200 years have passed - one would think that by now everything has been said about Napoleon I, emperor of France. When the great generals of history are discussed in school we find this man in the row of most aggressive conquerors: "Caesar, Napoleon and Hitler" - or, in the classical high schools "Alexander, Caesar and Napoleon", which is slightly more correct and fairer. He crowned himself to become emperor, thereby reversing the French Revolution. In the long run he, justifiably, swept away the "awakened national spirit of the French people", he "brought back the old order", and thanks to him "peace had been secured for many decades".

None of that is true, and the comparison with Hitler is especially poor: any time when history writers - and currently more and more politicians too - want to break through the general lack of interest of the public they feel they must come up with a link with National Socialism, as untenable and ridiculous as it is.

At the same time we must ask ourselves whether it's still worth bothering with Napoleon, in this day and age. The answer to this is actually no: to help you make the right choice in elections it does nothing, nor does it help improve your understanding of international events very much. But for those that want to go deeper than that - get to the roots of civil law, democracy - it is impossible to ignore the events surrounding his glittering personality. And suddenly many things of our time become clearer as well, and values and rights that seem natural today gain the importance they disserve.

Because what from his time has remained truly valuable? Ideas. Ideas which in large parts of the world unfortunately cannot be put into practice.

Here at Cossacks2-net, we will closely inspect the phenomena Napoleon in three parts. First of all with a short biography, secondly with an attempt to discover the genius behind his long unbeatable strategy, and finally with a short analysis of his enemy's propaganda, which is repeated even today.

1769: On the 15th of August Napoleone (pronounced "Nabullione" on Corsica) is born as second son to nobleman-landowner Charles-Marie and his wife Letizia.

He had a very good relationship with his parents and a close connection with his brothers and sisters. One can definitely call his a happy childhood, as he enjoyed the freedom and unconstraint of the great outdoors of Corsica, where as a boy he frequently wandered about by himself. Some sources though do report of fighting with and dominance over his brothers and sisters. Especially with his older brother Joseph there seems to have been friction again and again.

1779: After a short spell at the school for priests at Autun, the ten year old boy enters the French military school at Brienne on a scholarship. The decision is made by his father, based on financial reasons. The family hardly has enough to survive, the feudal living conditions supposedly reserved for them thanks to his father's title just aren't there. They are dependent on the support of family and friends - an uncle is archdeacon of Ajaccio. We also shouldn't forget that despite popular belief, the nobility of Corsica also had to pay taxes, which, admittedly, made Napoleon used to heavy taxes right from the beginning. While the old monarchist nobility and clergy demanded a large majority of people's income, they also followed their own tax exemption to the letter.

The choice for a school on the French continent must have seemed as an exile to the young scholar, being locked up in the hostile environment of children of wealthy families - he could only speak poor French and had almost no things of his own. Already he starts reading a lot and splits of from the rest. He does find friends though, who he gives one day of life of loyalty. When one of these friends starts being drawn increasingly to homosexuality, Napoleon immediately puts a distance between them - probably because of uncertainty of what he was seeing. Napoleon himself speaks of this once, that the frequent friendships between men in military circles "are often caused by physical attraction". He never let his dislike for homosexuality turn into discrimination, even making Cambaceres (accepted by many as having been homosexual) second consul and later even arch chancellor of the Empire. But above all Napoleon never allowed any legal persecution (or worse) of homosexuals.



Keeping in mind the strict scholarly and military discipline of his school and his years long lack of assets, his first sexual experience came quite late - hence, arguably, his continuous uncertainty - and was with a Parisian prostitute. A scene that brings a smile to the face is the following, especially considering the general 'uptightness' of the time: in a letter, he, without much subtlety, kindly requests the "lady" to get back on the "right path". He calmly continues with what seems very strange today: his views on the "usefulness" of women, when it comes to bearing children, often indirectly or more directly speaking of the "services and rewards" he expects in a relationship with a woman.

1784: Acceptance to the Military Academy of Paris.



It quickly became clear that Napoleon had a gift for mathematics. Because of this, his wish at the academy, entering the navy, wasn't granted, and he was ordered to transfer to the artillery. His later acceptance to the French Academy of Sciences was actually hardly toadyism against the ruling power but genuine acknowledgement of his abilities. The man was - in contrast to his Habsburg, Bourbon, Prussian, and Russian opponents - undoubtedly highly intelligent. His transfer to the artillery must also have played a roll, considering the chronic lack of good officers (this was caused the sons of the nobility 'playing soldier' didn't want to bother with such hard work). For the unloved "foreigner" one could say this was exactly what he needed.

