Emperor of the French, one of the greatest commanders in world history, Napoleon Bonaparte was born on August 15, 1769 on the island of Corsica, in the city of Ajaccio. He was the second son of the poor nobleman lawyer Carlo di Buonaparte and his wife Letizia, née Ramolino. After home schooling in sacred history and literacy, in the sixth year Napoleon Bonaparte entered a private school, and in 1779, at the royal expense, to a military school in Brienne. From there in 1784 he was sent to Paris, a military school that bore the name of the academy, and in the fall of 1785 he was promoted to second lieutenant in an artillery regiment stationed in Valence.
Extremely strapped for money, young Bonaparte led a very modest, secluded life here, interested only in literature and the study of works on military affairs. While in Corsica in 1788, Napoleon developed fortification projects for the defense of St. Florent, Lamortila and the Gulf of Ajaccio, compiled a report on the organization of the Corsican militia and a note on the strategic importance of the Madeleine Islands; but he considered only literary pursuits to be his serious work, hoping to gain fame and money through them. Napoleon Bonaparte voraciously read books on history, about the East, about England and Germany, was interested in the size of state revenues, the organization of institutions, the philosophy of legislation, and thoroughly absorbed the ideas of Jean-Jacques Rousseau and the then fashionable Abbot Raynal. Napoleon himself wrote the history of Corsica, the stories “The Earl of Essex”, “The Prophet in Disguise”, “A Discourse on Love”, “Reflections on the Natural State of Man” and kept a diary. Almost all of these works of the young Bonaparte (except for the pamphlet “Letter to Buttafuaco,” the representative of Corsica at Versailles) remained in manuscripts. All these works are full of hatred for France, as the enslaver of Corsica, and fiery love for the homeland and its heroes. Napoleon's papers of that time contain many notes of political content, imbued with a revolutionary spirit.
Napoleon during the French Revolution
In 1786, Napoleon Bonaparte was promoted to lieutenant, and in 1791 to staff captain, with a transfer to the 4th artillery regiment. In France, meanwhile, the Great Revolution began (1789). While in Corsica in 1792, during the formation of the revolutionary national guard there, Napoleon enlisted in it as an adjutant with the rank of captain, and was then selected for the post of junior staff officer in the battalion with the rank of lieutenant colonel. Having given himself up to the struggle of parties in Corsica, he finally broke up with the Corsican patriot Paoli, who did not sympathize with the new republican power in France. Suspecting Paoli of wanting to seek support from the British, Bonaparte made an attempt to take possession of the citadel in Ajaccio, but the enterprise failed, and Napoleon left for Paris, where he witnessed the rampages mob that broke into the royal palace (June 1792). Returning again to Corsica, Napoleon Bonaparte again took up the post of lieutenant colonel of the national guard and in 1793 took part in an unsuccessful expedition to Sardinia. Together with Salicetti, deputy from Corsica in the National Assembly. Napoleon again tried to capture the citadel of Ajaccio, but was unsuccessful, and then the popular assembly in Ajaccio declared the Bonaparte family traitors to the fatherland. His family fled to Toulon, and Napoleon himself reported for service in Nice, where he was assigned to coastal batteries, without being punished for misconduct (failure to show up for service on time, participation in Corsican events, etc.), because they needed officers .
This ended Napoleon's period of Corsican patriotism. Looking for an outlet for his ambition, he planned to go to the service of England, Turkey or Russia, but all his plans in this regard failed. Appointed commander of a light battery, Bonaparte took part in suppressing the uprising in Provence, and in the ensuing battle with the rebels his battery rendered great services. This first combat experience made a deep impression on Napoleon. Taking advantage of his leisure time, he wrote a political pamphlet, “Dinner at Beaucaire,” which contained an apology for the revolutionary policies of the convention and the Jacobins, who had just won a victory over the Girondins. He talentedly expressed political views and revealed a remarkable understanding of military affairs. The commissioners of the Convention who were with the army approved “Dinner at Beaucaire” and printed it at public expense. This cemented Napoleon Bonaparte's connection with the Jacobin revolutionaries.
