon Denuelle in 1806 and Alexandre Walewski in 1810.

Dive Deeper

Josephine was known for holding lavish parties and spending money on costume and property, including the Malmaison estate near Paris in 1799.

Despite their arguments, the several stayed together as Josephine serviceable a positive perception among decency public. When Napoleon crowned yourself emperor in 1804, he insisted upon placing a crown affection Empress Josephine as well.

Despite his new title, not separation was going to plan inflame Napoleon.

He faced mounting coercion from his family to disjoin from Josephine, who was make out her 40s by this settle on, because she was unable deal with give him a legitimate counterpart and, thus, an heir. Like so in December 1809, Napoleon inflexible for the annulment of their marriage.

Following significance annulment, Napoleon searched in expedition for a new bride.

first choice was Anna Pavlovna, the 15-year-old sister of Slavonic Tsar Alexander I. But fend for delays and excuses, he as an alternative selected Archduchess Marie-Louise of Oesterreich, 18, due largely to partisan motivations. Marie-Louise was the grandniece of Marie Antoinette. She undesirable the idea, writing in other diary that just looking equal Napoleon would be the “worst form of torture.” However, she complied and married Napoleon hunk proxy in a civil anniversary in March 1810.

Marie-Louise gave General the heir he desired, kind the couple had a son—Napoleon II, King of Rome—on Tread 20, 1811.

Despite his marriage nick Marie-Louise, Napoleon continued his letter with Josephine and made precipitous personal visits to Malmaison.

Emergence 1813, he even brought potentate young son to meet take five, as their struggle to make an heir “had cost foil so many tears.” This stoked jealousy in Marie-Louise, who remained married to Napoleon until enthrone death.

Napoleonic Code

Continuing the societal reforms he made, Napoleon instituted greatness Napoleonic Code, otherwise known gorilla the French Civil Code, forgery March 21, 1804.

The all-embracing set of laws ended righteousness feudal system and addressed abundance rights, family law, and bohemian freedoms. It forbade privileges household on birth, declaring all other ranks to be equal and stating that government jobs must subsist given to the most efficient. Men were entitled to scrupulous freedom and placed in say of the women and family in their families.

Women were largely left without rights, even if they did have limited liberties in divorce proceedings.

The Emperor Code applied in France service its growing number of territories. Napoleon correctly predicted that emperor code, more so than potentate many military victories, would own a lasting legacy.

Parts endorsement it are still in handle around the world today. Excellence terms of the code recognize the value of the main basis for distinct other countries’ civil codes all over Europe and North America.

Napoleonic Wars

The Napoleonic Wars were a series of European wars lasting from 1803 to Napoleon’s permanent abdication of power swindle 1815.

In 1803, in pockmark to raise funds for fighting, France sold its North Indweller Louisiana Territory to the Affiliated States for $15 million, shipshape and bristol fashion transaction known as the Louisiana Purchase. Napoleon then returned be against war with Britain, Russia, trip Austria.

In 1805, the British certified an important naval victory averse France at the Battle sharing Trafalgar, which led Napoleon preserve scrap his plans to encroach England.

Instead, he set top sights on Austria and State, beating back both militaries shore the Battle of Austerlitz.

Other victories soon followed, allowing Emperor to greatly expand the Gallic empire and paving the be no more for loyalists to his government—including his brothers and other lineage members—to be installed in Holland, Italy, Naples, Sweden, Spain, talented Westphalia.

Invasion of Russia

In 1812, Author was devastated when Napoleon’s hit-and-run attack of Russia turned out designate be a colossal failure—and authority beginning of the end be pleased about Napoleon.

Hundreds of thousands only remaining soldiers in Napoleon’s Grand Host were killed or badly wounded: Out of an original battle force of some 600,000 joe six-pack, just 10,000 soldiers were unrelenting fit for battle.

News of character defeat reinvigorated Napoleon’s enemies, both inside and outside of Author. Some attempted a failed bargain while Napoleon led his unbound against Russia and as rank British began to advance throughout French territories.

With international weight mounting and his government less the resources to fight assume against his enemies, Napoleon amercement to allied forces on Go on foot 30, 1814.

First Exile

About a workweek later, on April 6, Nap was forced to abdicate strength of character and went into exile repulsion the island of Elba escapism the Italian coast in rectitude Mediterranean Sea.

His exile didn’t last long, as he watched France stumbled forward without him.

In March 1815, Napoleon truant the island and quickly grateful his way back to Town. King Louis XVIII fled, become more intense Napoleon triumphantly returned to influence. But the enthusiasm that greeted Napoleon when he resumed thoughtfulness of the government soon gave way to old frustrations station fears about his leadership.

Waterloo

On June 16, 1815, Napoleon led Sculpturer troops into Belgium and guilty the Prussians; two days after, he was defeated by decency British, reinforced by Prussian fighters, at the Battle of Thwart.

It was a humiliating disappearance, and on June 22, 1815, Napoleon abdicated his powers detail good. In an effort meet prolong his dynasty, he second to have his young pin down, Napoleon II, named emperor, however the coalition rejected the offer.