1785: Conclusion of military education in the artillery class. Father dies of intestinal tumor.

1786: After a visit to his home, Napoleon starts service as a lieutenant in the artillery regiment at the garrison of Valence. He is 17 years old.

The early death of his father was probably a real shock for the young Napoleon, despite his father's long illness. Above all, it was clear to him that his family was threatening to fall apart. After seven years of being away from home, he finally returned and took on a lot of responsibility. He took his younger brother Louise with him to the garrison, paying his living expenses, from what remained of his pitiful pay after supporting the rest of his family, and teaching him himself. The death of his father to an intestinal tumor might also have brought along a continuous fear of a similar death - despite the limited medical knowledge of the time, it was though that such things could be hereditary. And he seems to have been right, as we know today, because he might have already been suffering from it from an early age. His famous pose of later years, his hand resting on his stomach under his uniform jacket, supporting and warming, could very well have been necessary to control the continuous pain in his gut. No treatment for this illness existed yet.

1789: Stay on Corsica. Participation in the local revolutionary events.

The Buonapartes had been involved with politics for generations, the father even being part of Pasquale Paoli's Corsican independence fighters. And we must not underestimate the effect of the rudimentary democratic experiment that Corsica was on the rest of the world, even before the American and French revolutions. As a milestone towards the development of modern democracy is should be reclassified in history as of much more importance than usually understood. Thus it can be understood that it didn't take much to make the young Corsican a supporter of the ideas of freedom that the French revolution brought. And while the independence of Corsica long remained the young hothead's political ideal, the greater goal of achieving freedom for the whole of France, yes, for all the people, quickly turned into his new fascination. As so many chances of fate that led the way for Napoleon, the revolution started in Corsica, of all places - he had long been part of both the civil and military circles within his garrison, which also happened to be good places to meet interesting women - and he joined the revolutionary forces.

1792: After his service at the garrison, back to Corsica. Promoted to second lieutenant-colonel of the 2nd Corsican Volunteer Battalion (National Guard). 22 years old.

1793: Participated in a failed campaign against the island of St. Stefano. Napoleon breaks with the Corsican liberation fighter Paoli, who joins with the English. Family fleas to France.

Joins the Army of the Revolution. From October to December at the siege of Toulon. Wounded in the thigh by a stab of an English NCO with a halfpike, but the leg doesn't need to be amputated.

1794: Short arrest after being accused of being a supporter of Maximilien Robespierres. Napoleon had become friendly with his brother, Augustin, the commander of the troops at Toulon.

1795: By chance, plays a large part in the suppression of a royalist uprising in Paris. For this, promoted to commanding general of the army in France (26 years old). Close to government.

1796: 2 March - Appointed commander in Italy. 9 March - Marries Josephine de Beauharnais. 18 April - Cease fire at Leoben. 17 October - Peace treaty at Campo Formio. Returns to Paris.

1798/99: Campaign in Egypt. Returns to Paris, back 16 October.
9 November '99 - Disbands the Directory and becomes Consul on 10 November. 30 years old.

1800/01: Reforms in France. First attempted assassination of Napoleon. Wars with monarchist dictatorships continue. 9 February '01 - Peace treaty of Luneville. 15 July - Meeting with the Pope. Execution of the Duke of Enghien.

1802: Becomes president of the Republic of Italy. Peace treaty of Amiens. A comity in France names Napoleon Consul for life. Increasing economic blockade of neighboring countries by France and increasing piracy by England. Start of the organized economic blockade of England.

This is when Napoleon's tremendous daily workload starts, arguably the most productive phase of his achievements. He "couldn't get enough of details" - which was often very unpleasant for his secretaries and staff. Carelessness would quickly come under the Emperor's attention. Next to all this, he also found time to pursue his cultural interests, especially opera. Also, a broad range of books were "consumed" continuously, though admittedly many did cover his military profession. Even in times of limited personal finance, additional books would always be added to his collection. He read Goethe's "Werther" six times. History, natural history, mathematical problems, political discussions (Rousseaus and the Abbé Raynal, as well as American authors from the revolutionary era, were an inspiration to him), but religious questions too were to be found in his library. He wrote 120.000 words of personal notes and excerpts during his garrison time alone. He never really actively followed his family's Catholic background - partly influenced by the revolutionary times -, though his church policy, when for the first time he proclaims freedom of religion in the nation, was in the end church friendly. This is also the time that he expresses his sharpest criticism of the Pope's style of ruling like a king. Once on his death bed, he does ask for a priest's support.

