From a boy in Corsica to emperor of half of Europe, and the price France paid
A young officer from Corsica who made himself emperor. He gave France laws, schools and prefects that are still here today. He also brought back slavery and led millions of men to war. Follow him from Paris to Malmaison.
Napoleon Bonaparte was born in Ajaccio in 1769, just after Corsica became French. He trained as an artillery officer and rose fast in the wars of the Revolution. In 1799, under the tired Directory, he took power in a coup and became First Consul. He worked very quickly. He gave every département a prefect, wrote the Code civil and created the Légion d'honneur. In 1802 he also brought back slavery in the colonies. In 1804 he crowned himself emperor in Notre-Dame. His armies won battle after battle, from Austerlitz to Madrid to Moscow. But the wars cost millions of lives. In 1815 he lost at Waterloo and was sent to Saint Helena, a tiny island in the Atlantic. He died there in 1821. In 1840, his body came home to Paris.
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Napoleone Buonaparte is born in Ajaccio, Corsica, one year after the island becomes French. At school in France, he is the outsider with the funny accent.
France is tired of the Directory. On 9 November, Bonaparte and his friends take power. He becomes First Consul, and soon the only boss.
Napoleon puts one prefect at the head of every département, chosen by Paris. More than 200 years later, France still works this way.
Napoleon brings back slavery in the French colonies, undoing the abolition of 1794. In Guadeloupe and Saint-Domingue people fight back. Saint-Domingue wins and becomes Haiti in 1804.
A new award for soldiers and civilians, given for merit and not for noble birth. You can still see its red ribbon on French jackets today.
See it at: Musée de la Légion d’honneur et des ordres de chevalerieOne set of laws for the whole country: about marriage, property, contracts and families. It was copied in many countries, but it gave married women very few rights.
See it at: Musée des Archives Nationales - Hôtel de SoubiseOn 2 December in Notre-Dame, with the Pope watching, Napoleon puts the crown on his own head. Then he crowns Joséphine. The painter David was there.
See it at: Louvre MuseumMore than half a million soldiers march into Russia. Cold, hunger and battles destroy the army: only a small part comes back. Napoleon's wars cost millions of lives in Europe.
See it at: Musée de l'ArméeNapoleon escapes from his first exile on Elba, but loses at Waterloo on 18 June. The British send him to Saint Helena, far out in the South Atlantic. He dies there in 1821.
King Louis-Philippe brings Napoleon's body back to France. On 15 December, huge crowds watch it pass through Paris to the Invalides.
See it at: Musée de l'ArméeThe museums and places where this story comes alive.
Under the golden dome of the Invalides lies Napoleon's giant red tomb. Look down at it from the round balcony. In the museum, find his famous hat, his grey coat and Vizir, his horse.
Stand in front of David's Coronation of Napoleon, usually in the Denon wing, first floor. Look for Napoleon's mother in the middle balcony. She did not go to the ceremony, but Napoleon wanted her in the picture.
The country house of Joséphine, who loved roses and exotic animals. Napoleon worked here as First Consul. Look at the council room: it is decorated like a soldier's tent.
A small, sparkling museum just across from the Musée d'Orsay. See the first crosses of the Légion d'honneur and medals and orders from all over the world.
In the Coronation Room hangs David's second version of the coronation. In the long Gallery of Battles, find the battle of Austerlitz, Napoleon's most famous victory.
Look for the imperial barge, a long rowing boat built for Napoleon in 1810, with a big golden crown at the back. Imagine the rowers pulling the emperor along.
The Pope was there, but Napoleon crowned himself. Then he crowned Joséphine.
He was born in Ajaccio in 1769, one year after Corsica became French.
He died in 1821, but his body only came back from Saint Helena in 1840.