Napoleon Buonaparte Essay, Research Paper
Napoleon Buonaparte was a military genius who, at the age of sixteen, gained
the rank of lieutenant in the French Army. He overcame all of the criticism he
received in the army became a great leader. Napoleon, perhaps, was one of the
most prominent, and powerful leaders of all time.
Napoleon?s childhood was a very troublesome one. He was always getting into
trouble. When he was a little boy, ?He was always hitting people and biting them?
(Komroff 15). Since Napoleon was always causing problems, he was sent to a girl
school by his mother hoping that this experience would change his attitude
(Komroff 15). This however, did not work, so he was sent to a Jesuit school with
his eldest brother, Joseph (Komroff 15). While Napoleon was in the Jesuit school,
he was an excellent student. Several years later when he was sent to military school
at the age of fifteen, he was still an outstanding student and ?Remembered
everything he was told? (Komroff 17). At the age of fifteen, Napoleon was already
?Showing great prominence as a military leader? and when he turned sixteen ?He
graduated with honors and was appointed the rank of lieutenant? at his military
school (Komroff 20).
Napoleon had a big family. There were ten people in his family and seven of
them were brothers and sisters (Ludwig 7). Life was very hard for Napoleon and
his family, simply because there were so many mouths to feed and not enough
money (Ludwig 7). Therefore, life was very harsh for young Napoleon. He was
always being ?Mocked and teased because of his poverty? (Ludwig 7). Just after
Napoleon graduated second lieutenant in the regiment of La Fe?re, his father got
really sick with cancer and was taken to the medical center Montpellier where his
father was treated for ?Any last hope in life? (Guerard 9). But the efforts were
not enough. Carlo Buonaparte died on February 24, 1785 (Guerard 9). During this
crucial time, Napoleon?s family was going through various changes. His eldest
brother Joseph was leaving the church for the army, and his other brother Lucien,
was leaving the military to join the seminary at Aix (Guerard 9). The only person
who seemed to be making any wise decisions, was his sister Eliza. Eliza had been
accepted at Saint Cyr, a school which had been created for the daughters of the
impoverished aristocracy (Guerard 9). At this school, Eliza would not only receive a
great education, but she would also receive three thousand francs, and a trosseau
(Guerard 9). The rest of Napoleon?s family were the youngest, Louise, Pauline,
Caroline, and Jerome. They were left under the care of his widowed mother
(Guerard 9). But Napoleon would not leave his family in their present condition. He
ignored the fact that his eldest brother had the right to take over the family, and
he ?Appointed himself head of the family? shortly after the demise of his father
(Guerard 9).
Napoleon?s military career basically started when he was only sixteen. When
he was sixteen, he ?Graduated military school with the rank of lieutenant?
(Komroff 20). Napoleon achieved this feat after only being in the military school for
one year (Komroff 20). Napoleon gained his chance in the spotlight when the
French Revolution began. On July 14, 1789 when
Napoleon was sent to various parts of France to help calm down the riots
(Komroff 20). This happened only three years after Napoleon?s graduation, he was
nineteen. By the time Napoleon was 26, he was ?Already Commander in Chief of
the Army of the Interior and was known world wide? (Komroff 25). Throughout
his career and life, Napoleon encountered many women, but none compared to his
first love, Josephine. Josephine Tascher de la Pagerie was ?A lazy, cold-hearted,
empty-headed person?, but she was also very kind (Guerard 23). Her kindness was
what attracted Napoleon. They were both married on March 9, 1796, only by the
civil court, the did not have a religious ceremony (Guerard 23). When they got
married, ?Napoleon was 27 and Josephine was 33 years old?, even though she lied
and said she was 29 (Guerard 23). On May 18, 1804, Napoleon ?Was proclaimed
the emperor of the French? (Guerard 71). But when Napoleon learned that the
Pope could not crown him Emperor, he was very angry because he was sure that
?He ruled by the direct grace of God and the will of the people? (Guerard 76).
Napoleon was very disappointed because even though ?The church could consecrate,
anoint, and confirm him, they could not assert any authority over him?
(Guerard 76). Since Napoleon could not be crowned, he was going to crown himself.
On December 2, 1804, ?Napoleon crowned himself Emperor of the French?
(Guerard 77). A while after the coronation, ?Napoleon was very angry and despised
Josephine? because she had not given him a child (?Napoleon? 6). Since Josephine
did not give him a child, he had an affair with Marie Louise, daughter of the
Austrian Emperor (?Napoleon? 6). Marie Louise bore Napoleon a son in March of
1911. His son ?Almost assured the destiny of his empire? (?Napoleon? 6).
During his lifetime, Napoleon achieved many great feats and most of them
came at a very early age. When Napoleon was only sixteen years old, he graduated
from military school with the rank of second lieutenant after only being in school
for one year (Komroff 20). That is something that the average person does not
accomplish every day. Napoleon also took care of his family and became the head
of the household in their time of need. A great opportunity that Napoleon was able
to participate in was the French Revolution. On the very day the Bastille was
stormed, he was sent to France to calm down the riots (Komroff 20). This is when
Napoleon let himself be known and became famous. But probably the greatest
accomplishment that Napoleon achieved, was crowning himself Emperor of the
French on May 18, 1804 (Guerard 77). But just before appointing himself Emperor
of the French, Napoleon married the love of his life, Josephine for the first time
under the will of God since they had previously only been married by the civil
court (Guerard 77). They were married on the eve of his coronation on December
2, 1804 (Guerard 77). Altogether, Napoleon achieved many great feats.
In conclusion, Napoleon Buonaparte was a great military leader who achieved
great feats at a young age. He overcame all of the criticism he received about his
poverty and size, and became one of the most powerful leaders of all time. Hence
the fact that size does not always matter.
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