Greatest General of France:

Napoleon Bonaparte

Main Life Accomplishments:

He became a general of the French Revolution, and the ruler of France as First Consul (Premier Consul) of the French Republic from 11 November 1799 to 18 May 1804, then as Emperor of the French (Empereur des Français) and King of Italy under the name Napoleon I from 18 May 1804 to 6 April 1814, and again briefly from 20 March to 22 June 1815was a general of the French Revolution, and the ruler of France as First Consul (Premier Consul) of the French Republic from 11 November 1799 to 18 May 1804, then as Emperor of the French (Empereur des Français) and King of Italy under the name Napoleon I from 18 May 1804 to 6 April 1814, and again briefly from 20 March to 22 June 1815

Napoleon developed a number of innovative military strategies that led to many successful campaigns and surprising victories, as well as some spectacular failures. Over the course of little more than a decade, he fought virtually every European power and acquired control of most of the western and central mainland of Europe by conquest or alliance until his disastrous invasion of Russia in 1812, followed by defeat at the Battle of the Nations near Leipzig in October 1813, which led to his abdication several months later. He staged a comeback known as the Hundred Days (les Cent Jours), but was again defeated decisively at the Battle of Waterloo in Belgium on June 18, 1815, followed shortly afterwards by his surrender to the British and his exile to the island of Saint Helena, where he died.

 

Napoleon is also remembered for the establishment of the Napoleonic Code. He is considered to have been one of the "enlightened despots".
Napoleon appointed several members of the Bonaparte family as monarchs.
 

Basics:

Born: August 15, 1769 Ajaccio, Corsia

Died: May 5, 1821

Nationality: France

Fields: Military, Politics

Main Accomplishments:  Napoléon Bonaparte was and still is one of France's most revered heroes

 

Chronology of Life Events:

August 15, 1769
Born
 

1779
Napoleon's own ability enabled him to enter the military academy
 

1784
He moved to the Parisian École Royale Militaire.
 

February 1785
He graduated as a second lieutenant in the Artillery,spurred on by the death of his father.
 

1793
Civil war erupted. The Buonapartes fled to France, where they adopted the French version of their name: Bonaparte. Historians have frequently used the Corsican affair as a microcosm of Napoleon's career.
 

December 1793
Bonaparte was the hero of Toulon, a General and favourite of Augustin Robespierre; shortly after the wheel of revolution turned and Napoleon was arrested for treason. Tremendous political 'flexibility' saved him and the patronage of Vicomte Paul de Baras, soon to be one of France's three 'Directors', followed.
 

1795
Napoleon became a hero again, defending the government from angry counter-revolutionary forces; Baras rewarded Napoleon by promoting him to high military office, a position with access to the political spine of France. Bonaparte swiftly grew into one of the country's most respected military authorities - largely by never keeping his opinions to himself

He married Josephine de Beauharnais.

March 9, 1796
France attacked Austria. Napoleon was given command of the Army of Italy - the post he wanted - whereupon he welded a young, starving and disgruntled army into a force which won victory after victory against, theoretically stronger, Austrian opponents.
 

1797
Napoleon returned to France, as the nation's brightest star, having fully emerged from the need for a patron.
 

May 1798
Napoleon left for a campaign in Egypt and Syria, prompted by his desire for fresh victories, the French need to threaten Britain's empire in India and the Directory's concerns that their famous general might seize power.
Napoleon joined the Freemasons in Malta. Later he would appoint his four brothers to high posts in the organization.
 

June 1798

Shortly after he took part in the Brumaire coup of November 1799, finishing as a member of the Consulate, France's new ruling triumvirate.
He was established as the First Consul, a practical dictatorship with a constitution wrapped firmly around him.
 

November 1799
He was elected Consulate for life by the French people.
 

February 1800
Elected as Emperor of France
 

1802

He married his second wife, Marie-Louise; his only legitimate child -

 

1804

Napoleon II - was born just over a year later, on March 20, 1811.
 

1811
Napoleonic Empire have shown signs of decline including a downturn in diplomatic fortunes and continuing failure in Spain.

1812
Napoleon went to war with Russia, assembling a force of over 400,000 soldiers, accompanied by the same number of followers and support.
 

1814
Napoleon exhibited the military genius of his youth, but it was a war he couldn't win alone.
 

March 30, 1814
Paris surrendered to allied forces without a fight and, facing massive betrayal and impossible military odds, Napoleon abdicated as Emperor of France; he was exiled to the Island of Elba.
 

May 5, 1821
Napoleon's health and character fluctuated; he died at the age of 51 in St. Helena, a small rocky island well away from Europe.
 

