Napoleon Bonaparte: short biography. Napoleon Bonaparte - short biography

Biography and episodes of life Napoleon Bonaparte. When born and died Napoleon Bonaparte, memorable places and dates of important events in his life. Quotes from the French commander and emperor, images and videos.

Years of life of Napoleon Bonaparte:

born 15 August 1769, died 5 May 1821

Epitaph

“Why were you sent and who sent you?
What, good or evil, were you faithful to accomplish?
Why did it go out, why did it shine,
A wonderful visitor to Earth?
From a poem by A. S. Pushkin

“Great husband! there's no reward here
Worthy of your valor!
Looks will find her in the sky
And they won’t find it among people.”
From a poem by M. Yu. Lermontov

Biography

The reign of Napoleon Bonaparte did not bring any significant economic benefit to his country. But one cannot deny Bonaparte's military genius, which allowed him to ascend to the French throne. This short, stocky Corsican (Bonaparte’s height, according to various sources, is from 157 to 168 cm) was able to make European countries tremble before the majestic France. The biography of Napoleon Bonaparte is a story of great victories and, alas, equally great defeats.

He was born on the island of Corsica, studied at a military school and from a young age became the breadwinner of his family, since he lost his father early. His military career was rapid - in addition to military school, Napoleon was constantly engaged in self-education, re-reading a large number of military literature. We can say that he was born in right time- when there was a riot in Paris, he quickly took matters into his own hands, after which he was appointed commander of the army, under whose leadership France won many battles - in Italy, Austria, the Alps and the French colonies. But while he was away from France, the royalists began to gain strength in it. To prevent them from seizing the government, Napoleon Bonaparte proclaimed himself ruler of France, gaining the full support of the army, which adored its commander.

For some time there was peace in France, but Napoleon's further policy of imperialism soon began to bear negative fruit. The war with Great Britain began. And after a while, with Russia, when Alexander I refused to tighten the blockade of Great Britain and introduced a duty on goods from France. This war was lost by Napoleon, which was the beginning of the fall of Bonaparte. In addition, during his reign, he managed to make many enemies in his own country, for which he was removed from the throne and sent into exile on the island of Elba. After a while, he tried to return to power with the help of the military and peasants who were still loyal to him, but, alas, he could not hold out for long and was again sent to exile on the island of St. Helena, where he died alone.

Napoleon's personal life was also full of failures. The first time he married Josephine de Beauharnais, who by the time of her marriage to Napoleon had already been married several times. Few people approved of this marriage, but Josephine and Napoleon were married for 13 years, Bonaparte even adopted Josephine’s children. But, alas, they never had a child together, which was one of the reasons for the divorce. Another reason was that in order to strengthen his power, Bonaparte still needed a marriage with a girl of royal blood. When he informed Josephine of his intention to divorce, she suffered a nervous breakdown. Alas, this sacrifice was in vain. Despite the fact that Napoleon had an heir from his second marriage, this did not bring him happiness and power. When Napoleon was exiled to Elba, it was Josephine who asked permission to accompany her former husband in exile, but she was not allowed. Napoleon outlived his beloved by seven years and loved her until the end of his life.

Napoleon's death occurred on May 5, 1821, and Napoleon's funeral took place on the island of St. Helena. For several years, Napoleon's grave was located on an island in the Valley of the Lilies, until in 1840 his ashes were taken out and reburied in the Invalides in Paris.

Life line

August 15, 1769 Date of birth of Napoleon Bonaparte.
1785 Napoleon begins professional military service.
December 18, 1793 The capture of Toulon, after which Napoleon achieved the rank of brigadier general.
March 2, 1796 Napoleon's appointment as commander of the Italian army.
1798-1799 Expedition to Egypt led by Napoleon.
November 1799 A coup d'etat led by Napoleon, after which he was appointed first consul.
18 May 1804 Proclamation of Napoleon Bonaparte as Emperor.
1805 Austrian campaign.
1806-1807 Prussian and Polish campaigns.
1809 Austrian campaign.
1812 Napoleon's defeat in the war against Russia.
1814 Forced abdication, exile to the island of Elba.
March 18, 1815 Return of Napoleon to the French throne.
June 22, 1815 Secondary abdication of the throne.
May 5, 1821 Date of death of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Memorable places

1. Ajaccio, Corsica, where Napoleon was born.
2. Military school of Paris, where Napoleon studied.
3. Elba Island, where Napoleon was exiled in 1814.
4. Saint Helena Island, where Napoleon died and where he was buried after his death.
5. Les Invalides in Paris, where Napoleon was reburied in 1840 and where the monument to Napoleon is located.

