Questions tagged [napoleon]
Questions about Napoleon Bonaparte (AKA Napoleon I), Emperor of the French May 18, 1804 – April 11, 1814 and March 20, 1815 – June 22, 1815.
50
questions
48
votes
3
answers
20k
views
Was Napoleon as short as "common knowledge" states?
I once saw a mention (on cracked.com) that Napoleon, whom pretty much everyone believes was of very short stature, was actually close to average height for his time/demographics, and that the short ...
- 17.7k
31
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Which war games did Napoleon practice with his generals?
I have read that Napoleon actively used to play strategy games with his generals in order to understand how they act in a range of situations. The generals also learned the same thing about each other....
- 1,676
24
votes
6
answers
12k
views
Why was Napoleon not executed or imprisoned?
I wonder why the Allies did not execute or imprison Napoleon for life after both times when he was captured. Even more, they risked by granting him an island in possession. This is quite illogical ...
- 32.7k
20
votes
3
answers
12k
views
Did Napoleon plan to invade India?
In 1798 Napoleon invaded Egypt and in 1799 he invaded the Middle East. The only thing that stopped him from going further was the fortifications of Acre which he could not take. What was his plans if ...
- 1,883
19
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Which version of Napoleon's "Europe is a Molehill" quote is correct?
Regarding Napoleon's Molehill quote, the version I have always heard is:
Europe is a molehill. It has never had any great empires, like those of the Orient, numbering six hundred million souls.
I ...
- 8,195
18
votes
2
answers
10k
views
Did Sun Tzu's "Art of War" influence Napoleon's philosophy of war and strategy?
The "Art of War" by Sun Tzu is to my knowledge one of the most important and oldest books (besides Clausewitz, Machiavelli) about the philosophy of war and military strategy.
Were historians able to ...
- 4,234
17
votes
5
answers
26k
views
Did Napoleon ever say «On s'engage et puis… on voit»?
Lenin in his "About our revolution" cites Napoleon as saying «On s'engage et puis… on voit».
Loosely translated that is, "One jumps into the fray, then figures out what to do next", or "You commit ...
- 32.7k
17
votes
2
answers
2k
views
How did Napoleon evade the British fleet and return to France?
After the defeat of the French fleet off the coast of Egypt in 1798, Napoleon's army was cut off in a far away and hostile country.
One year later, after eluding the British fleet, he made it safely ...
- 5,736
14
votes
5
answers
28k
views
Are these remarks by Napoleon on Jesus genuine?
The German edition of Wikiquote contains the following alleged words of Napoleon (in translation):
I know men and I tell you that Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between
Him and every other person ...
- 14.4k
14
votes
3
answers
777
views
Curious office hours of Topographical Bureau where Napoleon served in 1795?
In his new biography Napoleon the Great Andrew Roberts reports about Napoleon's stint in the Historical and Topographical Bureau of the war ministry in Paris between mid-August and early October 1795.
...
- 14.4k
13
votes
2
answers
1k
views
What became of the French Revolutionary Religion and Calendar?
During the height of the French Revolution, there was a complete revamping/retooling of French culture and religion: A new calendar based on the metric system and marking the significant events and ...
user2590
11
votes
5
answers
1k
views
Did Napoleon ever visit Modern Israel?
Did Napoleon Bonaparte ever try capturing what is today considered modern day Israel? Did he ever visit the land independently of capturing it?
- 1,267
10
votes
1
answer
896
views
Were Napoleon's chances of being caught after Waterloo high or low?
The battle itself is well-described, but afterwards sources become more sketchy.
It appears that after being defeated at Waterloo Napoleon abandoned his troops at the end of June 18 and fled to Paris ...
- 1,285
10
votes
2
answers
704
views
Before his arrival at St Helena, was Napoleon legally a prisoner of war?
I would like to know whether in law Napoleon was a prisoner of war when he surrendered himself to the British after the Battle of Waterloo, did he retain that status up to the point when he was landed ...
- 723
9
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Was there anything in common between the War of 1812 between Britain and America and the War of 1812 between Napoleon and Russia?
Were the War of 1812 between Britain and America and the War of 1812 between Napoleon and Russia at all related? They were not only fought in the same year but also over the same general reason, trade ...
user22953
8
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What advantage did Napoleon gain by attacking and antagonizing the Catholic Church?
In 1796, Napoleon invaded Italy and defeated the papal army. The French troops took Pope VI prisoner and he died in captivity seven months later.
The risks to a politician in antagonizing such a ...
