Napoleon
My peers at the Royal Academy were
mostly rich, French speaking nobility. It
was difficult for me to fit in as one of the
only students on a scholarship. Spanish
was my first language. This made school
difficult for me. I was also made fun of for
my social status and my height.
Napoleon
For a long time I could not forgive him for
submitting to the French. He gave into
their fashion and lush lifestyle too easily. I
learned in my later life, however, that he
was right. If you have to make a choice
between joining a nation that cannot
defend itself, or a nation that has
successfully conquered many, you might
as well join the later.
Napoleon
She was without equal. She was strong
and proud. She was stern but loving. She
rarely left the house, except to attend
mass. She gave me 7 brothers and sisters.
When my father died, I sent her money to
help raise my four youngest siblings who
were still at home. She once told me, It is
not poverty that I am afraid of, its the
shame. For many years she lived in
poverty, but eventually, I was able to give
her the wealth she deserved.
Napoleon
She was the love of my life. Before I met
her in the Paris salon, I thought I would
never be able to connect with a woman.
But she was different. She was kind and
made me feel comfortable. However, I
found out while I was away fighting that
Napoleons school
He was a quiet boy who socialized little with
his peers. I would describe this student as,
quiet and solitary, frightfully egotistical,
proud, ambitious, aspiring to everything. In
one school report I wrote: He will go far, in
favourable circumstances.
Napoleons father
We lost the battle with France. I had no
choice but to make the best of things. I went
to law school, won election to the Corsican
assembly and rose in the esteem of the
French rulers. I sent Napoleon to attend
school in France, the only place where he
may have a future. I died in 1785, long
before my son crowned himself emperor.
Napoleons Mother
I had no choice but to take care of my
children. My husband gave into the luxury of
French nobility, but passed little of his
earnings to me to raise the family. My
Napoleon was the dearest of my children. I
had to be stern with him though. When he
wrote to me once from school, complaining
that he had no money, I told him I loved him,
but would never forgive him if he ever
complained to me about this again.
Josephine
After the death of my first husband, I had
many lovers. But in my 30s I realised I was
losing my good looks, and needed to settle
down with a new husband who could pay
my debts. Napoleon was neither attractive
nor interesting, but I needed a husband.
she had another lover. I was deeply hurt
and wanted a divorce, but I forgave her
shortly after I returned. I truly loved her,
but I needed an heir, and she was too old
to give me any children. I had no choice
but to divorce her and fine a new wife
who could give me a son.
Napoleon
After the death of my father in 1786, I
returned to you to take care of my family.
As a child, I hated France. I was loyal to
you throughout my youth, but I had no
choice but to leave. Upon return, your
citizens did not welcome me home. I was
considered too French. My family and I
left you again in 1793.
Napoleon
He started with good intentions, but
became too drunk on power to remain
respected. He killed all his opponents by
guillotine, plus thousands of others. He
was simply too radical, and far too
violent.
Napoleon
You were a foreign land that I tried to
claim for France, but I failed. I wanted to
take your land so that we could block the
passage through which Britain accessed
India. After the British destroyed our
ships, we decided to stay with you for
three years anyway. I had 150 artists,
engineers, and scientists with me. They
captured your culture, ancient language,
architecture and topography through
drawings, writings, maps, etc. The
information we took back to France was
Three days after our marriage, Napoleon left
for battle. He was gone for many years and
wrote me many love letters that I enjoyed
sharing with my friends. I eventually learned
to love him, but he divorced me when I could
not give him a son.
Corsica
Just before Napoleons birth in 1769, I was
invaded by France. There was no chance to
defend myself against such a huge military.
Many of my loyal citizens left for France.
Napoleon left to go to school, but returned in
1786. He wanted to defend me against
French occupation, but a civil war on my
land forced him to leave again with his
family.
Robespierre
I was one of the principal architects of the
Reign of Terror. By 1973 I was leading the
Committee of Public Safety. But once France
was no longer under threat by foreign
invaders, people began to question my
authority. I put at least 17,000 people to
death by guillotine. This also became my
fate.
