Western History 142: Who was Napoleon Bonaparte and what were the main events in his early life?

Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) aka The Corsican or The Little Corporal  was a pivotal figure in the history of Modern Europe. He extended the gains of the French Revolution highlighting the primacy of the Nation State. While some have dubbed him a megalomaniac others see his impact across the continent as the biggest driver in the expansion of both Liberalism and Nationalism. Regardless of one's stance on the issue it is clear that he defined the era from 1799 to 1815 setting in motion the Europe of the 19th century and enshrining a vibrancy to a history that characterized a global European ascendancy.

                                              Napoleon Bonaparte source: britannica.com

The future French Emperor was born to a petit aristocrat family on the Island of Corsica in 1769. He was one of eight children in a family of five boys and three girls. The Bonaparte family had an Italian origin. Many of his siblings would play a role themselves in the future history of Europe and are worth mentioning. They were Joseph (elder brother), Lucien, Elise, Louis, Pauline, Caroline and Jerome. Napoleon was the second oldest boy.

                                            Bonaparte Family Tree source: shutterstock.com

In 1779 Napoleon entered the military school at Brienne-le-Château. This was not a happy time for him as he was routinely mocked for his Corsican accent, however he did distinguish himself in Mathematics and sailing. Five years late Napoleon moved on to the elite École Militaire in Paris. He would become the first Corsican to graduate from the school. A year on he would gain his first commission as Second Lieutenant in an Artillery Regiment.

During the French Revolution Napoleon positioned himself as a strong supporter of the Jacobin movement often clashing with Corsican separatist leader Pasquale Paoli. In 1793 he lead Republican forces to victory during the Siege of Toulon. His troops would capture the city. Further success at the Battle of Saorgio was achieved in the  following year.

However by 1794 Bonaparte’s political fortunes suffered a blow when he was placed under house arrest  for possible association with the recently fallen Robespierre. Fortunately he was soon released and in 1795 helped put down a Royalist rebellion with 'a whiff of grapeshot' on the 13^th of Vendémiaire (as designated in the Revolutionary calendar). A marriage to the well-connected Joséphine de Beauharnais in 1796  strengthened the Bonaparte pedigree.

                                    Young Napoleon c. 1795 source: the greatcoursesdaily.com

It was in 1797 though that Napoleon’s military genius was truly allowed to shine. He had risen rapidly through the military ranks  as a consequence of the Reign of Terror's rough march through the top brass of the armed forces, and was now in command of French troops involved in the the Italian Campaign of the War of the First Coalition. His forces recorded victories at Montenotte, Castiglione, Bassano, Arcole and Rivoli.  These losses forced the coalition powers to sue for peace and on October 17^th 1797 Napoleon signed the Treaty of Campio Formio with Austria.  

                                            Napoleon crossing the Alps source: history.com

This ended  the War of First Coalition (1792-1797) and placed France in a very strong position on the continent.  Napoleon returned to Paris on the 5th of December and hailed as a hero. France now had control of most of Northern Italy and the Low Countries. Austria would take charge of Venice ending the 1,100 year old independence of the Venetian Republic, although in agreeing to this transfer of power the  French would still loot the city beforehand.

                   Joséphine Bonaparte - Future Empress of France source: palaces-of-europe.com