Napoleon I (1769-1821), crowned himself the first emperor of France. He
is considered to be the greatest military genius of his time and one of the greatest general in history.
Napoleon created a vast empire that covered most of western/central Europe.
His character was charismatic and according to some, deeply
contradictory, stemming
from childhood experiences. Napoleon, now as in his own time, is regarded in two
very different lights. Perhaps these quotes by the famous German poet
Goethe and Thomas Jefferson, American President/philosopher/writer/architect can
help demonstrate the vastly different views that have developed regarding
Napoleon.
"Napoleon! Always enlightened by reason, always clear
and decisive... his life was the stride of a demigod from battle to battle and
from victory to victory.. his fate was more brilliant the world has ever seen
or is likely to see after him"
- Goethe
"...a moral monster, against whom every hand should
have been lifted to slay"
- Thomas Jefferson
Biographic Table of
Contents
CHILDHOOD AND EDUCATION
Napoleon Bonaparte (the "little Corsican") was born on Aug. 15, 1769, in Ajaccio, on
the island of Corsica. The year before Napoleon's birth, France had annexed Corsica from the Italian city-state of Genoa. Napoleon
(originally Napoleone) was the fourth child and second son of Carlo and Letizia Ramolino Buonaparte (later
Bonaparte). Carlo Buonaparte was a lawyer and a prominent citizen of
Corsica and fiercely anti-French. Napoleon's mother was strong-willed and
radical in her nature.
In 1779, at the age of 9, Napoleon entered a French military school at
Brienne-le-Chateau, in France where he was teased by the French students. Napoleon was an average student, but he excelled in mathematics. In 1784, he was
admitted to the elitist Ecole Militaire in Paris, from which he graduated a year later.
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IMPORTANT DATES IN NAPOLEON'S
LIFE
1769..... (Aug. 15) Born at Ajaccio, Corsica (then part of
Italy).
1796..... (Mar. 9) Married Josephine de Beauharnais.
1799..... (Nov. 9) Seized power in France.
1804..... (Dec. 2) Crowned himself emperor of the French at Notre Dame in Paris.
1805..... (Dec. 2) Crushed the allied armies at Austerlitz.
1806..... (July 12) Set up the Confederation of the Rhine.
1806..... (Oct. 14) Defeated the Prussians at Jena and Auerstedt.
1807..... (June 14) Overwhelmed the Russians at Friedland.
1809..... (July 5-6) Defeated Austrians at Wagram.
1810..... (Apr. 2) Married Marie Louise of Austria.
1812..... (Sept. 14) Occupied Moscow.
1814..... (Apr. 11) Abdicated.
1814..... (May 4) Exiled to the island of Elba which he had annexed.
1815..... (Mar. 20) Returned to power in France.
1815..... (June 18) Defeated in the Battle of Waterloo.
1815..... (Oct. 16) Exiled to St. Helena.
1821..... (May 5) Died at Longwood on St. Helena.
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