Episodes of life

When Napoleon was crowned Emperor of France and Josephine Empress, he refused to allow the Pope to place the crown on his wife. He took the crown from the Pope's hands and put it on Josephine's head himself.

Napoleon Bonaparte's last words before his death were: "France, army, head of the army, Josephine."

The governor of St. Helena did not allow the word "emperor" to be written on Napoleon's tombstone. Shortly before Napoleon's death, Count Bertrand, who was under Bonaparte, sent a request to the governor for medical assistance to the emperor, to which he received the answer: “There is no person on this island who bears the name Emperor.” Bonaparte himself would never have turned to the governor; he said: “You can kill me, but you cannot insult me.” Napoleon also once said that when he dies, the universe will breathe a sigh of relief. When news of Napoleon's death reached Paris, Talleyrand, who was Napoleon's first minister at the time, sarcastically remarked: "This is not an event, but just news."

Paul Delaroche's painting "Napoleon Crosses the Alps" (left), Jacques Louis David's painting "Napoleon at the Saint Bernard Pass" (right)

Covenant

“Impossibility is a word from the dictionary of fools.”

"There is no strength without skill"

Documentary film about Napoleon Bonaparte

Condolences

“He was alien to the world, everything about him was a secret.”
Mikhail Lermontov, poet

“Reflecting on his brilliant career, we are torn between indignation and admiration. Napoleon left France crushed, conquered, drained of blood, losing courage, becoming less than it was... But is it possible to discount the valiant glory that our army earned under him? How can one deny the reputation of a strong power that he has won for his homeland? The echo of this glory can still be heard today. And today, although much water has passed under the bridge since then, crowds of people from all over the world come to experience the awe of greatness at his tomb...”
Charles de Gaulle, 18th President of France

Name: Napoleon Bonaparte

Age: 51 years old

Place of Birth: Ajaccio, Corsica, France

A place of death: Longwood, Saint Helena, Britain

Activity: emperor, commander, statesman

Family status: was married

Napoleon Bonaparte - biography

A commander and diplomat with a phenomenal memory, the Emperor of France entered world history not by chance. Much has been written about him, his war strategies have been studied in detail. This is a man of extraordinary destiny.

Childhood, family

Napoleon was born in Corsica. The family was not rich, but of noble origin. The family raised eight children. My father worked in the legal profession, my mother was a housewife, as they would say now, she was raising her children. Initially, the surname of this family was pronounced only as Buanaparte; the Bonaparte variant came from Tuscany. All children studied sacred history and literacy at home. Further education for the boy took place in a private school.

From the age of 10, Autun College awaited him. Napoleon did not graduate from college and continued his studies at the Brienne Military School. He likes military service and chooses the Military Academy in Paris. From the walls educational institution he had already reached the rank of lieutenant. Almost immediately it begins military biography. The young man begins his service in the artillery.

Hobbies of Napoleon

In his youth, Napoleon was incredibly modest and reserved; he read a lot and studied military science. Participated in the development of the defense of Corsica. He tries himself in literature, writes reports, and thinks that he will gain fame in writing. But this is not the only thing the young man is interested in. History, geography, legislation, philosophy - he is fascinated by everything.

He draws from each of these sciences material for his rich imagination, composes stories, writes historical treatises on his history home country. Unfortunately, not a single work of Napoleon was printed or published; all of his works were preserved in handwritten form. Bonaparte hated France; he believed that it had conquered his homeland, for which he had a special love.

Career

Napoleon was a revolutionary and rebel at heart, which is why he immediately accepted the French Revolution. He becomes a member of the Jacobin Club. When they took Toulon and defeated the British, Bonaparte was awarded the rank of brigadier general. From this moment on, the biography of the military leader changes dramatically. His next merit was the suppression of the rebellion and his appointment as commander of the army. And the commander justified all the hopes that were placed on him during the Italian campaign.

