Napoleon Bonaparte, 1769 - 1821.

Napoleon was born on the island of Corsica at Ajaccio and was the second son of Carlo Bonaparte and Leticia Ramolino who had eight children.

After training at military schools in Brienne and Paris, Napoleon distinguished himself at the siege of Toulon in 1793 and was promoted to brigadier-general. In 1796, he commanded the army in Italy achieving victories against the Piedmontese and Austrians. He went on to take Malta and defeat the Turks at Cairo, but returned to France after the England’s Admiral Nelson destroyed the French fleet at the Battle of The Nile 1798.

Napoleon assumed power as First Consul in 1799 and in 1804, had himself crowned Emperor of France. War was resumed with England, but the French navy was once again beaten by Nelson at Trafalgar in 1805. Napoleon turned his attentions to Russia and Austria gaining victories at Ulm and Austerlitz. He finally defeated Prussia and Russia in 1806 and 1807, but his fortunes turned in Portugal and Spain during the Peninsular War of 1808 - 1814.

He married Josephine de Beauharnais in 1796, a widow with two children who came from the Island of Martinique. She shared his throne for just five years as Empress, until he divorced her because the marriage was childless. He was remarried to Archduchess Marie-Louise of Austria and had a son in 1811. Fearing that Russia was about to form an alliance with England, he invaded, but his army was beaten by the fierce Russian winter. France was invaded and in 1814, Napoleon was forced to abdicate and was exiled to the Island of Elba.

He was back in France just a year later and in power for what became known as the ‘Hundred Days’. He was finally defeated at Waterloo by the armies of Wellington and Blücher. After his surrender, Napoleon Bonaparte was sent to St Helena where he died.

Napoleon’s son, François Charles Joseph Bonaparte, although known as Napoleon II and given the title Duke of Reichstadt, played no role in the government of France.