The Loneliness of Napoleon
Before I begin discussing my topic, I think it would be important to introduce myself to all of you reading. I do not know why you chose to read me, but I am happy that you are. Hopefully, you are not too bored out of your mind while reading my weird obnoxious posts. Please feel free to provide feedback; I will take the harshest criticism if you think this sucks or that I am wasting my time please tell me. My name is Nate, and I am a current graduate student here in Missouri. I am working towards my masters in secondary education. I bet you could predict what subject area I will teach at this point. I adore history and every facet of it; I even love geography. I was a Global Studies major at Missouri State University. Even though it did not account for much in the real world, I enjoyed working towards it very much. Now, before I began my journey in graduate school here in Missouri I was in Texas working under a professor that studied the Napoleonic Wars. As I explained in my first post this was the man that I admired since I was sixteen (as well as Napoleon).
I believe that ever since I ceased my work on Napoleon, I opened my eyes up more to the truth. I do not want to be cynical about the past by saying everything good that has developed has been through unethical means, but I also do not want to fall for these "cults of personality." It would probably disgust my old professor knowing that I am about judge the man "Napoleon," but he can just deal with it. Napoleon was born at a very opportune time in Corsica in 1769. In the 18th century there was the development of the enlightenment; a set of ideals that valued liberty and individual property. This is the time period where Montesquieu and Voltaire were read by the educated people quite a bit on how to govern. Napoleon dreamed of freeing the Corsican people, but eventually he would give up on this dream after taking a valuable part in the French Revolution in 1793 and 1794 at the Siege of Toulon and 13th Vendemiaire. He then found a large promotion by taking command of the French Army of Italy. He won victory after victory; he would eventually find himself in Egypt winning every tactical engagement but one. Nonetheless, it was not the most strategic success. He would leave his army in Egypt and returned home to take power in a coup d'etat.
An enlightened man as dictator at the head of the French government. He would win the Second Coalition. Napoleon would eventually crown himself emperor and win the Third, Fourth, and Fifth coalitions decisively. Nonetheless, Napoleon's terms would never be met by the competing powers of Great Britain, Prussia, and Russia. Even in Spain Napoleon's army got bogged down by the Spanish and British troops. He could not win them over like he did with the French people or Poles. He would lead an army to their death in Russia, and he would lose the Sixth Coalition. He was exiled to island of Elba off the coast of Italy, but he escaped to fight in the Seventh Coalition. This is where he lost his most famous battle at Waterloo. Finally, this was the last of Europe saw of this emperor. He was exiled to the island of St. Helena off the coast off the west coast of Africa. He would die here, alone in 1821.
He did great things for Europe, but terrible things. Sure, he is absolutely responsible for the Napoleonic Code in 1804 and he is slightly responsible for canned food. Most importantly, he was a state maker and unified countries especially what use to be the Holy Roman Empire (never so holy). He also formed the Duchy of Warsaw after the Fourth Coalition. This all sounds great, but his intentions always seemed to be for selfish reason. It could be argued that the Duchy of Warsaw was a buffer from Russia and his empire. He is also well known for emancipating the Jewish people, but it is not with a gracious heart. He would institute a restrictive decree, but eventually removed this in 1811. Napoleon wanted to liberate the Jewish people when it was convenient for him.
I always used to make the argument that Napoleon only went to war because other nations invaded the French Empire and he would beat them and take their land. This is fact, but I never mentioned Spain, Russia, or Haiti. Napoleon is responsible for invading these countries. Haiti was a disaster on both sides. This maybe the most disgusting aspect of Napoleon's wars; not very well studied but atrocities were committed by both sides. However, this does not justify what Napoleon's troops did the Haitian soldiers and populace. Needless to say, Napoleon was a complex man who I think was arrogant, intelligent, enlightening, and for better or worst the catalyst into modern times. Napoleon wanted everything; he truly believed that he was the cure and the enlightenment for Europe. Napoleon could not hold onto victory without winning battles which is why he could not maintain power. He attempted suicide after his defeat in the Sixth Coalition. His purpose was to rule, but on St. Helena I cannot imagine the loneliness he endured. Some loyal compatriots accompanied him to the island, but his son and his wife remained in Europe. His true love, Josephine, was dead and his family abandoned him. Only one sister came to visit him while in exile.
I think it is easy to get caught up in the ambition and purpose for our living. We think it fills that void that lives in us. Many of us are hungry for more; it is never enough whether its money, power, or promotions. It is so easy to forget about those that truly need you and respect you. You push them away and by the time everything falls a part they are already gone. Those you gained along your own path to success leave as well because they only cared about the achievements you built upon. This is why I feel sorry for the man Napoleon; I do not think he ever found true happiness. I think there is this idea that those who live at the top in our society live these perfect lives, but in reality I bet they are very lonely or too arrogant to see that they are. How many people did they have to tear down to get there? The point is to find contentment in your life otherwise happiness will never take form. I struggle with this concept; I want so much but I always seem to forget that at the end of the day none of it really matters. Looking at it from a very cynical place (which I said I would not do, but here I am saying something cynical), all of your accomplishments will eventually be forgotten after the Earth ends and people cease to exist. Now, that being said it should be our job to make everyone's lives a little easier. We should also focus on enjoying our time because life is way too short. Napoleon lost all of his, and I refuse to make the same mistake.
