Biografía

Despite being known for his diminutive stature (Many believing him to be around five feet tall), Napoleon was around 5'7, above average height for an 18th century Frenchman (5'5). It was propaganda from his sworn enemy, England, that created his reputation as a miniature, petty tyrant. A number of misconceptions have aided in perpetuating the image to this day. First, French feet of the time period were longer than modern feet, causing his height in French feet to be numerically smaller. Also, his nickname Le Petit Caporal, ("The Little Corporal"), actually referred to his humble background and modesty around his troops, rather than his physical size. Finally, he was often seen during war time on foot, surrounded by hulking bodyguards (who had a height requirement), making him look short by comparison.

Ludwig van Beethoven dedicated his third symphony, the Eroica (Italian for "heroic"), to Napoléon in the belief he would sustain the ideals of the Revolution, but tore out the title page when Napoléon's true ambitions became clear.

His second wife was Marie Louise of Austria, daughter of Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor. Married by proxy on March 11, 1810, they met for the first time 16 days later. Their son and only child, Napoléon François Joséph Charles (Napoléon II), was born on March 20, 1811. Marie Louise did not join Napoléon into his first or second exile. She married the father of her next three children three months after Napoléon died. In 1940, the body of Napoléon II (who died in 1832 without issue) was moved from Vienna to Paris, where he rests beside his father as a gift to France from Adolf Hitler. Rumored to have fathered at least 5 illegitimate children, Napoléon acknowledged only one, Charles Léon (1806-1881), whose birth was the all the incentive he needed to divorce his first wife Joséphine, as she had failed to give him an heir. Oddly, he refused to have anything to do with Charles and his mother, but provided for them.

Sold the Louisiana Purchase to Thomas Jefferson for $11,250,000 ($0.05 per acre) plus the United States assumed claims of its citizens against France for up to $3,750,000.

Has been portrayed by dozens of actors, more notably Rod Steiger, Armand Assante, Marlon Brando, and Charles Boyer.

A true man hates no one.

There is a sleeping giant (China). Let him sleep. If he wakes, he will shake the world.

Music, of all the liberal arts, has the greatest influence over the passions, and it is to that which the legislator ought to give the greatest encouragement.

Men are moved by two levers only: fear and self interest.

Courage is like love; it must have hope for nourishment.