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 … 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 reputation. In his youth he was consistently … 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 … 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