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10 Amazing Facts About Napoleon Bonaparte

 Napoleon Bonaparte is well known today as one of the greatest conquerors of the past, but he may even be better known for his rumored short height. His alleged stunted stature even spurred the "Napoleon complex" that is said to afflict those who also suffer from being shorter than the average and aren't too happy about it. But what if this Napoleon fun fact isn't actually true? In reality, a lot of interesting Napoleon facts we think we know have been altered, misremembered, or transformed by history. The truth may actually make him even more interesting! 

 


1- He Commissioned A 'New Language' That Today We Know As Braille

While at war, soldiers who lit lanterns to read orders and letters at night were often targeted. To combat this, Napoleon wanted to come up with a way to communicate in the dark without giving up their location. A member of his army, Charles Barbier, came up with a raised dot system that communicated general words or sounds so the soldiers could effectively communicate necessities at night. That system was later refined to make what we know today as braille.

2- Napoleon Ordered 10 Days Of Grieving When George Washington Passed

George Washington passed away in Mount Vernon in 1799, and when he did, tens of thousands of people mourned the loss. Among those saddened was Napoleon Bonaparte. To honor the American revolutionary Napoleon declared 10 days of official mourning in France.

3- He Was More Italian Than French

Napoleon Bonaparte was a Corsican by birth, whose father was integral in beginning the integration with the French. Being born before the French integration, Napoleon's name was in fact spelled differently and adjusted once he rose to power in the French army. However, it's said that he embodied neither the Corsican nor the French ideals. 

 

4- Some Of His English Writings Were Saved

Napoleon was extremely interested in learning new things, especially languages. Until he was about 10, he spoke just Italian, but he added French in as Corsica had recently come under their control. He did then request English lessons, and it's the writings from these that have been preserved. 

5- Young Napoleon Applied To Be A Part Of A Lost French Expedition

Louis XVI desperately wanted to commission a trip around the world to better equip his maritime forces in the wake of the American Revolution, and in 1785 he appointed two ships to take on the task. Each ship would have about 100 personnel on board including scientists, sailors, and officers. A young Napoleon Bonaparte did indeed apply to be one of the seamen on the expedition but was turned down. The ships lost contact and went missing at some point, and all the men are believed to have perished.

6- Napoleon Smelled Like A Cologne Still Sold Today

Napoleon was known to keep up with his hygiene. One of his favorite methods of keeping clean was dousing himself in Eau de Cologne, which was his cologne of choice. It's expected he went through 60 flasks of the scent in a single month. This particular cologne can still be purchased today, but the recipe does remain secret so it's tough to say whether that recipe has changed over time.

7- He Was Actually Average Height For The Time

Pre-metric system French measurements do state that Napoleon Bonaparte stood at about 5'2" which would certainly enforce the theory that he was short. However, converting the measurements taken at the time compared to the metric system that is used in France now suggests that Napoleon actually stood at about 5'5." In the early 19th century, the average male in France stood at about 5'6," making Napoleon just under average height with a difference not nearly big enough to characterize him as unusually short. 

 

8- Napoleon Made It To Moscow But Had To Retreat Shortly After

Yes, Napoleon's Grande Armeé made it all the way to Moscow, but the whole way there they were faced with a retreating Russian army that burned everything in their path, so they found essentially nothing but desolation on their way. When Napoleon and his men did make it to Moscow, the city was completely evacuated and had been lit on fire by Russian patriots. Napoleon eventually had to order his troops back home to avoid starving and freezing due to the upcoming winter.

9- His Defeat At Waterloo Was Partially Due To A Volcanic Eruption

A volcano had erupted nearly 8,000 miles from Waterloo in Indonesia about two months before Napoleon's armies stormed in to what would become their demise. But the volcano that erupted may have been the reason his army lost at the Battle of Waterloo. It's documented that the conditions had become wet and muddy after the explosion because it had caused an atmospheric disturbance. These conditions in the midst of battle were factors that led to the French defeat.

10-                  Napoleon Crowned Himself At His Coronation

It's true that Napoleon was the one who personally placed the crown on his own head, which was not customary. Traditionally, the pope was present at the coronations to place the crown upon the incumbent to signify their rule is God's will. By placing it on his own head, it can be inferred that Napoleon was making a statement that he alone was responsible for his coming into power. However, Napoleon was also noted as saying that he "had not brought the pope such a long way to do nothing," so there's some evidence Pope Pius VII blessed the event.

11-                  He Allowed His Son Only Half His Name

Napoleon's sexual prowess is highly contested: he only claimed to have seven mistresses, but he probably had many more - up to three times more. So it's no surprise that he fathered some illegitimate children. One of those children was born Charles Léon Denuelle. The boy was his first child, and his mother Caroline asked to name him after his father. While Napoleon did agree, he only wanted to give part of his name to his first son, leaving him with Léon instead of the full Napoleon.

12-                  Napoleon Was Beaten At Waterloo By The Same Duke Who Stole His Mistresses

His rendezvous with Napoleon's mistresses are rumors, but the Duke of Wellington was linked to both singer Giuseppina Grassini and actress Marguerite Weimer. It was Marguerite who claimed emphatically that Arthur Wellesley was by far the better lover.

13-                  Napoleon's Male Appendage Is In New Jersey

Napoleon's male organ was cut off during his autopsy and later put up for auction in Paris. It was purchased at that auction by a urologist out of New Jersey who believed it should be preserved properly and kept with dignity, so he hardly showed it to anyone. It is confirmed that it still exists today and is, in fact, 1.5 inches in length.

14-                  He Urged His Wife Not To Bathe While He Was Gone

Apparently, Napoleon had a sensitive nose, and instead of insisting his wife remain extremely clean at all times - as he often maintained - there are letters that show him asking Josephine to not shower while he was away. Doing this, Napoleon was able to take in her full and natural scent when he finally came back home.

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