Napoleon Bonaparte

“A man will fight harder for his interests than for his rights.” This is a statement made by Napoleon. Little did he know it was being applied to his life as his advanced further along. He has a short family life at home, an extensive education, great military training and experience, and married a beautiful, strong woman.

Carlo “Charles” Maria Buonaparte and Letiza Ramolino were married in 1764. Together they produced eight children. Napoleone “Nabulio” Buonaparte was born on August 15, 1769, as the second child. When he decided to come in the world, he made a quick appearance. Letiza had barely reached her house, after attending mass, when he was born. His siblings include: Joseph, 1767-1844, King of Naples, brother Lucien, 1775-1840, Prince of Canino, sister Elisa (Anna Maria), 1777-1820, Princess of Lucca and Piombino, brother Louis, 1778-1839, King of Holland, sister Pauline (Paola Maria), 1780-1825, Duchess of Guastalla, sister Caroline (Maria Annunzeata), 1782-1839, Grand Duchess of Berg, and brother Jerome, 1784-1860, King of Westphalia. Napoleon’s childhood was short. At the young age of nine, he was put upon a ship headed for France. It was his only chance for a good education. Charles Buonaparte was a member of a small ruling noble class. He was the “royal assessor,” serving in law at Pisa. Here, he had secured a full scholarship for Napoleon at Brienne.

On May 15, 1779, Napoleon entered the walls of the Royal Military School, which was run by priests, known as Minimes. He learned French, history, geography, mathematics, and other courses he would need in order to enter Ecole Militaire of Paris. Napoleon was a serious person. He had no friends at the school. His name sounded like, “la paille-au-nez,’ or “straw in the nose.” This led to extreme laughter among the boys and great humiliation for Napoleon. He knew that if he was going to succeed, he must take full advantage of schooling.

Napoleon made a different type of friend through reading. He became an avid reader at Brienne. He liked the classics of ancient Greece, Rome, and the Renaissance. His favorite, however, was Plutarch’s The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans. It gave him the imagination to dream and worship the exploits of empire building heroes such as Julius Caesar and Alexander the Great. Napoleon read to expand his knowledge, to intellectually improve himself, and to find ou...

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...n had forever changed the lives of people during the late eighteenth, early nineteenth century. He gave them freedom and their rights. He was a noble ruler with an education that could take him beyond what he ever had imagined. In Napoleon’s words, “It is success which makes great men.”21

Bibliography

Grossman, Ira. “Napoleon the Reader: The Early Years.” (1999): n. pag. Online. Internet. 11 April, 1999. Available: http://napoleonic-literature.simplenet.com/Articles/Napoleons_Reader-Early.htm.

This article gave me insight on how much emphasis Napoleon placed on the importance of education.

Herold, J. Christopher. The Age of Napoleon (New York: American Heritage, 1963).

This book had a few pages on the marriage of Napoleon and Josephine.

“Napoleon’s Words of Wisdow.” (1996) Online. Internet. 10 April, 1999. Available:

http://www.ddg.com/LIS/InfoDesignF96/Emin/napoleon/quotes.html.

This was a web page that contained many quotes that Napoleon is known for.

Schom, Alan. Napoleon Bonaparte (New York: HarperCollins, 1997).

This book was from the beginning of Napoleons time, covering through his death. This was the best source I came arcoss.