He receives a referral to Syria, and then to Egypt. Napoleon is defeated. But, in order to rehabilitate himself, he voluntarily decides to participate in the battle with the army. He returned to Paris during the coup, became consul, and subsequently emperor. Under Napoleon, the Civil Code and Roman Law were published.

Napoleon strengthened his power with all his laws, carrying out reforms in many areas. Some of them are still present in the modern state. There were hostilities between France, Austria and England. Napoleon secured his borders and subjugated almost all European countries, and in the remaining territories he created kingdoms and gave them to members of his family.

Everything was going well, but the war lasted twenty years, from which everyone was tired. The situation was worsened by the economic crisis and the protest of the bourgeoisie against the sole power of the emperor.

Collapse of the Empire

1812 is a turning point in Napoleon's empire. Russia did not succumb to Bonaparte, the French troops were defeated. A coalition of four countries finally defeated Napoleonic army and entered Paris. Napoleon abdicated his throne, retaining the emperorship. He was exiled to the distant island of Elba, but soon fled, resuming the war.

Napoleon suffered a final fiasco during the Battle of Waterloo. The biography of the great commander ended shamefully. Bonaparte was again sent into exile on the island of St. Helena for six long years.

Napoleon Bonaparte - biography of personal life

Napoleon was married to the barren Josephine Beauharnais, she was six years older than her husband. Without waiting for heirs, he remarried the daughter of the Austrian Emperor, Marie-Louise. She bore the emperor a son.

There are no descendants of Bonaparte left; his only son died young. There were illegitimate children, the family of one of them has survived to this day. Napoleon died at the age of fifty-one, suffering from an incurable illness.

Other Interesting Facts commander

Napoleon Bonaparte was interesting personality, and in many documents and memoirs some interesting notes have been preserved about his abilities, hobbies and character. It is known that he had a mathematical mind, although he knew how to express himself literary and beautifully express his thoughts. The Emperor loved playing chess and hats. He had a great variety of hats, almost two hundred pieces.

Napoleon did not need sleep; three to four hours of sleep was enough for him. And sometimes a few minutes were enough to rest. It cost him nothing to take the post of a simple soldier in order to let him sleep. He took care of the simple soldier, he knew that in the morning he would go into battle again.

Name: Napoleon Bonaparte

Age: 51 years old

Height: 168

Activity: emperor, commander, statesman who laid the foundations of the modern French state

Family status: was married

Napoleon Bonaparte was a brilliant commander, diplomat, had excellent intelligence, phenomenal memory and amazing performance. An entire era named after him, and his deeds came as a shock to most of his contemporaries. His military strategies are in textbooks, and the norms of democracy Western countries based on Napoleonic law.

Napoleon Bonaparte on horseback

The role of this outstanding personality in the history of France is ambiguous. In Spain and Russia he was called the Antichrist, and some researchers consider Napoleon a somewhat embellished hero.

Childhood and youth

The brilliant commander, statesman, Emperor Napoleon I Bonaparte was a native of Corsica. Born on August 15, 1769 in the city of Ajaccio into a poor noble family. The parents of the future emperor had eight children. Father Carlo di Buonaparte practiced law, mother Letizia, née Ramolino, raised the children. They were Corsicans by nationality. Bonaparte is the Tuscan version of the surname of the famous Corsican.

Certificate and sacred history he was educated at home, and at the age of six he was sent to private school, at the age of ten - to Autun College, where the boy did not stay long. After college, Brienne continues her studies at military school. In 1784 he entered the Parisian military academy. Upon graduation, he received the rank of lieutenant and from 1785 served in the artillery.

In his early youth, Napoleon lived in solitude and was interested in literature and military affairs. In 1788, while in Corsica, he participated in the development of defensive fortifications, worked on a report on the organization of the militia, etc. He considered literary works to be of paramount importance and hoped to become famous in this field.

Reads with interest books on history, geography, and the size of government revenues European countries, works on the philosophy of legislation, is fond of the ideas of Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Abbé Raynal. He writes the history of Corsica, the stories “Conversation of Love”, “The Prophet in Disguise”, “The Earl of Essex” and keeps a diary.