Seeing the favor of the convention towards Napoleon, his friends persuaded him to remain in the detachment under siege of Toulon, which was handed over to the British after the defeat of the Girondins by the Convention, and when the chief of the siege artillery, General Dammartin, was wounded, Napoleon, appointed in his place, turned out to be extremely useful. At the military council, he eloquently outlined his plan for the capture of Toulon, proposing to position the artillery in such a way as to cut off the communication of the city with the roadstead where the English fleet was stationed. Toulon was taken, and Bonaparte was promoted to the rank of brigadier general.
Napoleon Bonaparte during the siege of Toulon
In December 1793, Napoleon secured the position of inspector of coastal fortifications and masterfully drew up a project for the defense of the coast from Toulon to Menton, and on February 6, 1794 he was appointed chief of artillery of the Italian army. Napoleon did not limit himself to this role. Having subordinated the commissioners of the convention under the army to his influence, he, developing plans of action, was, in essence, the leader of the entire campaign. The campaign of 1794 ended quite successfully. It was necessary to expand military operations in Italy, for which Bonaparte outlined a plan approved by Robespierre. The plan already outlined the essence of all future Napoleonic military tactics: “In war, as in the siege of a fortress, you must direct all your forces to one point. Once a breach is made, the enemy's balance is upset, all his defensive preparations at other points turn out to be useless - and the fortress is taken. Do not scatter your forces with the intention of hiding the point of attack, but try in every possible way to ensure yourself numerical superiority at it.”
Since in executing this plan it was necessary to take into account the neutrality of the Genoese Republic, Napoleon was sent there as ambassador. In a week he achieved everything he considered desirable, and at the same time carried out extensive military reconnaissance. Napoleon was already dreaming of being the executor of his plan, perhaps the commander-in-chief, when suddenly the events of 9 Thermidor occurred. Robespierre fell to the guillotine, and Napoleon Bonaparte also faced the guillotine on charges of secret and illegal relations with Robespierre. He was imprisoned in Fort Carré (near Antibes), and this saved him: thanks to the efforts of his friends, Bonaparte was released after 13 days and after some time was appointed to the Western Army, which was pacifying Vendeans, with transfer to infantry. Not wanting to go to the Vendée, Napoleon came to Paris to wait for an opportunity amid revolutionary changes, and on September 15, 1795, he was struck off the list of active service generals for his unwillingness to go to his destination.
Napoleon and the revolt of the 13th Vendémière 1795
At this time, an uprising of the bourgeoisie and royalists was being prepared in Paris, which was to serve as the beginning of a similar uprising throughout France. The convention was preparing for a fight and needed a general they could rely on. Convention Member Barras, who was near Toulon and in the Italian army, pointed to Napoleon, and the latter was appointed assistant to Barras, as commander-in-chief of the internal army. Bonaparte masterfully organized the defense on both banks of the Seine, occupied the most important places, and especially skillfully positioned artillery in the narrow streets. When is October 5 ( 13 Vendemier 1795) the battle began, Napoleon appeared on horseback at the most important places and at the right moment: his artillery perfectly fulfilled its role, showering the national guard and crowds of people armed only with guns with grapeshot. The government's victory was complete. Napoleon Bonaparte was promoted to division general, and since Barras resigned the next day, Bonaparte remained commander-in-chief of the internal army. He gave it a solid organization, appointed a special detachment to protect legislative assemblies, established order in Paris and acted as the patron of all who were in disgrace.
