I should admit that I didn't like Napoleon, I couldn't understand how French people loved him after being him who destroyed the republic and the revolution by becoming an emperor. As I didn't understand that and it was my only argument to protect my point I decided to read his biography. Indeed I found something completely different and my stereotype about Napoleon broke together with my stereotype of the
For Dummies books, which indeed are for dummies but are not at all crappy.
I read Napoleon for Dummies, it was the only book in the kindle store which had everything I was looking for: history, battles, politics, reforms and implications. I have to admit I hesitated whether to buy it or not but I think it was a good decision. Easy to read and comprehensive. Obviously I can not recall here everything I learnt about Napoleon but at least I can say that my opinion of him has changed and I got to understand much better the contexts and the importance of his role in changing the times, boosting the values of the revolution through out Europe, reforming the civil codes, promoting religious freedom, sponsoring the academy and the arts (through looting though), promoting public education, busting up the opportunities for the best qualified...
It is impossible to deny his political capabilities together with his management ones (not only to rescue France from a deep economic crisis, but to handle huge military campaigns).
Taking about those campaigns, I'd like to share a map of Europe that gives a simple image of how much the guy moved through the continent and even to Africa.
I'm very pleased with the book and I might read it again in some point in the future to refresh it, but now after having read about Simon Bolivar and Napoleon Bonaparte it seems the next one could be Julius Caesar and/or Alexander the Great, we'll see.
As a bonus, I include a timeline of the life of this fellow:
1769
15 August Napoleon is born in Ajaccio, Corsica, which was transferred from Italian to French rule a year earlier.
1779
1 January Napoleon and his brother Joseph enter school at Autun, France, mainly to learn French.
25 April Napoleon enters Royal Military College at Brienne.
1784
15 September Napoleon passes exams and is selected to attend the École Militaire in Paris.
1785
24 February Napoleon’s father, Carlo, dies.
September At age 16, Napoleon graduates from military school and is commissioned as Second Lieutenant of Royal Artillery. He joins the La Fère Regiment at Valence.
1789
14 July The fall of the Bastille signals the start of the French Revolution.
1792
20 June Austria and Prussia (soon joined by England and others) form the First Coalition against France.
10 August Napoleon witnesses the massacre of the Swiss Guards at the Tuileries by the Parisian mob. The monarchy soon falls, and the first French Republic is declared.
1793
21 January King Louis XVI of France is executed.
31 May The Reign of Terror in France begins.
September–December Napoleon commands artillery and leads the French government’s retaking of Toulon from royalists.
21 December Napoleon, at age 24, is promoted to General of Brigade.
1794
28 July Maximilien Robespierre is executed; the Reign of Terror ends.
9 August Napoleon is arrested and jailed but is released in 11 days.
1795
Summer–Fall Napoleon is stationed in Paris and meets Josephine.
22 August The constitution of 1795 creates the Directory.
5 October Napoleon puts down a royalist uprising and is soon promoted to general of division.
1796
2 March Napoleon is appointed general in chief of the Army of Italy.
9 March Napoleon marries Josephine.
4–22 April Napoleon wins a series of stunning victories in Italy against Austrian occupiers and their allies.
10 May Napoleon wins the Battle of Lodi in Italy.
15–17 November Napoleon wins the Battle of Arcole in Italy.
1797
14 January Napoleon wins the Battle of Rivoli in Italy.
17 October The Treaty of Campo Formio between France and Austria is ratified.
5 December Napoleon returns to Paris and is soon elected member of the National Institute of Sciences and Arts of France and appointed commander of the Army of England.
1798
19 May Napoleon and his army leave for Egypt via Malta.
1 July Napoleon captures Alexandria.
21 July The French win the Battle of the Pyramids.
1 August Admiral Nelson wins the Battle of the Nile against the French.
29 December A Second Coalition against France is formed by Britain, Austria, and Russia.
1799
7 March Napoleon takes Jaffa but is later stymied at Acre (in modern Israel).
25 July Returning to Cairo, Napoleon defeats the Turks at Aboukir.
August–October Napoleon leaves Egypt and returns to Paris a national hero.
9–10 November Napoleon helps overthrow the Directory and becomes First Consul at age 30.
