The final words of Napoleon Bonaparte I, general, politician, and Emperor of France, are alleged to have been, ôFrance, the Army, Josephine,ö (Napoleon, p. 1). These three words are a fitting epitaph for the brilliant military strategist, born in Corsica, Italy, who would come to rule France at a time when its holdings represent nearly the entire western and central mainland of Europe. A ruler who ascribed to Enlightenment principles and those of the French Revolution, NapoleonÆs desire to conquer Spain and Britain would ultimately urge Britain, Russia, Austria, Prussia and others to join forces against him at the Battle of Waterloo. Though far outnumbered during this Battle, Napoleon was a brilliant military strategist. His ultimate defeat came from his overvaulting ambition and his attempt to aggrandize his own interests at the expense of others. As Welsh writes, ôMany leading intellectuals of the timeàbelieved he had forsaken the principles of the French Revolution for his personal benefit,ö (p. 10).
Born Napoleone Buonaparte in Corsica, Italy, in March 1796, the man who would one day rule France changed his name to Napoleon Bonaparte to sound more French. Educated in French military schools like the Birenne-le-Chateau and Ecole Militaire, Bonaparte was an artillery officer by training, graduating as 2nd lieutenant of artillery in 1785 (Napoleon, p. 1). The main influence in NapoleonÆs life was his mother. When Civil War broke out in 1789, Napoleon supported the revolutionary forces and helped free Toulon from the royalists and the British troops aiding them in 1793. Welsh maintains that Napoleon rose from relative obscurity to Emperor primarily through five memorable military accomplishments: the siege of Toulon, the Paris rebellion, the first and second Italian campaigns, and the Egyptian expedition, (p. 11).
When Napoleon invaded Egypt, he took scholars along, showing his commitment to Enlightenment prin...