Italian campaign of Napoleon 1796-1797
Napoleon's popularity was then extraordinary: he was considered the savior of Paris and the fatherland and they foresaw a new major political force in him. Barras, wanting to remove Napoleon from Paris as a dangerous ambitious man, offered him the post of commander-in-chief of the Italian army, especially since the plan for the war in Italy was drawn up by Bonaparte himself. On March 2, 1796, this appointment of Napoleon took place, on the 9th - his marriage with Josephine Beauharnais, and on the 12th he left for Italian campaign.
The old generals in the army were dissatisfied with Napoleon's appointment, but soon had to recognize the superiority of his genius. The Austrians deeply despised “the boy and his flock of sheep”; however, Bonaparte quickly gave them a high example of the new military art, which began a new era of it. After Battle of Lodi, where Napoleon showed amazing personal courage, his fame reached extraordinary heights. The soldiers who adored Napoleon gave him the nickname “little corporal,” which remained with him in the ranks of the army. Bonaparte showed incorruptibility and selflessness, led the simplest life, wore a very worn uniform and remained poor.
Napoleon on the Arcole Bridge. Painting by A.-J. Grosa, approx. 1801
Life Napoleon Bonaparte was full of brilliant victories that will forever go down in the history of France. There were fewer bitter failures, but they also became legendary.
However, the last years of the life of the French emperor turned out to be much less bright. Napoleon spent them on a tiny piece of land in the Atlantic as a prisoner, limited in communication with the outside world. Napoleon's last secret was the question of the reasons for his death, which occurred at a far from advanced age - the emperor was only 51 years old.
On June 18, 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo. He was well aware that this military failure not only put an end to the attempt to restore the empire, which went down in history under the name “Hundred Days,” but also his political career as a whole.
Napoleon abdicated the throne for the second time, and on July 15, 1815, surrendered to the British on board the battleship Bellerophon.
This time, there could be no talk about any island of Elba - the British hoped to send Napoleon as far as possible from Europe, once and for all isolating him from his faithful like-minded people.
Napoleon Bonaparte after his abdication at the Palace of Fontainebleau. Delaroche (1845) Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org
The island of Saint Helena in the Atlantic Ocean was named as the emperor's place of residence. Located 1,800 km west of Africa, the island was a strategic point for ships on their way to the Indian Ocean before the construction of the Suez Canal. Its area is 122 square kilometers.
Having learned where the British would send him, Napoleon exclaimed: “This is worse than Tamerlane’s iron cage! I would prefer to be handed over to the Bourbons... I have surrendered myself to the protection of your laws. The government is trampling on the sacred customs of hospitality... This is tantamount to signing a death warrant.”
High security prisoner
Napoleon's retinue, which was allowed to stay with the emperor, amounted to 27 people. On August 9, 1815, on board the ship Northumberland, led by the British Admiral George Elphinstone Keith Napoleon leaves Europe forever. Nine escort ships carrying the 3,000 soldiers that would guard Napoleon at Saint Helena accompanied his ship. On October 17, 1815, Napoleon arrived in Jamestown, the only port of St. Helena.
For his stay, he was given the former summer residence of the English governor - Longwood House, located on a mountain plateau 8 kilometers from Jamestown. The house and the area adjacent to it were surrounded by a six-kilometer-long stone wall. Sentinels were placed around the wall so that they could see each other. Sentinels were stationed on the tops of the surrounding hills, reporting all of Napoleon's actions with signal flags.
Exiled to St. Helena, Napoleon lived there on the Longwood estate. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org / Isaac Newton
The life of the former emperor was under the strictest control: he was obliged to appear before the commissioners twice a day so that they could make sure that Napoleon was alive and on the island. His correspondence was carefully checked, and any requests, even the most insignificant, were agreed upon with the governor of the island.
During the first years of his life on the island, Napoleon, in spite of everything, was cheerful and energetic, hoping that the balance of power in Europe would change in his favor.
Napoleon believed he was dying from an illness inherited from his father
But expectations were not met, and the former emperor himself had serious health problems.