Early Life:

Winston was high-spirited and had a stubborn streak, which annoyed everyone. His childhood was unhappy, he was chubby and did poorly in school; he talked with a lisp and stuttered. At age 12, Winston entered Harrow school, a private secondary boarding school. He was the lowest boy in the lowest class. However, Winston began to blossom at Harrow. He discovered a love of literature and writing, which he would enjoy all the days of his life. Winston, after failing the entrance exam twice, entered the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. He soon led his class in tactics and fortifications. Winston graduated eighth in his class, and consequently was appointed a second lieutenant in the Fourth Queen's Own Hussars cavalry regiment just a month after his father's death.

 

In 1888 a school administrator said Winston was "regular in his irregularity." Name two other faults he accused him of having. forgetful, unpunctual and careless

 

By age 21, Churchill wanted to see some action. When posted to a quiet spot, however, he developed skill at polo and found time to study many of the books he had neglected at school. On several occasions, Churchill, through his family’s influence, managed to take leave of his army post for military operations field reporting. On one occasion, in northwestern India, fighting had broken out between the British and Indian tribesmen. He was able to take leave from his regiment and transfer to the area as a paid reporter for two newspapers. He was caught in the bloody hand-to-hand fighting, but returned unscathed.

He was hired by a London newspaper to report on the Boer War in South Africa. While in transit in South Africa, his train was attacked and he was taken prisoner. He escaped from prison, eluded capture and became a national hero. Upon his return to England that same year, at the age of 21, he was received as a hero by Oldham, the community that had rejected his first political foray. He ran and was elected to Parliament on the Conservative Party ticket. In 1904, Churchill crossed the floor to the Liberals, changing parties over the issue of Tariff Reform
 

His parliamentary career was far from being plain sailing and he made a number of spectacular blunders, so much so that he was often accused of having genius without judgment. He was an ebullient if increasingly anachronistic figure, returning Britain to the Gold Standard and taking an aggressive part in opposing the General Strike of 1926.

Churchill became more and more isolated in politics and he found the experience of perpetual opposition deeply frustrating. He also made further blunders, notably by supporting King Edward VIII during the abdication crisis of 1936. Largely as a consequence of such errors, people did not heed Churchill's dire warnings about the rise of Hitler and the hopelessness of the appeasement policy. After the Munich crisis, however, Churchill's prophecies were seen to be coming true and when war broke out in September 1939 Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain appointed him First Lord of the Admiralty. So, nearly twenty-five years after he had left the post in pain and sorrow, the Navy sent out a signal to the Fleet: "Winston is back".
 

For the first nine months of the conflict, Churchill proved that he was, as Admiral Fisher had once said, "a war man". Churchill became leader of a coalition government. The date was May 10, 1940: it was Churchill's, as well as Britain's, finest hour.

Despite his intense hatred of the Communists, Churchill had no hesitation in sending aid to Russia and defending Stalin in public. "If Hitler invaded Hell," he once remarked, "I would at least make a favorable reference to the Devil in the House of Commons." The atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki finally brought the global conflict to a conclusion. But at the pinnacle of military victory, Churchill tasted the bitterness of political defeat.
 

For the first nine months of the conflict, Churchill proved that he was, as Admiral Fisher had once said, "a war man". Churchill became leader of a coalition government. The date was May 10, 1940: it was Churchill's, as well as Britain's, finest hour.

Despite his intense hatred of the Communists, Churchill had no hesitation in sending aid to Russia and defending Stalin in public. "If Hitler invaded Hell," he once remarked, "I would at least make a favorable reference to the Devil in the House of Commons." The atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki finally brought the global conflict to a conclusion. But at the pinnacle of military victory, Churchill tasted the bitterness of political defeat.
 

Wife Background:

June 23, 1763 at Les Trois llets, Martinique

May 29, 1814 at the age of 51

 

Life was a roller coaster ride for the beautiful Josephine. Born in the West Indies on Martinique as Marie-Rose de Tascher de la Pagerie, she was raised on a slave plantation., the daughter of its owner Joseph-Gaspard de Tascher, chevalier, seigneur de la Pagerie, lieutenant of infantry of the navy, and Rose-Claire des Vergers de Sanois.

Her family was never wealthy but married into nobility and had two children by Vicomte Alexandre Beauharnais, Eugene and Hortense. The marriage was not a happy one, mainly due to his womanising and unhappiness about her colonial gaucheness, although after separating the pair were reasonable friends.

