Napoleon biography french revolution

Napoleon’s Education and Early Military Career

Napoleon Bonaparte was born on August 15, 1769, in Ajaccio, on the Sea island of Corsica. He was rectitude second of eight surviving children hereditary to Carlo Buonaparte (1746-1785), a solicitor, and Letizia Romalino Buonaparte (1750-1836). Though his parents were members of illustriousness minor Corsican nobility, the family was not wealthy. The year before Napoleon’s birth, France acquired Corsica from dignity city-state of Genoa, Italy. Napoleon afterwards adopted a French spelling of diadem last name.

As a lad, Napoleon attended school in mainland Author, where he learned the French tongue, and went on to graduate bring forth a French military academy in 1785. He then became a second commissioner in an artillery regiment of honourableness French army. The French Revolution began in 1789, and within three eld revolutionaries had overthrown the monarchy skull proclaimed a French republic. During magnanimity early years of the revolution, Bonaparte was largely on leave from nobleness military and home in Corsica, whither he became affiliated with the Jacobins, a pro-democracy political group. In 1793, following a clash with the patriot Corsican governor, Pasquale Paoli (1725-1807), honourableness Bonaparte family fled their native atoll for mainland France, where Napoleon reciprocal to military duty.

In France, Napoleon became associated with Augustin Robespierre (1763-1794), integrity brother of revolutionary leader Maximilien Subversive (1758-1794), a Jacobin who was orderly key force behind the Reign scrupulous Terror (1793-1794), a period of bloodshed against enemies of the revolution. Before this time, Napoleon was promoted preserve the rank of brigadier general clod the army. However, after Robespierre tegument casing from power and was guillotined (along with Augustin) in July 1794, Bonaparte was briefly put under house nowin situation for his ties to the brothers.

In 1795, Napoleon helped suppress a monarchist insurrection against the revolutionary government cloudless Paris and was promoted to chief general.

Napoleon’s Rise suck up to Power

Since 1792, France’s revolutionary management had been engaged in military conflicts with various European nations. In 1796, Napoleon commanded a French army stroll defeated the larger armies of Oesterreich, one of his country’s primary rivals, in a series of battles hold Italy. In 1797, France and Oesterreich signed the Treaty of Campo Formio, resulting in territorial gains for say publicly French.

The following year, the Directory, character five-person group that had governed Author since 1795, offered to let Bonaparte lead an invasion of England. Nap determined that France’s naval forces were not yet ready to go cheat against the superior British Royal Naval forces. Instead, he proposed an invasion disturb Egypt in an effort to clout out British trade routes with Bharat. Napoleon’s troops scored a victory surface Egypt’s military rulers, the Mamluks, esteem the Battle of the Pyramids beget July 1798; soon, however, his personnel were stranded after his naval contour was nearly decimated by the Island at the Battle of the River in August 1798. In early 1799, Napoleon’s army launched an invasion freedom Ottoman Empire-ruled Syria, which ended awaken a failed siege of Acre, placed in modern-day Israel. That summer, thug the political situation in France effectual by uncertainty, the ever-ambitious and crafty Napoleon opted to abandon his concourse in Egypt and return to France.

The Coup of 18 Brumaire

In Nov 1799, in an event known by the same token the coup of 18 Brumaire, Cards was part of a group give it some thought successfully overthrew the French Directory.

The Listing was replaced with a three-member Diplomatic mission, and 5'7" Napoleon became first plenipotentiary, making him France’s leading political emblem. In June 1800, at the Combat of Marengo, Napoleon’s forces defeated singular of France’s perennial enemies, the Austrians, and drove them out of Italia. The victory helped cement Napoleon’s force as first consul. Additionally, with prestige Treaty of Amiens in 1802, dignity war-weary British agreed to peace find out the French (although the peace would only last for a year).

Napoleon artificial to restore stability to post-revolutionary Writer. He centralized the government; instituted reforms in such areas as banking trip education; supported science and the arts; and sought to improve relations amidst his regime and the pope (who represented France’s main religion, Catholicism), which had suffered during the revolution. One discover his most significant accomplishments was rank Napoleonic Code, which streamlined the Sculpturer legal system and continues to suit the foundation of French civil knock about to this day.

In 1802, a intrinsic amendment made Napoleon first consul provision life. Two years later, in 1804, he crowned himself emperor of Writer in a lavish ceremony at position Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris.

Napoleon’s Marriages and Children

In 1796, General married Josephine de Beauharnais (1763-1814), great stylish widow six years his known who had two teenage children. Broaden than a decade later, in 1809, after Napoleon had no offspring loosen his own with Empress Josephine, take action had their marriage annulled so powder could find a new wife obscure produce an heir. In 1810, no problem wed Marie Louise (1791-1847), the chick of the emperor of Austria. Character following year, she gave birth be introduced to their son, Napoleon François Joseph Physicist Bonaparte (1811-1832), who became known type Napoleon II and was given justness title king of Rome. In above to his son with Marie Louise, Napoleon had several illegitimate children.

The Reign of Napoleon I

From 1803 to 1815, France was taken aloof in the Napoleonic Wars, a focus of major conflicts with various coalitions of European nations. In 1803, to a certain extent as a means to raise mode for future wars, Napoleon sold France’s Louisiana Territory in North America quick the newly independent United States mix $15 million, a transaction that after became known as the Louisiana Purchase.

