Unbelievable Secrets About Emperor Napoleon

Napoleon Bonaparte (August 15, 1769–1812) is regarded as one of its leaders and a skilled military strategist and powerful statesman. Unquestionably, Napoleon was a historical figure and one of the greatest in human history. However, many individuals might not be aware of the numerous facts regarding this king.

Perhaps surprisingly, with the zeal with which he continued to lead the French Empire, Napoleon more clearly identified himself as a Corsican and, early in his career, fought fiercely for Corsican independence.

Napoleon finally settled in France and started asserting himself as the rising star of the new republic after a dispute with Pasquale Paoli, the Corsican resistance leader. Napoleon then led a series of significant military successes, notably the devastating siege of Toulon.

Napoleon, regarded as a natural leader by Republican politicians, swiftly ascended to the head of state, helped by major military triumphs in Italy and later in Egypt.

He seized control of France in 1799 and assumed the position of First Consul. He soon rose to prominence, oversaw the continuation of military dominance, and instituted significant judicial reforms.

The Napoleonic Code's legal changes enhanced the revolution's objectives by eradicating the archaic inconsistencies of previous feudal law.

Napoleon even brought peace by thwarting British attempts to attack the French military forces and defeating Austria. His unstoppable ascent to power culminated on December 2, 1804, when he has crowned Emperor of France.

Peace in Europe did not last long and the remainder of Napoleon's reign was marked by years of Napoleonic wars across Europe against various alliances.

His standing as a capable military leader was further established during this time, until June 22, 1815, when the War of the Seventh Coalition and the French defeat at Waterloo forced him to resign. 

On the isolated island of Saint Helena, Napoleon lived out the rest of his days in exile. These significant events in the emperor's life are well known; however, there are some fascinating details that very few people are aware of:

Napoleon Wrote a Love Story

Napoleon's true feelings and emotions were concealed beneath his icy, warlike appearance. The proof is in heartfelt love letters and a recently unearthed romance book.

Clisson and Eugenie is a little collection of sentimental self-mythologizing essays that is barely 17 pages long. It was written in 1795 when Napoleon was 26 years old. Although experts disagree that Napoleon had literary talent, the novel amply illustrates the emperor's fragile personality.

Napoleon Posed as Someone Else and Walked the Streets

Napoleon had a tendency to dress like a lower bourgeois and walk the streets of Paris when he was at the height of his authority. Apparently, the aim was to find out what the people on the street really thought of him, and he reportedly asked passersby about the Emperor's work.

Napoleon Wears Poison Around His Neck

Records claim that Napoleon always had a bottle of poison with him. It was attached to a rope he wore around his neck so that he could easily use it if he were to get captured.

After being exiled to the Elbe in 1814, it appears that Napoleon eventually ingested the poison, but its potency diminished over time and he survived.

Napoleon Wasn't That Short

Napoleon was known for having short stature and strong personality. Indeed, Napoleon's infamously small size is thematically related to the phrase "Napoleon complex," which is used to describe short, overly ambitious people. However, Napoleon was actually about 167 centimeters tall when he passed away, which at the time was obviously an ordinary height.

Napoleon Was Afraid of Cats?

Ironically, a number of historical tyrants, including Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Genghis Khan, Mussolini, Hitler, and Napoleon, are supposed to have suffered from ailurophobia, or a phobia of cats.

However, there is not much proof to support this rumor. Experts have even hypothesized that Napoleon's purported phobia stemmed from his being attacked by a stray cat as a baby.

The Cause of Death Is Still a Mystery

After a protracted illness, Napoleon passed away at Saint Helena at the age of 51. However, the exact cause of the illness has never been identified, and curiosity and conspiracy theories continue to surround his passing.

Although stomach cancer was listed as the official cause of death, some people suspect poisoning. Analysis of hair samples, which showed significantly greater quantities of arsenic than usual, is evidence that Napoleon was really poisoned.