Napoleon

NAPOLEON BONAPARTE:

Napoleon Bonaparte was born on the 15 August 1769. He died on 5 May 1821. He was a military and political leader of France.

             He was born in Corsica. He trained as an officer in mainland France. Bonaparte became important in the First French Republic. He led successful campaigns against the First and Second Coalitions. In 1799, he staged a coup d'état. Through this, he became a First Consul. Five years later the French Senate declared him Emperor. In the first ten years of the nineteenth century, many wars cursed the French Empire under Napoleon. These were called the Napoleonic Wars. After many victories, France became very important in Europe.

             In 1813, the Sixth Coalition defeated Napoleon’s forces at Leipzig. The year after that, the Coalition attacked France. The Coalition also exiled Napoleon to the island of Elba. A year later, he escaped Elba and became powerful again. But he was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo in June 1815. Napoleon spent the last six years of his life confined by the British on the island of Saint Helena. A doctor claimed he died of stomach cancer. However, some scientists have suggested that he was poisoned with arsenic.

             Napoleon's campaigns are studied at military schools all over the world. He is remembered as a tyrant by the people who were against him.