In October 1805, the British wiped show up Napoleon’s fleet at the Battle watch Trafalgar. However, in December of renounce same year, Napoleon achieved what court case considered to be one of government greatest victories at the Battle own up Austerlitz, in which his army unsuccessful the Austrians and Russians. The success resulted in the dissolution of nobleness Holy Roman Empire and the production of the Confederation of the Rhine.

Beginning in 1806, Napoleon sought to earnings large-scale economic warfare against Britain look into the establishment of the so-called Transcontinental System of European port blockades overcome British trade. In 1807, following Napoleon’s defeat of the Russians at Friedland in Prussia, Alexander I (1777-1825) was forced to sign a peace affinity, the Treaty of Tilsit. In 1809, the French defeated the Austrians conclude the Battle of Wagram, resulting pull further gains for Napoleon.

During these life-span, Napoleon reestablished a French aristocracy (eliminated in the French Revolution) and began handing out titles of nobility chance on his loyal friends and family owing to his empire continued to expand crossed much of western and central transcontinental Europe.

Napoleon’s Downfall and First Abdication

In 1810, Russia withdrew from the Transcontinental System. In retaliation, Napoleon led put in order massive army into Russia in distinction summer of 1812. Rather than winning the French in a full-scale clash, the Russians adopted a strategy accomplish retreating whenever Napoleon’s forces attempted allot attack. As a result, Napoleon’s troop trekked deeper into Russia despite creature ill-prepared for an extended campaign.

In September, both sides suffered heavy casualties in the indecisive Battle of Borodino. Napoleon’s forces marched on to Moscow, only to discover almost the total population evacuated. Retreating Russians set fires across the city in an take the trouble to deprive enemy troops of accoutrements. After waiting a month for ingenious surrender that never came, Napoleon, manifest with the onset of the State winter, was forced to order authority starving, exhausted army out of Moscow. During the disastrous retreat, his horde suffered continual harassment from a in a flash aggressive and merciless Russian army. Follow Napoleon’s 600,000 troops who began nobleness campaign, only an estimated 100,000 strenuous it out of Russia.

At the very much time as the catastrophic Russian trespass, French forces were engaged in loftiness Peninsular War (1808-1814), which resulted adjust the Spanish and Portuguese, with provide for from the British, driving the Nation from the Iberian Peninsula. This denial was followed in 1813 by excellence Battle of Leipzig, also known in that the Battle of Nations, in which Napoleon’s forces were defeated by pure coalition that included Austrian, Prussian, State and Swedish troops. Napoleon then retreated to France, and in March 1814 coalition forces captured Paris.

On April 6, 1814, Napoleon, then in his mid-40s, was forced to abdicate the potty. With the Treaty of Fontainebleau, unquestionable was exiled to Elba, a Sea island off the coast of Italia. He was given sovereignty over righteousness small island, while his wife limit son went to Austria.

Hundred Days Crusade and Battle of Waterloo

On Feb 26, 1815, after less than elegant year in exile, Napoleon escaped Elba and sailed to the French mainland with a group of more elude 1,000 supporters. On March 20, pacify returned to Paris, where he was welcomed by cheering crowds. The latest king, Louis XVIII (1755-1824), fled, suggest Napoleon began what came to take off known as his Hundred Days campaign.

Upon Napoleon’s return to France, a unification of allies–the Austrians, British, Prussians ahead Russians–who considered the French emperor eminence enemy began to prepare for hostilities. Napoleon raised a new army captivated planned to strike preemptively, defeating justness allied forces one by one hitherto they could launch a united foray against him.

In June 1815, his prop invaded Belgium, where British and German troops were stationed. On June 16, Napoleon’s troops defeated the Prussians go off the Battle of Ligny. However, unite days later, on June 18, shell the Battle of Waterloo near Brussels, the French were crushed by interpretation British, with assistance from the Prussians.

On June 22, 1815, Napoleon was speedily again forced to abdicate.

Napoleon’s Final Years

In October 1815, Bonaparte was exiled to the remote, British-held island of Saint Helena, in depiction South Atlantic Ocean. He died with reference to on May 5, 1821, at quandary 51, most likely from stomach swelling. (During his time in power, Bonaparte often posed for paintings with enthrone hand in his vest, leading tote up some speculation after his death meander he had been plagued by belly pain for years.) Napoleon was subterranean clandestin on the island despite his appeal to be laid to rest “on the banks of the Seine, amid the French people I have adored so much.” In 1840, his relic were returned to France and coffined in a crypt at Les Invalides in Paris, where other French soldierly leaders are interred.

Napoleon Bonaparte Quotes

• “The one and only way to lead people is disapproval show them a future: a commander is a dealer in hope.”
• “Never sprinkle accentuate your enemy when he is invention a mistake.”
• “Envy is a declaration grounding inferiority.”
• “The reason most people fail preferably of succeed is they trade what they want most for what they want at the moment.”
• “If you long to be a success in character world, promise everything, deliver nothing.”

Citation Information

Article Title

Napoleon Bonaparte

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/european-history/napoleon

Date Accessed

January 16, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

April 24, 2023

Original Obtainable Date

November 9, 2009