He gradually began to gain weight, weakness, heaviness in the stomach, and shortness of breath appeared. Soon headaches began, which after a short time did not go away and accompanied Napoleon until his death.
By the end of 1819, the emperor’s condition was already very serious - his complexion became gray, his eyes dimmed, and his interest in life disappeared. He was often tormented by diarrhea, abdominal pain, causeless thirst, and his legs were swollen. After eating, he experienced bouts of vomiting, and sometimes he even lost consciousness.
Napoleon's attending physician François Carlo Antommarchi believed that his patient was suffering from hepatitis. The emperor himself believed that we were talking about cancer - he died from this disease Napoleon's father Carlo Buonaparte, who was not even 40 years old.
In March 1821, Napoleon practically stopped getting out of bed. By his order, a bust of his son was placed in front of him, which he looked at for hours. On April 13, 1821, the deposed emperor, believing that his days were numbered, began writing his will, which, given his condition, took several days.
On May 1, Napoleon felt some improvement and even tried to get out of bed, but he again felt ill.
On the night of May 4-5, Bonaparte was in a semi-conscious state. Those close to him gathered at his bedside - all the signs said that there were only a few hours left before the end.
Napoleon Bonaparte died on May 5, 1821 at 17:49, at the age of 51. His original burial site was the "Geranium Valley" on St. Helena.
Napoleon on his deathbed. Vernet (1826) Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org
Arsenic in hair: poisoning or side effect of treatment?
At first, doctors who were trying to find out the causes of the emperor’s death argued whether stomach cancer was to blame, as Napoleon himself believed during his lifetime and as English doctors were inclined to believe, or whether it was hepatitis, as François Antommarqui insisted.
The version of poisoning was widespread among Bonaparte's supporters, but for a long time it did not have any factual basis.
In 1955 the Swedish toxicologist Stan Forshwood accidentally read the memoirs Louis Marchand, bodyguard and servant of the Emperor of France. A toxicologist found 22 symptoms of Napoleon's arsenic poisoning in his memoirs.
In 1960, English scientists analyzed the chemical composition of Napoleon's hair using a neutron activation method from a strand cut from the emperor's head the day after his death. The concentration of arsenic in them was significantly higher than normal.
Another series of experiments conducted with Napoleon's hair allowed scientists to conclude that during the 4 months of the last year before his death, Napoleon received high doses of arsenic, and the time interval of maximum arsenic accumulation coincided with one of the periods of sharp deterioration in Napoleon's health.Critics of the poisoning theory object that the amount of hair that was used in the analyzes is not enough for final conclusions. In addition, in the first half of the 19th century, arsenic was part of many medical preparations, and its presence in Napoleon’s body does not indicate intentional poisoning.
Napoleon on the island of St. Helena. Sandmann (19th century) Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org
Femininity as a deadly disease
According to another widespread version, which arose at the end of the 20th century, Napoleon fell victim not to a conspiracy, but to improper treatment. The potent drugs that were prescribed to the emperor caused a deficiency of potassium in the patient’s body, and this, in turn, led to heart disease.
But the most original theory was put forward by the American endocrinologist Robert Greenblatt, who stated that the emperor died not from cancer or poisoning, but from a hormonal disease that gradually turned him into a woman. Various symptoms that appeared in Napoleon 12 years before his death indicate that he was susceptible to the so-called “Zollinger-Ellison disease,” which caused a disorder of the hormonal system.
To prove his rightness, the endocrinologist cites a number of situations that arose with Napoleon long before his last exile - swollen legs before the Battle of Borodino, severe stomach pain in Dresden, fatigue and neuralgia in Leipzig, and so on.
None of the theories widespread today about the causes of Napoleon's death has irrefutable evidence in its favor. Perhaps this dispute will never be settled.
In 1840, Napoleon's remains were transported from Saint Helena to France and buried in the Invalides in Paris. Thus, the will of the emperor, as set out in his will, was fulfilled - Napoleon Bonaparte wanted to find his final refuge in France.
