Napoleon Bonaparte

He married Jos�phine de Beauharnais, widow of General Alexandre de Beauharnais in 1796. She had two children from her previous marriage. The union did not last long and the couple separated in 1810.

He then tied the knot with Marie-Louise, daughter of the emperor of Austria, who bore him a son, Napolean II.

His health started deteriorating during his last days, which was caused by the damp and wretched living conditions.

Born to Carlo Buonaparte, a lawyer, and his wife, Letizia Ramolino, Napoleone Buonaparte was the fourth and the second surviving child of the couple.

Academically brilliant, young Buonaparte completed his preliminary education from a France’s College d'Autun before applying at the �cole Militaire in Paris. However, his two-years term was cut short to one year post his father’s demise.

Trained as an artillery officer, he joined as second lieutenant in La F�re artillery regiment in 1785. Serving at the Revolution in Corsica, he was promoted to the rank of a captain in the regular army in 1792.

In 1793, following a split with Paoli, the nationalist Corsican leader, he along with his family, shifted base to France. There he joined his regiment at Nice. It was his pro-republican pamphlet, Le souper de Beaucaire that earned him the admiration and support of Augustin Robespierre, younger brother of the Revolutionary leader Maximilien Robespierre.

At the age of 24, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general and was put in charge of the artillery of France’s Army of Italy. Adhering to his plans, the French army slowly and steadily captured the north, east and west coast in the Battle of Saorgio.

The fall of the Jacobins led to the rise of Maximilien de Robespierre, thus initiating the dictatorship of the Committee of Public Safety. In 1795, the Directory took over the control of the country.

Bonaparte who had supported the Directory all through came under their good books and was named Commander of the Army of the Interior. Additionally, he was made trusted advisor to the Directory on military matters.

He served as the first Consul of France and was later became the Emperor of France. During his time, he brought about major reforms in the country, such as introduction of higher education, establishment centralized government, foundation of Bank of France, tax code, road and sewer systems. He reworked the laws of France which is why his civil code was known as Napoleonic Code

The royal decoration Legion of Honor was instituted by him to honour people with civilian and military achievements. Till date, it serves as the highest decoration of France.