Napoleon Bonaparte almost signed up for the Russian army. If it weren't for his arrogance, world history might have turned out quite differently.

Russian General Ivan Zaborovsky (left) and Napoleon Bonaparte

In 1788, in Florence, Italy, Russian Lieutenant General Ivan Zaborovsky is recruiting foreign officers into the Russian army to prepare for a war with the Ottoman Empire.

One day, Zaborovsky was informed that a French lieutenant with the last name Bonaparte had requested an urgent private meeting with him. Normally, a general of his rank would not be interested in such an offer, but the officer in question was a Corsican, and the Russian generals were instructed to pay special attention to officers of French origin from this island. So Zaborovsky agreed.

A pale, thin, and emaciated 19-year-old lieutenant entered General Zaborovsky's room. He asked to be accepted into the Russian army with the same rank as that of the French army—this was against the rules laid down by Queen Catherine the Great herself. Zaborovsky is a respected and seasoned general. He could allow an exception for some French generals, but with a lieutenant, it was difficult.

Disappointed by Zaborovsky's refusal, Bonaparte left the room. In fact, he almost rushed out and shouted contemptuously, "I will enlist in the Prussian army! "The Prussian King would grant me status as a captain!".

Story Behind

Napoleon Bonaparte left the homeland of Corsica in 1779, just before the age of 10, to register for military schools in the town of Brienne-LELAUAU in Central France. He showed his superior capacity in math, history, and geography, and when he graduated from the school in 1784, he intended to become an artillery officer. Napoleon was admitted to the primary school at the Military Militaire in Paris and graduated ahead of schedule in 1785 with the rank of Lieutenant. Shortly thereafter, he started serving in the French army.

Napoleon Bonaparte in 1792, in the payroll of the 1st French National Guard Battalion

At the beginning of that year, Napoleon's father, Carlo Bonaparte, died, leaving a debt burden on the French government. Although not the eldest, Napoleon took responsibility for the family. Soon after starting his military career, he had to ask for demobilization to return to Corsica to help his family in trouble.

Napoleon twice extended the discharge time and even after returning to serve in 1788 with the level of Lieutenant, the officer also had to live frugally to send most of the salary to his hometown to his mother.

Read more:

Napoleon Bonaparte Childhood Facts

Trying to restart his stagnant military career, Napoleon considered registering to enlist in the Russian army.

In 1788, the war between the Russian Empire, led by Catherine the Great, and the Ottoman Empire was breaking down. Lt. Gen. Ivan Zaborovsky was sent to southern Europe by Catherine to recruit foreign officers. What attracts Europeans to serve in Russia is the money—the Russian military pays much higher than any European army.

Zaborovsky paid special attention to officers from Greece, Albania, and Corsica—people with a history of living with Turks. They were invited to join the Russian army to conduct "the war of Christians against the pagans."

Zaborovsky 

However, not long ago, the Great Catherine ordered the Russian army to only accept foreigners by lowering their ranks by one step. If this regulation is followed, Napoleon must become a sergeant, the lowest rank of officer in the Russian imperial army. But no, an ambitious Bonaparte would not allow that. He graduated from the Paris Military School, so Bonaparte debated a direct order for General Zaborovsky.

In the End

Finally, Napoleon did not join the Prussian army, as he announced when he was annoyed to leave General Zaborovsky's barracks. He returned to his regiment and was only promoted to Lieutenant in 1791, after the French Revolution broke out.

However, after that, the career of the Corsica Island Artillery officer saw rapid promotion. He returned to Corsica, joined the French national guard, and was soon promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. Later, he was reduced to the rank of captain, but in 1793, after the famous victory in the siege of Toulon, Napoleon was promoted to the Brigade.

Napoleon's army bogged down in the harsh Russian winter and eventually lost in 1812.

In 1812, when Napoleon's army entered Russia, General Ivan Zaborovsky, now 77 years old, lived in Moscow and was the Senator in the Senate of the Russian Empire. At that age, he, of course, could not command or participate in battles. Therefore, like most nobles in Moscow, Zaborovsky fled to the countryside. Zaborovsky was still alive to witness Napoleon being chased from Russia. He died in 1817.