1803: Again, war with England. Monetary reform in France. Complete reordering of the German states ("Reichsdeputationshauptschluss") after agreement with the rulers.

1804: 21 March - Issue of the Civil Code. 2 December - Crowned emperor of France in the Notre Dame in Paris after an election on the heredity of the function. 34 years old.

1805: Attacks Austria (2 October sea battle of Trafalgar; peace treaty of Pressburg after Austerlitz on 2 December). Acceptance and crowning as king of Italy in Milan after decision by the Italian Consulta.

1806: Attacks Prussia (decided after Jena and Auerstadt) and Russia. Creation of the Confederation of the Rhine.

1807: Peace treaty with Russia and Prussia in Tilsit after the battles of Eylau and Friedland. Fires Talleyrand.

1808: Occupies Portugal. Takes control of Spain. Spanish Junta still begins a revolt against the Spanish Bourbons.

1809: New attack by Habsburg on France. Campaign leads to battles of Aspern and Wagram (peace treaty of Schönbrunn). Revolt in Tyrol against Bavaria, in Prussia and Westphalia against the French occupation. Divorces Josephine.

1810: Departmental Laws in France. 2 April - Marries Marie-Louise of Habsburg.

1811: 20 March - Birth of son Francois-Charles Joseph de Bonaparte.

1812: Campaign against Russia after Tsar Alexander and his Prussia-ultimatum breaks treaty of Tilsit. Attempted coup by general Malet in Paris. With the convention of Tauroggen, Prussia breaks all agreements and enters the war together with Sweden and Russia.

1813: After numerous French victories against the old dictatorships, the attack by Austria against France turns the tide; after the battle of Leipzig return to France.

1814: Return to Paris; abdication and banishment to Elba. Start of the congress of Vienna about Europe after the war.

1815: Escape from Elba and return to France. "100 days campaign". Final abdication and banishment after the battle of Waterloo. 46 years old.

1821: After less than six years of exile on St. Helena (devoted mostly to writing his memoirs and personal notes), the 51 year old Napoleon dies on 5 May, having already suffered a long time of an intestinal tumor.

Until the very end he wanted to describe the events of his life himself. The message of his death sent to the English governor of St. Helena, which he had dictated himself only days before he passed away, is a sad document to read: "Monsieur le Gouverneur, the emperor Napoleon has, after long and excruciating illness, breathed his last breath. I have the honor to notify you of this. The Emperor has authorized me to, at a time you wish, convey you his last wishes." He had Montholon sign the document. In the end, he made peace with his friends and family - despite their quarrelsome relationships right up till the end; it is however often difficult to judge what is serious and what was meant in jest. He even thought of his "dear Marie-Louise", who never even visited Elba nor St. Helena, had been living with Neipperg for quite some time already and had two bastard children: "Tell her that I have loved her passionately and that I have never stopped loving her." And keeping in mind the references to her in his personal documents and the reports of others about the way he felt for her, it was most likely sincere.

All of today's persistent rumors about the English murdering Napoleon are almost certainly nothing more than sensationalist fantasies. During the autopsy, as far as the facts go, the tumor was actually found. In those times, such a deep tumor could not be operated on, even though Napoleon himself had requested treatment. Of course, long continuing, small doses of poison (especially arsenic is mentioned frequently) could have shortened the suffering or brought it to a head sooner. But all known facts, as well as the exertion during his campaigns, which he never quite recovered from, make such an early death medically explainable. The autopsy - ordered by Napoleon himself, so that if a cancer was really found, perhaps a treatment could be designed to protect his son from the same illness - reported a far developed tumor: "a very large cancerous swelling, situated mainly in the upper part of the inside of the stomach and spread out from the entrance to the stomach to an inch above the exit." So, a serious, practically untreatable case of stomach cancer. The sick stomach couldn't take oral medication and other treatments weren't invented yet. In the last 19 months of his life he lost about three quarters of his weight.

Right into his grave and further, the hate of the Habsburgs followed him (although more research is required in this area). There are, in any case, signs that Neipperg, who had already destroyed an earlier marriage before his relationship with Marie-Louise, was purposefully matched by the imperial family to his daughter. Napoleon's son, who was taken away from his mother to be "raised" in Vienna, soon came down with an lung illness, known as "Schwindsucht" (it's difficult after two centuries to diagnose the exact illness). Although there was no effective treatment for it then, it was well known that staying in a mild climate slowed the spread and alleviated the symptoms; this treatment was often used by the wealthy for all kinds of ailments. It seems though that he was purposefully denied this to ensure a speedy death. Murder by neglect, Vienna style?