FREE ESSAY ON NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE

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 the Bastille was stormed, 
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.