In October 1779, Joséphine went to mainland France with her father. She married Alexandre on December 13, 1779, in Noisy-le-Grand. With him she had a son, Eugène de Beauharnais (1781-1824), and one daughter, Hortense de Beauharnais (1783-1837), who married Napoleon's brother, Louis Bonaparte, in 1802. She is a direct ancestor of the present royal houses of Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, Greece, Norway, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, and Monaco. Her direct descendants also include the fashion designer Egon von Fürstenberg

The Committee of General Security ordered the arrest of her husband. He was jailed in the Carmes prison. Her husband, accused of having poorly defended Mainz in 1793, and considered an aristocratic "suspect", was sentenced to death. He was guillotined on July 23, 1794, together with his brother Augustin, on the Place de la Révolution (today's Place de la Concorde) in Paris.

As a widow, Joséphine de Beauharnais was mistress to several leading political figures, reportedly including Paul François Jean Nicolas Barras. She met General Napoléon Bonaparte, who was six years younger than she, and married him on March 9, 1796.

She was crowned Empress by her husband Napoléon in the Notre-Dame cathedral, much to the dislike of his family, especially his mother, who was not present on the day of the Coronation (December 2, 1804).

When it appeared she was unable to give him any children, she agreed to be divorced so he could remarry in the hopes of having an heir to succeed him. The divorce (January 10, 1810), was the first under the Napoleonic Code. In 1811, Napoleon married Marie Louise of Austria, with whom he had a son, Napoleon II of France the same year.
After her divorce, she lived at the Château de Malmaison, near Paris. When she died in 1814 she was buried not far from there, at the St. Pierre and St. Paul church in Rueil.

 

She met General Napoléon Bonaparte, who was six years younger than she, and married him on March 9, 1796.
She was crowned Empress by her husband Napoléon in the Notre-Dame cathedral, much to the dislike of his family, especially his mother, who was not present on the day of the Coronation (December 2, 1804).

When it appeared she was unable to give him any children, she agreed to be divorced so he could remarry in the hopes of having an heir to succeed him. The divorce (January 10, 1810), was the first under the Napoleonic Code.

Painful though it was, divorce allowed Josephine to devote time to gardens and her love of botany and her last years at Malmaison were productive.

Bonaparte never got over having to divorce her and his last words were: "France, the army, Josephine."
 

Father Background:

 

Born on March 29, 1746 in Ajaccio, Corsica, died February 24, 1785 at age 61
 

Born of Italian heritage in Ajaccio, Corsica, Carlo initially followed family tradition by studying to be a lawyer; however, he left his course at Pisa University part-way through to marry Marie-Letizia Romalino. Carlo was 18, Letizia 14, and both were members of the Ajaccio nobility.

Carlo worked as a solicitor for most of his life, but in the period after his marriage he worked as a secretary and assistant to Pasquale Paoli, the Corsican revolutionary leader. Paoli sent Carlo to negotiate with the Pope in 1766 - Paoli planned an invasion of Capria, a papal gift to Corsica's current rulers, Genoa - and Carlo appears to have enjoyed life in Rome - and life with other women - until being forced, for reasons unknown, back to Corsica in 1768. Political upheaval followed as France gained ownership of Corsica, a new struggle which ended with the Paolista's heavy defeat at Ponte Novo on May 8th 1769. Many of Paoli's supporters had to flee, including Carlo Buonaparte and family; students of Napoleon may wish to note that Letizia was several months pregnant with the future emperor at this time.

Carlo soon proved himself to be an opportunist - critics may prefer turncoat - by embracing the new French government as Paoli was forced abroad.

Carlo was made 'Assessor of the Royal Jurisdiction of Ajaccio' in 1771 - the same year as he obtained French confirmation of his 'noble' status - and later, deputy of the Estates-General of Corsica.
Regrettably for the Buonapartes, Carlo was free with his money at the best of times and trips to the ostentatious capital of France ate away at his finances; a fondness for gambling exacerbated matters.

By 1782 Carlo had seven surviving children. Carlo began to suffer constant pain and he traveled to Paris, Montpellier and other towns to find medical help. They could do nothing for what historians are sure was stomach cancer and Carlo Buonaparte died on February 24th, 1785. He left his family virtually penniless.
 

Napoleon described his father as a political opportunist, social climber and probable hedonist

Napoleon Bonaparte was born as Napoleon Buonaparte, the second son of a Corsican family with dual Italian heritage: his father Carlo descended from Francesco Buonaparte, a Florentine who had emigrated in the mid-sixteenth century.

For a while Carlo, his wife and their children were all Buonapartes, but a growing French influence on both Corsica, and the family, caused them to adopt the French version of their name: Bonaparte.