Egypt
Napoleon arrived in hopes of conquering
me. This did not happen. After the British
destroyed his ships, Napoleon stayed to
research my people, their language,
architecture, land and culture. They arrived
in 1798 and stayed until 1801. People in the
West were so fascinated with me that they
started designing some of their architecture
and furniture to look like mine.
the first access the West had to this exotic
land.
Napoleon
I developed this to make society more
fair. I believe that the most qualified
people should be given government jobs,
not those who were born rich. I also
believe in freedom of religion. I have no
personal use for religion, but I know it is a
powerful way to control the masses. My
new system will give common people
more freedom as well as the power to
advance.
Napoleon
I do not like to see violent, unruly crowds,
but this was an uprising that desperately
needed to happen. Without it, I would
never have been able to rise to power. It
was because of this event that France
became a republic.
Napoleon
I once looked up to him. He was a strong
leader with good ideals. However, like
many, he became to concerned with his
own power and wealth. After my coup of
1799, I sent him to live in exile in
Brussels. He later returned to France
where he was on good terms with King
Louis XVIII.
Napoleon
After I lost the Battle of Waterloo in 1815,
I was sent to you, rather than America.
The British took no risks with me after
my escape from Elba. You were 1,870km
Napoleonic Code
I was developed by Napoleon in 1804 to
bring fairness and prosperity to the country.
No longer would privilege be granted based
on social status. Because of me, government
jobs would be given to the most qualified
candidates, not the nobility. People would
also have freedom of religion. I am still alive
today in many countries, and Quebec as well.
The Revolution
I was a terrible thing for the French nobility
and clergymen. I made it possible for young,
ambitious men to show their skills and
advance in the military. I was the reason that
France became a Republic. Without me,
Napoleon would never have risen to power.
Paul Barras
During the Reign of Terror, I refused to align
myself with any of the groups. Instead, I
played a large role in overthrowing
Robespierre. After that, I became the
commander of the interior army and of the
police. Before they were married, I had an
affair with Napoleons first wife. I enjoyed
my power and my luxurious life style.
Saint Helena
Napoleon came to me in October of 1815. He
wanted to live in London, but the British
refused to let him live there. I am tropical
and volcanic, but I think I bored Napoleon.
from Africa. I could not escape. I died with He was used to a busier life style. He died on
you in 1821.
Napoleon
After I lost the Battle of Leipzig in 1813, I
then lost the support of my military in
1814. I was exiled to you but was given
sovereignty over your people. I
introduced modern farming methods and
reformed the legal and education
systems. However, my stay with you was
short as I escaped in 1815 and returned
to France to retake control.
Napoleon
I heard rumours that I was going to be
sent to a very remote island in the middle
of the Atlantic. I could not let this happen
so I escaped the Island of Elba and
returned to France where Louis XVIII was
King. When I saw my military who had
abandoned me for the new king, I shouted
to them Here I am. Kill your emperor if
you wish! To this they replied, Vive
LEmperuer! We fought together to retake
France, but the allied forces were too
strong. It was a short 100 days back in
power.
Napoleon
I loved my first wife very much and did
not want to have to remarry. But, I
needed a son as an heir, and my first wife
could not give one. I married my second
wife in 1810. It was a happy, but short
union. Though we remained married until
my death, I never saw neither her nor my
son again after my first exile to Elba.
me in 1821.
Elba
Napolean stayed with me for only a short
time but made many changes during his
stay. When he first arrived, he seemed so
dissatisfied and even tried to commit
suicide. He soon took control of my
population of 12,000 and introduced many
modern ideas. But, I am only 20km from
Italy and it was easy for him to escape.
100 Days
I gave Napoleon his last taste of power. I was
brief, only 100 days, to be exact. During my
time, Napoleon thought he could retake
France from Louis XVII and defend against
foreign invasion. He was defeated by the
British and sent once again into exile.
Marie-Louise
I was only 19 years old when my father
insisted that I marry Napoleon. I thought
that just laying eyes on him would be
torture. But I was an Archduchess of Austria
and my marriage to Napoleon was motivated
by politics, not love. However, I must admit, I
came to love Napoleon very much. We had
one son together before his exile to Elba. I
never saw him again.