Napoléon Bonaparte
From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Napoléon Bonaparte (August 15, 1769 – May 5, 1821) was a general and Emperor of France.
Contents |
[edit] Early life
Napoleon was born Napoleone di Buonaparte in Ajaccio, Corsica to Carlo Buonaparte, a lawyer and politician, and his wife, Marie-Letizia Buonaparte. The Buonapartes were a wealthy family from the Corsican nobility. Napoleon changed his name so it sounded more French.
[edit] Early military career
Napoleon was able to enter the military academy at Brienne in 1779. He moved to the Parisian École Royale Militaire in 1784 and graduated a year later as a second lieutenant of artillery.
Napoleon was able to spend much of the next eight years in Corsica. There he played an active part in political and military matters. Napoleon was promoted in the military.
The French Revolution caused much fighting and disorder in France. At times, Napoleon was connected to those in power. Other times, he was in jail. He helped the French Republic from those who supported the former king of France. He became a general in the French army. He led troops in Italy and he began to gain fame and power.
Napoleon married Josephine de Beauharnais on March 9, 1796.
In May 1798, Napoleon left for a campaign in Egypt and Syria. The French needed to threaten Britain's empire in India and the French Directory's concerns that Napoleon would take control of France. The Egyptian campaign was a military failure. Napoleon went back to France because of a change in the French government. Some believe that Napoleon should not have left his soldiers in Egypt. Napoleon helped lead the Brumaire coup of November 1799.
[edit] Consul and Emperor of France
By February 1800, Napoleon was the First Consul of France. France was still at war with most of Europe. Peace was gained for a short time after the Battle of Marengo.
Bonaparte changed many ways of life in France and did mostly good things. His changes to the legal system, the Napoleonic Code, are considered to be a good change. Napoleon became First Consul for Life in 1802 and Emperor of France in 1804. This means that he was essentially a dictator.
Europe was not at peace for long. Fighting resumed. Napoleon and France won many battles against a range of alliances between Austria, Britain, Russia, and Prussia. Early on, Napoleon won many battles like the Battle of Austerlitz. Napoleon made his relatives rulers of some of the countries he beat.
Napoleon also made mistakes and suffered setbacks. The French navy was kept firmly in check by British navy. The British victory at the Battle of Trafalger let the British control the ocean and sea.
Napoleon made his brother the ruler of Spain. This caused some in Spain to begin guerilla warfare against the French.
On March 11, 1810, Napoleon married his second wife, Marie-Louise. Many people were upset that he divorced Josephine.
[edit] Defeat and exile
In 1812, Napoleon went to war with Russia. The Russians retreated and Napoleon's forces reached Moscow. However, Napoleon's army was unable to beat the Russians. They had no food and the Russian winter began. The Russians began to attack. Napoleon and his army had to go back to France. Only 10,000 soldiers were able to fight at the end of the retreat.
On March 30, 1814, Paris surrendered. Napoleon gave up rule of France on April 11, 1814. He went into exile on the small island of Elba in the Mediterranean Sea.
[edit] The 100 Days
Napoleon made a surprise return to France on March 1, 1815. His former troops joined him and he again became ruler of France for a length of 100 days. Napoleon was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo.
[edit] Second exile and death
Napoleon was sent to the island of Saint Helena off the coast of Africa. He died on May 5, 1821, of stomach cancer.