- 4,546
7
votes
2
answers
2k
views
How did Napoleon I succeed in France despite his shortcomings in French?
TL;DR. My question: The following sources onfirm that despite Napoleon's industry and perseverance, he never refined his French to the level of a native fluent speaker.
So how did he succeed in France,...
user8309
7
votes
1
answer
3k
views
When did the French Revolution end?
Is there a consensus among historians on when the regarding when the French Revolution ended? Google results including Wikipedia names Napoleon's coup d'etat in 1799 as the end of the French ...
- 1,327
7
votes
1
answer
202
views
In exchange for forbidding strikes, did Napoleon guarantee high wages?
According to Wikipedia citing Frank McLynn, Napoleon, Pimlico 1998 Ch 21, p482, strikes were forbidden by Napoleon I in exchange for a guarantee by employers that wages would remain high.
How did ...
- 2,528
7
votes
0
answers
209
views
Re-imposition of slavery and racist laws in France under Napoleon
The last chapter of the Tom Reiss's biography of General Alex Dumas tells in some detail the dark story of the re-imposition of slavery and very harsh race-based oppression by Napoleon, abrogating ...
- 25.8k
6
votes
3
answers
2k
views
How can a diamond shape be a reference to Napoleon?
The green and yellow on the Brazilian flag are references to the Houses of Bragança and Lorraine (of Francis I and II of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine), respectively. It seems that the diamond shape ...
- 771
6
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What was the final result for France after the Napoleonic wars?
What I'd like to know is if the final outcome of the wars was ultimately beneficial for France. In territorial terms.
Did it manage to keep some territorial gains?
If the question isn't clear be ...
- 369
6
votes
1
answer
659
views
Why did Napoleon change his mind and continue the attack into Russia?
On July 28, 1812 some of his officers convinced Napoleon to end the Russian campaign due to huge losses due to typhus. A couple of days later, Napoleon changed his mind and the rest is, as they say, ...
- 121
6
votes
1
answer
473
views
How to understand the geography of Napoleon's military campaigns?
I am currently reading Napoleon The Great by Andrew Roberts and I am facing a few issues. While I can understand when Roberts describes Napoleon's life, I am having a hard time understanding the ...
- 63
6
votes
1
answer
808
views
Civilians in Napoleon's Grand Army when he invaded Russia
It is fairly well documented that Napoleon's retreat from Moscow in 1812 was somewhat slowed by the large amounts of civilians following the army. My question is - where did these civilians come from ...
- 7,324
5
votes
1
answer
942
views
Did Napoleon's coronation mantle survive?
Did the coronation mantle of Napoleon survive? And if yes, is it on display somewhere?
- 69
5
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Why do soldiers keep their right hand inside the uniform blouse?
I don't know if generalising this kind of military culture, if there is one, to other countries is true but what I want to know is that why soldiers keep their right hand inside.
An example:
5
votes
1
answer
391
views
Why was Napoleon so lenient to Austria?
Austria (unlike Prussia) "rebelled" against Napoleon during the War of the Fifth Coalition. After putting down this country (but not Spain, Portugal, and the U.K.), Napoleon allowed the ...
- 105k
5
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Napoleon's role in serfdom abolition
It is known that Napoleon has given constitutions to a set of countries.
The constitutions were written in the style of the French one.
How many of those napoleonic constitutions have played a role ...
user904
5
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Is this really “Napoleon’s March”?
The Chabad/Lubavitch Jewish group have a tradition that this song originated as a military march played by Napoleon’s armies as they invaded Russia:
http://www.chabad.org/multimedia/media_cdo/aid/...
- 832
4
votes
3
answers
1k
views
How could a skilled battle commander like Napoleon Bonaparte lose to Prussians at Waterloo (Belgium) as such?
According to this website Napoleon Bonaparte lost the battle at Waterloo to Prussians because of (chronologically):
The failure of Grouchy keeping the Prussians away from the Battlefield.
The late ...
user33143
4
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Source of the Napoleon "God/Devil/immortal" quote
I heard in a history lecture (I don't know who the lecturer was) the following quote about Napoleon:
Some say he's God (an angel?), some say he's the Devil, but everyone agrees he
isn't mortal.
...
- 215
4
votes
2
answers
8k
views
What is the original French for Napoleon's quote "When your enemy is making a false move don't disturb him"?
Napoleon is well regarded as stating, prior to Soult's assault on the Pratzen Heights at Austerlitz, words to the effect of:
When your opponent is making a false move, it is wise not to disturb him.
