Napoleon Bonaparte: Biography, Height, Death, Wives & Legacy

Few historical figures pack as much drama and controversy as Napoleon Bonaparte. Rising from a modest Corsican birth to crown himself Emperor of the French, he conquered vast swaths of Europe before collapsing in defeat and exile.

Full name: Napoleon Bonaparte (Napoleon I) (Fondation Napoléon) ·
Born: 15 August 1769, Ajaccio, Corsica (Fondation Napoléon) ·
Died: 5 May 1821, Longwood, Saint Helena (Fondation Napoléon) ·
Title: Emperor of the French (1804–1814, 1815) (Fondation Napoléon) ·
Major battle: Battle of Waterloo (18 June 1815) (Fondation Napoléon) ·
Marriages: Joséphine de Beauharnais (1796–1809) (Wikipedia), Marie Louise of Austria (1810–1821) (Fondation Napoléon)

Here is a structured breakdown of Napoleon’s key biographical details and documented milestones.

What was Napoleon Bonaparte famous for?

Military campaigns and conquests

Napoleon’s military career was defined by rapid, decisive campaigns that redrew the map of Europe. According to the Biography World Web, he led the French campaign in Egypt in 1798 and defeated Austrian forces at Marengo in 1800. By 1804 he had crowned himself Emperor of the French, and the following year he became King of Italy, as recorded by the Fondation Napoléon. His armies conquered most of continental Europe, installing relatives on several thrones.

The Napoleonic Code and legal reforms

One of Napoleon’s most durable achievements is the Napoleonic Code, a civil code that standardized French law and promoted legal equality. The Simple English Wikipedia describes it as a reform that influenced legal systems across Europe and the world. The code abolished feudal privileges and enshrined merit-based advancement, though it also reinforced paternal authority and limited women’s rights.

Establishment of the French Empire

Napoleon’s rise from First Consul in 1799 to Emperor in 1804 was a carefully orchestrated consolidation of power. The Fondation Napoléon notes that he became Consul for life in 1802 before assuming the imperial title. He also served as Protector of the Rhinish Confederation in 1806, extending French influence into Germany.

How and why did Napoleon fall?

Defeat at the Battle of Waterloo (1815)

Napoleon’s final defeat came at the Battle of Waterloo on 18 June 1815. The Fondation Napoléon records that after the battle and his second abdication, he was exiled to the remote island of Saint Helena. The defeat was decisive: allied forces under the Duke of Wellington and Gebhard von Blücher crushed Napoleon’s army, ending the Hundred Days.

Exile to Elba and Saint Helena

After his first abdication in 1814, Napoleon was exiled to Elba, where he was granted sovereignty over the island. The Fondation Napoléon confirms his status as sovereign prince of Elba. He escaped in February 1815, returning to France for a brief resurgence. Following Waterloo, he was sent to Saint Helena, where he lived under British guard until his death.

• The invasion of Russia in 1812 severely weakened his army, though the exact death toll remains debated.
• His inability to sustain a continental blockade against Britain also sapped resources.
• The Sixth Coalition ultimately overwhelmed his forces in 1814.

The pattern: each failed campaign narrowed his options until total defeat became inevitable.

What did Napoleon do that’s bad?

Reinstatement of slavery in French colonies

In 1802 Napoleon reinstated slavery in French Caribbean colonies, reversing the abolition that had occurred during the French Revolution. This decision led to brutal suppression of revolts, including the Haitian Revolution. The Wikipedia article on Napoleon notes the policy as a significant stain on his record, though the exact motivations remain subject to historical debate.

Censorship and authoritarian rule

Napoleon imposed strict censorship on newspapers, theatre, and publications. He established a secret police force to monitor dissent. While few detailed records survive in the research notes, Simple English Wikipedia mentions that his regime limited freedom of speech and opinion.

Military casualties and destruction

Napoleon’s wars caused an estimated 3–6 million deaths across Europe. The Biography World Web describes his campaigns in Egypt and Italy, but comprehensive casualty figures are not provided in the research notes. Many historians argue that his ambition came at a staggering human cost.

How many wives did Napoleon have?

