NAPOLEONHISTORY YEAR 9

OVERVIEW• Napoleon Bonaparte was an important French military leader who

created an empire that stretched across almost all of Europe in the early 1800s. • He was a very smart military commander and his methods for fighting

wars are still studied today. • Eventually, he became Emperor of France, but later he was forced to

leave France and live out the rest of his life on an island in the South Atlantic.

Portrait of Napoleon in his forties, in high-ranking white and dark blue military dress uniform. In the original image he stands amid rich 18th-century furniture laden with papers, and gazes at the viewer. His hair is Brutus

style, cropped close but with a short fringe in front, and his right hand is tucked in his waistcoat.

NAPOLEON IS BORN• On August 15, 1769 Napoleon was born. • He was born in Ajaccio, Corsica in Italy, into a family of noble Italian

ancestry, but France owns the island so Napoleon is actually a French citizen.

STUDY• On May 17, 1779 Napoleon begins studies at military school. • Napoleon goes to France to study at military school. He is enrolled in

the Royal Military School in Brienne. On October 28, 1785 Napoleon graduates from Ecole Militaire in Paris, one of the best military schools in Europe. • He graduates as a second lieutenant.

FAMILY AND ARMY• On June 1793 Napoleon's family is forced to leave Corsica, after the

governor accuses them of being too pro-France. Napoleon's family goes to France, where Napoleon returns to focus on his military career. • On December 22, 1793 Napoleon earns a promotion to brigadier

general. He serves well for the French Army at the Siege of Toulon. For this, he is promoted to brigadier general.

CHIEF OF ARMY• On October 26, 1795 Napoleon is made Chief of the Army of the

Interior, at the recommendation of General Paul Barras.• Before this, Napoleon is not well known but the promotion makes

him rich and famous.

MARRIAGE• On March 9, 1796 Napoleon marries Josephine. • Napoleon wants a rich wife and proposes to Josephine, who comes

from a wealthy family. • Josephine agrees to marry him, but she is not sure she wants to marry

him at first because she thinks he is a little odd.

COMMANDING THE ITALIAN ARMY• On March 11, 1796 Napoleon commanded the Italian Army. • He leads the Italian Army in a series of battles against Austria.• By the time Italy defeats Austria in October 1797, it is clear that

Napoleon is one of the world's greatest military leaders.

EMPEROR OF THE FRENCH EMPIRE• On May 18, 1804 Napoleon was named Emperor of the French

Empire. • Napoleon is crowned in a very fancy ceremony at the Notre Dame in

Paris. • He is named King of Italy a year later.

ENDING OF MARRIAGE• On December 15, 1809 Napoleon ends his marriage to Josephine. • Napoleon divorces his wife, Josephine, because she had not had any

children with him. • Josephine had given birth to two children in her previous marriage.

Eléonore Denuelle (13 September 1787 – 1868) was a mistress of Emperor Napoleon I

NEXT MARRIAGE• On April 2, 1810 Napoleon marries again, with 18 year-old Marie-

Louise. • She was the daughter of the Emperor of Austria, Francis I. • On March 20, 1811 Napoleon's first son is born. He was called

Napoleon II and also Franz, after his grandfather, Francis I.

EXILE IN ELBA• On May 4, 1814 Napoleon is exiled. • After much of Europe unites against Napoleon, his is forced to give up

the throne and go to Elba, an island near Italy. • His wife and son are forced to leave Paris and they go to Austria to

live.

DEFEAT IN WATERLOO• On June 22, 1815, after his defeat at Waterloo, Napoleon gives up the

throne again. • This time, he will be sent away to Saint Helena in the South Atlantic,

which is much farther away from France than Elba.

DEATH• While exiled to Saint Helena, on March 5, 1821 Napoleon dies.• There are rumours that he was poisoned, but the actual cause of

death is most likely stomach cancer.