1800
13 February The Bank of France is established.
15–23 May Napoleon leads his army through the Alps to attack Austrians in Italy, beginning the second Italian campaign.
14 June Napoleon wins the Battle of Marengo.
24 December The incident of the “Infernal Machine”: An attempt is made on Napoleon’s life.
1801
9 February The Peace of Luneville ends the War of the Second Coalition.
24 March Russian Tsar Paul I is killed; Alexander I becomes tsar.
15 July Napoleon signs the Concordat with the Pope.
1802
25 March The Peace of Amiens between England and France is ratified.
1 August Napoleon is named First Consul for Life.
1803
3 May The United States buys the Louisiana Territory from France.
18 May Great Britain declares war on France.
1804
21 March The civil code is published, and the Duke of Enghien is executed.
18 May The senate declares Napoleon Emperor of France.
19 May The Legion of Honor is established.
2 December Napoleon is crowned Emperor of the French.
1805
26 May Napoleon is crowned King of Italy.
9 August England, Austria, Russia, and Sweden form the Third Coalition against France.
17 October “The unfortunate General Mack” surrenders at Ülm.
21 October Admiral Nelson defeats the French and Spanish fleets at the Battle of Trafalgar but dies in the action.
2 December Napoleon wins the Battle of Austerlitz over the Austrians and Russians.
26 December The Treaty of Pressburg is ratified between France and Austria.
1806
12 July The Confederation of the Rhine is created.
6 October The Fourth Coalition against France is formed by Prussia, Russia, and England.
14 October Napoleon defeats Prussia at Jena and Auerstädt.
21 November Napoleon issues the Berlin Decrees, starting the Continental System.
1807
8 February Russians and Prussians lose the Battle of Eylau.
14 June Russians and Prussians lose the Battle of Friedland.
8 July The Peace of Tilsit is made with Russia and Prussia; the Grand Duchy of Warsaw is soon created.
November France invades Spain and Portugal.
1808
17 March The Imperial University is created in Paris.
6 June Napoleon’s brother Joseph is made King of Spain.
15 July Napoleon’s brother-in-law Joachim Murat is made King of Naples and Sicily.
4 December Napoleon enters Madrid and abolishes the Inquisition.
1809
9 April Austria and England form the Fifth Coalition against France.
20–23 April Napoleon defeats the Austrians at the Battles of Abensberg, Landshut, Eckmühl, and Ratisbon.
21 May Napoleon is held off by Austrian Archduke Charles at the Battles of Aspern and Essling.
5–6 July Napoleon defeats Charles at the Battle of Wagram.
16 December Napoleon divorces Josephine.
1810
11 March Napoleon marries Marie Louise of Austria by proxy in Vienna.
1811
20 March Napoleon’s son with Marie Louise, the King of Rome (Napoleon II), is born.
1812
24 June Napoleon crosses the Niemen River to invade Russia.
July Russia and England form the Sixth Coalition against France (and are later joined by Prussia, Austria, and others).
7 September Napoleon defeats the Russians at the Battle of Borodino.
20 October Napoleon leaves Moscow for Paris, arriving there on December 18th.
1813
26 August Napoleon, now 44, wins the Battle of Dresden.
16–19 October Napoleon is defeated at the Battle of Leipzig.
1814
January France is invaded by Sixth Coalition allies.
10–13 February Napoleon wins battles at Champaubert, Montmirail, Château-Thierry, and Vauchamp in France.
31 March Allies enter Paris; a provisional government is formed.
6–11 April Napoleon abdicates at Fontainebleau.
4 May Napoleon becomes Emperor of Elba.
29 May Josephine dies.
1815
1 March Napoleon returns to France.
20 March Napoleon enters Paris and the Hundred Days begins.
16 June Napoleon defeats the Prussians at Ligny (Belgium).
18 June Napoleon is defeated by the British and Prussians at Waterloo.
22 June Napoleon abdicates again.
15 July Napoleon surrenders to Captain Maitland of the HMS Bellerophon, hoping to retire in Great Britain.
15 October Napoleon is sent into exile on St. Helena at age 46.
1821
5 May Napoleon dies shortly before 6 p.m. at age 51.
1840
15 October Napoleon’s remains are exhumed for return to France.
15 December Napoleon is interred in the Hôtel des Invalides in Paris.