The works of young Bonaparte, with the exception of one, remained in manuscripts. In these works the author expresses negative emotions in relation to France, considering it the enslaver of Corsica, and love for the homeland. The recordings of the young Napoleon are political in tone and permeated with a revolutionary spirit.

Napoleon Bonaparte greeted the French Revolution with enthusiasm, and in 1792 he joined the Jacobin Club. After the victory over the British for the capture of Toulon in 1793, he was awarded the rank of brigadier general. This becomes a turning point in his biography, after which a brilliant military career begins.

In 1795, Napoleon distinguished himself during the dispersal of the royalist rebellion, after which he was appointed commander of the army. The Italian campaign undertaken in 1796-1797 under his command demonstrated the talent of the commander and glorified him throughout the continent. In 1798-1799, the Directory sent him on a long-distance military expedition to Syria and Egypt.

The expedition ended in defeat, but it was not considered a failure. He leaves the army without permission to fight the Russians under the command of Suvorov. In 1799, General Napoleon Bonaparte returned to Paris. The Directory regime at this time was already at the peak of the crisis.

Domestic policy

After the coup and the proclamation of the consulate in 1802, he became consul, and in 1804 - emperor. In the same year, with the participation of Napoleon, a new Civil Code was published, based on Roman law.

Domestic policy, carried out by the emperor, is aimed at strengthening his own power, which, in his opinion, guaranteed the preservation of the gains of the revolution. Carries out reforms in the field of law and administration. He undertook a number of reforms in the legal and administrative spheres. Some of these innovations still form the basis of the functioning of states. Napoleon ended anarchy. A law was passed to ensure the right to property. French citizens were recognized as equal in rights and opportunities.

Mayors were appointed to cities and villages, and the French Bank was created. The economy began to revive, which could not but please even the poor. Military recruitment allowed the poor to earn money. Lyceums opened throughout the country. At the same time, the police network expanded, a secret department began operating, and the press was subjected to strict censorship. Gradually there was a return to the monarchical system of government.

An important event for the French government was an agreement concluded with the Pope, thanks to which the legitimacy of Bonaparte’s power was recognized in exchange for the proclamation of Catholicism main religion the majority of citizens. Society was divided into two camps in relation to the emperor. Some citizens stated that Napoleon betrayed the revolution, but Bonaparte himself believed that he was a successor of its ideas.

Foreign policy

The beginning of Napoleon's reign occurred at a time when France was at war with Austria and England. The new victorious Italian campaign eliminated the threat at the French borders. The result of military action was the subjugation of almost all European countries. In territories that were not part of France, kingdoms subordinate to the emperor were created, the rulers of which were members of his family. Russia, Prussia and Austria form an alliance.

At first, Napoleon was perceived as the savior of his homeland. The people were proud of his achievements, and there was a national upsurge in the country. But the 20-year war tired everyone. The Continental blockade proclaimed by Bonaparte, which led to the collapse of the English economy, its light industry, forced the British to stop trade relations with European countries. The crisis hit the port cities of France; the supply of colonial goods, to which Europe had already become accustomed, was stopped. Even the French court suffered from a lack of coffee, sugar, and tea.

The situation was worsened by the economic crisis of 1810. The bourgeoisie did not want to spend money on wars, since the threat of attack by other countries was a thing of the past. She understood that the goal foreign policy the emperor - expanding his own power and protecting the interests of the dynasty.

The collapse of the empire began in 1812, when Russian troops defeated Napoleonic army. The creation of an anti-French coalition, which included Russia, Austria, Prussia and Sweden, in 1814 was the collapse of the empire. This year she defeated the French and entered Paris.

Napoleon had to abdicate the throne, but he retained the status of emperor. He was exiled to the island of Elba in the Mediterranean Sea. However, the exiled emperor did not stay there long.

French citizens and military personnel were unhappy with the situation and feared the return of the Bourbons and nobility. Bonaparte escapes and on March 1, 1815, moves to Paris, where he is greeted with enthusiastic exclamations from the townspeople. Hostilities resume. This period went down in history as the “Hundred Days”. The final defeat of Napoleon's army occurred on June 18, 1815 after the Battle of Waterloo.