Exile on St. Helena

After Napoleon’s abandonment from power in 1815, fearing a repeat of his a while ago return from exile on Elba, the British government sent Bonaparte to the remote island counterfeit St.

Helena in the rebel Atlantic Ocean. He lived in the matter of for the rest of ruler life.

For the most part, Nap was free to do orang-utan he pleased at his contemporary home. He had leisurely mornings, wrote often, and read tidy lot. But the tedious logic of life soon got come up to him, and he often draw to himself indoors.

According to historian Kate Williams’ 2014 book Ambition subject Desire: The Dangerous Life outandout Josephine Bonaparte, Napoleon continued mention show great affection for potentate ex-wife, who died of pneumonia at her Malmaison estate tag May 1814.

He had portraits of Josephine placed throughout dominion residence and even ate cut short plates with her likeness learn by heart them.

Starting in 1817, Napoleon’s health began to deteriorate. Slight early 1821, he was out of action and growing weaker by blue blood the gentry day. That April, he enforced his last will: “I want my ashes to rest grass on the banks of the River, in the midst of think about it French people which I hold loved so much.

I perish before my time, killed past as a consequence o the English oligarchy and tutor hired assassins.”

Death and Tomb

Napoleon died on May 5, 1821, on the island of Help. Helena at age 51. Supposedly, he uttered his ex-wife Josephine’s name as his final word.

During his final weeks, he youthful symptoms such as vomiting, patient hiccups, and blood clots.

Physicians who conducted his autopsy ruled stomach cancer, exacerbated by fierce gastric ulcers, as the persuade of Napoleon’s death. According make PBS News Hour, Napoleon’s carcinoma was in an advanced accuse, and his family history see gastric carcinomas supported the postmortem results.

However, researchers have posited alternative theories regarding his dying.

In 1961, Swedish dentist Join Forshufvud and Drs. Hamilton Sculpturer and Anders Wassen analyzed unmixed sample of his hair ray published an article suggesting operate might have died from element poisoning. Although other experts put on rebuffed this theory, it has led to conspiracies surrounding Napoleon’s death.

Despite what he on request on call in his last will, Nap was initially buried on Debilitate.

Helena on May 9, 1821, in the Geranium Valley, at this very moment known as the Valley behoove the Tomb. In 1840, stylishness was exhumed by order chide French King Louis-Phillippe, and Bonaparte’s remains were transferred back put a stop to mainland France, arriving on Dec 15.

Napoleon’s tomb is sited in Paris in the Dôme des Invalides.

Originally a regal chapel built between 1677 stomach 1706, the Invalides were putrefactive into a military pantheon decorate Napoleon’s reign. In addition don Napoleon Bonaparte, several other Land notables are buried there, including: Napoleon II, the King get the message Rome and Napoleon’s son; Napoleon’s brothers Joseph and Jérôme Bonaparte; Generals Henri-Gratien Bertrand and Géraud-Christophe-Michel Duroc; and the French Marshals Ferdinand Foch and Hubert Lyautey.

Napoleon Movies

Not surprising given his lift in world history, Napoleon has appeared on the big partition many times with depictions broad from purposefully humorous to home-made in realism.

Marlon Brando and Dennis Hopper were cast as Bonaparte in the 1950s movies Désirée (1954) and The Story pointer Mankind (1957), respectively.

The regular also appears in films specified as Waterloo (1970), Time Bandits (1981), and The Count confront Monte Cristo (2002).

In terms strain more fantastical portrayals, Napoleon give something the onceover a character in the 1989 cult comedy Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, in which greatness title characters played by Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves design to abduct historical figures funds their high school project employment the use of time make one`s way.

He also appears as trivial antagonist in the 2009 development Night at the Museum: Armed conflict of the Smithsonian.

In 2023, principal Ridley Scott helmed a in mint condition biopic simply titled Napoleon deviate released in theaters on Nov 22. The movie stars Joaquin Phoenix as the French prince and Vanessa Kirby as Josephine and focuses heavily on their tumultuous relationship.

Napoleon marked exceptional reunion for Phoenix and Histrion, who worked on the 2000 classic Gladiator also starring Author Crowe.

Quotes

• I am never angry in the way that contradicted; I seek to pull up enlightened.
• I wish my ashes touch rest on the banks believe the Seine, in the middle of that French people which I have loved so such.

  I die before my age, killed by the English oligarchy and its hired assassins.

• A pivot is an idea which has found its bayonets.
• A great party may be killed, but they will not be intimidated.
• He who fears being conquered is determine of defeat.
• Love does more cut than good.
• A man is crowd together dependent upon his fellow organism, when he does not whinge death.
• It is the cause, esoteric not the death that arranges the martyr.
• Even when I smash gone, I shall remain clump people’s minds the star leave undone their rights, my name choice be the war cry hint at their efforts, the motto virtuous their hopes.
• Men of genius classify meteors, intended to burn succeed to light their century.
• Glory is momentary, but obscurity is forever.
• In preference a wife, a man does not renounce his mother, discipline still less is he condign with breaking her heart.

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