Napoleon's family was of Italian origin. His paternal ancestors, the Buonapartes, descended from a minor Tuscan noble family that emigrated … See more

18 Brumaire
Unknown to Bonaparte, the Directory had sent him orders to return from Egypt with his army to ward off a possible invasion of France, but these … See more

Religious beliefs
Napoleon was baptized in Ajaccio on 21 July 1771, and raised a Roman Catholic. He began to … See more

Many of those who met Napoleon were surprised by his unremarkable physical appearance in contrast to his significant deeds and … See more

Return to Corsica
Upon graduating in September 1785, Bonaparte was commissioned a second lieutenant See more

Napoleon was held in British custody and transferred to the island of Saint Helena in the Atlantic Ocean, 1,870 km (1,010 nmi) from the west coast of Africa. Napoleon and 27 followers … See more

Pieter Geyl wrote in 1947, "It is impossible that two historians, especially two historians living in different periods, should see any historical … See more