France gained control of Corsica in 1768, sending an army and a governor who would both play key roles in Napoleon's life. Carlo certainly became close friends with the Comte de Marbeuf, the French ruler of Corsica, while the elder children were educated in France; however, they remained almost wholly Buonaparte. It was only in 1793 that the use of Bonaparte begins to grow in frequency, thanks largely to Napoleon's failure in Corsican politics and the family's consequent flight to France, where they initially lived in poverty. Of course, Napoleon soon found success, first as an artillery commander and then in the triumphant Italian Campaign of 1795-6, whereupon he changed almost permanently to Bonaparte. Other members of his family followed as their lives became intertwined with the high-politics of France.
 

Mother Background:

Marie-Letizia Bonaparte,born August 24, 1750 in Ajaccio, Corsica

(d:February 2, 1836 at age 86)

Born in the middle of the eighteenth century, August 1750, Marie-Letizia was a member of the Ramolinos, a low ranking noble family of Italian descent whose elders had lived around Corsica - and in Letizia's case, Ajaccio - for several centuries. Letizia's father died when she was five and her mother Angela remarried a few years later to François Fesch, a captain from the Ajaccio garrison which Letizia's father had once commanded. Throughout this period Letizia received no education beyond the domestic.

The next phase of Letizia's life began on June 2nd 1764 when she married Carlo Buonaparte, the son of a local family with similar social rank and Italian descent; Carlo was eighteen, Letizia fourteen. Although some myths claim otherwise, the couple certainly didn't elope on a lovesick whim and, although some of the Ramolinos objected, neither family was overtly against the marriage; indeed, most historians agree that the match was a sound, largely economic, agreement which left the couple financially secure, although far from rich. Letizia soon bore two children, one before the end of 1765 and another under ten months later, but neither lived for long. Her next child was born on July 7th 1768, and this son survived: he was named Joseph. Overall, Letizia gave birth to thirteen children, but only eight of those made it past infancy.

One source of family income was Carlo's work for Pasquale Paoli, a Corsican patriot and revolutionary leader. When French armies landed in Corsica during 1768 Paoli's forces fought an, initially successful, war against them and, in early 1769, Letizia accompanied Carlo to the front line - at her own behest - despite her fourth pregnancy. However, the Corsican forces were crushed at the battle of Ponte Novo and Letizia was forced to flee back to Ajaccio through mountains. The incident is worth noting, for shortly after her return Letizia gave birth to her second surviving son, Napoleon; his embryonic presence at the battle remains part of his legend.

Letizia remained in Ajaccio for the next decade, bearing six more children who survived into adulthood.

By all accounts Letizia was a stern mother prepared to whip her offspring, but she was also caring and ran her household to the benefit of all.

For the next few years Letizia managed to keep her family together, despite numerous sons and daughters scattered across France in education and training.

In 1791 she inherited large sums from Archdeacon Lucien, a man who had lived on the floor above her in the Casa Buonaparte. This windfall enabled her to relax her grip on household tasks and enjoy herself, but it also enabled her son Napoleon to enjoy quick promotion and enter into the turmoil of Corsican politics.

Having plunged his family into poverty, Napoleon soon saved them from it: heroic success in Paris brought him promotion to the Army of the Interior and considerable wealth, 60,000 francs of which went to Letizia, enabling her to move into one of Marseilles' best homes. From then until 1814 Letizia received ever greater riches from her son, especially after his triumphant Italian campaign of 1796-7. This lined the elder Bonaparte brothers' pockets with considerable riches and caused the Paolista's to be expelled from Corsica; Letizia was thus able to return to the Casa Bonaparte, which she renovated with a massive compensatory grant from the French government.

She was certainly careful with her own money, but willing to spend that of her children and patrons. Unimpressed with the first property - a wing of the Grand Trianon - she had Napoleon move her into a large seventeenth century chateau, despite complaining at the opulence of it all.

She said in preparation for the potential collapse of Napoleon's empire: ''"My son has a fine position, said Letizia, 'but it may not continue for ever. Who knows whether all these kings won't say day come to me begging for bread?'"

In 1814 Napoleon's enemies seized Paris, forcing him into abdication and exile on Elba; as the Empire fell, so his siblings fell with him, losing their thrones, titles and parts of their wealth.

Still showing parental concern, Letizia traveled to stay with Napoleon before urging him to embark on the adventure which became the Hundred Days, a period when Napoleon regained the Imperial Crown, hurriedly re-organised France and fought the most famous battle in European History

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