The deposed emperor was captured by the British and sent into exile again. This time he found himself in Atlantic Ocean on the island of St. Elena, where he lived for another 6 years. But not all the British had a negative attitude towards Napoleon. In 1815, George Byron, impressed by the fate of the deposed emperor, created the “Napoleonic Cycle” of five poems, after which the poet was reproached for being unpatriotic. Among the British there was another admirer of Napoleon - Princess Charlotte, the daughter of the future George IV, on whose support the emperor at one time counted, but she died in 1817 during childbirth.

Personal life

From a young age, Napoleon Bonaparte was distinguished by his amorousness. Contrary to popular belief, Napoleon's height was above average by the standards that existed in those years - 168 cm, which could not help but attract the attention of the opposite sex. His masculine features and posture, which are visible in the reproductions presented in the form of photographs, aroused the interest of the ladies around him.

The first lover to whom the young man proposed was 16-year-old Desiree-Evgenia-Clara. But at that time his career in Paris began to develop rapidly, and Napoleon could not resist the charm of Parisian women. In the capital of France, Bonaparte preferred to have affairs with older women.

An important event in Napoleon's personal life, which took place in 1796, was his marriage to Josephine Beauharnais. Bonaparte's beloved turned out to be 6 years older than him. She was born into a plantation family on the island of Martinique in the Caribbean. From the age of 16 she was married to Viscount Alexandre de Beauharnais and gave birth to two children. Six years after marriage, she divorced her husband and at one time lived in Paris, then in her father’s house. After the revolution of 1789 she again went to France. In Paris he supported her ex-husband, who by that time occupied a high political position. But in 1794 the Viscount was executed, and Josephine herself spent some time in prison.

A year later, having miraculously gained freedom, Josephine met Bonaparte, who was not yet so famous. According to some reports, at the time of their acquaintance she was in a love affair with the then ruler of France, Barras, but this did not prevent him from becoming a witness at the wedding of Bonaparte and Josephine. In addition, Barras granted the groom the position of commander of the Italian Army of the Republic.

Researchers claim that the lovers had many things in common. Both were born far from France on small islands, experienced hardships, were imprisoned, both were dreamers. After the wedding, Napoleon went to the positions of the Italian army, and Josephine remained in Paris. After the Italian campaign, Bonaparte was sent to Egypt. Josephine still did not follow her husband, but enjoyed social life in the capital of France.

Tormented by jealousy, Napoleon began to have favorites. According to researchers, Napoleon had from 20 to 50 lovers. A series of novels followed, which led to the emergence of illegitimate heirs. Two are known - Alexander Colonna-Walewski and Charles Leon. The Colonna-Walewski family has survived to this day. Alexander's mother was the daughter of a Polish aristocrat, Maria Valevskaya.

Josephine could not have children, so in 1810 Napoleon divorced her. Initially, Bonaparte planned to intermarry with the Romanov imperial family. He asked Anna Pavlovna's hand in marriage from her brother Alexander I. But Russian Emperor did not want to become related to a ruler of non-royal blood. In many ways, these disagreements influenced the cooling of relations between France and Russia. Napoleon marries the daughter of the Emperor of Austria, Marie-Louise, who gave birth to an heir in 1811. This marriage was not approved by the French public.

Ironically, it was Josephine’s grandson, and not Napoleon’s, who later became the French emperor. Her descendants reign in Denmark, Belgium, Norway, Sweden and Luxembourg. There are no descendants of Napoleon left, since his son had no children, and he himself died young.

After being deported to the island of Elba, Bonaparte expected to see his legal wife next to him, but Marie-Louise went to her father’s domain. Maria Valevskaya arrived to Bonaparte with her son. Returning to France, Napoleon dreamed of seeing only Marie Louise, but the emperor never received an answer to all the letters sent to Austria.

Death

After the defeat at Waterloo, Bonaparte whiled away his time on the island of St. Elena. Last years his life was filled with suffering from an incurable disease. On May 5, 1821, Napoleon I Bonaparte died, he was 52 years old.

