Biography of Napoleon Bonaparte

Emperor total

15 August 1769 5 may 1821 Napoleon Buonaparte (name after frenchified in Bonaparte), was born on 15 August 1769 in Ajaccio, Corsica, the second son of Carlo Buonaparte and Letizia Ramolino, lawyer of Tuscan origins, beautiful young woman who will even thirteen children. It is precisely the father that, contrary to the idea that the son would conduct a forensic career, drives him to take on the military. On 15 may 1779, in fact, Napoleon moved into military College of Brienne, a place where, at the expense of the King, were being prepared the sons of noble families. Accepted following the recommendations of the Comte de Marbeuf, remained there five years. In September 1784, at the age of fifteen, is admitted to the military school in Paris. After a year gets a second lieutenant of artillery. Great political and social upheavals awaiting Europe and the young Napoleon was perhaps quite a long way from believing that it was the main author. It all started as a result of the French Revolution, his bloody outbreak, the realists Corsicans rallied in defense of the old regime and Napoleon adheres to ideas that the new popular movement eagerly professes. After the assault and the storming of the Bastille, Napoleon tries to spread the revolutionary fever in his island. Flows into the political life of the place and fights in the ranks of Pascal Paoli (the future creator of moral and political unit of Corsica). Its merits are such that in 1791 he was appointed battalion commander in the National Guard. On 30 August 1789, the National Assembly proclaims Corsica part of France, putting an end to a military occupation that began in 1769. Meanwhile, France is in an unprecedented political crisis. The fall of Robespierre, Napoleon is seen entrusting, in 1796, shortly before her marriage to Joséphine de Beauharnais, in command of troops for the campaign in Italy during which its makings of military strategist is added that of the true head of State. But let's see the steps of this "escalation". On 21 January, Louis XVI is guillotined at the Place de la Révolution and Napoleon Bonaparte, promoted to first class, participates in the girondist uprising and federalist repression in the cities of Marseille, Lyon and Toulon. At the siege of Toulon the young captain, with a clever maneuver, gets the capitulation of the fortress. On 2 March 1796 he was appointed commander of the army of Italy and precisely, after beating Piedmontese and Austrians, enforces peace by the Treaty of Campo Formio (1797), throwing in this way the foundations of what later became the Kingdom of Italy. After this remarkable evidence, embarks on campaign in Egypt, apparently to hit Eastern British interests; in fact, there is sent from France, who considered him too dangerous at home. Landed at Alexandria, defeats the Mamelukes and the British fleet of Admiral Oratio Nelson. The situation in France Meanwhile worsens, disorder and confusion reign supreme, not to mention that Austria is collecting numerous victories. Decided to return, he gave the command of his troops to General Kleber and embarks for France, contrary to the orders of Paris. On 9 October 1799 landed at St. Raphael and between 9 and 10 November (18 Brumaire of the so-called revolutionary calendar), with a coup d'etat breaks down the directory, taking almost absolute power in this way. On 24 December launches the establishment of Consulate, of which one names first consul. Head of State and of the army, Napoleon, which has a capacity of work, of an intelligence, and of an extraordinary creative imagination, reform in record time the Administration and justice. Once again victorious against the Austrian coalition, imposes peace to Britain and signature in 1801 the Concordat with Pope Pius VII who puts the French Church at the service of the Regime. Then, having discovered and foiled a plot by royalist, it does proclaim in 1804 French Emperor under the name of Napoleon 1° and, a year later, also King of Italy. This creates around him a real "monarchy" with the courts and nobility of the Empire while the established regime continued, under his impulse, reforms and modernization: teaching, urbanism, economics, art, creating the so-called "Napoleonic code", which provides a legal basis for defending society since the revolution. But the Emperor is soon picked up by other wars. Failed attack on England in the famous battle of Trafalgar, brings to fruition a series of campaigns against the Austro-Russians (Austerlitz, 1805), the Prussians (Iéna, 1806) and builds up his great empire after the Treaty of Tilsit in 1807. England, however, remains his thorn in the flesh, the one real big obstacle to its European hegemony. In response to the sea blockade enforced by London, Napoleon puts in place, between 1806 and 1808, the continental blockade to isolate the one great power. Blocking energizes French industry and agriculture but annoys the European economy and obligates the emperor to develop an expansionist policy that Portugal and Spain, the Papal States to the passing from the control of a new coalition of Austria (Wagram 1809), leaves his army dejected. In 1810, worried about leaving offspring, Napoleon marries Marie Louise of Austria that gives him a son, Napoleon II. In 1812, sensing the hostility from the Tsar Alexander 1°, the grande Armée of Napoleon invades Russia. This bloody and disastrous campaign, Napoleon's forces which were totally unsuccessful brutally beaten back a result also of thousands of losses, will play the revival of Eastern Europe and see Paris invaded by enemy troops on 4 March 1814. A few days later, Napoleon will be forced to abdicate in favour of his son then, on 6 April 1814, to renounce all of his powers. Ousted from his throne, and only, is forced into exile. In May 1814 at forced March 1815, during his stay on the island of Elba, ghostly ruler of the island on which will restore a pale imitation of its former Court, Napoleon will see Austiaci, Prussians, British and Russians divide, during the Congress of Vienna, which was his great empire. Escaping from the British surveillance, Napoleon managed to return to France in March 1815 where, supported by the Liberals, will know a second but brief reign known under the name of "Kingdom of the hundred days. The new and recaptured glory didn't last long: soon the illusions of recovery will be cleared by the disaster after the battle of Waterloo, once again against the English. History repeats itself, therefore, and Napoleon must again abdicate to her restored role as Emperor on 22 Giugno1815. Now in the hands of the British, he assigns the remote island of St Helena, where prison coma before going off on 5 may 1821, will evoke often nostalgically its native island, Corsica. His regret, confided to the few people still close, was that of having neglected his land, too busy in wars and companies. On 5 may 1821, what was undoubtedly the greatest General and warlord after Caesar, goes out alone and abandoned in Longwood, on Saint Helena, under the supervision of the British.
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.