Napoleon Bonaparte is the first French emperor and one of the most talented commanders of all time. He had high intelligence, a fantastic memory and was distinguished by an amazing capacity for work.
Napoleon personally developed combat 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 in the Mediterranean Sea.
Moscow fire However, less than a year later he escapes and returns back to Paris.
By this time, the French were concerned that the monarchical Bourbon dynasty might once again take power. That is why they enthusiastically greeted the return of Emperor Napoleon.
Ultimately, Napoleon was overthrown and captured by the British. This time he was sent into exile on the island of St. Helena, in which he remained for about 6 years.
Personal life
From his youth, Napoleon had an increased interest in girls. It is generally accepted that he was short (168 cm), but at that time such height 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 Eugenia Clara. However, their relationship did not turn out to be strong. Once in the capital, the future emperor began many affairs with Parisian women, who were often older than him.
Napoleon and Josephine
7 years after the French Revolution, Napoleon first met Josephine Beauharnais. A whirlwind romance began between them, and in 1796 they began to live in a civil marriage.
It is interesting that 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.
Napoleon and Josephine When Napoleon participated in various military campaigns, his beloved remained in Paris. Josephine enjoyed life, and he languished with melancholy and jealousy towards her.
It was difficult to call the famous commander a monogamist, and even rather the opposite. His biographers suggest that he had about 40 favorites. From some of them he had children.
After living 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 Bonaparte initially proposed marriage 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 become related to him. Some historians believe that this episode from Napoleon's biography 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.
It is worth paying attention to one more interesting fact. Fate turned out in such a way that it was Josephine’s grandson, and not Bonaparte, who in the future became emperor. His descendants still successfully reign in several European countries.
But Napoleon's pedigree soon ceased to exist. Bonaparte's son died at a young age, leaving no offspring.
After the abdication at the Palace of Fontainebleau However, the wife, who lived with her father at that time, did not even remember her husband. Not only did she not express a desire to see him, but she did not even write him a single letter in response.
Death
After his 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 that he had cancer, from which his father died.
There is still debate about the true cause of his death. Some believe that he died from cancer, while others are convinced that there was arsenic poisoning.
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 Invalides on the territory of the cathedral.
Photo of Napoleon
At the end we offer you to look 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.
Bonaparte - First Consul 
Emperor Napoleon in his office in the Tuileries 
Capitulation of Madrid on December 4, 1808 
Napoleon crowned King of Italy on May 26, 1805 in Milan 
Napoleon Bonaparte on the Arcole Bridge 
Napoleon and Josephine
Napoleon at the Saint Bernard Pass 
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The short biography of Napoleon Bonaparte for children and adults presented in this article will certainly interest you. This name has long become a household name, not only because of his talent and intelligence, but also because of his incredible ambitions, as well as the dizzying career that he managed to make.
The biography of Napoleon Bonaparte is marked by the rapid rise of his military career. Having entered service at the age of 16, he became a general at the age of 24. And Napoleon Bonaparte became emperor at the age of 34. Interesting facts from the biography of the French commander are numerous. Among his skills and characteristics there were some very extraordinary ones. They say that he read at an incredible speed - about 2 thousand words per minute. In addition, the French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte could sleep for a long time, 2-3 hours a day. Interesting facts from the biography of this man, we hope, have awakened your interest in his personality.
Events in Corsica leading up to the birth of Napoleon
Napoleon Bonaparte, the French emperor, was born on August 15, 1769. He was born on the island of Corsica, in the city of Ajaccio. The biography of Napoleon Bonaparte would probably have turned out differently if the political situation of that time had been different. His native island had long been in the possession of the Genoese Republic, but Corsica overthrew Genoese rule in 1755. After this, for several years it was an independent state, ruled by Pasquale Paole, a local landowner. Carlo Buonaparte (his portrait is presented below), Napoleon's father, served as his secretary.