According to one version, the cause of death was oncology, according to another - arsenic poisoning. Researchers who support the version of stomach cancer appeal to the results of the autopsy, as well as to the heredity of Bonaparte, whose father died of stomach cancer. Other historians mention that Napoleon gained weight before his death. And this became an indirect sign of arsenic poisoning, since cancer patients lose weight. In addition, traces of high concentrations of arsenic were later found in the emperor’s hair.

According to Napoleon's will, his remains were transported to France in 1840, where they were reburied in the Parisian Invalides on the territory of the cathedral. Around the tomb former emperor French sculptures made by Jean-Jacques Pradier are exhibited.

Memory

The memory of the exploits of Napoleon Bonaparte is captured in art. Among them are opuses by Ludwig van Beethoven, Hector Berlioz, Robert Schumann, literary works Fyodor Dostoevsky, Leo Tolstoy, Rudyard Kipling. In cinema, his image is captured in films of different eras, starting with silent films. A genus of trees growing on the African continent is named after the commander, as well as a culinary masterpiece - a layer cake with cream. Napoleon's letters were published in France under Napoleon III and were sorted into quotations.

In the history of France there were many coups and revolutions, monarchies were replaced by republics, and vice versa. Bonaparte was one of the significant figures in the history of this country and all of Europe.

Few people know that after his defeat he abdicated the throne in favor of his young son. The Bonapartists gave him the name Napoleon II. What happened to the rightful heir, how many other Napoleons were there in the history of France?

Sons of Napoleon

The French emperor had three sons, two of them illegitimate. The fate of each of the offspring developed differently.

The ruler had his first son from a relationship with Eleanor de la Pleine. At that time, Napoleon was married to Josephine Beauharnais, but the couple had no children during ten years of marriage. The boy was born on December 13, 1806 at two o'clock in the morning. The Emperor received the good news while in Poland. His first thought was to adopt a child, but she soon disappeared. Napoleon wanted a legitimate heir.

The boy was given the name Charles. Mother and son received annual money for their maintenance. The father loved and spoiled the boy. After his death, he left him a significant amount. However, Charles squandered it very quickly, because he loved to spend money, play cards, and participate in duels. He was dismissed from military service for non-compliance with the regulations, and tried to study to become a clergyman. As a result, the young man found a way to exist - he won an annual allowance from his mother, and later received a pension from his cousin, who became the emperor. After the overthrow of Napoleon III, Count Leon went bankrupt, and was later buried as a beggar tramp.

The birth of Charles prompted the emperor to think about breaking up with his official wife, who was unable to give birth to an heir. He meets Maria Valevskaya, who gives birth to her son Alexander on May 4, 1810. When the mistress returned with her son in her arms to Paris, the emperor had already found a replacement for her. He allocated a significant amount for the maintenance of his son. Maria Valevskaya died very early, and Alexander had to take care of his life himself. In 1830 he took part in the Polish Uprising. After its defeat, the young man moved to Paris, where he became a captain in the French army. After retiring, he was engaged in journalism, drama, carried out diplomatic assignments, was Minister of Foreign Affairs under Napoleon III, and participated in the Paris Congress of 1856. He died in 1868, leaving behind seven children.

Napoleon II, whose biography will be discussed below, was the third son of the emperor. He became the only legitimate child. Who was his mother?

Heir's mother

After his divorce from Josephine, the ruler of France began searching for a wife who would give him a legitimate heir. At a special council it was decided that Napoleon should enter into a marriage alliance with a great power. This would allow him to guarantee his rights in the international arena.

Most ministers saw the best candidate in the sister of Russian Emperor Alexander the First, Anna Pavlovna. There were also those who were inclined towards an alliance with Austria through marriage with Marie-Louise, the daughter of Emperor Franz I.

Alexander the First did not want such a relationship, so he came up with new excuses. Napoleon was tired of waiting, he turned his gaze towards the Austrian party. The agreement was signed in 1810, at the same time a marriage by proxy was concluded in Vienna. Only after this the couple met. They had not seen each other before this.

The emperor fell in love with the young woman as soon as he saw her. A year later (04/20/1811) she gave him an heir, who was named Napoleon-Francois-Joseph. What fate awaited the heir named Napoleon II?

