napolean
The Life of Napoleon Bonaparte Napoleon Bonaparte was one of the greatest military leaders who ever lived. He was charming, charismatic, and during a time of need, the people of France turned to him for leadership. Napoleon contributed greatly to the social needs of the people by restoring religion to France, and creating his Civil Code, which is still used in part today. He dominated his time so completely that over a decade in European history is called the Napoleonic Era. On August 15, 1769, Napoleon Bonaparte was borne one of eight children to Carlo and Letizia Bonaparte in Ajaccio, Corsica. In Corsica, his family had the status of minor nobility, which gave young Napoleon the opportunity to become educated, and attend better schools than many children at the time. His military education began at age 9, when he attended the Royal Military Academy of Brienne-la-Chateau. When he was fifteen years old he left for Paris, France to attend the Royal Military Academy there. In 1785, after studying for a year at L’Ecole Militaire in Paris, he was commissioned as and officer of the artillery branch in the French military. Most of his teachers noticed the great leadership qualities of the young Napoleon, and this is why he excelled so readily at the school work. Napoleon was born in a time of political instability; the French Revolution was in full swing. The French were struggling to create a new political and social system in their country. The leaders of the revolution had differing views on the direction that it should take, but most agreed on the basic principles of equal treatment under the law, centralization of the government, elimination of feudal rights, religious tolerance, and the concept of social mobility; not only in the class structure of society, but also in the professional career a person could obtain.