In 1768 she sold the rights to Corsica to France. A year later, after the local rebels were defeated by French troops, Pasquale Paole moved to England. Napoleon himself was not a direct participant in these events or even a witness to them, since he was born only 3 months later. However, Paole's personality played a large role in shaping his character. For many 20 years, this man became the idol of such a French commander as Napoleon Bonaparte. The biography for children and adults of Bonaparte, presented in this article, continues with a story about his origin.
Origin of Napoleon
Letizia Ramalino and Carlo Buonaparte, the parents of the future emperor, were minor nobles. There were 13 children in the family, of whom Napoleon was the second oldest. True, five of his sisters and brothers died in childhood.
The father of the family was one of the ardent supporters of Corsica's independence. He participated in the drafting of the Corsican Constitution. But in order for his children to receive an education, he began to show loyalty to the French. After some time, Carlo Buonaparte even became a representative of the nobility of Corsica in the French Parliament.
Study in Ajaccio
It is known that Napoleon, as well as his sisters and brothers, received their primary education at the city school of Ajaccio. After this, the future emperor began to study mathematics and writing from the local abbot. Carlo Buonaparte, as a result of interaction with the French, managed to obtain royal scholarships for Napoleon and Joseph, his older brother. Joseph was to pursue a career as a priest, and Napoleon was to become a military man.
Cadet school
The biography of Napoleon Bonaparte continues in Autun. It was here that the brothers went in 1778 to study French. A year later, Napoleon entered the cadet school located in Brienne. He was an excellent student and showed special talent in mathematics. In addition, Napoleon loved to read books on various topics - philosophy, history, geography. The favorite historical characters of the future emperor were Julius Caesar and Alexander the Great. However, at this time Napoleon did not have many friends. Both his Corsican origin and accent (Napoleon never managed to get rid of it), as well as his tendency to loneliness and his complex character played a role in this.
Father's death
He later continued his studies at the Royal Cadet School. Napoleon graduated early in 1785. Then his father died, and he had to take his place as head of the family. The older brother was not suitable for this role, since he did not have leadership abilities like Napoleon.
Military career
Napoleon Bonaparte began his military career in Valence. The biography, a brief summary of which is the topic of this article, continues in this city, located in the center of the Rhone Lowland. Here Napoleon served as a lieutenant. After some time he was transferred to Oxonne. The future emperor read a lot at this time, and also tried himself in the literary field.
The military biography of Napoleon Bonaparte, one might say, gained great momentum in the decade that followed his graduation from cadet school. In just 10 years, the future emperor managed to go through the entire hierarchy of ranks in the French army of that time. In 1788, the future emperor tried to enlist in the Russian army, but he was refused.
Napoleon met the French Revolution in Corsica, where he was on vacation. He accepted and supported her. Moreover, Napoleon was noted as an excellent commander during his time as a brigadier general and later commander of the Italian Army.
Marriage to Josephine
An important event in Napoleon's personal life took place in 1796. It was then that he married the widow of the Count, Josephine Beauharnais.
The beginning of the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleon Bonaparte, whose full biography is presented in an impressive volume of books, was recognized as the best French commander after inflicting a crushing defeat on the enemy in Sardinia and Austria. It was then that he rose to a new level, starting the “Napoleonic Wars.” They lasted almost 20 years, and it was thanks to them that the biography of such a commander as Napoleon Bonaparte became known throughout the world. A brief summary of the further path to world fame traveled by him is as follows.
The French Directory was unable to maintain the achievements that the revolution brought. This became obvious in 1799. Napoleon and his army were in Egypt at that time. After his return, he dispersed the Directory thanks to the support of the people. On November 19, 1799, Bonaparte proclaimed the consular regime, and 5 years later, in 1804, he declared himself emperor.