Alright here we go, more book recommendations from where I got this information...
-Napoleon by Andrew Roberts (Pro-Napoleon)
-Napoleon Bonaparte by Alan Schom (Anti-Napoleon)
-The Napoleonic Wars: The Rise and Fall of an Empire by Gregory Fremont-Barnes & Todd Fisher
If you want to learn more about the Haitian Revolution check out Crash Course World History here-->https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5A_o-nU5s2U
I believe that ever since I ceased my work on Napoleon, I opened my eyes up more to the truth. I do not want to be cynical about the past by saying everything good that has developed has been through unethical means, but I also do not want to fall for these "cults of personality." It would probably disgust my old professor knowing that I am about judge the man "Napoleon," but he can just deal with it. Napoleon was born at a very opportune time in Corsica in 1769. In the 18th century there was the development of the enlightenment; a set of ideals that valued liberty and individual property. This is the time period where Montesquieu and Voltaire were read by the educated people quite a bit on how to govern. Napoleon dreamed of freeing the Corsican people, but eventually he would give up on this dream after taking a valuable part in the French Revolution in 1793 and 1794 at the Siege of Toulon and 13th Vendemiaire. He then found a large promotion by taking command of the French Army of Italy. He won victory after victory; he would eventually find himself in Egypt winning every tactical engagement but one. Nonetheless, it was not the most strategic success. He would leave his army in Egypt and returned home to take power in a coup d'etat.
An enlightened man as dictator at the head of the French government. He would win the Second Coalition. Napoleon would eventually crown himself emperor and win the Third, Fourth, and Fifth coalitions decisively. Nonetheless, Napoleon's terms would never be met by the competing powers of Great Britain, Prussia, and Russia. Even in Spain Napoleon's army got bogged down by the Spanish and British troops. He could not win them over like he did with the French people or Poles. He would lead an army to their death in Russia, and he would lose the Sixth Coalition. He was exiled to island of Elba off the coast of Italy, but he escaped to fight in the Seventh Coalition. This is where he lost his most famous battle at Waterloo. Finally, this was the last of Europe saw of this emperor. He was exiled to the island of St. Helena off the coast off the west coast of Africa. He would die here, alone in 1821.
He did great things for Europe, but terrible things. Sure, he is absolutely responsible for the Napoleonic Code in 1804 and he is slightly responsible for canned food. Most importantly, he was a state maker and unified countries especially what use to be the Holy Roman Empire (never so holy). He also formed the Duchy of Warsaw after the Fourth Coalition. This all sounds great, but his intentions always seemed to be for selfish reason. It could be argued that the Duchy of Warsaw was a buffer from Russia and his empire. He is also well known for emancipating the Jewish people, but it is not with a gracious heart. He would institute a restrictive decree, but eventually removed this in 1811. Napoleon wanted to liberate the Jewish people when it was convenient for him.
I always used to make the argument that Napoleon only went to war because other nations invaded the French Empire and he would beat them and take their land. This is fact, but I never mentioned Spain, Russia, or Haiti. Napoleon is responsible for invading these countries. Haiti was a disaster on both sides. This maybe the most disgusting aspect of Napoleon's wars; not very well studied but atrocities were committed by both sides. However, this does not justify what Napoleon's troops did the Haitian soldiers and populace. Needless to say, Napoleon was a complex man who I think was arrogant, intelligent, enlightening, and for better or worst the catalyst into modern times. Napoleon wanted everything; he truly believed that he was the cure and the enlightenment for Europe. Napoleon could not hold onto victory without winning battles which is why he could not maintain power. He attempted suicide after his defeat in the Sixth Coalition. His purpose was to rule, but on St. Helena I cannot imagine the loneliness he endured. Some loyal compatriots accompanied him to the island, but his son and his wife remained in Europe. His true love, Josephine, was dead and his family abandoned him. Only one sister came to visit him while in exile.
I think it is easy to get caught up in the ambition and purpose for our living. We think it fills that void that lives in us. Many of us are hungry for more; it is never enough whether its money, power, or promotions. It is so easy to forget about those that truly need you and respect you. You push them away and by the time everything falls a part they are already gone. Those you gained along your own path to success leave as well because they only cared about the achievements you built upon. This is why I feel sorry for the man Napoleon; I do not think he ever found true happiness. I think there is this idea that those who live at the top in our society live these perfect lives, but in reality I bet they are very lonely or too arrogant to see that they are. How many people did they have to tear down to get there? The point is to find contentment in your life otherwise happiness will never take form. I struggle with this concept; I want so much but I always seem to forget that at the end of the day none of it really matters. Looking at it from a very cynical place (which I said I would not do, but here I am saying something cynical), all of your accomplishments will eventually be forgotten after the Earth ends and people cease to exist. Now, that being said it should be our job to make everyone's lives a little easier. We should also focus on enjoying our time because life is way too short. Napoleon lost all of his, and I refuse to make the same mistake.
Alright here we go, more book recommendations from where I got this information...
-Napoleon by Andrew Roberts (Pro-Napoleon)
-Napoleon Bonaparte by Alan Schom (Anti-Napoleon)
-The Napoleonic Wars: The Rise and Fall of an Empire by Gregory Fremont-Barnes & Todd Fisher
If you want to learn more about the Haitian Revolution check out Crash Course World History here-->https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5A_o-nU5s2U
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