Napoleon | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nickname(s) | "General Vendémiaire", "The Little Corporal", "Napoleon the Great" |
| Born | August 15, 1769 Ajaccio, Corsica |
| Died | May 5, 1821 (aged 51) Longwood, Saint Helena |
| Allegiance | France |
| Service | Trained as an artillerist |
| Years of service | 1779–1815 |
| Rank | Commander in Chief (Head of State) |
| Commands | Army of Italy Army of the Orient French Army Grande Armée |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | Grand Master of the Legion of Honour Grand Master of the Order of the Reunion Grand Master of the Order of the Iron Crown |
| Relations | House of Bonaparte |
| Other work | Sovereign of Elba, writer |
The military career of Napoleon spanned over 20 years. He led French armies in the French Revolutionary Wars and later, as emperor, in the Napoleonic Wars. Despite his rich war-winning record, Napoleon's military career ended in defeat. Napoleon has since been regarded as a military genius and one of the finest commanders in history. His wars and campaigns have been studied at military schools worldwide. He fought more than 80 battles, losing only ten, mostly towards the end when the French army was not as dominant.[1] The French dominion collapsed rapidly after the disastrous invasion of Russia in 1812. Napoleon was defeated in 1814 and exiled to the island of Elba, before returning to France. He was finally defeated in 1815 at Waterloo. He spent his remaining days in British custody on the remote volcanic tropical island of Saint Helena. In his long military career, Bonaparte celebrated 70 victories and suffered 10 defeats.[2]
- ^ Roberts says his losses came at Siege of Acre (1799), Battle of Aspern-Essling (1809), Battle of Leipzig (1813), Battle of La Rothière (1814), Battle of Laon (1814), Battle of Arcis-sur-Aube (1814), and Battle of Waterloo (1815). Andrew Roberts, "Why Napoleon merits the title 'the Great,'" BBC History Magazine (1 November 2014)
- ^ Andrew Roberts, Napoleon: A Life (2014)