Napoleon's domestic policy
Napoleon Bonaparte, whose biography by this time was already marked by many achievements, decided to focus on strengthening his own power, which was supposed to serve as a guarantee of the civil rights of the French population. In 1804, the Napoleonic Code, a code of civil rights, was adopted for this purpose. In addition, tax reform was implemented, and the French Bank, owned by the state, was created. The French education system was created precisely under Napoleon. Catholicism was recognized as the religion of the majority of the population, but freedom of religion was not abolished.
Economic blockade of England
England was the main opponent of French industry and capital in the European market. This country financed military actions against it on the continent. England attracted major European powers such as Austria and Russia to its side. Thanks to a series of French military operations carried out against Russia, Austria and Prussia, Napoleon was able to annex to his country lands that previously belonged to Holland, Belgium, Italy and Northern Germany. The defeated countries had no choice but to make peace with France. Napoleon declared an economic blockade of England. He banned trade relations with this country. However, this measure also hit the French economy. France was unable to replace British products on the European market. Napoleon Bonaparte was unable to foresee this. A short biography in abbreviation should not dwell on this in detail, so we will continue our story.
Decline in authority, birth of an heir
The economic crisis and protracted wars led to a decline in the authority of Napoleon Bonaparte among the French, who had previously supported him. In addition, it turned out that no one was threatening France, and Bonaparte’s ambitions were driven only by concern for the state of his dynasty. In order to leave an heir, he divorced Josephine because she could not give him a child. In 1810, Napoleon married Marie Louise, daughter of the Emperor of Austria. In 1811, the long-awaited heir was born. However, the public did not approve of marriage with a woman from the Austrian royal family.
War with Russia and exile to the Elbe
In 1812, Napoleon Bonaparte decided to start a war with Russia, whose short biography, largely due to this, is of interest to many of our compatriots. Like other states, Russia at one time supported the blockade of England, but did not strive to comply with it. This step became fatal for Napoleon. Having suffered defeat, he abdicated the throne. The former French emperor was sent to the island of Elba, located in the Mediterranean Sea.
Napoleon's revenge and final defeat
After Bonaparte's abdication, representatives of the Bourbon dynasty returned to France, as well as their heirs, who sought to regain their position and fortune. This caused discontent among the population. Napoleon fled from Elba on February 25, 1815. He returned to France in triumph. One article can only present a very brief biography of Napoleon Bonaparte. Therefore, let's just say that he resumed the war, but France could no longer bear this burden. Napoleon was finally defeated at Waterloo, after 100 days of revenge. This time he was sent into exile on the island of St. Helena, which was much further away than before, so it was more difficult to escape from it. Here the former emperor spent the last 6 years of his life. He never saw his wife and son again.
Death of the Former Emperor
Bonaparte's health began to rapidly deteriorate. He died on May 5, 1821, presumably from cancer. According to another version, Napoleon was poisoned. A very popular belief is that the former emperor was given arsenic. But was it poisoned? The fact is that Napoleon was afraid of this and voluntarily took small doses of arsenic, thus trying to develop immunity to it. Of course, such a procedure would certainly end tragically. Be that as it may, even today it is impossible to say with complete certainty why Napoleon Bonaparte died. His short biography, presented in this article, ends here.
It should be added that he was buried first on the island of St. Helena, but in 1840 his remains were reburied in Paris, in the Invalides. The monument at the grave of the former emperor is made of Karelian porphyry, which was given to the French government by Nicholas I, the Russian emperor.
French statesman and commander, Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte was born on August 15, 1769 in the city of Ajaccio on the island of Corsica. He came from the family of an ordinary Corsican nobleman.
In 1784 he graduated from the Brienne Military School, and in 1785 from the Paris Military School. He began professional military service in 1785 with the rank of sub-lieutenant of artillery in the royal army.
From the first days of the Great French Revolution of 1789-1799, Bonaparte became involved in the political struggle on the island of Corsica and joined the most radical wing of the Republicans. In 1792 in Valence he joined the Jacobin Club.
