Napoleon Bonaparte Biography

 

 

"France has more need of me than I have need of France. "

- Napoleon

Short Biography of Napoleon

Napoleon Bonaparte (French: Napoléon Bonaparte ; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821) later known as Emperor Napoleon I, was a French military and political leader who is considered one of the most influential figures in European history.

Born in Corsica and trained as an artillery officer in mainland France, he rose to prominence under the First French Republic and led successful campaigns against the First and Second Coalitions arrayed against France. In 1799, Bonaparte staged a coup d'état and installed himself as First Consul; five years later he crowned himself Emperor of the French. In the first decade of the nineteenth century, he turned the armies of the French Empire against every major European power and dominated continental Europe through a series of military victories - epitomised in battles such as Austerlitz. He maintained France's sphere of influence by the formation of extensive alliances and the appointment of friends and family members to rule other European countries as French client states.

The French invasion of Russia in 1812 marked a turning point in Napoleon's fortunes. His Grande Armée was wrecked in the campaign and never fully recovered. In 1813, the Sixth Coalition defeated his forces at Leipzig; the following year the Coalition invaded France, forced Napoleon to abdicate and exiled him to the island of Elba. Less than a year later, he escaped Elba and returned to power, but was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo in June 1815. Napoleon spent the last six years of his life under British supervision on the island of Saint Helena, where he died. His autopsy concluded he died of stomach cancer, though Sten Forshufvud and other scientists have since conjectured that he had been poisoned with arsenic.

Napoleon scored major victories with a modernised French army and drew his tactics from different sources. His campaigns are studied at military academies the world over, and he is regarded as one of history's great commanders. While considered a tyrant by his opponents, he is also remembered for the establishment of the Napoleonic code, which laid the administrative and judicial foundations for much of Western Europe.

Commentary on Life of Napoleon

Napoleon was a collosal figure of nineteenth century Europe. With unfetered conviction in his own destiny and that of Europe he paved the way for the most impressive modern European Empire. In doing so he swept away much of the old feudal systems and customs of Europe. Napoleon helped to usher in a new era of European politics. He established a Napoleonic code of religious tolerance, rational values and a degree of liberalism. Yet, he was a man of paradoxes, his naked ambition led to costly wars with 6 million dead across Europe. His liberalism and tolerance was imposed with ruthless efficiency and conquest of foreign lands. Sri Aurobindo later summed up the paradox of Napoleon by saying 'Napoleon was the despotic defender of democracy.' Eventually his ambition outreached his ability leading to his humiliation in the severe Russian winter and later against the British at Waterloo.

The Duke of Wellington, the British Commander at Waterloo was asked who he thought was the best General of all Time . Wellington's reply was revealing in its unmitigaged praise for Napoleon in abilities as a military commander

"In this age, in past ages, in any age, Napoleon!"

 Source: Short biography wikipedia

Commentary T.Pettinger 5/2/09