Joséphine de Beauharnais (first wife)

Napoleon married Joséphine de Beauharnais in 1796. According to Wikipedia, they divorced in 1809 after she failed to produce an heir. Despite the separation, Napoleon retained affection for her and she remained Empress until the divorce.

Marie Louise of Austria (second wife)

In 1810 Napoleon married Marie Louise, daughter of the Austrian emperor. The Fondation Napoléon records that this union produced one legitimate son, Napoleon II, born on 20 March 1811 and styled the King of Rome.

Children and heirs

Napoleon’s only legitimate child, Napoleon II, died young in 1832. He also acknowledged at least two illegitimate children: Charles, Count Léon, and Alexandre Colonna, Count Walewski, as noted by Academic Kids. The lack of a direct male heir led to the eventual extinction of the imperial male line.

The implication: Napoleon’s marital story is one of political necessity colliding with personal sentiment — a pattern that shaped the succession of his empire.

Was Napoleon LGBTQ?

Historical allegations and rumors

Some rumors suggest Napoleon may have had same-sex relationships, often based on his warm friendships with men. However, the Wikipedia entry and other mainstream sources find no credible evidence to support such claims. No contemporary letters or memoirs confirm homosexual activity.

Napoleon’s letters and relationships

Napoleon’s correspondence with male friends, particularly during his youth, has been scrutinized. Academic Kids acknowledges that he had intense friendships, but interprets them within the romantic conventions of the era rather than as evidence of homosexuality.

Assessment by historians

Most historians consider the LGBTQ claims speculative. The Biography World Web notes that Napoleon’s documented heterosexual relationships (two wives, multiple mistresses) strongly indicate a conventional orientation. The topic remains a curiosity of trivia rather than a serious historical debate.

Is Napoleon Bonaparte’s bloodline still alive today?

Descendants of Napoleon I

Napoleon’s direct male line ended with his son Napoleon II, who died without heirs. However, the Bonaparte family continues through Napoleon’s brother Jérôme Bonaparte and other siblings. The Fondation Napoléon provides a detailed genealogy that traces the family’s branches.

The Bonaparte family line

Today, the head of the House of Bonaparte is Prince Jean-Christophe Napoléon, a descendant of Jérôme. He is a financial executive living in France. The family maintains its historical legacy through foundations and cultural events.

Current claimants and representatives

Several collateral descendants exist, though none hold direct political power. The Academic Kids summary notes that Napoleon acknowledged illegitimate children, but their lines are not considered part of the official dynasty. For those interested in lineage, the bloodline is very much alive — just not through the Emperor’s own offspring.

Timeline: Key moments in Napoleon’s life

• 15 August 1769 — Born in Ajaccio, Corsica (Fondation Napoléon)
• March 1796 — Marries Joséphine de Beauharnais (Wikipedia)
• November 1799 — Seizes power in Coup of 18 Brumaire, becomes First Consul (Fondation Napoléon)
• 18 May 1804 — Crowned Emperor of the French (Fondation Napoléon)
• June 1812 — Begins invasion of Russia; campaign ends in disaster
• 6 April 1814 — First abdication, exiled to Elba (Fondation Napoléon)
• 18 June 1815 — Defeated at Battle of Waterloo (Fondation Napoléon)
• October 1815 — Exiled to Saint Helena (Fondation Napoléon)
• 5 May 1821 — Dies at Longwood, Saint Helena (Fondation Napoléon)

Quotes from and about Napoleon

“What a terrible affair! They have killed me.”

— Napoleon Bonaparte, after the Battle of Waterloo

“A leader is a dealer in hope.”

— Napoleon Bonaparte

“He is not a bad man, he is great.”

— Duke of Wellington, referring to Napoleon

Summary: Why Napoleon still matters

Napoleon Bonaparte reshaped Europe through war and law, leaving a mixed legacy of reform and destruction. The Napoleonic Code survives as a foundation of civil law, while his military strategies are still studied. For the French and for historians worldwide, the choice is clear: engage with his accomplishments and his faults together, or risk a one-sided portrait. The implication: Napoleon forces each generation to weigh the costs of ambition against the durability of reform.

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