King of Rome

At birth, the boy was proclaimed King of Rome. However, this title was formal. In 1814, the emperor abdicated the throne. He did this in favor of his legal heir, and Napoleon II was declared French Emperor. Only the Bonapartists considered him a ruler, who called the boy this: Napoleon II Eaglet.

The history of this nickname is connected with the repressive regime that was introduced after Napoleon's abdication. It turned out to be unsafe to mention the name of the former emperor, so his followers called him Eagle. The bird was the heraldic symbol of the ruler. It was dangerous to mention his son, who left France, so he was called Eaglet. It is unknown who came up with the nickname, but Edmond Rostand made it famous. In 1900, he wrote the drama “The Little Eaglet” about the life of Napoleon II. In it, a young man is forced to live in a golden German cage.

The three-year-old heir was not crowned because the government in France had changed. In addition, the Russian emperor opposed the coronation. Together with Talleyrand, he insisted that the Bourbons be returned to power.

Marie-Louise took her son and returned to her family in Vienna. There she received the Duchy of Parma and met her future husband, who was initially assigned to keep an eye on her.

From Napoleon to Franz

Napoleon II remained the main hope of the Bonapartists. That is why he was guarded much more carefully than the most dangerous criminal. Everyone understood that the boy's origin could lead to a serious Bonapartist movement not only in France, but throughout the world.

The son of the deposed emperor lived near Vienna (Schönbrunn Castle). He was forced to speak only in German, and addressed him by his middle name - Franz. In 1818 he was given the title of Duke of Reichstadt.

The Duke was attracted to military service from the age of twelve. Despite all the prohibitions, and perhaps despite them, Franz remembered his origin. He was an ardent admirer of his great father.

Early death

By 1830, Napoleon II, who was about the same height as his father, had risen to the rank of major. It is unknown whether he could have lived up to the hopes of the Bonapartists. His life was short-lived. He died in 1832 from tuberculosis.

Napoleon-Francois was buried in Vienna, next to the other Habsburgs.

Posthumous fate

A hundred years later, Napoleon II (the photo has not survived to this day) was disturbed. In 1940, Adolf Hitler ordered his remains to be transferred to the Cathedral of the Invalides. He was placed next to his father's tomb.

Heir to Napoleon II

The last monarch of France was Napoleon III Bonaparte. He was the nephew of the illustrious Emperor and the cousin of the Duke of Reichstadt. At birth, the future monarch was named Charles Louis Napoleon. Father was Louis Bonaparte. Mother - Hortense de Beauharnais. The marriage between them was forced, so the couple lived in constant separation.

The boy grew up at his uncle's court. Since childhood, he literally worshiped him and was devoted to “Napoleonic” ideas. He strove for power and walked towards his goal, clearing the road ahead of him.

After the overthrow of Bonaparte, the boy, his brother and mother moved to Switzerland, where Hortense acquired Arenenberg Castle. Louis did not receive systematic school education due to constant travel. In Switzerland he entered military service.

After the death of Napoleon II, Charles Louis became the one who represented Napoleonic ideas and claims. Four years later he tried to seize power in France. His act went down in history as the Strasbourg conspiracy. The attempt was unsuccessful, Bonaparte was exiled to America. He stayed there for a year, after which he settled in Switzerland and then in England.

The second attempt to become the head of France was made in 1840. It also turned out to be unsuccessful. As a result, Charles Louis was arrested with other conspirators and put on trial by the peers. His punishment was life imprisonment with the preservation of all rights. Surprisingly, such a punishment did not exist in French law. The unsuccessful conspirator spent six years in the Gam fortress. At this time, he wrote articles, published books, and communicated with friends. In 1846, Bonaparte fled from the fortress to England. On the island he met Harriet Gowar, who was an actress, owner of a fortune and many useful acquaintances. She helped her lover in many ways.

Reign of Napoleon III

In 1848, a revolution occurred in France. Louis hurried to Paris. He took a wait-and-see approach until the opportunity arose to nominate his candidacy for the presidency. According to the election results, he received 75% of the votes. At the age of forty he became President of the Republic.

He was not satisfied with being president, so in 1851 he dissolved the Assembly and established an empire in the state.

