Napoleón Bonaparte (Wikimedia Commons)

On this day in 1821, the world lost one of its true Greats. 

Few can claim to have had a profound impact on the world as much as Napoleon Bonaparte, the French general-turned-emperor. Frequently cited as one of the greatest military leaders to ever live, Napoleon’s influence on Western government, military strategies, and legal systems remains untouched even over 200 years later. Born on Corsica island in 1769, he worked as a humble artillery officer, slowly gaining recognition for campaigns in Italy and Egypt at the end of the 18th century. He was able to operate as France’s key leader for years before crowning himself as Emperor in 1804. One of his legislations was the Napoleonic Code, or the French Civil Code, which essentially rebuilt France’s legal structure from the bourgeoisie-centered system pre-Revolution. 

His military work, however, is what Napoleon is most lauded for. Many of his contributions were used globally, which led to the framework of most modern tactics: logistical supply trains, the usage of rifles and bayonets, combined cavalry and infantry fighting, and mobilized artillery on the battlefield. These tactics revolutionized warfare and elevated Napoleon to a figure of “genius.” In his infamous victory at the Battle of Austerlitz, where he effectively destroyed Prussia, the French suffered only 1,305 casualties against the 15,000 dead on the Russian/Austrian side.

After his ultimate defeat at the notorious Battle of Waterloo, he was exiled for a second and final time. On the island of Elba, his health began to fail; he was bedridden in March of 1821, and eventually succumbed to stomach cancer on May 5th, 1821. His final words are said to have been, “France, the army, the head of the army, Joséphine,” using his last breath to utter his wife’s name. Thus ceased the light of one of history’s most ambitious spirits.

The legacy of Napoleon Bonaparte is difficult to summarize, given its vast scope and deep entanglement with countless aspects of modern life. A polarizing figure in every sense of the word, Napoleon’s depiction across pop culture is varied, but every version shares one irrefutable trait: his ambition. Whether it be a hunger to conquer, consume or create, it is undeniable that a being like him, with such a universally daunting militancy, will likely never be seen again. 

Winston Churchill, one of the most significant figures of the 20th century, said this about Napoleon: “[He] may have been a military tyrant, a conqueror, a man of order and discipline, a man of mundane ambitions and overwhelming egotism, but his grandeur defied misfortune and rises superior even to time.” 

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