...
- 72.6k
4
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Liking and disliking among the Napoleonic Marshalls of the Empire
It is anecdotical but I want to know if the Marshalls of the Empire appointed by Napoleon got well along or if they could hardly tolerate each other.
I'm specially interested in Lannes, Davout, ...
- 3,179
4
votes
1
answer
3k
views
How was Napoleon considered as a ruler? [closed]
When we were studying the french revolution, back when I was 15, I remember asking my teacher what was the point of killing a king to end up having an emperor. She didn't bother too much answering but ...
- 207
3
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Was Napoleon's General Joachim Murat of Turkish descent?
Joachim Murat was a General allegiant to Napoleon and very successfull in his military career. Though his very German first name I wondered if he has Turkish origin too because his second name ...
- 374
3
votes
2
answers
430
views
Napoleon's exploits in 1785
Napoleon Bonaparte being commissioned Second Lieutenant at the age 17 in French Artillery, returned to Corsica.
Given his French Allegiance, why did he join the resistance movement while still ...
- 3,780
3
votes
1
answer
185
views
To whom does Napoleon refer in this letter to Josephine?
I was going through some of the letters written by Napoleon to Josephine, and found these lines on napoleonguide.com/lovejos6.htm,
"I send a kiss to your children, whom you do not mention. By God! If ...
- 431
3
votes
0
answers
864
views
Did Napoleon Bonaparte say "Power lies in the essence of power."?
I used to love to read about Napoleon Bonaparte when I was younger, I read some books and watched documentaries about his life, etc.
I recently started to dig out some old stuff and started ...
- 131
2
votes
2
answers
480
views
Napoleon Research Paper Structure [closed]
I'm writing a research paper on Napoleon; on how his tactics make him the best military general of all time
There are many battles I could use that illustrate his tactical prowess, but I am not sure ...
- 307
2
votes
0
answers
146
views
Who decided to bury Napoleon in the Dome of Invalides? [closed]
Who decided to make Napoleon the center of the Dome of Invalides in Paris? What was the church like before Napoleon? It would be interesting if you could clarify the history of the decision.
2
votes
1
answer
472
views
Napoleon's Height [duplicate]
I have heard from some scholars that Napoleon was actually average sized. The only reason everyone thinks he is short is because of the difference in English inches and French inches. Is this true?
- 131
1
vote
2
answers
842
views
How was Napoleon able to take power from the Republic
Napoleon took power less than a generation after the French Revolution. He had a lot of support from the Army and the people, how was this possible? Why would the French people support someone who ...
- 119
1
vote
1
answer
293
views
When did Napoleon start to be regarded as a French national hero? [closed]
Napoleon was a very controversial figure at the time of his death. A large percentage of French were monarchists and pro-Bourbons. Many others were Republicans or Socialists who were against personal ...
- 1,914
1
vote
1
answer
1k
views
Napoleon's medals
I'm currently part-way through a biography of Napoleon. I'm curious about the medals he had struck to commemorate events such as battlefield victories. How widely were these distributed within the ...
- 111
1
vote
0
answers
199
views
What do historians say would have been Napoleon's optimal strategy after Borodino? [closed]
There is a saying that everyone is a general after the battle, but I still could not figure out what could have Napoleon done differently in order to save his army and consequently empire after ...
- 11.3k
0
votes
1
answer
627
views
What books Napoleon Bonaparte used to read? [closed]
I am interested to know the books that Napoleon Bonaparte had read,and perhaps make a list about it. According to a Quora's answer, Napoleon had read:
Rousseau - La Nouvelle Héloïse, the Social ...
user26595
0
votes
1
answer
269
views
Can you explain how officers were able to refuse orders historically in France? Elsewhere?
I've read several biographies that pertained to military history in England and France especially around the time of Napoleon. I noticed that the authors referenced the ruler requesting the service of ...
- 151
-2
votes
1
answer
444
views
How was Napoleon's military funded just a decade after the French Revolution ostensibly because of bankruptcy/mismanagement of funds?
It's all in the Title. Where did the funds come from for Napoleon's weaponry, uniforms, food, horses, etc.? Did Rome/The Pope/The Catholic Church fund the excursions?
-3
votes
1
answer
717
views
Why did Hitler repeat Napoleon's error (attacking Russia in mid-summer instead of late spring)? [closed]
We often hear that it's important to learn from history to avoid the errors of people before us. To me - then - it's astounding to think that a head of state like Hitler, surrounded with elite ...
- 103