A year later he was proclaimed emperor under the name Napoleon III. According to the Bonapartist tradition, it was taken into account that for fourteen days the head of state was Napoleon II (son of Emperor Bonaparte).

The monarch was in power until 1870. The Franco-Prussian War put an end to his reign. During these years he suffered greatly from gallstones and took opiates. Because of this, he was lethargic and did not think well.

Napoleon the Third surrendered to William the First. A day later, the September Revolution took place in Paris. The empire ceased to exist. The deposed ruler moved to England, where he died in 1873.

Prototype of Baron Munchausen

Many art historians suggest that for the illustrative image of the famous Baron Munchausen, artist Gustave Dore took the appearance of Napoleon III as a prototype. The similarity is manifested in the oval of the head, the shape of the nose, mustache and goatee. Munchausen's coat of arms were three ducks, which can be considered an allusion to the Bonaparte coat of arms (three little bees).

Dynastic connection

There are a total of five Napoleons in history. They were all relatives.

It is customary to begin the genealogy of the Bonapartes with Carlo Buonaparte. He had five sons: Joseph, Napoleon, Lucien, Louis, Jerome. Napoleon II is the son of Napoleon the First, Napoleon the Third is the son of Louis, Napoleon the Fourth is the grandson of Louis, Napoleon the Fifth is the grandson of Jerome. In fact, only two from the list ruled; the rest were considered rulers only by the Bonapartists.

Biography of Napoleon Bonaparte is life path an outstanding personality with a phenomenal memory, undoubted intelligence, extraordinary abilities and extraordinary performance.

Napoleon Bonaparte was born in Corsica in the city of Ajaccio. This event in the family of Carlo and Litizia di Buonoparte occurred on August 15, 1769. Buonoparte belonged to a poor noble family. In total, the parents of the future conqueror of Europe had eight children.

The father was a lawyer, and the mother devoted her life to giving birth and raising children. It is interesting to note that the surname of a famous Corsican family, later the ruling dynasty of France, in Italian was pronounced Buonaparte, and in French - Bonaparte.

Having received a home education, at the age of six Napoleon went to study at a private school, and at the age of ten he was transferred to Autun College. After some time, the capable young man moved to the small French city of Brienne and there continued his studies at a military school.

In 1784, he passed the exams at the Paris Military Academy, after which he received the rank of lieutenant and went to serve in the artillery. In addition to his passion for military affairs, Napoleon read a lot and wrote works of art. The works of the future emperor are almost all kept in manuscripts. Not much is known about their contents.

Revolution

Great French revolution, the result of which was the destruction absolute monarchy and the proclamation of the First French Republic, Napoleon greeted with enthusiasm.

In 1792, he joined the ranks of the most influential political movement in France at that time - the Jacobin Club. Subsequently, the club was reborn into a government body, and many of its members became prominent politicians. Napoleon was no exception.

Beginning in 1793, his military career rapidly went uphill: he received the rank of brigadier general, took an active part in suppressing the protests of supporters of the monarchy, became commander-in-chief of the army, and after the successes of the Italian company - a recognized commander. The short biography of Napoleon Bonaparte is replete with both brilliant and tragic moments.

Emperor

On November 9, 1799, a coup d'etat took place in France, which resulted in the fall of the Directory and the creation of a new government headed by the consul, and then the emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. This was a turning point in his biography. His reign was marked by the adoption of a number of successful reforms in the administrative and legal sphere, victorious military campaigns, as a result of which he subjugated almost all of Europe.

Crash

It is important for children in 4th grade to know that 1812 was the beginning of the inevitable death of Napoleon's empire. This was the year when Napoleon's army entered Russian territory and initially waged successful campaigns of conquest. battle of Borodino changed the entire course of the war. The French gradually retreated. An anti-French coalition was created against Napoleon, which included Russia, Prussia, Austria and Sweden.

In 1814 she entered Paris and the Napoleonic Empire was destroyed. The emperor himself was exiled to the island of Elba. But exactly a year later he took new try seize power. But luck had long ago turned away from him: a hundred days later he was defeated in the famous Battle of Waterloo. Six years later he died on the island of St. Elena.

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