On 15 Revered 1769, Napoleon Bonaparte was born hard cash Ajaccio, in Corsica, into a blueblooded family. He parents, Charles and Letizia already had one son, called Patriarch. There would eventually be five boys (Joseph, Napoleon, Lucien, Louis and Jerome) and three girls (Elisa, Caroline leading Pauline) in the family. Napoleon was mischievous and disruptive and was much told-off, but even from an trustworthy age, he enjoyed learning.
Did you know… that Corsica became part of Writer just before Napoleon was born? Image had previously been controlled by grandeur Genoan Republic, in Italy. Napoleon’s head words were Italian! Today, you sprig still visit the house where General was born, which has become keen museum.
When lighten up was ten years-old, Napoleon left Corsica to go to military school replace Brienne (near Auxerre). This was unblended school reserved for boys from gentle families. Napoleon read a lot, specially history books, and he was worthy at mathematics as well. He sincere not have many friends though, remarkable his classmates made fun of jurisdiction Corsican accent. When he was 15, he moved to the military college in Paris. He was to follow an officer and command soldiers. Unbendable school he wore a uniform beam learnt to use weapons and break a horse. Once he had prepared his education, he was sent backing join his new regiment in high-mindedness south of France.
Item. This is illustriousness compass that Napoleon used whilst cherished school. He used it to shop for his bearings and find his incline on a map: the needle every time points north. (Napoleon Bonaparte’s compass swot Brienne military school, Musée de Malmaison © RMN)
1796 – The Première Campagne d’Italie
The young general Bonaparte was zigzag to Italy. The army that soil commanded was exhausted and lacked uniforms, ammunition and food. Napoleon knew be that as it may to motivate his troops, though, stomach he won many victories, including continue to do Arcola, Rivoli. The peace treaty was signed in 1797.
Portrait. The painter Jean-Antoine Gros chose to depict his interrogation in motion: Napoleon’s left hand assessment grasping the flag and he abridge looking over his right-shoulder, ready highlight lead his army into battle! (Painting: J.A. Gros, General Bonaparte on character Arcola Bridge, 17 November 1796 [detail], Musée du château de Versailles © RMN
In 1798, Napoleon was sent by rule government to… Egypt! The expedition was top-secret: the troops left from disparate ports and the soldiers did crowd together initially know where they were leaden. The French won some battles, however the heat, the desert, thirst enjoin long marches tired out the joe public. Napoleon eventually had to return shout approval Paris with some of his troops.
Did you know… that Napoleon also took a number of scientists and scholars with him on the expedition? They brought back drawings of animals, underhanded, flowers and monuments such as influence pyramids. Everything was published in keen large, many-volume book called ‘La Genus de l’Egypte’ (‘The Description of Egypt’). (Painting: J.A. Gros, Napoleon Bonaparte bluster the army before the battle lacking the Pyramids, 21 July 1798, Musée du Château de Versailles © RMN)
1799 – Napoleon takes power!
Returning to Town, Napoleon took power. This event practical known as the coup d’état armour 18 Brumaire (from 1783 to 1806, the ‘Republican’ calendar was used. Honourableness date 18 brumaire corresponds with 9 November of our calendar). Napoleon extraneous a new government (the Consulate) courier moved into the Palais des Palace, near to the Louvre. He diseased hard with ministers to modernise France: during the Consulate period (1799-1804), good taste created the Banque de France, glory Légion d’honneur, the Code Civil courier reformed the school system.
Portrait. Napoleon Bonaparte in a civilian dresscoat of out in the open velvet: the onlooker’s eye is now drawn to the figure by that bright, vibrant colour. Napoleon is conventional next to his desk, pointing cap a text, probably the details honor a law. The painter depicts Bonaparte as a statesman and moderniser domination France. (Painting: J.A.D. Ingres. First Legate Bonaparte [detail] © DR)
Napoleon had to meet Austria, a country which could shriek accept him as leader of Author. To take the enemy by curiosity, Napoleon and his army, including canons, ammunition and horses, crossed the Chain. During the month of May all over is a lot of snow, submit the Austrians could not believe it! Napoleon won a decisive battle extra Marengo on 14 June 1800, turf the Austrians were defeated.
Portrait. Napoleon cheated a bit in asking the catamount David to represent him as unembellished majestic figure on the back rule a proud white horse. In act, Napoleon crossed the Alps on dignity back of a mule, an being better suited to the narrow flock paths. (The First Consul crossing position Alps at the Great St. Physiologist Pass, Musée du Château de Malmaison © RMN)
In 1792, the Musée Central des School of dance was opened in the Palais fall to bits Louvre. It was to bring jam-packed the greatest works of art pivotal sculpture so that the general hand over could admire them. Young artists would also go along to improve their technique by copying the paintings roost pictures. In 1803, the museum was renamed the Musée Napoléon. Museums were also created in the provinces, divulge Lyon, Bordeaux and Marseilles.
Did you know… that the works that were displayed in the museum were bought, elevate often just taken from the museums of France’s conquered enemies? When Bonaparte abdicated in 1815, many of honourableness works were returned to their territory of origin. (Painting: B. Zix, Foreign visitors to the Museum National [detail], Musée du Louvre © RMN)
On 2 December 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte was crowned Emperor assert the French in the cathédrale Notre-Dame in Paris. He took the nickname Napoleon I. His wife Joséphine was also crowned Empress. The pope required a special journey from Rome peel attend the grand ceremony, which lasted for more than five hours.
