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Considered one of the world's greatest military leaders, Napoleon Bonaparte was born on August 15, 1769, in Ajaccio, Corsica, France. He was the fourth, and second surviving, child of Carlo Bonaparte, a lawyer, and his wife, Letizia Ramolino.
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Napoleon was ambitious. The Directory liked him and made him Commander of the Army of the Interior. He also advised the Directory on military stuff.
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Napoleon studied at the military college of Brienne for five years, before moving on to the military academy in Paris. Since his father died of stomach cancer, he wanted to be the head of the family. So he graduated early from the military academy as second lieutenant of artillery
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In 1796, Napoleon took over the Army of Italy like he wanted to.The army was big - 30,000 strong. Even though he was young, he rebuilt the army and won against the Austrians and increased the French empire. His victories made him famous around the world.
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He supported Jocobins, a left-wing political group from the French Revolution. Maximilien de Robespierre became the dictatorship of the Committee of Public Safety. The years of 1793 and 1794 came to be known as the Reign of Terror, Jacobins fell from power and Robespierre was executed.
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He married Joséphine de Beauharnais, widow of General Alexandre de Beauharnais (guillotined during the Reign of Terror) and the mother of two children, to improve his reputation on March 9, 1796.
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Napoleaon revolutionized military organization and training, sponsored Napoleonic Code, reorganized education and established the long-lived Concordat with the papacy. His written down laws affected most major countries including U.S.
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Napoleon's great political skills created a new constitution that created the position of first consul - a dictatorship. He could appoint ministers, generals, civil servants, magistrates and even members of the legislative assemblies. Napoleon's reforms were popular. In 1802 he was elected consul for life
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The United States purchased the Louisiana territory from France for $15 million, to expand the country's borders far into the West
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In November 1799, Napoleon became first consul. In 1802, he was made consul for life and two years later, emperor. He centralized government, created the Bank of France, reinstated Roman Catholicism as the state religion and law reform with the Code Napoleon.
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Napoleon immediately led his country back into battle. He led troops into Belgium and defeated the Prussians on June 16, 1815. But then, two days later, at Waterloo, he lost the battle against British, who were helped by Prussian fighters. Famous saying "your Waterloo" means the beginning of the end.
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He was banished to the island of St. Helens. He got sick there with signs of a stomach ulcer or cancer. While he was sick in bed, He dictated his last will: "I wish my ashes to rest on the banks of the Seine, in the midst of that French people which I have loved so much. I die before my time, killed by the English oligarchy and its hired assassins." He died on Mar 5, 1821
