Napoleon Bonaparte in Russia
Abstract
Napoleon Bonaparte is generally regarded as one of history’s top military tacticians. But 200 years ago , he committed a grave error by leading his Grande Armée—possibly the largest European armed force ever built to that point—across the Niemen River into Russia. Without losing a single battle there, the Grande Armée was almost completely wiped out within six months by freezing temperatures, food shortages, disease and Russian assaults. This proved to be the beginning of the end for Napoleon, who was forced into exile in April 1814.
Introduction
Considered as one of the world 's legendary military leaders, Napoleon Bonaparte was born on August 15, 1769, in Ajaccio, Corsica, France. He was the fourth, and second surviving, child of Carlo Buonaparte, a lawyer, and the appointed assessor of the judicial district of Ajaccio in 1771. (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2002)
Eventually, Napoleon ended up at the military college of Brienne, for five years, before he moves on to the military academy in Paris. In 1785, while Napoleon was at the academy, his father died of stomach cancer. This forced Napoleon to go back to Corsica and take the reins as the head of the family. Graduating early from the military academy as a second lieutenant of artillery, Napoleon returns to Corsica in 1786. (Kurtiz, 2012)
When a civil war in Corsica began in April 1793, Napoleon, now an enemy of Paoli,had his family relocated to France, where they changed to the French version of their name: Bonaparte.
For Napoleon, the return to France meant a return to service with the French military. Upon rejoining his regiment at Nice in June 1793, the young leader quickly showed his support for the government, where he became a hero in 1795, defending the government from angry counter-revolutionary forces; he was rewarded by being promoted to high military office, a position with access to the political spine of France. Bonaparte quickly grew to become one of the country 's most
Napoleon Bonaparte is generally regarded as one of history’s top military tacticians. But 200 years ago , he committed a grave error by leading his Grande Armée—possibly the largest European armed force ever built to that point—across the Niemen River into Russia. Without losing a single battle there, the Grande Armée was almost completely wiped out within six months by freezing temperatures, food shortages, disease and Russian assaults. This proved to be the beginning of the end for Napoleon, who was forced into exile in April 1814.
Introduction
Considered as one of the world 's legendary military leaders, Napoleon Bonaparte was born on August 15, 1769, in Ajaccio, Corsica, France. He was the fourth, and second surviving, child of Carlo Buonaparte, a lawyer, and the appointed assessor of the judicial district of Ajaccio in 1771. (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2002)
Eventually, Napoleon ended up at the military college of Brienne, for five years, before he moves on to the military academy in Paris. In 1785, while Napoleon was at the academy, his father died of stomach cancer. This forced Napoleon to go back to Corsica and take the reins as the head of the family. Graduating early from the military academy as a second lieutenant of artillery, Napoleon returns to Corsica in 1786. (Kurtiz, 2012)
When a civil war in Corsica began in April 1793, Napoleon, now an enemy of Paoli,had his family relocated to France, where they changed to the French version of their name: Bonaparte.
For Napoleon, the return to France meant a return to service with the French military. Upon rejoining his regiment at Nice in June 1793, the young leader quickly showed his support for the government, where he became a hero in 1795, defending the government from angry counter-revolutionary forces; he was rewarded by being promoted to high military office, a position with access to the political spine of France. Bonaparte quickly grew to become one of the country 's most
References: Encylopedia Britannica (2002). Napoléon bonaparte. Retrieved from http://www.gwleibniz.com/britannica_pages/napoleon/napoleon.html Kurtiz, D. (2012). Napoléon bonaparte. Retrieved from http://davidkurtiz.wordpress.com/2012/11/30/25/ Forrest, A. (2013, January 07). Napoleon: Son of the revolution. Retrieved from http://www.commandposts.com/2013/01/napoleon-son-of-the-revolution/ Wilde, R. (n.d.). Napoleon bonaparte . Retrieved from http://europeanhistory.about.com/od/bonapartenapoleon/a/bionapoleon.html Eighteenth century europe. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://archive.org/stream/eighteenthcentur010997mbp/eighteenthcentur010997mbp_djvu.txt The russian campaign. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.napoleonguide.com/campaign_russia.htm