Napoleon Bonaparte (Napoleon I)

Napoleon a fost un lider politic i militar al Franei. Aciunile lui au influenat puternic
politica european de la nceputul secolului al XIX-lea.
Nscut n Corsica
Specializat pe profilul de ofier de artilerie n Frana continental
A devenit cunoscut n timpul Primei Republici Franceze i a condus campanii reuite
mpotriva Primei i celei de-a Doua Coaliii, care luptau mpotriva Franei.
n 1799 a organizat o lovitur de stat i s-a proclamat Prim Consul; cinci ani mai trziu s-a
ncoronat ca mprat al francezilor. n prima decad a secolului al XIX-lea a opus
armatele Imperiului Francez mpotriva fiecrei puteri majore europene i a
dominat Europa continental printr-o serie de victorii militare. A meninut sfera de influen a
Franei prin constituirea unor aliane extensive i prin numirea prietenilor i membrilor familiei n
calitate de conductori ai altor ri europene sub forma unor state clientelare franceze.
Invazia francez a Rusiei din 1812 a marcat un punct de cotitur n destinul lui Napoleon. Marea
sa Armat a suferit pierderi covritoare n timpul campaniei i nu s-a recuperat niciodat pe
deplin. n 1813, a asea Coaliie l-a nfrnt la Leipzig; n anul urmtor Coaliia a invadat Frana, la forat pe Napoleon s abdice i l-a exilat pe insula Elba. n mai puin de un an, a scpat de pe
Elba i s-a ntors la putere, ns a fost nvins n btlia de la Waterloo din iunie 1815. Napoleon
i-a petrecut ultimii ase ani ai vieii sub supraveghere britanic pe insula Sfnta Elena. O
autopsie a concluzionat c a murit de cancer la stomac, dei Sten Forshufvudi ali oameni de
tiin au continuat s susin c a fost otrvit cu arsenic.
Conflictul cu restul Europei a condus la o perioad de rzboi total de-a lungul continentului, iar
campaniile sale sunt studiate la academii miltare din ntreaga lume. Dei considerat un tiran de
ctre oponenii si, el a rmas n istorie i datorit crerii Codului Napoleonian, care a pus
fundaiile legislaiei administrative i judiciare n majoritatea rilor Europei de Vest.

In France, Napoleon became associated with Augustin Robespierre (17631794), the brother of revolutionary leader Maximilien Robespierre (17581794), a Jacobin who was a key force behind the Reign of Terror (17931794), a period of violence against enemies of the revolution. During this
time, Napoleon was promoted to the rank of brigadier general in the army.
However, after Robespierre fell from power and was guillotined (along with

Augustin) in July 1794, Napoleon was briefly put under house arrest for his
ties to the brothers.

Napoleon worked to restore stability to post-revolutionary France. He

centralized the government; instituted reforms in such areas as banking and
education; supported science and the arts; and sought to improve relations
between his regime and the pope (who represented Frances main religion,
Catholicism), which had suffered during the revolution. One of his most
significant accomplishments was the Napoleonic Code, which streamlined
the French legal system and continues to form the foundation of French civil
law to this day.
In 1802, a constitutional amendment made Napoleon first consul for life.
Two years later, in 1804, he crowned himself emperor of France in a lavish
ceremony at the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris.

NAPOLEONS MARRIAGES AND CHILDREN

In 1796, Napoleon married Josephine de Beauharnais (1763-1814), a
stylish widow six years his senior who had two teenage children. More than
a decade later, in 1809, after Napoleon had no offspring of his own with
Josephine, he had their marriage annulled so he could find a new wife and
produce an heir. In 1810, he wed Marie Louise (1791-1847), the daughter of
the emperor of Austria. The following year, she gave birth to their son,
Napoleon Franois Joseph Charles Bonaparte (1811-1832), who became
known as Napoleon II and was given the title king of Rome. In addition to
his son with Marie Louise, Napoleon had several illegitimate children.