Year Seven Napoleon Bonaparte By Cristian Barlow

In 1769 a legend was born, His name was Napoleon. Napoleon grew up to be one of the most famous men of his time. He achieved this by conquering most of Europe.

Background

Napoleon grew up as a boy on a small island off the coast of Italy. (The island was called Corsica). He lived there for fifteen years with his mother, father and brothers.

Rise to Power

As a boy Napoleon was interested in soldiering so at the age of fifteen he started going to a military school in Paris. When he was twenty years old the French Revolution broke out and it was at this time that things started to change for Napoleon, The political instability of the French government gave Napoleon extraordinary opportunities.

Napoleon, although only twenty, was now a French officer. In 1793 his first big chance came because France was at war with England. It was because of this that Napoleon was put in command of some artillery at Toulon, where the British and Spanish troops had landed. He heroically stormed the town at the head of his men and helped drive the invaders out. After this event he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier- General but he fell out with some of the French leaders who, soon after, had him retired.In 1795 he was recalled and was one of the many to be put in charge of the defence of Paris against the rebels, the rebel forces were soon defeated. It was because of this victory that Napoleon was put in charge of the army inside Paris.

Love Life

Napoleon fell in love with a young woman called Josephine de Beaubarnais. Two days after Napoleon had married Josephine he was called upon by the French army. He was happily married to Josephine for quite a few years but divorced her in 1809 because she had not given him an Heir. Soon after the divorce he married Marie-Louise daughter of the Emperor of Austria. This was also a political move because it ensured peace between the two countries.

His Career

In 1797 Napoleon invaded Austria and made them sign a treaty called The Campo Formio. In 1798 Napoleon won a battle against the rulers of Egypt but lost all his ships at the battle of the Nile. When he heard about the political instability of the French government he rushed back to Paris and terrified the government into accepting his rule. In 1809 he made peace with Austria and England.

Emperor

In 1804 Napoleon crowned himself Emperor for Life and his wife Empress.

Defeat

In 1814 the British defeated the French and made Napoleon abdicate and banished him to an island. In 1815 he escaped and tried to defy the powers of Europe but was defeated the battle of Waterloo. He spent his remaining days stranded on an island in punishment.

By Cristian Barlow

---

Related pages: Year Seven

Categories: Key Skills, English, History

Author: Mrs Hewer