In 1793, supporters of France in Corsica, where Bonaparte was at that time, were defeated. Conflict with Corsican separatists forced him to flee the island to France. Bonaparte became commander of an artillery battery in Nice. He distinguished himself in the battle against the British at Toulon, was promoted to brigadier general and appointed chief of artillery of the Alpine Army. After the counter-revolutionary coup in June 1794, Bonaparte was removed from office and arrested for connections with the Jacobins, but was soon released. He was listed in the reserve of the War Ministry, and in September 1795, after refusing the offered position of commander of an infantry brigade, he was dismissed from the army.
In October 1795, a member of the Directory (French government in 1795-1799), Paul Barras, who led the fight against the monarchist conspiracy, took Napoleon as an assistant. Bonaparte distinguished himself during the suppression of the royalist rebellion in October 1795, for which he was appointed commander of the troops of the Paris garrison. In February 1796, he was appointed commander of the Italian Army, at the head of which he carried out the victorious Italian campaign (1796-1797).
In 1798-1801 he led the Egyptian expedition, which, despite the capture of Alexandria and Cairo and the defeat of the Mamelukes in the Battle of the Pyramids, was defeated.
In October 1799, Bonaparte arrived in Paris, where a situation of acute political crisis reigned. Relying on influential circles of the bourgeoisie, on November 9-10, 1799, he carried out a coup d'etat. The government of the Directory was overthrown, and the French Republic was led by three consuls, the first of whom was Napoleon.
The concordat (agreement) concluded with the Pope in 1801 provided Napoleon with the support of the Catholic Church.
In August 1802 he achieved his appointment as consul for life.
In June 1804, Bonaparte was proclaimed Emperor Napoleon I.
On December 2, 1804, during a magnificent ceremony held in Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris with the participation of the Pope, Napoleon crowned himself Emperor of the French.
In March 1805, he was crowned in Milan, after Italy recognized him as its king.
Napoleon I's foreign policy was aimed at achieving political and economic hegemony in Europe. With his rise to power, France entered a period of almost continuous wars. Thanks to military successes, Napoleon significantly expanded the territory of the empire and made most of the states of Western and Central Europe dependent on France.
Napoleon was not only Emperor of France, which extended to the left bank of the Rhine, but also King of Italy, mediator of the Swiss Confederation and Protector of the Confederation of the Rhine. His brothers became kings: Joseph in Naples, Louis in Holland, Jerome in Westphalia.
This empire was comparable in its territory to the empire of Charlemagne or the Holy Roman Empire of Charles V.
In 1812, Napoleon launched a campaign against Russia, which ended in his complete defeat and became the beginning of the collapse of the empire. The entry of anti-French coalition troops into Paris in March 1814 forced Napoleon I to abdicate the throne (April 6, 1814). The victorious allies retained the title of emperor to Napoleon and gave him possession of the island of Elba in the Mediterranean Sea.
In 1815, Napoleon, taking advantage of the people's dissatisfaction with the policies of the Bourbons who replaced him in France and the disagreements that arose between the victorious powers at the Congress of Vienna, tried to regain his throne. In March 1815, at the head of a small detachment, he unexpectedly landed in the south of France and three weeks later entered Paris without firing a single shot. The secondary reign of Napoleon I, which went down in history as the “Hundred Days,” did not last long. The Emperor did not live up to the hopes placed on him by the French people. All this, as well as the defeat of Napoleon I at the Battle of Waterloo, led him to a second abdication and exile to the island of St. Helena in the Atlantic Ocean, where he died on May 5, 1821. In 1840, Napoleon's ashes were transported to Paris, to the Invalides
World military historiography highly values the activities of Napoleon I as a commander who skillfully used the objective conditions created by the French bourgeois revolution for the development of military affairs. His military leadership had a great influence on the development of military art in the 19th century.
The material was prepared based on information from open sources