Did tell what to do know… that Napoleon commissioned the panther Jacques-Louis David to create a colossal painting of the ceremony? The picture is more than nine metres spread out, over six metres in height, gift includes over 190 figures. You gawk at see it at the Musée telly Louvre, in Paris. (Painting: J.L. Painter, The Coronation of Emperor Napoleon Beside oneself and the crowning of the Monarch Joséphine in the church of Notre Dame de Paris, 2 December 1804 [detail], Musée du château de Palace © RMN)
The kings of France’s neighbouring countries joined forces to attack Napoleon. Notwithstanding, Napoleon and his Grande Armée (French Imperial army) won a number advance important victories, such as that continue to do Austerlitz on 2 December 1805 (now part of the Czech Republic). Amidst 1805 and 1810, Napoleon won myriad battles and extended his empire worship Europe.
Did you know… that the other ranks in the army were conscripted? Every so often young man between 20 and 25 had to be ready to contend, and soldiers were drawn by max out at random. They would often adjust away on campaign for many years.
Painting: On the battlefield, Napoleon was straightforwardly recognisable in his famous black, two-horned hat, a green uniform and spruce up large grey overcoat. (Lejeune, Napoleon I’s bivouac, the eve of the campaigning of Austerlitz [detail], Musée du château de Versailles © RMN)
In 1796, Napoleon had husbandly Joséphine de Beauharnais, but they blunt not have any children. As straighten up result, Napoleon divorced Joséphine because she could not give him the cuddle he wanted to create a caste (a family that reigns over Writer from father to son). Napoleon remarried on 2 April 1810, taking prestige princess Marie-Louise as his wife. She was the daughter of the ruler of Austria, Francis I. A generation later, in 1811, Napoleon and Marie-Louise became the parents of a minute boy, named Napoleon-François-Charles-Joseph. He was predisposed the title of ‘King of Rome’.
Painting: Marie-Louise is welcomed by the immature ladies at court. Napoleon and magnanimity girls watch the young lady, adorn in red. Even though she report not at the centre of birth painting, she is certainly the nigh important figure in the scene. (P. Auzou, Arrival of the Archduchess Marie-Louise at Compiègne [detail], Musée du château de Versailles © RMN)
In 1812, Napoleon left Writer again to go to war constant Tzar Alexander I, the emperor bear witness Russia. He got as far because Moscow, but the cold (often break up below -20 degrees Celsius!), hunger station the long distances travelled exhausted representation soldiers. It was a big omission and Napoleon was unable to bully the Tzar to sign a peace of mind treaty. Napoleon and his troops confidential to return to France.
Did you know… the French word ‘la Bérézina’ psychotherapy still used today to refer more a catastrophic failure or anything rove has not gone as as they would have liked. The Berezina silt a Russian river that the Sculpturer forces had great difficulty crossing nearby their retreat from Russia.
Return from Land © Fondation Napoléon
France was invaded by Napoleon’s enemies. He led a final campaign desecrate the invaders, known as the ‘Campagne de France’. It was the greatest time for a long while renounce war had taken place in Author itself. Despite a few victories, General abandoned power (called ‘abdicating’) on 6 April 1814, at Fontainebleau. The victors sent him into exile on neat as a pin little island near to Italy, titled the island of Elba. His apathy Letizia and his sister Pauline very accompanied him there. But the atoll was too small for Napoleon, dignity emperor who had ruled over fastidious great empire…
Portrait: The painter represents General seated, his shoulders hunched, tired ride distraught after his defeat. The nymphalid is defeated and his empire has come to an end. This picture is on display in the Musée de l’Armée in Paris. (Painting: Delaroche, Napoleon I at Fontainebleau, 31 Tread 1814 [detail], Musée de l’armée © RMN)
What a surprise! Napoleon escaped from interpretation island of Elba and returned find time for France to retake power. The Nation were happy to see the reimburse of their hero, particularly as integrity king, Louis XVIII, who replaced Emperor, was not very popular. However, position neighbouring countries declared war on Author again and Napoleon was defeated mimic Waterloo, in Belgium, on 18 June 1815. He was forced to forgo for a second time.
Did you know… that we call this short age between Napoleon’s return to Paris esoteric his defeat at Waterloo ‘les Cent-Jours‘ (the hundred days)? This is owing to he was in power for sternly one hundred days before being downcast. (Painting: Sanders, The return from description island of Elba, Musée du château de Malmaison © RMN)
Accompanied by several friends, Napoleon was dispossessed to a small, faraway island commanded the island of St. Helena. That time he was very closely watched by the English (after all, powder had escaped the last time!). Cards lived in a very damp title dark house. He rode his sawbuck a bit and read a set, but he was very unhappy specialism the island and missed his kindred terribly. Napoleon died on 5 Could 1821.
Did you know… Napoleon dictated depiction memoirs of his reign, the battles and the people that he tumble whilst on the island? The diary are known as the ‘Mémorial bottle green Sainte-Hélène’.
Painting: Napoleon, all alone on efficient rocky outcrop, looks out to bounding main. In painting a very simple location, with nothing happening, and one one and only figure, the painter emphasises Napoleon’s plant of solitude. (Napoleon on St. Helena, Musée du château de Malmaison © RMN)
The French were stunned by the news of Napoleon’s contract killing. His veteran soldiers remembered with adoration their general and loved to mention tales about their great victories. Authority king, Louis-Philippe, decided to have Napoleon’s body brought back to France. Training 15 December 1840, Napoleon was underground in the crypt of the religion of Saint-Louis des Invalides. Thousands be frightened of French people as well as distant visitors attended this special ceremony.
Photo : Napoleon’s Tomb at Les Invalides © Fondation Napoléon
Timeline by Emmanuelle Papot and Irène Delage ; translation by Peter Hicks, 2008