Historical Figures

Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821)

Napoleon in the portrait of Jacques-Louis David.

Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) - French military, politician, emperor of the French and king of Italy. He was born in Corsica as the son of an impoverished nobleman. He studied at the military schools in Brienne and Paris; at the age of 16 he obtained the rank of second lieutenant in artillery. From 1793 he fought in the revolutionary army, supporting the Jacobins and Maximilian Robespierre. In 1794 he was promoted to the rank of general. Commander of the French army in Italy. He led France to seize Belgium and to conclude a favorable peace with Austria. He conquered Malta and organized the invasion of Egypt. In November 1799, he organized a military coup, seizing power in France as the first consul and supreme commander. In 1804 he was crowned emperor of the French.

As a result of successive victorious wars, almost all of western and central Europe found himself in the orbit of his influence. He led to the creation of the hull of the Polish state under the name of the Duchy of Warsaw. He subdued Denmark and Portugal; he led many years of fighting for Spain. Its collapse took place only as a consequence of the unsuccessful invasion of Russia in 1812 and the lost Battle of Leipzig in October 1813.

He abdicated in April 1814, receiving in return power over the islet of Elba and retaining the right to call himself emperor. In 1815 he made an unsuccessful attempt to return to the country and to power. After just three months, he suffered a devastating defeat at Waterloo near Brussels. He was taken prisoner by the English and interned in Saint Helena, where he remained until his death.