One of the most famous and notorious Frenchmen to have ever lived was Napoleon Bonaparte, a military leader, and politician. During his lifetime he waged multiple wars and changed the politics and culture of France forever. He was born Napoleon Buonaparte on August 15, 1769. Interestingly, Napoleon’s ancestral heritage is of Italian origins. On his paternal side, the Buonapartes were descendants of a Tuscan noble family. Sometime in the 16th century they emigrated to Corsica, an island located in the Mediterranean Sea, located southeast of the French mainland. On his maternal side, the Ramolinos came from Genoa, a small republic located north of Italy. Both sides of Napoleon’s family came from minor noble houses. As such, they were related to several influential families of Italian nobility from history. He was born at “Casa Buonaparte,” an ancestral home in Ajaccio maintained by his parents. Napoleon was the fourth child of Carlo Maria di Buonaparte and Maria Letizia Ramolino. He was their third son. Napoleon came from a large family. He had seven siblings. During his lifetime, his first and last names had different spellings. In his younger years, his first name would be spelled “Nabulione, Nabulio, Napolionne, and Napulione.” Though his last name was originally “Buonaparte” it was later changed to “Bonaparte.” This may have been done to minimize the fact of his Italian heritage as he rose to power in France. It could be said that Napoleon was conceived in war. Both of his parents joined the Corsican resistance when it was being ceded to France. His parents fought against the French, even as his mother was pregnant with him. Corsica was finally incorporated as a French province, four years after his birth. Shortly after that, Napoleon’s father, Carlo, became Corsica’s “representative to the court of Louis XVI.” As a member of the noble class, and coming from a family of moderate wealth, Napoleon had educational opportunities that exceeded what was available to most Corsican children at the time. His mother played a particularly influential role in molding him. In fact, Napoleon once said, “the future destiny of the child is always the work of the mother.” At nine years of age, Napoleon traveled to the French mainland and attended a religious school. A few months later he transferred to a military academy, Brienne-le-Chateau. Napoleon was multi-lingual. He spoke and read Corsican, Italian, and French. He eventually became f
One of the most famous
and notorious Frenchmen to have
ever lived was Napoleon Bonaparte,
a military leader, and politician.
During his lifetime he waged
multiple wars and changed the
politics and culture of France
forever. He was born Napoleon
Buonaparte on August 15, 1769.
Interestingly, Napoleon’s ancestral heritage is
of Italian origins. On his
paternal side, the Buonapartes were
descendants of a Tuscan noble
family. Sometime in the 16th
century they emigrated to Corsica,
an island located in the
Mediterranean Sea, located southeast of
the French mainland. On his
maternal side, the Ramolinos came
from Genoa, a small republic
located north of Italy. Both
sides of Napoleon’s family came
from minor noble houses. As
such, they were related to
several influential families of Italian
nobility from history. He was
born at “Casa Buonaparte,” an
ancestral home in Ajaccio maintained
by his parents. Napoleon was
the fourth child of Carlo
Maria di Buonaparte and Maria
Letizia Ramolino. He was their
third son. Napoleon came from
a large family. He had
seven siblings. During his lifetime,
his first and last names
had different spellings. In his
younger years, his first name
would be spelled “Nabulione, Nabulio,
Napolionne, and Napulione.” Though his
last name was originally “Buonaparte”
it was later changed to
“Bonaparte.” This may have been
done to minimize the fact
of his Italian heritage as
he rose to power in
France. It could be said
that Napoleon was conceived in
war. Both of his parents
joined the Corsican resistance when
it was being ceded to
France. His parents fought against
the French, even as his
mother was pregnant with him.
Corsica was finally incorporated as
a French province, four years
after his birth. Shortly after
that, Napoleon’s father, Carlo, became
Corsica’s “representative to the court
of Louis XVI.” As a
member of the noble class,
and coming from a family
of moderate wealth, Napoleon had
educational opportunities that exceeded what
was available to most Corsican
children at the time. His
mother played a particularly influential
role in molding him. In
fact, Napoleon once said, “the
future destiny of the child
is always the work of
the mother.” At nine years
of age, Napoleon traveled to
the French mainland and attended
a religious school. A few
months later he transferred to
a military academy, Brienne-le-Chateau. Napoleon
was multi-lingual. He spoke and
read Corsican, Italian, and French.
He eventually became f