Finally Facing my Waterloo

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“The History book on the shelf is always repeating itself,” states the popular song “Waterloo” made famous by the 1970s musical group, ABBA. The song is named after Napoleon Bonaparte’s last battle, an utter failure in which he faced the Duke of Wellington and his army near the town of Waterloo. Indeed, Napoleon was trying to repeat himself and his former glory in this battle. Born into a poor family in Corsica, Napoleon soared above and beyond his humble past and into perhaps the most fabled military career in history. However, “Absolute power corrupts absolutely,” is something Napoleon would soon learn as he fell from power and glory, ultimately dying after many years of isolation in 1813. History could not repeat itself for Napoleon, but there is no doubt that his actions set groundwork for a new future all across Europe and in France, he will remain a hero, forever. Everyone loves an underdog story, and the story of Napoleon epitomizes this genre. Born on the Island of Corsica, it seemed as though Napoleon was destined to be a second class French citizen forever. He was born into a relatively poor family but he was determined to rise above his circumstances. He was very driven, and won a prestigious scholarship to attend a military school in France when he was only nine years old. Because he was a Corsican, he was looked down upon by his classmates, so to prove himself he was determined to win at absolutely everything. He was more than just intelligent; he was a genius who excelled in nearly every field, and all who encountered him were impressed by his passion to succeed. Napoleon became an artillery expert and completed his training in half the time. By age 16, he was a fully ranked officer, and found glory in the battl... ... middle of paper ... ...lead him to become the emperor of one of the strongest nations on earth, but this power could not last. A legend in life, Napoleon became bigger than himself, which would lead to his downfall, but he left a legacy that is not easily forgotten. His greatest political achievement, the Napoleonic Code, set a standard which is still upheld throughout Europe today. Napoleon Bonaparte, the greatest soldier of them all, was a hero in life and death. Works Cited Parker, Philip. World History. New York: DK Publishing, 2010. Napoleon Bonaparte: The Glory of France. Distributed by the Biography Channel. 1993. A& Television, 1997. DVD. Broussard, Nicolas. Napolean: Hegelian Hero. Translated by Judith Rosenzweig. Revue du Souvenir Napoléonien 400 (1995). Accessed April 23, 2014. http://www.napoleon.org/en/reading_room/ articles/files/napoleon_hegelian_hero.asp#informations

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