Napoleon

Napoleon Bonaparte was born on August 15, 1769, in his island homeland of Corsica. Napoleon was the second son of Carlo and Letizia. Corsica and France were at war. France had easily crushed the Corsican resistance, and taken over Corsica. So when Napoleon was born, he was considered a citizen of France. When Napoleon was nine years old and it was time for his schooling, he was sent to a school in Autun, France. At the school he was teased and tormented for being from Corsica, but he was determined, and he eventually learned enough French to attend the military academy Brienne. There he was treated with the same attitude for being a Corsican. Napoleon did very well in school and was recommended to a military school in Paris. In 1784, Napoleon’s father, Carlo, died. Letizia was left to raise Napoleon and his 7 brothers and sisters by herself. Napoleon didn’t let the death of his father bring him down. He had already shown that he was hard working, determined, and motivated. In the fall of 1785, he graduated from military school after only one year of study instead of the normal 2 or 3. Skipping many ranks, Napoleon was assigned as second Lieutenant to an artillery regiment. His Generals, and others above him, started to recognize his skill and capability.

Napoleon spent much of the next 8 years in his homeland of Corsica. There he played an active role in political and military matters, and started supporting the Corsican rebel Pasquale Paoli. Because of starvation and poverty of the French people, and France’s leaders to busy attending parties to care, the French Revolution started in 1789. Napoleon started to get promoted in the military, but he began to oppose to Paoli. When civil war started in 1793 in Corsica, the Bonaparte family was forced to flee to France.

Napoleon went through good times and bad times, as one set of rulers came and went. By December 1793 Napoleon was the hero of the Siege of Toulon, a General and favorite of Augustin Robespierre. Shortly after all this, the revolution had turned around, and Napoleon was arrested for treason. Fortunately, political corruption or 'flexibility' saved him. The rule of Vicomte Paul de Baras, soon to be one of France's three 'Directors', followed.

Napoleon became a hero again in 1795, by defending the government from angry counter-revolutionary forces. Baras rewarded Napoleon by promoting him to high military office, a position which gave him much political power in France. Napoleon quickly grew into one of the country's most respected military leaders, mostly because of his tendency to never keep his opinions to himself. Napoleon married Josephine de Beauharnais.

In 1796, France attacked Austria. Napoleon was given command of the Army of Italy, a young, starving, and unorganized army, and made them into a force which won victory after victory against Austrian opponents. Napoleon’s campaign is remembered as legendary, besides the battle of Arcole, which he won by luck. Napoleon returned to France in 1797 as the nation's biggest hero, a nation which was no longer in need of a Ruler.

In May 1798, Napoleon left for a campaign in Egypt and Syria. Napoleon was prompted by his desire for victories, the French need to threaten Britain's empire in India, and the Directory's concerns that their famous general might seize power. The Egyptian campaign was a complete military failure. The change of government in France caused Napoleon to leave his army and return in the August of 1799. Shortly after this, he took part in the Brumaire, in which he overthrew the government of the Directory, in November 1799. He replaced it with the Consulate, France's new ruling triumvirate, in which he himself was a member. The transfer of power was not smooth, owing much of his success to luck, but Napoleon's great political skill was clear. By February 1800, he was declared the First Consul, a dictatorship with a constitution to guide him closely. However, France was still at war with it’s opponents in Europe, and Napoleon set out to beat them. He was victorious within a year, although the key battle, the Battle of Marengo, was won by the French general Desaix in June 1800.

Napoleon had made several treaties that left Europe at peace. Then Napoleon began working on his own country. He reformed the economy, legal system, church, military, education, and government. He watched his country carefully, and made reforms throughout his entire rule. The Consul's popularity remained high because of his talent of propaganda, but also just national support. Napoleon was elected Consulate for life by the French people in 1802, and Emperor of France in 1804. A title which Napoleon worked hard to maintain and perfect.

Things were going well for Napoleon, but Europe was not at peace for long. Napoleon's fame, ambitions, and character were based on military conquest, making it almost inevitable that his reorganized army would fight in more wars. However, other European countries wanted war as well. Not just because they distrust and fear Napoleon, but they also held a grudge towards the revolutionary France.

For the next eight years Napoleon dominated Europe. He began fighting and defeating many alliances including Austria, Britain, Russia, and Prussia. Sometimes his victories were completely one-sided, such as Austerlitz in 1805, one of his greatest military victories. However, some of his victories were very lucky. Napoleon created new states in Europe, including the German Confederation and the Duchy of Warsaw. Napoleon began to place his family and favorites in positions of great power.

Napoleon also made mistakes and