Napoleon Bonaparte

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Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon Bonaparte (born Napoleone Buonaparte 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known as Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader. Known as a prominent general during the French Revolution and a successful leader of campaigns during the French Revolutionary Wars, he led the French Republic as First Consul from 1799 to in 1804, then Emperor of France from 1804 to 1814 and returned to the throne in 1815. Napoleon’s political and cultural legacy lives on to this day, as a prominent leader famous and controversial. He initiated many liberal reforms that have endured in society and is considered one of the greatest military commanders in history. His campaigns are still studied at military academies around the world. During the Napoleonic Wars, between three and six million civilians and soldiers died.

Napoleon was born on the island of Corsica, shortly after its annexation by France, into a native family descended from the minor Italian aristocracy. He supported the French Revolution of 1789 while serving in the French army and tried to spread its ideals to his native Corsica. He quickly rose through the ranks in the military after saving the French Directory by opening fire to suppress royalist rebels. In 1796, he began a military campaign against the Austrians and their Italian allies, scoring decisive victories and becoming a national hero. Two years later, he led a military expedition to Egypt, which served as a springboard to political power. He staged a coup in November 1799 and became First Consul of the Republic.

Differences with Great Britain led France to face the War of the Third Coalition in 1805. Napoleon shattered this coalition with victories at the Ulm campaign and the battle of Austerlitz, leading to the dissolution of the Empire Holy Roman Empire. In 1806, the Fourth Coalition took up arms against him. Napoleon defeated Prussia at the battles of Jena and Auerstedt, led the Grande Armée into Eastern Europe and defeated Russia in June 1807 at Friedland. This victory forced the defeated nations of the Fourth Coalition to accept the Treaty of Tilsit. Two years later, the Austrians challenged France again in the War of the Fifth Coalition, but Napoleon consolidated his control over Europe after his victory at the Battle of Wagram.

Hoping to expand the Continental System, his embargo against Britain, Napoleon invaded the Iberian peninsula and proclaimed his brother Joseph King of Spain in 1808. The Spanish and Portuguese Nha rebelled during the Peninsular War with the support of the British army, leading to the defeat of Napoleon’s generals. Napoleon launched his invasion of Russia in the summer of 1812. The result of this campaign saw the disastrous withdrawal of the Grande Armée. In 1813, Prussia and Austria, along with Russian forces, joined the Sixth Coalition against France, resulting in a large allied army defeating Napoleon at the Battle of Leipzig. The coalition invaded France and captured Paris, forcing Napoleon to abdicate in April 1814. He was exiled to the island of Elba, located between Corsica and Italy. In France, the Bourbon family was restored to power.

Napoleon escaped in February 1815 and took control of France.[5] The Allies responded by forming the Seventh Coalition, which defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in June 1815. The British exiled him to the remote Atlantic island of Saint Helena, where he died in 1821, 51 years old.

Napoleon had a profound influence on the modern world, bringing liberal reforms to the lands he conquered, especially those in the Low Countries, parts of modern Italy and Germany . He implemented many liberal policies in France and Western Europe.

Great sayings of Napoleon

“The best way to keep one’s word is not to give it”

“A picture is worth a thousand words”

“You must not fight too often with one enemy, or you will teach him all your art of war”

“Impossible is a word to be found only in the dictionary of fools”

“Victory belongs to the most persevering”

“Imagination rules the world”

“Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake”

“In politics, stupidity is not a handicap”

“In war, as in love, we must come into contact”

“Great ambition is the passion of a great character. Those endowed with it may perform very good or very bad acts. All depends on the principles which direct them”

“If you wish to be a success in the world, promise everything, deliver nothing”

“The best cure for the body is a quiet mind”

“Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich”

“A throne is only a bench covered with velvet”

“Death is nothing, but to live defeated and inglorious is to die daily”

“Four hostile newspapers are more to be feared than a thousand bayonets”

“There are only two forces in the world, the sword and the spirit. In the long run the sword will always be conquered by the spirit”

“Ability is nothing without opportunity”

“The art of being sometimes audacious and sometimes very prudent is the art of success”

“We become weak when we hesitate and doubt ourselves. It is unfortunate for anyone who has both of these. If it is a simple individual, they become a mediocre person; if it is a king, then the king is as good as lost”

“The human race is governed by its imagination”

“A soldier will fight long and hard for a bit of colored ribbon“

“The greatest danger occurs at the moment of victory”

“A leader is a dealer in hope“

“The strong man is the one who is able to intercept at will the communication between the senses and the mind”

“Men are moved by two levers only: fear and self interest”

“If you want a thing done well, do it yourself”

“Take time to deliberate, but when the time for action has arrived, stop thinking and go in”

“An army of lions commanded by a deer will never be an army of lions”

“He who fears being conquered is sure of defeat”

“The world suffers a lot. Not because of the violence of bad people. But because of the silence of the good people”

“Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever”